SLUG’s Cabinet of Curious and Collectible Band Merch

With the mass production of ugly T-shirts and posters that don’t look quite man-made, it can be hard to find band merch worth buying. From products that will keep you protected from the sun to others that will keep your friends protected from your pits, here are six items from local bands that you aren’t going to find anywhere else:

Shrink the Stink (Shrink the Giant)

We initially created it for our own health to stay away from the questionable chemicals found in commercial deodorants. The deodorant worked so well that we decided to sell it on our band merch table. It’s pretty odd for a band to sell deodorant, and so it is a great conversation starter with fans. It’s also a pretty practical item at a show where it might be a little hot and sweaty. We’re just trying to look out for our fandom.

Oracle cards (Little Moon)

Tarot cards have always been a big part of that for me and my songwriting. For my album Dear Divine, I wanted to make an oracle deck connected to each song on the album. My sister Margaret created the prompts and symbolic guides while my husband Nathan (@wizzy.starman) illustrated them, loosely drawing from tarot symbolism. It became an enriching collaboration and really just another way for these mystical songs to become physical symbols you can interact with and meditate on.

Plushie keychains (OrcaMind)

OrcaMind goes all out on handmade plushie keychains that they release every Bandcamp Friday, along with their new songs. Michelle and her mom come up with creature ideas – such as aquatic animals like orcas, penguins, sea turtles – and Michelle’s mom makes them by hand with custom details, themed with their songs. OrcaMind throws a party on their livestream, jokingly called a “brawl” at midnight because several of them sell out immediately. Fans love the hype, quality and thoughtful personal care that goes into every plushie.

Direct to DVD (Sego)

We’ve always considered packaging integral to the record’s theme, from Sego Sucks’ 3D lenticular print to Tandang’s reflective silver mylar cover (often to our financial detriment). Direct to DVD collects lost singles and new jams: something between albums, without the “B-sides and rarities” demotion. The CDs found a fitting home in once-prized DVD cases bought for next to nothing. There’s a metaphor in there somewhere. The reuse is a bonus, and I’ve secretly kept all the movies for my own private collection.

Very Cool Journal (Teddy P)

“Very Cool Journal” was created from heartbreak, longing and a lot of hope. I made it while trying to cope with liking someone who had chosen someone else, imagining that maybe the journal would inspire a romantic revelation. It did not. Instead, it became a reminder that sometimes you make something because you don’t know what else to do with your feelings. The back features two stick figures holding hands beneath a moon. I don’t know who they are, but that’s okay.

Parasol (SubRosa)

SubRosa hand-painted our logo on around 30 parasols for Fire in the Mountains, with a few more elaborately designed by Sarah Pendleton, our violinist. It was a huge process figuring out the best way to paint the logo on the parasols, as we experimented with a stencil, spray paint, foam paint brushes and finally, paint markers. It reminded me of SubRosa: We didn’t know what we were doing at first but had a strong vision and just had to keep experimenting until we got it right.

Read more interviews with local artists:
Localized: Lab Animals
Localized: Flamingo

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