2005 was a great year for us here at Tapering Sleeve Entertainment. While the world was treated to hurricanes, tsunamis, war, and four more years of Dubya, the creative staff and team of Tapering Sleeve have been busy behind the scenes of Arizona arts, music & entertainment.
In this year-end review, we examine the contributions that the Tapering Sleeve staff has offered to the valley of the sun in 2005. And we welcome all the new challenges that lie ahead in 2006. From all of us at TaperingSleeve.com, Happy New Year!
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S L A M M A G A Z I N E //
Arizona's leading Local Arts & Music Magazine, "SLAM", which is sponsored by, and in part created by
Tapering Sleeve staff, started the year off with their first anniversary celebration at Alice
Copper’stown in February. Live music from 10 local bands rocked out on 2 stages, and free food,
drinks and an all-around good time filled the air. Shortly after this event, one of the founding
members of the magazine quit and took off with the money for printing. So the rest of the loyal
staff pulled together to keep SLAM up and running. Some great material came out the next few
issues, and SLAM was more popular with Arizona audiences than ever. But after the other founding
member left last month, the only right thing to do was release one final issue and say goodbye to
SLAM forever. Issue 18 was a true labor of love, including articles from Tapering Sleeve alumni David
Matteson, Hayden Blades, and first-timer Adam R Moore. The issue is available free of charge at your local Zia Records and Stinkweeds locations, so pick one up today! www.SLAMsource.com
F L O C K P R O D U C T I O N S //
Tapering Sleeve Entertainment has been collaborating with Flock Productions for over 3 years,
helping to design the ad campaigns for their illustrious desert parties. 2005 brought with it the birth
of “Sync-or-Swim”, an all-night luxury cruise and houseboat party. Top valley DJ’s from all over AZ
cranked out the beats as partygoers forked over $50 a ticket to cruise with them on Lake Pleasant.
The event was a smashing success and was revisited in August with “Sync-or-Swim II” in the same
location. Other events that Tapering Sleeve helped to promote in 2005 are AMP’s “Welcome to
Heaven”, Sonik Magazine’s 5-Year Anniversary show as well as their Christmas Show, KKJ
Production’s “Twisted Growth” and “New B ginnings.” The next big Tapering Sleeve sponsored
event will be this New Year’s Eve at Luna Production’s “Droppin’ the Ball.” Call 602-709-3940 for
more info.
T H E B A N J O P L A Y E R //
Dreamfilm Pictures produced a new short film about a troubled teen finding himself in a world he
despises, and Tapering Sleeve was there to lend a hand. Written by Harris Deitch and Directed by
Matt Deitch, “The Banjo Player” was created right here in Phoenix with a talented and
professional cast and crew. The fabulous opening credits scene and other visual and audio effects
were created by the masterful touch of Hayden Blades. And post-production audio work as well as
the music for the film, was created by David Matteson. The film premiered at the Desert Stages
Theatre in Scottsdale last April and was later released on DVD to the public. You can find out more
about the film here at TaperingSleeve.com.
F I N D I N G T H E F U T U R E //
The 2003 New York Independent Film Festival Official Selection “Finding the Future: A Science
Fiction Conversation” has been touring the country in limited screenings. This year, Tapering
Sleeve has finished the first release of the DVD. This special edition of the film includes deleted
scenes, image galleries, scene selection, motion menus and more! The DVD will be available online
through Amazon.com early 2006.
S O N I K M A G A Z I N E //
Sonik Magazine, a local publication by SNK Media, started off their fifth production year by adding
a special SLAM section to its pages. SLAM designer and Tapering Sleeve creator David Matteson
joined the staff as the new design lead for Sonik in April. Sonik is a full-color monthly publication
that covers valley music and culture as well as the national entertainment scene. Some of their
recent issues have had articles and interviews with The Phunk Junkeez, Weezer, Trik Turner, Rob
Zombie, Jamie Kennedy and more. Some of the new features this year include a free CD with each
issue as well as a more focused look on what’s happening right here in the valley. You can pick up a
free copy of Sonik at London West Records, or Swell Records on Mill Ave.
T A P E R I N G S L E E V E 2 0 0 5 //
2005 came and went with a flash. Looking back it’s hard to imagine we accomplished so much in what seems like no time at all. Some of the other additions this year are mostly website related. We have 2 new games in development, including an epic CD-ROM title scheduled for release next year, and a new children’s game, which should be online in a couple months. Our special features section has a new demo for a game coming out next Halloween. And joystick support has been added to the already existing line of Tapering Sleeve games.
Nonresonance, a Tapering Sleeve band, has released a new album titled “Sullen Technique.” Tracks from the new CD can be heard right here on the site, and a review of the album can be read here. Another band we’ve helped rise to the top this year, Makeshift Family, has broken apart. They played at the SLAM Anniversary Show and had a forceful concert tour before breaking up earlier this year.
Hayden Blades has started a website filled with his awesome artwork at HaydenBlades.com. Hayden also designed the cover for issue 10 of SLAM Magazine as well as contributing some thought-provoking CD reviews. The latest news on his music and artwork can be found at his site.
That’s about it. That was 2005. Of course, there was a lot more going on behind the scenes and a ton of stuff going on outside of the label of Tapering Sleeve. But there is also so much more we are looking forward to presenting to you in 2006. So stay tuned and have a happy new year!
