Zappagram #89: Graphic design? Anyone?
New year, new me! Well, same old me, but new career...
Hey Zappagrammers,
New year, new me!
Most of you don’t know this, but next month I turn fifty years old. Fifty. Five zero. 50. The big five-oh. Half a century. Holy shit! I never really cared about 30, or even 40, but somehow 50 feels…different. 50 feels like being painfully aware of the fact that time is running out. 50 feels like it’s time to stop struggling so hard, start living healthier and happier, and to start enjoying and making the most of what time I have left.
Having said that, I’m making a career change and I want to share with all of you what that means. It may be late in life, but over the last few years, I’ve found an intense passion for graphic design. It’s something I’ve worked at from time to time over the years, but now I want to pursue it with all I’ve got.
Nearly all my life, I’ve been self-employed, and I plan to continue that, only now as a graphic designer and digital artist. My hope is to somehow find a way to combine my deep love of music with this new pursuit, but I will work with pretty much anyone who is willing to work with me. I want to design logos and help clients with branding. I want to design album artwork and concert posters. I want to help with social media graphics and all manner of promotional materials. If it involves graphic design, I’m interested.
You can view samples of my early work at my website: chriszappa.com
If you’re reading this, do you know anyone looking for graphic design services? If you or someone you know might be in need, would you please reach out and start a discussion?
You can email me anytime: hey@chriszappa.com
You guys have been amazing for supporting Zappagram, and I’m eternally grateful to each one of you for that.
I just know that if there’s anyone out there who can help me get my new career off the ground, it’s you guys. You guys are the best.
Hey, thank you for listening. Enough talk about things that aren’t music.
Ground control to reader: Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on.
This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself.
“The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.”
—David Bowie
ROCK THE VOTE
:: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
WEEKLY PLAYLIST
:: NEW MUSIC EVERY WEEK
Featuring: Dylan LeBlanc, Aimee Mann, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Andrew Belle, Andrew Bird, Band Of Horses, Aqualung, Beck, Al Stewart
ZAPPAGRAM #89
ZAPPAGRAM PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
:: WHAT’S GOING ON
NOW HIRING
Smashing Pumpkins Set Up Open Auditions for New Guitarist
Did you ever dream about joining your favorite rock band and touring the world with them? Now is your big chance [RollingStone]
R.I.P.
Del Palmer, Long-Time Kate Bush Bassist and Engineer, Dies at 71
He contributed to every Kate Bush album between 1978 and 2011 [NME]
IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME
N.W.A, Donna Summer, Tammy Wynette to Receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards
Laurie Anderson and Gladys Knight will also receive the Recording Academy's special merit prize [RollingStone]
LIKE, DUH
Green Day Hates Trump. Are You Really Surprised?
The MAGA world went on a days-long meltdown after Billie Joe Armstrong dissed them on New Year's Eve. We try to figure out why — and what it says about the 2024 election [RollingStone]
THIS IS FOR REAL
Harvard Seeks More Taylor Swift Teaching Assistants To Cope With Demand
Course instructor Stephanie Burt estimated she received 150 applications after reaching out for more teaching assistants on X/Twitter [NME]
SADLY, THIS TIME FOR GOOD
Rage Against the Machine Break Up…Again
"I don't want to string people or myself along any further," drummer Brad Wilk wrote in a note to fans. "I want you to know that RATM will not be playing live again" [RollingStone]
YIKES, DUDE
Former Mr. Bungle Saxophonist Theobald Lengyel Charged With Murder
He was arrested on Tuesday after his girlfriend disappeared and police discovered body parts [Pitchfork]
GET ON THE BALL, ENGLAND
Street Named After David Bowie To Be Unveiled in Paris Next Week – But the UK Doesn’t Have One
Plans for the street were first announced back in 2020 [NME]
THIS LOOKS GOOD
June Carter Cash Documentary Gets New Trailer: Watch
June debuts on Paramount+ on January 16 [Pitchfork]
LFG
Mike McCready: Pearl Jam’s New Album is “Heavier Than You’d Expect”
The band worked with our 2022 Producer of the Year, Andrew Watt [Consequence]
HE’S THE PIANO MAN
Billy Joel Announces 2024 Tour Dates, Including Shows with Stevie Nicks and Sting
The new additions to his itinerary including a June 21 concert with Stevie Nicks at Soldier Field in Chicago and a September 27 date with Sting at Busch Stadium in St. Louis [Consequence]
FO SHIZZLE
Snoop Dogg Tapped as Correspondent for NBC’s Coverage of 2024 Summer Olympics
The rapper will provide his own special commentary on daily events [Consequence]
DON’T BE A TEASE
Jack White Teases New Music
The Detroit rocker has posted a mysterious clip on Instagram [Consequence]
EMMY GRAMMY OSCAR TONY
Weird Al Scores First-Ever Emmy as ‘Weird’ Wins Outstanding TV Movie
"Halfway to EGOT, baby!," master parodist says after his larger-than-life biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story wins at Creative Arts Emmys [RollingStone]
Z-REX
:: ZAPPA’S RECOMMENDATIONS
Dylan LeBlanc has been around for years, but I’ve just recently discovered him and become a big fan of his music. Here’s a recent live performance of the title track from his latest album Coyote. As Joni Mitchell said: no regrets, coyote.
