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Best Flyers of 2008

Twenty or so of the best event flyers of the year - By Morgan Short, Jan 05, 09

The statute of limitations for year-end listicles is the first week of January, so this article is squeezing in just under the wire.

In 2008, SmartShanghai posted around 2100 events.

Behold: in no particular order my arbitrary picks for the best event flyers of 2008.

Antidote @ C's (Jan. 31)

Might as well get the obligatory Antidote flyer right out of the way. This one was for the first Antidote party of 2008 at C's. As in years previous, DJ B6 continued to put out provocative and arty flyers all throughout 2008 for the various Antidote events, but I liked this one the best. The creep factor is red lining in this one. And the three boobs reminds me of Total Recall, one of Schwarzenegger's best.

Liquid @ LOgO (Every Tues.)

Liquid was a weekly(ish) minimal party at LOgO bar. These minimal kids really spend some time on their flyers. The comic book angle isn't all that original, but it's still effective because it gets people to stop, stay a while, and read the thing.

Sweatshop @ The Shelter (Jan. 19)

Sweatshop. A drum and (n') bass party. I think this one might have been the flyer from their first party at The Shelter in January of 2008. Anyways, the flyer has a picture of an actual sweatshop on it. Looks pretty cramped in there.

Chino Latino @ Chichi Bar (Feb. 2)

This flyer does a pretty good job of capturing that Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine vibe that was no doubt raging at this party. "Chino Latino: Street Sounds from the Hot Zone." Note the "free entry" tastefully situated between this little hot tamale's legs. Well done. What the hell is Chichi Bar?

Carsick Cars @ Yuyintang (Jul. 13)

Pretty graphic and pretty arty. This one was done by some dude in Beijing that does the tour flyers for all those bands up there. This one was for the Carsick Cars concert at Yuyintang.

Truckers & Hookers Party @ Windows Scoreboard (Feb. 29)

Kind of makes you wonder why the good folks down at Windows Scoreboard don't do more flyers when they turn out this mind-bogglingly awesome.

Karma Koma @ The Shelter (Sept. 11)

Karma Koma is an "abstract and down beat" hip hop night that occurs monthly at The Shelter. I like this flyer because it looks like you could frame it and hang it on your wall and impress guests.

Labor Day Party @ Shanghai Studio (May 2)

Speaking of things you can hang on your wall, check out this little number for a Labor Day party at Shanghai Studio.

I think Shanghai Studio is a gay bar. Don't know for sure though. It's real hush hush.

Forbidden Fruity Paradise @ Anar (May 22)

The party is called "Forbidden Fruity Paradise" and there is a unicorn prancing through a rainbow on the flyer.

And a sunset.

PK14 @ Zhijiang Dream Factory (Aug. 7)

This was the flyer for BJ post punk band PK14's national tour.

Good band. Good photo. Good flyer.

Happy Pill Party @ Yuyintang (Aug. 9)

Weirder is always better. This flyer has a dude made out of ears getting hit in the head with some effects pedals. "Happy Pill" was a DJ party at Yuyintang. Apparently the people who go to the DJ parties drink more that the people who go to the rock parties.

RMB 3 @ Captain's Bar (Nov. 7)

Electroclash kids like doing the cut and paste collage thing with animal heads. I can dig it. It's pretty neat-o. Thumbs up.

Tongue in Cheek @ Mural (Dec 19)

Stop. Hammertime.

Junk @ Captain's Bar (Oct. 17)

A memorable and provocative image from the designer of this flyer for the "Junk" party. Commoditisation. Consumerism. Modern Life. Blah, blah, blah.

Freakholic @ LOgO (Jul. 26)

After a constant bombardment of flyers featuring dead-eyed DJs and photo-shopped chicks day in and day out, the hand-drawn ones really stand out. This one was for one of those "Freakholic" parties at LOgO bar on Saturday. It's got interesting colors and an idiosyncratic style that makes it pretty memorable.

VOID: The Hardcore @ LOgO (Aug. 23)

This one was for one of those VOID techno parties that took place right at the end of the Olympics after the mass exodus of jobless reprobates and foreign creative-types -- presumably a key demographic for the VOID crew. It depicts a Shanghai a-flame Mad Max style and has that 80's comic book feel.

Play @ MAO (Jun. 5)

A take-off on a Harlequin romance novel for one of those "Play" parties at MAO. I like this flyer because it's got a vintage 70¡¯s look and the guy is blowing a big cloud of cigar smoke right in the woman's face, which in the 1970's was a really sexy thing to do.

Mod Dance Party @ Windows Underground (Jul. 24)

Speaking of vintage, here is one of the lovely Mod Dance Party flyers. Stylin'.

Cut Chemist @ The Shelter (May 15)

The Shelter is pretty consistent in putting together good flyers for their events and this one was the stand-out among many interesting ideas and designs. They used a black board because Cut Chemist is a chemist, you see? Science, yo.

Shanghai '79 @ The Beaver (Dec. 10)

This one is for that punk night at The Beaver on select Wednesdays. Nothing sells a party like murder-suicide.

Get in the Van II @ Windows Underground (Jun. 7)

I heard they actually went ahead and shot that poor dog.


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