Spilled Ink: Brooklyn Bartenders Talk About Their Tattoos
Tyler
Knitting Factory, Williamsburg
Can you tell us about the tattoo right there?
This guy? [points to shoulder] That was the logo of the band I was in high school. Me and the rest of band, we all got one, or a version of it.
You guys all got them in high school?
I got mine right after, actually. Right after I stopped playing with them to move away.
What was the name of the band?
It was a terrible band name. We were, uh, The Aristocans. So you’ll see the “A” made out of bones there. It’s a heart with some wings and an eyeball. The eyeball sort of looks a wiener [laughs], but it’s not. It’s just the bottom of the heart.
Who drew the logo?
The brother of a guitarist in the band.
Where are all you guys now?
Well, this was in Reno, Nevada. We’re all spread out now. There’s someone in Seattle, two of us in New York, one in Alabama, and the last guy is still in Nevada.
Is anyone still pursuing music?
I don’t think so. [pauses for a moment] No, none of us.
Is that your only tattoo?
Well, I’ve got this one. [shows right forearm] “So it goes.” That’s for Kurt Vonnegut. It’s another matching one. My friend, his sister and me, we all got them when we were hanging out in Alaska.