"We wear pants, you know? Someone had to do that, had to go through that, wearing pants, you know? So, um, I figured, you know, I'm a fuckin' try a beard."
If we believe Jack Passion, which we do, that the epicenter of US beards is undeniably the pacific northwest... it has to be told that it is so in mass, not per capita. That title belongs to Brooklyn, period, full stop, moving on.
Case in point, see Jana Schmieding (@janaunplgd) exposé on Brooklyn Beards... which we renamed, Shit Brooklyn Beards Say.
NYC take note -- now until December 23rd you can catch John Gordon Gauld's exhibit, "Tickle Your Fancy," at Salomon Contemporary. "The short-term exhibition will display a medley of facial hair in an installation of over 100 works on paper. The beard and moustache series was originally commissioned by Bergdorf Goodman for their windows showcasing the 2011 Men's collection. Because of its overwhelming response, the works are now presented in a gallery setting."
Continuing from Salomon's website, David Coggins declared in his essay for Bergdorf Goodman, Beards: A Fierce Defense, "the beard is an essential expression of man's nature" and "Above all things, the beard is a show of generous temperament. A man has a faceful of hair, and he rightly wants to share it with the world. Or perhaps he just doesn't feel like shaving. Regardless, a beard is something that most men feel compelled to try at least once, like vegetarianism." Coggins goes on to say, "the bearded man is fearless, but he never forgets that he is more than his beard—it frames his face but never defines the man."
ArtInfo reviewed the exhibit -- "it features such tried-and-true favorites as the Fu Manchu, the Handlebar, and the Chops, as well as dark horses like the Pornstar ‘Stache, the Goatee, and the Waxed Villain, this exhibition speaks to a contemporary renaissance of facial coiffure."
Wow. Don't miss this before the holiday madness kicks in! (Photo credit: Etsy)
Have you long been an admirer of Abe Lincoln's beard? Well, this Friday, July 22nd, the production company shooting Spielberg's Lincoln movie will be in Richmond, Virginia, to hold an open casting call for men (20 years or older) who have dedicated years to growing out their beards and want to get possible Hollywood recognition for their commitment, potential fame, and a paycheck for their hairy efforts.
The Virginia Film Office stated, "If you’re interested and presently have long hair and/or a beard, or you are able to stop shaving and cutting your hair until the casting director comes to the area next week, please come to an open call."
Not that we need more proof on the popularity of beards in our culture, but a recent infographic focusing on Kim Kardashian's $2 million dollar wedding ring used the length of beards (and proper coloring) to determine just how long it would take the average man to save up enough money to purchase this monster if he didn't shave.
So if you are hoping to score a ring the size of your ass as well - best to focus on CEOs and surgeons.
As featured on Etsy: "While he may appear to be a little rugged the bearded bloke is a friendly, laid-back, loyal kind of guy. He is always there for those he cares about and is up for a good laugh and hanging our with his mates. He loves searching for old records on Sunday afternoons and he takes his coffee extra strong."
Or do you have a bearded athlete you're fond of? Check out what Evie, the creator of these adorable brooches and blogger/founder at HandMadeRomance, can do for you:
"For 8 years now I've been addicted to cold turkey. When I tell people I'm quitting cold turkey, they say,"What are you quitting?"-- I'm fucking quitting cold turkey." - Zach Galifianakis
He returns to the big screen this May with The Hangover Part II, so it comes as no surprise that new readers of GQ are also offered a free messenger bag with thieir subscription next month (not joking).
“The world has never been more screwed up than it is right now. Except maybe during the wonder years. I think it all started with Fred Savage and that whole thing he did with Savage Garden… Technology is also overrated. It’s making our society less private. Like, I would advise people that while it’s okay to tweet about your paper-towel purchase, I really don’t want to know about what shape your stool is in.” - Zach G.
With college hoops wrapping up, it's time to focus on Beard Madness. What is this ah-mazing tournment of awesomeness? According to BrianWilson38.com, over the next few days, 16 of the most delicious beards (14 now, since we're one day late reporting this) will match up against each other to determine the National BW38 Beard Champion.
