ANCIENT TIMES

Dave's cartooning career started as a teenager in concert lots and festival campgrounds ("lot" for short) in the mid-late 1990's. Rolling through on his skateboard with paper and markers, he'd draw fans, often in groups, in exchange for burritos, tickets, party favors, or cash. Hundreds of these caricatures are still framed on the walls of seasoned concert goers, who named him "Scribble". 

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Throughout art school and then into his career, he preserved the marker style developed on lot with its explosive center, undefined boarders, and kinetic energy. Even in paintings, the markers still find their way in, even if only in spirit and style.

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RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS

In 2006, he founded The Primate Fiasco, a band that would soon go on to perform at many of the same festivals that he'd attended as a fan. The band toured for over ten years, achieving five albums with radio spins, a Grammy nomination, and somewhat of an odd-ball cult following. As a musician, often topping the bill, Dave no longer needed to hustle for burritos, tickets, party favors, or cash. These things were already supplied for him. His visual art was still a large part of the band's identity, though his electric banjo was the weapon of choice. His new campground hustle was trading memorable moments through surprise parading sets in exchange for an empathic rush from the surrounding dance party. All the while, his art career weaved in and out of the band's environment.

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DOWN SHIFT

In late 2017, Dave's will to be a performer was struck by a perfect storm. What started as an inspiring dance party had become a sea of cell phone videographers. A very close loved one and muse had died. And a mysterious psychological phenomenon caused music to sound like nails on a chalkboard to his ears. It would take at least a year before he was able to listen to music again. The Primate Fiasco quietly switched off and went their separate ways.

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Fortunately, his art career was still humming along in parallel and it now has no distractions.

 

SURPRISE!

His fans watched as the art rolled out. Finally, people started asking "do I recognize this style? Is the singer from Primate also that Scribble guy from Phish lot?".

 

Dave was unaware that the print market within the concert scene was exploding. His musical themed traveling art gallery and poster design vacuumed him back into the music festival world. Instead of a smile and nod from the stage, he now has the entire weekend to connect with his fans.

 

 

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