Get Your Teeth In To FreeGums

admin    T-Shirt Reviews     Freegums, T-Shirts, art shirts, com, funny tees, graphic t-shirts

So who, what, why where? Well it all began (for us here) when Rohan from Fabnob.com.au (a fashion writer and devoted fan of Buy Tees) told us about their latest interview with Alvaro Ilizarbe aka Freegums – we were pretty impressed with the interview and not being au fait with FG we decided to investigate further. Alvaro is what you might call a Renaissance Man, no I don’t mean he wears a doublet and stockings and a feather in a velvet cap quoting Shakespeare at any opportune moment, well maybe he does but he obviously keeps that aspect of his life close to his heart, no I mean the guy is multi-talented and happy with almost any creative medium. By the way in case you’re wondering the name ‘Freegums’ was originally the name of Alvaro’s party nights, don’t ask me why, I’ve no idea.

He used to run house parties, he once drove an ice-cream van full of art around South Florida promoting and selling new contemporary art, oh and as you might have guessed he makes great t-shirts. If you want the full low-down on what makes Alvaro check out this great interview at Fabnob otherwise stick around and check out what all the fuss is about!

99 Bottles Tee

This shirt is pretty much self-explanatory, if you consider all the house parties Alvaro has run in the past, 99 Bottles (of beer on the wall) is both a t-shirt (see above) and an old drinking song from the USA and Canada – read all about it atWikipedia – it’s probably a rip off of 10 Green Bottles (which was a British children’s song – way before alcopop was invented) is rather more sober song judging by the amount of bottles – then again you probably couldn’t handle that many when you’re a kid working up a chimney or thieving √† la Oliver Twist, either way it’s perfect for drunk guys with nothing more to do than sing. Besides we guys aren’t the sort to talk much when we’re totally off our faces, perhaps the odd argument or sentiment, unlike women who use the time productively to share problems, rant about useless boyfriends and husbands and generally pick the world apart, men for the most part sing daft and repetitive songs until they fall under the table. 99 Bottles is quirky and humorous and gets the point across as clear as day, even stacking up that many when you’ve been drinking them yourself would be a challenge. Nice illustration, great tee, daft song. $32 small to X large.

Last Night’s Party Tee

Continuing the boozy theme, this I suppose must be the result of drinking all that beer :/ I really like this design, it appears almost as if it was sprayed on, tonally gorgeous, supreme handling of perspective typography, it’s as cool as they come, somewhat more of a stoner/beatnik tee than a boozer’s shirt, it reminds of something your dad (or granddad) might’ve worn a year or two before Woodstock. I’d love to see some colour injected into this piece, still you can’t have everything can you? Last Night’s Party (FG08) is available for $32 in small to X large.

Sucker Tee

This design needs some false choppers (teeth) hanging out of Dracula’s mouth, still, very apt for a Freegums tee I think you’ll agree, I like the pink bow – very fancy schmancy – I’m guessing that FG are hinting that the character is somewhat fay at the very least. It’s true – vampires suck – and in more ways than one. Out of all the horror genres well dressed old gentlemen who creep about in black capes (usually with a red silk lining), greased back hair, skin and teeth problems, a habit of turning into bats at the slightest sign of danger, who can’t sunbathe or generally deal with the outside world, and sleep in coffins must be the lamest idea out there. There’s a few exceptions I suppose the trilogy of Blade is okay, Dusk Till Dawn I like, but film for the main part has taken a rather soppy view of the vampire – i.e Interview With A Vampire and Twilight (yawn) – still they must get (female) bums on the seats. My fave vampire has to be The Count from Sesame Street – he maybe as corny as all the rest but he sure loved to count (just about anything). Half my family hark from Whitby Bay in Yorkshire which is where the original Dracula was supposed to have shored up in England, I guess it’s a real tourist trap by now, not that I’ve been there (yet) – I guess they sell candy fangs and plastic capes by the boat load there – still you have to do what you can to survive in a recession… Get the Sucker tee for $32 in sizes small to X large.

Batgums Tee

Na na na na na na na na na na Batgums! If you’re going to self-publicise this has to be the way to do it. Forget Bale and his gravel-toned Dark Knight – go back, way back to the days of Adam West and the campest TV show in history. My GF Christina has actually met the original Batman, and yes he’s as weird as you might think, I suppose he had to deal with all those young imposters over the years, all paid far more than him and then there are the comic cons, those awful conventions where experts on inane subjects bombard hasbeens about technical details from a show the ‘stars’ can ahrdly remember. The logo is sweet, I mean schweet, based on the original 60s TV logo, the one the atypically Irish Chief of Police would light up the sky everytime another out of work actor turned up in Gotham to play havoc. Great kitsch tee available in small to x large sizes for $32.

Plenty more kooky and funny creations are on offer at Freegums – just pack your sense of humour with you when you visit.

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