2. Check out today's match-up and send your tweet to Brian noting the hashtag #beardbracket
BaB was happy to see Chuck Norris advancing to the next round and that Trammell made the cut, but where the hell is Jayson Werth's beard? Jack Passion? Two huge beardos who could have been in it to win it - are big misses here.
An all bearded baseball team that was one of the most winning-est baseball clubs in history?! Whaaa?
Well, it's true... last night, when watching Antique's Roadshow (FTW), some photographs went up for discussion which wound up being pretty valuable... about a hundred bucks a piece. It was a collection of old shots, promotional and otherwise, of a baseball team from the House of David... a Benton Harbor, Michigan colony where folks lived a communal life, a life of Christianity, vegetarianism, celibacy, and love for mankind... and beards. They were not to shave or cut their hair. Our ears perked up, and here we are.
Known the world over for their famous bearded baseball teams, the House of David was something America and the rest of the world had never seen the likes of before. These men traveled the country with their long hair and beards, heavy wool uniforms, and a truck full of laughter and talent. They went down in history for entertaining America with their uniqueness on the field, their absolute superb playing ability, their own invention of the Pepper Game (which was said to be worth the price of admission just to see these long haired players clowning around and hiding the ball under their beards), and their ability to break the color barrier as they traveled many years with the Negro League teams. As the team barnstormed across the continent, they picked up players like Satchel Page, Grover Cleveland Alexander, and even Babe Ruth for a short stint. For many years they won over 100 games in a season, and in 1929 they won 110 out of 165 games.
Later when Babe Ruth was at the (dreaded/evil/facial hairless) Yankees, the photo below came to be as a result of a skirmish the two teams had in 1931 during a game down in St. Petersburg, where he, just to be polite, donned fake beard and wore them through the game just to show how hirsute opponents feel at home... what a guy, almost enough to forget that curse you brought on Bean town... almost.
Today marks the start of a weekly feature that encompasses both recognition and public service components of our blog... it will help, while undoubtedly hurting a bit, our overarching philosophy of raising the profile of beards.
As many of you know, the good people at TheSmokingGun.com have for years disseminated some great visuals that remind us of the hillarity of crime, criminals and the legal system at large through proliferating the art of the mugshot. However pure the intentions of TSG, the ratio of beardless to the hairy within their mugshot walls is feeding the beast of pogonophobia among the many beardless, about the few rotten apples in our hairy barrel. Surely the good people at TSG didn't (and couldn't) anticipate the backlash and prejudice that such practice would yield to the facial hair community...
So, today B-a-B steps in to help level off the skewed ratio, and shed light on the two constants of the bearded shots in this series... their beards are pretty damn sick and they are innocent until proven guilty... so remember, however guilty, however horrible the crime, regardless of the bleak and empty stares... DON'T BLAME THE BEARD!
Welcome to #mugshotmonday everyone, we give you... the orange tennis ball beard:
Back in late September we met up with three of the most magnificent souls in music, four counting our lovely beard loving folkster Sophie Madeleine, namely Emily Hope Price, Jeremy Styles and Jocelyn Mackenzie of Pearl and the Beard (self described as: three voices, one cello, one guitar, one glockenspiel, one melodica, several drums, one accordion, ninety-six teeth, and one soul).
This team of lovely souls, voices and laughs hit us right where it hurts, and it's been hurting SO good ever since. Not to mention the fact that they sell beards at their shows, Emily and Jocelyn went out of their way to make sure my (super) pregnant wife had a place to sit at their EP release... and trust me when i say there was NO room. Thank you again ladies.
Emily introduced me to the rest of the band as 'the guy that will make us famous'... which is laughable and humbling all at the same time... so, to try and live up to such hype, and to give back to a band that has changed the way i look at harmony, whether musically or socially (seriously)... Build-a-Beard stopped by the band's tour bus (cause we do that now) and the sublimed interview is below, and what resulted is our longest and most engaging Q&A to date.
Trust me, buy their EP, then their CD, then go see their shows... just trust me.
