"My mom feels that way, she will not watch music videos for that exact reason."

I'm happy to report two new interviews related to "Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song"...

"Everything you hear in their voices, they really had lived it."
Stephen M. Deusner sat down to talk with Frank Young and I about the book for Engine 145.
It was an enjoyable conversation.  Among other things, we talked about the research we did for the book, and the dream Frank had, about 10 years ago, that shaped how the entire novel would eventually look.

I sat down with two friends and collaborators, Chris Estey and Mairead Case, and we talked about music, and comics, and comics about music, for KEXP's blog.  KEXP, for those who don't know, is one of Seattle's best radio stations, and can be heard online.  It's a thrill to be on the blog of a station I listen to regularly...

Thanks Stephen, Chris, and Mairead for talking with us!

How Do You Read "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song"...?

The talented McIntyre Sisters met up in NYC in October (shortly before Hurricane Sandy struck), Sarah coming from London, and Mary coming from Seattle.  Among the many things they did was read "The Carter Family" on New York's public transit. 

 

I appropriated this most excellent photo from Sarah's highly entertaining LiveJournal blog...

Send me a photo of yourself reading the book & maybe you'll see it posted on this blog.  davidlasky (at) yahoo (dot-com). 

Fantagraphics Bookstore Recap

I've been meaning to write about our signings at the Fantagraphics Bookstore in Seattle, and Village Books in Bellingham, but real life has gotten in the way.

Janice at Fantagraphics wrote a really nice post about our Seattle signing for their FLOG, so I'm going to share the link...

And some photos from the event:

Kelly Froh gossips with Mike and Janice.

Frank Young, David Lasky, Noah Van Sciver.

Original art was displayed on the store's gallery wall!

Dennis Driscoll played a selection of Carter Family songs and his own songs (ending with a rap!) to a star-studded audience.  

Today was (I think) the last day to see the original art displayed at the Fantagraphics Bookstore.  The book is still available there and at many other bookstores.  What a nice holiday gift it would make! :)

Lots more photos from the Fantagraphics Bookstore signing can be seen here...

Thanks all who attended!!

"their choice of instruments was limited by religious beliefs"

A somewhat odd, but favorable, review from ICV2:
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/24178.html

Skip Heller's review reappears (unsigned) here:
http://www.radioio.com/2012/10/frank-m-young-and-david-lasky-the-carter-family-dont-forget-this-song/

The Comics Journal interviewed me, and picked out an odd quote to use as the title:
“I’m Glad to Have the Benefit Now of Existing”...

Aren't you glad as well?

"Carter Family" original art on display; Seattle and Gainesville

Original art from "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song" is currently on display at the Fantagraphics Bookstore in Seattle, WA.  The exhibition, sharing the gallery wall with art from Noah Van Sciver's "Young Lincoln" graphic novel, continues through Nov. 22.

On December 7, a completely different show of art from the book goes on display at the Sequential Artists Workshop (SAW) in Gainesville, FL. 
http://sequentialartistsworkshop.org/wordpress/2012/10/carter-family-event-dec-7/

How Do You Read "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song"...?

Michael John Simmons, Editor-at-Large and co-founder of The Fretboard Journal, reads his near the Victrola...

(Photo courtesy of Michael John Simmons)

 

NW Tour Recap: Portland!

On October 25, Frank and I gave a reading and signed copies of our book at the world's greatest little store, Reading Frenzy, in Portland, Oregon.

 

(photo by Corin See)

We had a great turn-out, Reading Frenzy sold all its copies, and I even sold the five I'd brought along with me. Thank you, Portland Comics Scene for representing!  It was great to see old friends, and meet some new old friends. 

During the Q&A, someone asked how long the project took.  We explained that it all began in 2002, when our friend Ilse was playing recorded music to her baby, in-utero.  She played a CD of hillbilly music, and suggested to me that some of those old hillbilly musicians might have some good stories.  That got the ball rolling toward me asking Frank if he knew anything about The Carter Family.  I was able to point to the back of the room and tell everyone that Ilse's baby is now a ten year-old boy...

(Thank you, Gary and Arlo, for coming to see us!)

It was especially nice to have Beth Harrington present.  We showed a clip from her Carter Family documentary-in-progress, "The Winding Stream."  She was kind enough to sing Carter Family songs, a capella, during our reading of the Bristol Sessions chapter.  She's been a wonderful supporter of our book, and we can't wait to see her film!!

(Beth and husband Andy)

Thank you, Chloe and the staff of Reading Frenzy for fantastic event!!! 
All of my photos from the reading are posted here.

How do you read "The Carter Family"?...

Starting today, we invite you, the reader, to send us a photo of yourself reading "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song." 

Filmmaker Ron Austin read his copy while on vacation, in an easy chair next to a fire...

 

Thank you, Ron, for allowing us to re-post your photo!  This is also a good moment to point out that Ron is at work (with Louise Amandes) on a documentary about cartoonists in the Pacific Northwest that includes footage of me (David Lasky) at work on a page from the Carter Family graphic novel!  It's called "Bezango, WA."  Learn more, and possibly support completion of the film, at its Kickstarter page... 



(At the $90 level, the thank you gift is a Carter Family giclee print by yours truly.)

Where to find "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song"

In San Francisco, it has been spotted at (the historic) City Lights Books!

(thank you, Haley Stocking, for the photo!)

CBR Robot 6

A thoughtful piece about portraying sound in comics, and some of the visual expressions of music in "Carter Family" was just posted to Comic Book Resources.

The Forward

Paul Buhle reviews "CARTER FAMILY: DON'T FORGET THIS SONG" for The Jewish Daily Forward!
http://blogs.forward.com/the-arty-semite/165015/comic-books-and-country-music/

More nice mentions

Frank and I used to work for Fantagraphics (at different times, and in different jobs).  They had us sign at their store recently (photos coming soon), and posted a very sweet mention on their blog (thank you, Janice!)...

Old time music afficianado Byron Marshall wrote a really nice review on the Cartoon Simple blog...

A nice mention...

In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
http://www.ajc.com/news/entertainment/snakes-liquor-war-slavery-yellow-fever-and-country/nSPTb/
(Scroll to the end).

And a nice review in Folkworks:
http://www.folkworks.org/reviews/book-reviews/40565-the-carter-family-dont-forget-this-song