August kicked my ass. This whole summer kinda did. In some ways that are fabulous and in some ways that are less than. Now that we're coasting into sweater season, I'm weirded out by it being over, my head still spinning.

Autoptic 2015 was a fabulous part of the summer. It was so cool being a part of it. I could list all the feelings I felt but mainly I was inspired.

I should have mentioned that leading up to this event, we were furiously working to finish Baritone Prototype #1. We did finish it. It is pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. And we had it on display at our little corner of the festival.

The New Baritone and the new Guitar stand I finished that morning.

I had grand plans for a new stand to display the guitars on. Time, being the cruel master that it is, would only allow so much to get done. I painted most of it that morning. The event started at 10 and I waddled in at 10:30 with all my shit. I got to practice my "I know this entire room of artists managed to have their shit together enough to be here on time, yet here I am, late" - facade of coolness. Really, I just felt like a dummy.

Headstocks / Fighting the sunlight from the window behind us.

The festival was fun. Like I said, inspiring. There was so much greatness here it was hard to take in. I knew I was going to spend a metric buttload of money on stuff later. So much eye (and brain) candy. I ended up buying prints by Edie Fake, Ryan Duggan, Dwitt, and some Bartkira madness from Floating World Comics, and my favorite publisher, NOBROW.

Saturday night was a highlight for me. The festival moved to Cedar Cultural Center for an aural experience: Low, David Bazan, and The Hand.

Saturday night featured Low, David Bazan, and Zak Sally's The Hand.

It was a really great show. David Bazan, in particular, was just fantastic. But Low was fun as well - not always my thing, but I had a great time.

The Hand (check them out). Zak Sally's band. Zak had purchased one of our guitars. Our first Baritone, in fact. More on the specifics of our baritones in a later post, but this was the first time I'd heard it outside the shop. And for Zak, having just been handed the guitar that afternoon, this was also the first time he'd heard it. Ever. And it was live. On stage. In front of a few hundred people. Ha! He's got some balls.

The Hand sounded great. They have a ton of energy and it was pretty refreshing to get blasted with some noise after Bazan and Low. The baritone sounded great (imho) and didn't explode on stage. Which was nice.

Then I went to White Castle.

Then I went to sleep.

Autoptic was a great time. We were honored to be a part of such a gathering of talent. 2017 will be the next one. I suggest you put it on your calendar now.