Alice Donut

The first time I saw Alice Donut live, I was lucky enough to open for them. It was at the Off Ramp in Seattle, in 1989 or ’90. The bill was Alice Donut, Victims Family, My Name, and Rocket From the Crypt. My bandmates and I had heard Donut Comes Alive, AD’s first LP, and loved it, but it was their second record, Bucketfulls of Sickness and Horror in an Otherwise Meaningless Life, that catapulted them into top-favorite-bands status, and that’s the material they were playing at the show in Seattle. I was struck by the clever, intricate interplay between the guitars, and how, on heavy parts, the two would come together, a sonic bludgeon, that would then disperse into disparate snippets of melody—until the next bludgeoning. The rhythm section was a vehicle unto itself, providing a chassis for the guitars and vocals, undergirding things, but also enhancing the whole with idiosyncratic beats and rolling, propulsive bass lines. But I was a singer back then, a frontman, if you will, and it was Donut’s singer, Tom Antona, who I fixated on. From the unsettling, hand-painted robe he wore for the live shows, to his unhinged grin and confrontational, demented lyrics, I was equal parts enthralled and inspired. I saw them every chance I could after that and even got to play with them again once or twice. I was elated when they were open to the idea of doing a shirt all these years later. Being able to collaborate in an artistic endeavor with people I’ve admired and listened to for decades is—well, it’s kind of surreal. It’s also gratifying and an honor. I based the group portrait off an old AT promo photo that seemed to freeze-frame everyone’s personality pretty well—it’s a great shot. For the band name I took a cue from Tom’s original psychotic cover and logo art—how could I not? If I was going to title this shirt, I’d probably go pithy, compact, short and sweet—maybe something like: The Shirt Off the Back of the Son of a Disgruntled X-Postal Worker Reflecting on His Life While Getting Stoned in the Parking Lot of a Winn Dixie Listening to Metallica. -Abe Brennan LIMITED TO 300. Printed on Canvas soft cotton apparel. Ladies sizes run small!