NEW RELEASES
:: RECENTLY DROPPED MUSIC
Alberta Cross: “Glow In The Dark” (single) [listen]
Black Hibiscus: Fast Love EP [listen]
Dylan LeBlanc: “Let It Rain” (single) [listen]
Green Day: “One Eyed Bastard” (single) [listen]
Liam Gallagher & John Squire: “Just Another Rainbow” (single) [listen]
Sarah Jarosz: “Days Can Turn Around” (single) [listen]
Sleater-Kinney: “Untidy Creature” (single) [listen]
RELEASE RADAR
:: UPCOMING RELEASES
- JAN 12 -
Cocteau Twins: Four-Calendar Café (2024 Remaster)
Cocteau Twins: Milk & Kisses (2024 Remaster)
Kali Uchis: Orquídeas
Kid Cudi: Insano
Lou Reed: Hudson River Wind Meditations
The Vaccines: Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations
- JAN 19 -
Green Day: Saviors
Sleater-Kinney: Little Rope
- JAN 26 -
Future Islands: People Who Aren’t There Anymore
Gruff Rhys: Sadness Sets Me Free
The Smile: Wall of Eyes
Ty Segall: Three Bells
- FEB 2 -
Brittany Howard: What Now
J Mascis: What Do We Do Now
Lee “Scratch” Perry: King Perry
Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run (Underdubbed Mixes)
- FEB 9 -
Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She
Madi Diaz: Weird Faith
Sonic Youth: Walls Have Ears
- FEB 16 -
Grandaddy: Blu Wav
Idles: Tangk
ON THIS DATE
:: MUSICAL HAPPENINGS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
- JAN 8 -
Birthdays: Elvis Presley (1935) • Shirley Bassey (1937) • Robbie Krieger of The Doors (1946) • David Bowie (1947) • Steve Garvey of Buzzcocks (1958) • Paul Hester of Crowded House (1959) • Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone (1966) • David Bowie released his twenty-fifth and final studio album Blackstar, coinciding with his 69th birthday and two days before his death. (2016)
- JAN 9 -
Birthdays: Joan Baez (1941) • Scott Walker (1943) • Jimmy Page (1944) • David Johansen (1950) • Crystal Gayle (1951) • Dave Matthews (1967) • Paolo Nutini (1987) • Stars paid tribute to Motörhead frontman Lemmy at his funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee, Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Slash from Guns N' Roses, Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich from Metallica, Judas Priest singer Rob Halford and Anthrax frontman Scott Ian all spoke at the service. (2016)
- JAN 10 -
Birthdays: Producer and record company executive Jerry Wexler (1917) • Scott McKenzie (1939) • Jim Croce (1943) • Rod Stewart (1945) • Aynsley Dunbar, drums, Journey (1946) • Donald Fagen (1948) • Pat Benatar (1953) • Shawn Colvin (1958) • David Bowie died from liver cancer at his New York home two days after releasing the album Blackstar on his 69th birthday. (2016) • Jeff Beck died age 78 from a bacterial meningitis infection at a hospital in England. (2023)
- JAN 11 -
Birthdays: Slim Harpo (1924) • Clarence Clemons, aka Big Man (1942) • Lee Ritenour (1952) • Mary J Blige (1971) • Nirvana appeared on NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live performing two songs, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Territorial Pissings'. (1992)
- JAN 12 -
Birthdays: Chris Bell of Big Star (1951) • Blixa Bargeld of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (1959) • Charlie Gillingham of Counting Crows (1960) • Guy Chambers of The Waterboys & World Party (1963) • Zack de la Rocha (1970) • Maurice Gibb from The Bee Gees died aged 53 in Miami Hospital, Florida following a heart attack during abdominal surgery. (2003) • American singer Ronnie Spector died aged 78. (2022) • Lisa Marie Presley died at the age of 54. (2023) • Canadian drummer Robbie Bachman died aged 69. (2023)
- JAN 13 -
Birthdays: Joe Pass (1929) • Graham McPherson of Madness & Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips (1961) • American soul and gospel singer-songwriter Donny Hathaway took his own life at the age of 33 following well-documented struggles with his mental health. (1979) • Teddy Pendergrass died at the age of 59 following a difficult recovery from colon cancer surgery. (2010) • New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain died from cancer at the age of 69. (2021)
- JAN 14 -
Birthdays: Allen Toussaint (1938) • Patricia Morrison of The Sisters Of Mercy (1962) • Zakk Wylde (1967) • LL Cool J (1968) • Dave Grohl (1969) • Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon (1982) • David Bowie released his eleventh studio album Low. (1977) • Jerry Nolan, drummer for The New York Dolls, died from a fatal stroke at age 45. (1992)
Follow me on Threads, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, or Medium for more (mostly) music-related content. Check out the “Will Work For Vinyl” t-shirts available in my shop.
Peace and love to all,
🤘🏻🖤
