The Art of Moonalice
We are very sad to hear of the passing of Wes Wilson, who is generally acknowledged as the father of the ’60s rock concert poster. Wes created 26 Moonalice and 3 Doobie Decibel System concert posters for us.
Wes will dearly be missed.
This past year, guests attending Moonalice shows were treated to a total of 75 posters from 26 amazingly talented artists. The series picked up at number 1087, and ended with poster 1161. Here’s a quick review of all the Moonalice posters created in 2019.
Moonalice kicked off the new year with a show on January 10 at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley that included posters by artists Chris Shaw (M1087) and Alexandra Fischer (M1088). This was the only show until April.
The annual 420 Gathering of the Tribe gathered for the eighth consecutive year at Slim’s and was joined this year by the amazing Ace of Cups, and Lester & Dylan Chambers. The poster set went to new highs with a total of 23 designed for the celebration.
Posters in the set included art by: Dennis Larkins (M1091), Darrin Brenner (M1092), Roy G Biv (M1093), Carolyn Ferris (M1094), Dennis Loren (M1095), Chris Peterson (M1096), Bill Ham & Emi (M1097), Mike Dolgushkin (M1098), Prairie Prince (M1099), Stanley Mouse (M1100), Jason Wilson (M1101), George & Patricia Sargent (M1102), Chris Gallen (M1103), Lauren Yurkovich (M1104), Gregg Gordon (M1105), Lee Conklin (M1106), David Singer (M1107), Wes Wilson (M1108), John Seabury (M1109), Jennaé Bennett (M1110), John Mavroudis (M1111), Chris Shaw (M1112), Alexandra Fischer (M1113). This night also marked the debut of artists Chris Gallen, Roy G. Biv, and EMEK to the Moonalice series.
Two spectacular screen prints were also available to purchase at the 420 Gathering of the Tribe by artists Emek (M1090) and Gary Houston (M1089)
In May, we celebrated John Molo’s 10th anniversary with Moonalice on the 24th at Occidental Center for the Arts with poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1114), Bottlerock Napa included a beauty by Chris Shaw (M1115) on the 25th, and a benefit at Crooked Lane Brewing Company in Auburn on the 26th featured Alexandra Fischer’s amazing artwork (M1116).
June kicked off with an epic show at Union Square Live with poster by Carolyn Ferris (M1117) on the 5th. Moonalice’s first gig in Soquel happened at Michael’s On Main on the 8th with poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1118), followed by an amazing night at Sweetwater Music Hall with poster by Chris Shaw (M1119).
Surrealistic Summer Solstice Jam 3, celebrating the Iconic Music of 1969, went down on June 19th with musical direction by Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and included four posters by artists Alexandra Fischer (M1120), Lauren Yurkovich (M1121), Dennis Loren (M1122), and Chris Shaw (M1123).
July included an epic performance at Union Square Live with poster by Gary Houston (M1124), before heading South for a series of show with Cubensis, and posters designed by Alexandra Fischer (M1125), Darrin Brenner (M1126), and Chris Shaw (M1127).
In August, Moonalice returned to Moraga for the ninth time, with a poster by the talented John Mavroudis (M1128). It had been nine years, but the band returned to Rancho Nicasio for a show with a beautiful poster illustrated by Gregg Gordon aka GIGART (M1129) on the 8th.
Cat fans will appreciate David Singer’s poster for The Petaluma Music Festival (M1130) on August 3rd which included a hat tip to Louis Wain! The Days Between began with a Jerry Garcia Birthday Salute at The Chapel with poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1131) on the August 4th. A Bread and Roses benefit on August 6th at Delancey Street featured a very psychedelic poster by Carolyn Ferris (M1132) before Moonalice’s return to Union Square Live with a trippy cat poster by the legendary Stanley Mouse (M1133) on August 7th.
Before The Days Between ended, The San Francisco Giants presented Grateful Dead Tribute Night on August 9th with special guest Moonalice, and a classic designed by Chris Shaw (M1134). The Day After at Nugget Campground in Placerville concluded the run of shows with a trippy poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1135) August 10th.
