Christmas present #1

This started off as a straightforward post about a great little book that I've just come across but it's turned into a suggestion for a Christmas present for anyone musically inclined that you know. It's a bargain, under £10 on Amazon, and it's been put together in a very cool way.

The book in question is Bands On The Road: The Tour Sketchbook.


Organisers Silke Leicher and Manuel Schreiner (I won't call them authors because there's little writing in it by them) clearly had a great idea in asking lots of bands to draw something whilst on tour, whether it was their tour bus, a hotel room or a memory.

My personal favourites include Manic Street Preacher Nicky Wire's impressionist take on St David's Wood and Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie's Hotel.

Complete with a double page per drawing (and there are 107 sketches in there), full description of the drawing by the artist and mini band biogs, it's a steal at around a tenner. Most of the bands are alt.rock/rock/indie but the selection is wide enough to appeal to most.

Keep an eye out for a few more musical present tips in the run up to Christmas.