EHP = Emily Hope Price JM = Jocelyn Mackenzie JS = Jeremy Styles
So, this is the chance for us to make you famous... we are honored, and humbled you think this will help your cause... either way, tell us the 'story' behind the name of your band, Pearl and the Beard. JS: We tend to keep that a bit more vague, and open to interpretation, but as far as the Beard portion goes, when coming up with the name I was pretty obsessed with beards. They are sort of like a great butt or boobs on a man's face. I would just stare at a beard and be captivated with my lookin' balls.
You sell plush beards with a single pearl on it (a la Cindy Crawford's mole)... do they sell well? We get the feeling that people that can't grow beards FLOCK to fake ones, what say you? and where can our beardly deficient readers get their hands on it? EHP: We made them in order to support our beardless market. JM: Yes, and they’re actually selling quite well! They are made in America by the nimble hands of two fine young American art school graduates, our friend and former photographer Juliet Hinely, and myself. They are made by hand, individually crafted by Juliet and yours truly. They are time consuming to make, and a labor of love. The ONLY place you can get them is at a show! So come on down!
You have one beardo among you... who sometimes shaves... do you guys push him to shave or does he go willingly? JS: In the years we’ve playing I’ve only shaved once. EHP: No, you’ve shaved more than that! JS: Well, maybe one more time. I shave willingly. But I like going extreme. I’ll shave when it starts driving me nuts and I start twisting it in my fingers. JM: But you do trim, though. JS: Yes.
You're on tour to support your new EP, what are some crazy facial hair stories you've had on the road previously. bad hair days would qualify if they are on the chin... we'll also take the weirdest facial hair style that may have attended your shows. EHP: Well, we could talk about Franz Nicolay and his awesome moustache… but that’s it. JM: Our friend Brandon Mastrangelo [of Burning Oak and Larcenist] had a really sick beard going for awhile. EHP: We also talked about beards being one of the requirements of making a song a sea shanty. JM: Yeah, between Pearl and the Beard and our friends in Larcenist (formerly known as Vessel), I think we determined that for a song to be a sea shanty, there have to be at least six guys singing at the same time, and at least four of them have to have beards (see our old Sunday Brunch Episode for more specifics... notice Jeremy's lack of a beard) JS: Occasionally we’ll rub beards with people. EHP: Yes, we love the occasional beard rubbing. It’s better than a brass rubbing. It leaves more of an impression. JS: What’s a brass rubbing? EHP: You know, like in Indiana Jones, when he rubs the thing on the thing… JS: Oh yeah! EHP: It totally makes a good “impression...!” ALL: LAUGHTER! JS: Who else had good beards? EHP: Justin Tam [of Humble House] had a good beard for awhile… JM: Yeah, but it was pretty under control. JS: Oh, but don’t forget E-S Guthrie… JM: Yeah! His hair was so long, and his beard was like down to his bellybutton or something. Then he cut it all off. I liked it long, but he still looks good. So really our answer is: we’ve only encountered incredible hair.
I gotta say all the stuff written about your band is very ethereal, very soul and depth related... hell you guys even listed Gospel as a style on your FB page... that said, if we created a religion of worshiping facial hair (i.e. theopogonology), would you write our gospels and join in on the cult, erm club? JM: Well, only if we get really great titles. EHP: Jeremy, you would be the King of Panda Express. I would be the Queen of Tornados and Electronic Disturbance. JM: What would I be? EHP: You would be Queen of Tears. JS: I’d rather be Jeremy the Boob Grabbler. EHP: What did I say you were before? JM: The stupid King of Stupid Panda Stupid Express. But that doesn’t have anything to do with beards. JS: Well, would we be in the gospels, or would we just be writing them ourselves? EHP: I think we could write some. JS: I personally like to keep my options open when it comes to clubs, but I’d be happy to contribute to some of the literature.
