Richmond Fontaine
My absolute favorite Portland band. I’ve loved their stuff all the way back to 1995. I’ve done all of the Richmond Fontaine records since 2009, and it’s been my highest rock & roll design honor to help Willy and Sean bring these incredible records to life. You know how websites say, “Selected Works?” Not doing that shit here. We’re showing EVERYTHING we’ve made for our buddies in the mighty Richmond Fontaine. Just draggin’ a suitcase by a piece of rope here, people. Dig in!
Richmond Fontaine –
We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River
Release Details:
01. Released on ARRCO Records, Decor Records, Diverse Records and El Cortez Records.
02. Hitting record stores on August 15, 2009.
03. Catalog No. “DIV018”
Project Details:
01. The cover shot? Leigh and I hiked out over the 21st Street bridge that crosses the Banfield Expressway here in Portland to get some long exposures of cars whipping by. We took that!
02. Designed the vinyl and CD, and all subsequent repressings both stateside and in the United Kingdom.
03. Directed by Chris Metzler at Decor Records.
Richmond Fontaine – Live At Dante’s
We were at this show! Even got a shout-out from Willy, which sadly didn’t make the cut onto the recording. The cover and tray images were shot with my iPhone, then blurred out and toned red. It was a great night out around town.
Release Details:
01. Released on Decor Records and El Cortez Records.
02. Hitting the record stores in late 2010.
03. Catalog No. “DECOR021CD.”
Richmond Fontaine – The High Country
My buddy Fred Green and I got to be in the “Lost in the Trees” video filmed on Willy & Lee’s homestead in Scapoose, Oregon. That was a fun afternoon. Got to know the band and all their buddies that much more. Fred and I used to argue who liked Richmond Fontaine more. I always won.
Release Details:
01. Released on Decor Records, Diverse Records and El Cortez Records.
02. Hitting record stores on September 26, 2011.
03. Catalog No. “DECOR025.”
“Chainsaw Sea” bar bumper sticker. As spotted on bumper of Angus’ pickemuptruck.
Chainsaw chain-inspired outtake.
KSAW 1550 AM: “The Voice of the Trees.”
Richmond Fontaine – You Can't Go Back If There's Nothing To Go Back To
Look at that horse. Willy told me about how he pulled over in Nevada and took a picture of an old horse. Then gave the shot to his painter friend Greg Allen. What an incredible image for a cover.
Release Details:
01. Released on Decor Records, Diverse Records and El Cortez Records.
02. Hitting record stores on March 18, 2016.
03. Catalog No. “DECOR38LP.”
Richmond Fontaine –
Don’t Skip Out on Me
Willy won’t admit it, but he’s a helluva photographer. Check out his haunting shots of “middle of nowhere” Nevada sprinkled throughout this release. Absolutely stunning!
Release Details:
01. Released on Decor Records, Diverse Records and El Cortez Records.
02. Hitting record stores on February 2, 2018.
03. Catalog No. “DECOR45LP.”
Richmond Fontaine
Souvenir T-Shirts
Richmond Fontaine
Casino Souvenirs
Richmond Fontaine Playing
My 40th Birthday Party
I’m still so blown away by the 40th birthday party Leigh put together for me. It was a bittersweet night. Dad died just two days before, and we were back in Portland sorting things out. So many people had flown in from all over the nation for the big night, Leigh had arranged a “DDC: 40” art show from graphic design colleagues, birthday greeting videos from friends who couldn’t make it up to Portland, fuckin’ Wayne Coyne and David Yow! And to top it all off? She got Richmond Fontaine to play the gig. It was one of the greatest nights of my life and I owe her a Mt. Hood of gratitude for doing things up like she did. Thank you, Smoochie. And thank you to Willy and the band! And all who came! And the people of the White Owl Social Club! Fuck yeah, 40!
One of the coolest nights of my life. Thank you, Leigh McKolay!
Willy Vlautin, Renaissance Man
and Lover of Old Westerns
High stakes client meeting with Willy Vlautin. 2009.
Inspecting souvenir items from The High Country record release. 2011.