A Bit Of Groovy is in archive-only mode

A Bit Of Groovy is in archive-only mode. Previous posts will remain up, but I'm no longer actively blogging. Thanks for visiting!

An online archive of my art for Beyond Beyond is Beyond

As a fan, I did weekly promo art for Beyond Beyond is Beyond - a fantastic, cage-free rock, radio show that aired on East Village Radio in NYC, hosted by the groovy Mike Newman - @bbib on Twitter. After creating dozens of these promo art pieces, I've decided to archive them all on deviantART. You can visit the gallery here: http://ravenval.deviantart.com/gallery/46044375

Note: You might notice different air dates and times on some pieces because the show's schedule had changed occasionally.


Back-story:
There's reason for the food theme and parodies of real products. This art started one day on a whim; I had drawn the show name and time on a piece of toast with peanut butter. It amused me, so I took a picture of it, put it up on Twitter, people reacted positively, and it grew from there.

An example:

45 bbib autumn Oct 06 2013 by ~ravenval on deviantART


Sadly, East Village Radio ceased operations on May 23rd, 2014.

You can still keep up with all things Beyond by visiting Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records: http://beyondbeyondisbeyond.com/

Beyond Beyond is Beyond ...is A Bit Of Groovy!

Streets of Calcutta by Kikagaku Moyo

Streets of Calcutta by Kikagaku Moyo
From their stellar album: Forest of Lost Children


Get this and other great music at:
Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records

Everything by The Quiet Jungle/The Secrets

My current jam is: Everything by The Quiet Jungle/The Secrets
Ravenval - 'This Is My Jam'

About The Quiet Jungle/The Secrets: http://www.garagehangover.com/quietjungle/

Happy 70th Birthday to Jimmy Page!

Jimmy Page by Ravenval 2014 by ravenval on deviantART

Happy 70th Birthday to Keith Richards!

Keith Richards by Ravenval Dec 18 2013  on deviantART

In memory of John Lennon (October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980)

One day, a handful of years ago, I stood, crying, staring at the glasses and clothes that John Lennon was wearing when he was killed. His blood still upon them. 'Imagine' was playing. Others were there. They were all crying too. Instantly, all of the strangers that entered this room became friends, brothers, sisters... without a word spoken. We were horrified. We were sad. We understood, maybe better than we ever would have otherwise, that John Lennon gave the world a gift - a powerful message. One that someone would try to destroy by destroying him.

I miss John, but I believe that his message will never die.

 -Ravenval

 You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one 

-John Lennon

John Lennon by Ravenval - 2012 by ~ravenval on deviantART

Dream 93

A new space-art wallpaper by Ravenval:

Dream 93

Click Here to download full-sized 1600x900 

Dog Gone Presents

Dog Gone Blog is a long-standing staple in my blog roll of groovy goodness, so it is with great pleasure that I have conjured art to accompany:

Dog Gone Presents August 2013 Mix!

Head on over to Dog Gone Blog and dig into these jams:
1. The Memphis Jug Band – K.C. Moan
2. Bruce Springstten – Tate Strooper (Mau Remix)
3. Can – …And More
4. The Seeds – Now A Man
5. Temples – Shelter Song
6. Night Beats – Outta Mind
7. 13th Floor Elevators – I Had To Tell You
8. The Deviants – Child Of The Sky
9. Steve Gunn – Trailways Ramble
10. Country Joe & The Fish – Sad And Lonely Times
11. Bert Jansch – Heartbreak Hotel
12. Beacon Street Union – Mystic Mourning
13. The Sea-Ders – Thanks A Lot
14. Anonymous – Pike River
15. Jacques Dutronc – L’espace D’une Fille
16. Khánh Ly & Trịnh Công Sơn – Goi Ten Bon Mua
17. Kraftwerk – Heimatklange (The Bells Of Home)

It's A Bit Of Groovy!

John Bonham (May 31, 1948 - September 25, 1980)

Bonzo by Ravenval - May 31, 2013 by ~ravenval on deviantART

Slowhand turns 68

Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, (born March 30, 1945) is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist (2000), and separately as a member of The Yardbirds (1992) and Cream (1993). Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and fourth in Gibson's Top 50 Guitarists of All Time.

In the mid-1960s, Clapton departed from the Yardbirds to play blues with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. In his one-year stay with Mayall, Clapton gained the nickname "Slowhand".



Immediately after leaving Mayall, Clapton joined Cream, a power trio with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce.



For most of the 1970s, Clapton's output bore the influence of the mellow style of J.J. Cale (his cover of Cale's "After Midnight"  yielded a No. 18 hit on the U.S. charts) and the reggae of Bob Marley. His version of Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" helped reggae reach a mass market. Two of his most popular recordings were "Layla", recorded by Derek and the Dominos, another band he formed, and Robert Johnson's "Crossroads", recorded by Cream. Following the death of his son Conor in 1991, Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "Tears in Heaven", which featured in his Unplugged album.

A recipient of seventeen Grammy Awards, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, in 2004 Clapton was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.

In January 2013, Surfdog Records announced a signed deal with Eric for the release of his album Old Sock on 12 March. Clapton is currently touring the United States and Europe from March 14 to June 19, 2013 to celebrate his 50 years as a professional musician.

Happy Birthday to Eric Clapton - A Bit Of Groovy!

This is only a quick overview of Clapton's career. For more info:
Official Website: http://www.ericclapton.com/
-source: Wikipedia

Happy 65th Birthday to Alice Cooper!