The end of August finished strong with the debut of Moonalice Big Band aka Brothers & Sisters (Lester Chambers, Dylan Chambers, Chloe Tietjen, Rachel Tietjen, Erika Tietjen, John Molo, Jason Crosby, Pete Sears, Barry Sless, Roger McNamee) at 118 North on August 20th with poster by John Seabury (M1136), Gypsy Sally’s August 21st poster by Chris Shaw (M1137) and LOCKN’ in Arrington, Virginia with a stunning poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1138).
September included a couple of shows, one at Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center with poster by Chris Shaw (M1139) on the 7th and Union Square Live with poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1140) the next day.
October treated fans to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park with three jammin’ posters by artists Gregg Gordon GIGART (M1141), Chris Shaw (M1142), and Alexandra Fischer (M1143).
Moonalice Fall Tour East Coast kicked off at Ardmore Music Hall with a foxy poster by Lauren Yurkovich (M1144). Moonalice’s first gig at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester featured a timely poster by Chris Gallen (M1145) on October 17th before the Woo Woo train was off to Drom in New York City with a psychedelic poster by Jennaé Bennett (M1146), her eleventh in the series.
October 19th celebrated the birthday of John Molo at The Stone Pony with poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1147) followed by Moonalice’s first visit to Buffalo Iron Works with art by John Seabury (M1148). Artist Chris Shaw was tasked for the poster at the Rex Theater (M1149) in Pittsburgh supporting Melvin Seals and JGB.
The tour headed to Woodlands Tavern in Columbus, Ohio on October 23 with a wonderful poster by artist Dennis Loren (M1150) before concluding at Martyrs’ in Chicago, Illinois (M1151) with psychedelic art by Carolyn Ferris, her 60th in the Moonalice poster series.
After a quick stop home, the band was off to Southern California for a five night Halloween run with Cubensis that included stops at Golden Sails Hotel with poster by Mike Dolgushkin (M1152), Halloween at Saint Rocke with poster by Darrin Brenner (M1153), Ramona Mainstage poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1154), Discovery Ventura poster by Jason Wilson (M1155), and Bogie’s Westlake Village Inn poster by Pat & George Sargent (M1156).
Moonalice made their first appearance with the Sisters and Brothers at Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol on November 8th with a fantastic poster by Chris Shaw (M1157). November 9th’s show featured a poster by Alexandra Fischer (M1158) to commemorate a festive night with Poor Man’s Whiskey at Odd Fellow Hall in Auburn, California.
Moonalice Sisters and Brothers concluded the year with three shows shortly before Thanksgiving. Friday night at Fernwood Tavern in Big Sur included a classic by Gary Houston (M1159), Saturday at Felton Music Hall with Magic in the Other included art by Alexandra Fischer (M1160), and the final show of 2019 at The Chapel in San Francisco featured an enlightening poster by Art Director Chris Shaw (M1161), his 239th in the series.
The biggest news in December was the premiere of the new Moonalice Store! This all new shopping experience includes all posters from the series available for purchase. There is also a new search engine to make everything easier. Check it out for yourself at store.moonalice.com.
Moonalice will be kicking off the new year as Full Moonalice THC revue debuting at Terrapin Crossroads on January 4, 2020 with a new poster for all who attend. Join the Tribe at Moonalice.com for more.
Moonalice proudly presents the short documentary film series “PAPER, INK and ROCK ‘n ROLL – A History of Posters”, that will bring you closer to the many Moonalice Poster Artists and their work.
The fifth installment in the short-film series features poster artist Wes Wilson, who is generally acknowledged as the father of the ’60s rock concert poster. He was born Robert Wesley Wilson on July 15, 1937 in Sacramento, California and helped pioneer what is now known as the psychedelic poster. His style of filling all available space with lettering, of creating fluid forms made from letters, and using flowing letters to create shapes became the standard that most psychedelic artists followed. It helped put the “psychedelic” in the art. Today, Wes Wilson creates paintings, but still occasionally does new posters or new art of interest.
