THIS SHIT’S OFFICIAL: We’re taking our “Tall Tales From A Large Man” traveling roadshow across the pond! Our friends from Beep Industries and Keri Newman Design have organized a two-stop U.K. tour, complete with a pit stop in Vancouver, Canada, train rides, tube rides and maybe even a couple of those spirited black cab rides to sort this thing out.

Our passport expired last summer. 10 years, already? I just got mine renewed, and after a couple failed passport photo attempts from the local Kinkos, I sent the shit in and we’re official! Up above is one of the failed attempts. So gross. Look at that head! Like a medicine ball. I pondered sending that photo in, but didn’t like the idea of getting poked, prodded and locked in some foreign jail somewhere. Hopefully the approved shot won’t get me in hot water. Hard to say. I’ll tell you this much, when I go through customs, I am the gentlest, politest fucker you’d ever meet. Just free, easy and compliant. Done.

- - - -

TWO STOPS: There’s two dates on our U.K. tour! The first night is in London on November 29th. The second night, November 30th, we whip up to Manchester to Beep Industries. Let’s just make this official right here:

Keri Newman Design presents DDC vs. London: “Tall Tales From A Large Man”
4th Floor Studios
255 - 259 Commercial Rd
E1 2BT London
United Kingdom
Tuesday, 29 November 2011 from 19:00 to 22:00 (GMT)

Beep Industries presents “Speak After the Beep with Aaron Draplin”
Islington Mil
James Street
M3 5HW Salford
United Kingdom
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 at 19:00 (GMT)

- - - -

THE PITCH: For one night only in London, a special evening event featuring Aaron Draplin-founder of Portland’s Draplin Design Company and co-creator of Field Notes.

Draplin will be bringing his hilarious “Tall Tales from a Large Man” presentation to the UK for the first time.

Using scientific proof and state-of-the-art multimedia techniques, Aaron James Draplin of the Draplin Design Co. delivers a suckerpunch of a talk that aims to provide bonafide proof of work, the highs and lows of a ferociously independent existence and a couple tall tales from his so-called career in the cutthroat world of contemporary graphic design.

Just a regular American guy with a trajectory a little dirtier than yours, his talk is open to all oncomers brave enough to show up. If you are a youngster, you may find yourself inspired to attack your design future in a different way. If you are established, you may just leave feeling grateful you don’t have anything to do with him. Hard to say.

Oh yeah, there’s door prizes for those he deems “Real Good” and he’ll reward them on the spot, just because. One night only, London

Same applies for Manchester! Take heed.

- - - -

OUR CHALLENGE TO ALL WHO READ THIS: Bloody hell, get a ticket already!

- - - -

ON THE PLAYER:

01. Swervedriver - Raise
02. Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentleman, We Are Floating In Space
03. Bevis Frond - Any Gas Faster
04. Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
05. Pink Floyd - Meddle
06. The Who - Who’s Next
07. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
08. Led Zeppelin - I (Loud!)