Ubu the Ukestar

Yiaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Strrrumm-stitty-strrrummm.
I play finger and thumb!

I GO!

Plittty-plittty-plit-plit-strrrumm.

Plitty

Plitty



Pliiiit



Pliiiit



Strrrumumumumum

*bink*


Photo found on Flickr on Mrkirun's photostream.  Check him out!

Black Ukulele Red Beats

Balance on my stump
Black boots.

Red ukulele strum
Back beats.

Mulch needle litter
Black beats.

And there was never any real good reason for me to be up here.




Photo provided by Lolanova's photostream on Flickr.

Clowning Around

Once more I have found an amusing illustration on Flickr.  While perusing the selections of great photography and images I was able to find this newer illustration by Custom Paper Toys.  The name may be familiar to some who know of the paper monkey on a moon playing an ukulele.  This particular illustration is for a calendar project featuring a KC artist, which I take to mean an artist from the Kansas City area. 

I suppose I would never post an illustration I don't like, so it may be redundant for me to mention that I like this illustration.  Nonetheless I mentioned that I like it.  The use of color, pattern, line variation, color of lines, etc., all come together and capture my attention.  All of this drivel probably sounds pretentious when talking about a pink clown playing an ukulele.  Yes, it does.  Still the "Get Down Clown" will happily be posted to my blog accompanying all of my opinions.  Moreover, take time and study the illustration.  Perhaps the pattern and color placements will grab at the visual senses.

Queens of the Uke Age

Rolling along, minding my business, trying not to burst into song because of what I just wrote. Pow! It hits me like me like an aimless cicada in the summer. A new find for me on Flickr, fabulous. Yes another, and there will be more, this I promise! However! Please keep reading. I want to know if someone has a full length version of this performance (video below) out there on the web? If so please let me know. Either way I will find this video in full length if it is one of the things I do in this life. Queens of the Stone Age on ukulele, albeit distorted electric ukulele, is entertaining to say the least. In my opinion it also works together for an intriguing sound.

I end with a second quest. If anyone could post some comments and let me know of any ukulele punk groups to check out. This area of ukulele-dom interests me and I would like find more information.

Simply Put

Another illustration from the pages of Flickr. This particular black and white was posted by the artist Austin Kleon. He has a large portfolio found on Flickr and as far as I can tell no other ukulele subjects. Nonetheless the other images are great (especially what he does with signs and newspapers, check it out). I love this image, which is aptly titled Ukulele Illustration. I'm thinking this image needs to be a sticker, perhaps a patch. I think someone needs to ask his permission.

Also recommended is going to Austin's website, www.austinkleon.com. Austin's personal site is a bit easier to navigate compared to the flickr site, plus it is personalized (great look).

On a sad note, Yankees just won the World Series. Sorry Yankees fans, but I would have rather seen the Phillies win. But who wants to be known for what they dislike? Let's go White Sox!

Fiction Flickr

Once again I have found an intriguing piece of art containing an image of the ukulele on the plentiful pages of Flickr. Oh what wondrous finds I've been finding floundering to be found. This particular piece was posted by the artist Kollage Kid. Ted "Wiggy" Pook is a humorous piece. Furthermore it made me curious as to who Ted Pook was and why he was wiggy? My search took me on an adventure to another blog, Scrapiteria. According to folklore, which I now understand to be fictitious, Ted Pook was a famous musician who was known during the 1920's. Exactly what he was known for makes the greatest story of all. Ted Pook was famous for being the only musician to "play outdoors for several Eskimos." Moreover his wig "was insured for a staggering three thousand pounds", thus the "Wiggy" nickname. Lest I forget, Wiggy also had a whale blubber ukulele (not sure how that works). What an imagination. Loved every second in my research to find the real Ted "Wiggy" Pook.

"I am Ted Pook."

"No, I am Ted Pook."

"I am that Wiggy Pook! Yes, the very one who played for Eskimos. I have a whale blubber uke! Do you?! No! For I am that Pook!"

I digress. Please check out both the artist's page on Flickr and the story on Scrapiteria.

Illustrate the Ukulele

Interesting illustrations and pictures always cross my eyes when I browse the Flickr pages. I love seeing what the artists that are found on that page have to share. I came across this little illustration of a stump band. Wonderful little environment that gives me warm feelings of what a community of music can do. Pure and simple. Art and music for the enjoyment of everyone, not a commodity for retail. I hope you enjoy this illustration by Laura George. I am pretty sure there is an ukulele somewhere in that ensemble. I wonder what song they are playing?Please check out her other illustrations they are great.

This post was written while listening to the new album from David Gray, Draw the Line. I have always been a fan of David Gray and I am still a fan.