rock posters – not just for dorm rooms

It’s true; you can be an adult and still adorn your walls with rock posters. I am well into adulthood, yet I never got over the urge to hang up great pop culture art. My refrigerator is always overflowing with postcards, bumper stickers, comics and photos of rock bands and pretty people from magazines. Since I’m no longer a teenager and I don’t live on a college campus, it’s the only acceptable place for that type of stuff.

I’ve been able to make an exception to that rule, by hanging concert posters that have been matted and framed as art pieces around my home (that’s my favorite Radiohead poster above). Concert posters have become a popular way to add to style and personality to any décor. And why not? For me there’s a never-ending coolness to rock posters. You can find them in almost any size or color scheme to fit in with the style of your room. They are abundant and easy to find, yet are also highly individual and unique to the owner. When nicely matted and framed, concert posters are colorful, cheap, original pieces of art.

Yes, art; the rock poster has moved into the realm of art exhibits and special collections and has its own unique movement of artists, printers and rabid collectors. For the low down on how to get started, I would point you to RockPosterCollector.com for information on the history of rock posters, how to start your own collection as well as advice on the care of your posters. Some other great sources for finding the perfect print include philaarts.com, ConcertPosterArt.com, and of course, eBay.

Once you have the perfect image, you will want to find a nice frame (a simple black or white wood frame will always be classic) to show off the piece. Don’t forget to matte the image as well for a bolder, dramatic look. Check your local area for custom framing if you want to pay a professional to do the job. Living in Los Angeles, I’ve always gone to Aaron Brothers (I wait for their Buy One Frame, Get One for a Penny sale) for decently priced frames and a knowledgeable and helpful staff. If you are more of a do-it-yourself type of person, ask about pre-cut matting material sized to fit standard frames or buy a matting kit.

Finally, a concert poster makes a great gift. With a little planning, you can give a highly personal, unique and much appreciated gift to the rock fan in your life. Search the above sites for posters with your recipients’ favorite bands or go another route and look for shows at a particular venue or city. The biggest coup of all? See if you can find a show that took place on your friend’s birthday. It’s a bit harder to find (and I’ve yet to see a site that lets you search by concert date) but I know the day I find a Duran poster for January 2nd or a Counting Crows one for October 20th, I will be snatching it up!

Take a look at my birthday gift to myself last year! When I found this Lucinda Williams poster on eBay, I squealed with delight. Yep, my birthday is April 11th, Lucinda is a big fave of mine and I just had to have it. I finally got around to getting it framed, and here she is, fresh from the framers. Now, for the important part, I need to find her the perfect wall to call home.

Bonus: As an easier, cheaper alternative with the same vibe, frame your all-time favorite album(s) in LP sized frames (only 10 bucks each or get four for 35). Insert the old vinyl favorites you’ve never been able to part with or go to a used record store for cheap albums and tada: easy, cool art

If you want to look at more fabulous rock posters in a handy book form, I’ve just pre-ordered Gig Posters Volume 1: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century, which I think will make a fine addition to my coffee table books.

Filed in: home & living,read, watch, listen

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