Free Comic Book Day with The Do-Its
The Do-Its. Photo by Ash Kramer
Look! Up there in the sky — it’s a bird, it’s a plane… It’s Free Comic Book Day at The Comic Bug!
Saturday, May 4 marks that glorious day when kids and comic nerds of all age and creed congregate to revel in the triumph of free comics! The nationwide event took form in 2002, and by 2004 our own local Comic Bug (located at 1807 1/2 Manhattan Beach Blvd.) held their grand opening during Free Comic Book Day, and have since remained one of the top locations for the event in the Los Angeles area.
Local super hero and Comic Bug co-owner Mike Wellman elaborates: “Free Comic Book Day is an annual event where all of the major publishers put forth their best comic book efforts to be handed out to new readers. This year, over two-dozen comic creators (including The Avengers, The Simpsons, Deadpool, and more) are scheduled to appear, as well as several professional costumed heroes (known as cosplayers). Over 5,000 comics will be handed out, and at least 2,000 attendees are expected over the course of the day.”
Redondo Beach native Sean Johnson (scene maker and prolific drummer of the South Bay band Vaudeville, as well as The Damselles & The TC4, and the Shirley Rolls) has taken charge of the Free Comic Book Day after party, where his new band The Do-Its will be performing at the shop.
They are (other than a bunch of asinine jokesters): Boytoy (vocals, trumpet, hand clapping), Stix (drums), Baron (bass, mini-tambourine, art director), and Peacock (guitar). When they’re not being excessively absurd and hilarious by describing their music as “Sriracha-flavored Doritos with extra cheese soul powder,” The Do-Its have also more accurately related their female vocal-driven tunes as “Rock and/or Roll with intuitive sass-talk and throaty Blues.”
While The Do-Its are an LA-based band by matter of residence, there’s not really anything like them in the South Bay and they’ve found broader reception in Orange County.
Stix says, “We’ve tried to avoid Los Angeles like the plague. Orange County seems to dig it, though. We don’t care too much about regions, if people wanna have fun we’ll help to provide it.”
Boytoy adds, “You know how scared the citizens of Gotham were when Batman first showed up? That’s how Los Angeles has responded to The Do-Its. And they should be scared. And we will be back.”
The Do-Its perform from 5-8 p.m. at The Comic Bug this Saturday, May 4 during the Free Comic Book Day after party. The annual event runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop can be reached at 310-372-6704. The band also plays The Redwood Bar in LA on May 10, and the Baldwin Park Relay For Life on May 18. They can be heard on DirtyHippieRadio.com, internet radio tuning you in to the independent music community.