To celebrate Alice Cooper's 65th birthday, I conjured this 1600 x 900 Art/Wallpaper:

Alice Cooper 2013 by ~ravenval on deviantART


You can eyeball my post for his birthday last year,  here:

She asked me why the singer's name was Alice...

Happy Birthday to Alice Cooper - A Bit Of Groovy! 

  

The Official Website of Alice Cooper: http://www.alicecooper.com/

Happy 69th Birthday to Jimmy Page!

To celebrate Jimmy Page's 69th birthday, I have created this 1600 x 900 Art/Wallpaper:


Jimmy Page - ZOSO by ~ravenval on deviantART   
Happy Birthday to Jimmy Page - A Bit Of Groovy!

The Official Website of Jimmy Page: http://www.jimmypage.com/

Happy 67th Birthday to John Paul Jones!

To celebrate John Paul Jones' 67th birthday, I have created this 1600 x 900 Art/Wallpaper:

John Paul Jones by ~ravenval on deviantART

  

Happy Birthday to John Paul Jones - A Bit Of Groovy!

The Official Website of John Paul Jones: http://www.johnpauljones.com/

In Tribute to Frank Zappa

Because today would've been Frank Zappa's 72nd birthday: 


Frank Zappa by Ravenval - 2012 on deviantART  

Frank Zappa - A Bit Of Groovy!

The Official Website of Frank Zappa:  http://www.frankzappa.com/

 

Happy 63rd Birthday to Paul Rodgers!

To celebrate Paul Rodgers' 63rd Birthday, I have created this 1600 x 900 Art/Wallpaper:

Paul Rodgers - 2012 by ~ravenval on deviantART

Happy Birthday to Paul Rodgers - A Bit Of Groovy!

The Official Website of Paul Rodgers:  http://www.paulrodgers.com/

 

In Memory of John Lennon

Today is the anniversary of John Lennon's death. The world lost a visionary soul on December 08, 1980, one that brought a powerful message of peace to the masses. His words still resonate and impact our lives to this day. To mark the day, I've created this digital art wallpaper:




John Lennon by Ravenval - 2012 by ~ravenval on deviantART
  John Lennon (October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980) - A Bit Of Groovy.  We miss you.

Cass McCombs - Empty Promises

I'm filing this under Dreamy Psych - it's A Bit Of Groovy! -Ravenval

From Domino Records:

Cass McCombs will be supporting John Cale on the west coast. See the dates below and listen to 'Empty Promises' below, previously only available on the Bradley Manning 7".

12-04 - Portland, OR - Mission Theatre *
12-06 - Seattle, WA - Showbox *
12-09 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom *
12-11 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey *

* w/ John Cale




LINKS

Official Site: http://cassmccombs.com/

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3FBD4A717D02F646

Label: http://dominorecordco.us/artists/cass-mccombs

New and Groovy Jams: Prince Rupert's Drops - Run Slow

When an album makes me want to get up and spin around as it blows my mind and drops me down smack-dab in the center of that psychedelic sound that I'm perpetually seeking, but rarely find, I rave about it. Run Slow, the full-length debut released November 13, 2012 by Prince Rupert's Drops, and also the first release for Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records, is just such an album.

Filled with in-the-pocket grooves, dazzling contrasts of acoustic and electric sound, dreamy vocals, and a generous (and always welcomed by me) dose of sitar, Run Slow conjures warm thoughts of my favorite psych-rock albums of the 60s. Yet, perhaps because this album is excellently recorded, mixed, and produced, a modern sound is readily apparent - a vibrant freshness that plants it firmly in the present.



Deliciously fuzz-drenched jams like Run Slow, Lungs, and Plague Ride are accompanied by shorter, smile-inducing tracks like Almond Man, Pillar To Post, and The Fortress. Truly, there's not a weak song on the entire album. Consisting of eight tracks, each one on Run Slow is perfectly placed, making for a well-balanced running order that brings the album together splendidly.

Prince Rupert's Drops - Run Slow:  more than A Bit Of Groovy and an aural trip you'll find yourself wanting to take over and over again. -Ravenval


Order on vinyl, cassette, or digi from Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records

Contacts

Prince Rupert's Drops:
http://www.facebook.com/PrinceRupertsDrops
https://twitter.com/PrinceRuperts

Label:
Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records:
http://beyondbeyondisbeyond.com
https://twitter.com/BBiB

New Music: Acetates by The Smoking Trees

Welcome to the Psychedelic World of The Smoking Trees!

Out on November 27, 2012, 'Acetates' by The Smoking Trees is the brilliant first release on the newly formed Los Angeles label, Colour Tree Records.

Limited Edition Compact Disc or Digital Download

STREAM AND ORDER Here:

 http://thesmokingtrees.bandcamp.com/album/acetates

From Bandcamp: "The Smoking Trees are Sir Psych and L.A AL, a psychedelic duo from Los Angeles. Since 2001, Sir Psych & L.A AL have been writing & recording music in the vein of 60's psych and garage. The Smoking Trees add the basic touches of punk rock riffs, yet in a lighter fashion. Layer them with strong dual harmonies, whimsical, baroque melodies, and the pounding break-beat drum style of Sir Psych, and you have The Smoking Trees incomparable style."

The Smoking Trees - A Bit of Psychedelic Groovy! 

Contacts
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheOfficialSirPsych 
Website: www.sirpsych.com 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Sir_Psych
Blog: www.sirpsych.blogspot.com