Pitchfork

Paper Kingdom is a collection of over 150 Baltimore-area show posters by Baltimore artists, compiled by one of their own, Maryland Institute College of Art grad Elena Johnston. With work spanning nearly two decades, the 190-page book serves as a document of Baltimore's ever-changing musical climate, all the way through to the oft-spazzy stuff that dominates the city's sound today.

In addition to artwork from the likes of Dan Deacon and Jimmy Joe Roche (check their "Wham City" poster below), Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez, Lexie Mountain (of Lexie Mountain Boys), and more, Paper Kingdom also gathers interviews with Deacon, Victoria Legrand of Beach House, Shaun Flynn of WZT Hearts, Nolen Strals of Double Dagger, and several of the non-musician contributing visual artists.

The first few pressings of the book have sold out, but the current run is available for purchase right here. Check out a few highlights:






And speaking of Dan, he and half the city are about to set out on that zany Baltimore Round Robin tour, which can only spawn more eye-popping posters and lots and lots of sweat. Dan's got a new 7" out, too: a split with tourmates Future Islands on 307 Knox Records. Dan says his contributions are "light hearted and fun," and, well, I'm inclined to believe him.

Dan Deacon/Future Islands split:

A1 Dan Deacon: "Mark Brown"
A2 Dan Deacon: "Crank It"
A3 Dan Deacon: "Shoe Faces"
A4 Dan Deacon: "Elf Wire"
A5 Dan Deacon: "Silver Bells"
B1 Future Islands: "Follow You (Pangaea Version)"