Moonalice director Jay Blakesberg & Co-Producers Blakesberg & Alexandra Fischer invite fans of Moonalice & Poster Art to enjoy a personal look at the history and stories that surround the poster artists in the Moonalice tribe. Keep a look out for future parts of this film series including Dennis Loren & Carolyn Ferris to name a few
April 20, 2019 Slim’s, San Francisco, California
Moonalice poster by Wes Wilson
According to Moonalice legend, the Tribe gathers every year around this time to elevate its profile. By tradition, we gather here at Slim’s — this is the eighth consecutive year — and we are joined by the amazing Ace of Cups and the equally amazing Lester and Dylan Chambers.
There is much to celebrate this year. Let’s start with the big stuff. We have all made through a year that has to have been one of the weirdest of our lives.
We have a set of 23 posters tonight. 23. By Wes Wilson, Stanley Mouse, Chris Shaw, Alexandra Fischer, Lauren Yurkovich, Carolyn Ferris, David Singer, Lee Conklin, John Seabury, Dennis Larkin, Dennis Loren, George and Pat Sargent, Gregg Gordon, Prairie Prince, Jason Wilson, Chris Peterson, John Mavroudis, Darrin Brenner, Jennaé Bennett, Mike Dolgushkin, Bill Ham and Emi, Roy G. Biv, and newcomer Chris Gallen.
According to Moonalice legend, wombats are marsupials. They have pouches for their babies, but as you can see in this screen print by Emek it’s hard to keep the little ones under control. When they smell weed, they make a beeline for it. Even the chubby ones. But the reason why the little guy is so fired up is that he knows something that will blow your mind: next year, every day in April will be 4/20!
| Artist: | Wes Wilson |
| Performers: | Moonalice, Ace of Cups |
| Venue: | Slim’s |
| City, State: | San Francisco, California |
| Date: | April 20, 2019 |
| Printer: | PsPrint |
| Dimensions: | 12.75 in. x 17.25 in. |
| Medium: | Offset Lithograph |
| Paper: | 14 pt |
| Series: | Moonalice M1108 |
Are We Next? (1965 Reprint) political poster by Wes Wilson, 2016.
Legendary artist Wes Wilson, generally acknowledged father of the ’60s rock concert poster, designed this power political poster back in 1965. This art led to Chet Helms and later Bill Graham approaching him to do gig posters.
This image is still very relevant today, and has been reprinted with Wes’ permission for the 2016 US Presidential Election. Wes writes:
Read More“It’s been many years since I published this, my first poster, in 1965. That’s when my friend Richard Fahrner and I would listen to the depressing news about the escalating ‘Viet Nam War’ while on our way to work at Contact Printing in San Francisco. We didn’t like to hear how our America was getting ever deeper into the deadly quagmire of far off Viet Nam’s civil war. One morning while driving to work I suddenly visualized a jarring poster idea – our flag superimposed with a nazi-style swastika. So shocking it was instantly instructive! Richard was enthused too so after some more discussion among other friends as well I then went on to create this intentionally disturbing self published poster.”
– Wes Wilson
After Moonalice’s performance on September 14, 2016 at Union Square Live in San Francisco, this was one of 10 posters handed out to every guest in attendance.
| Artist: | Wes Wilson |
| Title: | Are We Next? Be Aware |
| Date: | September 14, 2016 |
| Printer: | PsPrint |
| Dimensions: | 16.00 in. x 30.00 in. |
| Medium: | Offset Lithograph |
| Paper: | 14 pt |
| Series: | – |
| Artist: | Wes Wilson |
| Title: | Are We Next? (1965 Reprint) |
| Date: | September 14, 2016 |
| Printer: | PsPrint |
| Dimensions: | 16.00 in. x 30.00 in. |
| Medium: | 3 color screen print |
| Edition: | 70, Signed & Numbered |
| Paper: | 14 pt |
| Series: | – |