Seriously though, how would you define your style personally, there is so much in your music from strings to stomping, bells whistles, a glockenspiel, call and answer whooping (which i love) and other layers upon layers of goodies... for god's sake there are only three of you! JS: Acoustic. JM: Done. Answered. JS: Other people have said we’ve created a new genre, whether I agree with that is arguable. EHP: I’ve never heard that. JS: I’m just saying what other people said. If you quote other people then you’re not wrong! EHP: The newest description we got was “Andrew Lloyd Webber sitting around the campfire.” But I talked to a musical theater guy who totally disagreed with that. JM: I don’t know. I just think we make music that we like to listen to. [Composer and multi-instrumentalist] Jim Altieri said to me once that if there’s music that you want to listen to that doesn’t exist yet, you just make it yourself. That’s what my favorite part of our sound is… we’re making music that we ourselves want to hear. You can’t go wrong with that.
What is your musical training has been? know that it couldn't all be learned on the fly... JS: I started taking very uncomfortable guitar lessons, then I was self taught with books and covering songs. Now I just watch other guitarists on stage and learn from what they’re doing. And I’ve been singing for always. JM: I’m a total faker. These two tricked me into learning how to play instruments, and I’m glad they did. EHP: Jeremy and Jocelyn found me passed out on the side of the road carrying a simple clover. JS: We replaced a forty of Colt 45 you were holding in your hand with a cello. EHP: And they were like, “Play something!” and I was like, “Okay.” JM: Yeah. EHP: And I was like, “Guys, I don’t know how to play this thing!” and they were like, “That’s just fine.” JS: Yeah and I said, “Just play like you drink.” EHP: Yeah. What’s funny about that is I don’t drink.
We've heard some of your tracks (like Lost in Singapore) compared to classical giants like Brahms... whom are actually your inspirations and what gets your creativity flowing?
EHP: Macaroni and cheese! Only from Kraft! Also, Annie’s is great. JM: And the box has bunnies on it. JS: Yeah. JM: I get inspired by everything I see! And I love They Might Be Giants. But my friends bands are the best bands I love. I can’t tell if I love their music because they are my friends or they become my friends because they write great music or both. JS: Last night I saw this guy Jacob Augustine and he really flipped my skirt up. It’s sort of a bittersweet feeling to see a new artist that makes me feel challenged, like I need to go back to the drawing board and write something better. EHP: I love Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Franz Nicolay. JM: Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Uncle Monsterface, O’Death, Emilyn Brodsky, Tatters and Rags, Dinosaur Feathers. EHP: Anna Vogelzang JS: Radiohead has helped me write more songs than I care to remember. Oh and bee tee dubs, Jacob Augustine has a phenomenal beard. Fudge about.
Anything we didn't ask, that you are DYING to share? JM: Just that our new EP is for sale from our website www.pearlandthebeard.com and www.blackvesselep.com, through our label Family Records, and on iTunes, Amazon, etc. JS: Sounds good! JM: Also, when I was little I would watch Mtv and secretly wish that I could grow a beard like ZZ Top. My mom would tell me that if I really wanted to grow one I just had to wish for it and keep trying, and then I would realize my dream. Little did I know that she duped me.
Frightened Rabbit, Build-a-Beard's favorite 'stache band, is coming to NYC tomorrow night.
Considering the band has been on the road for the past 3 years, nothing makes us happier than when they visit The Big Apple..... except for when Scott graciously asked us to meet with him for some friendly facial hair banter, a special "Tonight's Beard" exchange, & perhaps a few photos prior to them taking the stage.
LIFE IS GREAT! Follow us on Twitter - we'll be uploading photos & commentary on Saturday night.
When searching for Halloween costumes this year, feel free to dress up as your favorite celeb or cult film character, but PLEASE don't buy a beard. There is nothing more pathetic than announcing to the world that you're too lazy to grow one yourself. If you're incapable of growing a beard, again, don't highlight that fact.
Build-a-Beard is starting a new weekly column - interviewing gents and ladies about their thoughts on dating a guy (and in rare cases a woman) with some facial fuzz. First up, Ms. Amy Wright, a NYC resident who lives by the motto "there was really no excuse, except that I felt lucky." We talked to Amy about her life growing up with a stached father (kick ass proof below), how Johnny Depp is her favorite everything, rules on dating those with facial hair, her luck (if any) with beardos, and how she resists the urge to cut a man's stache 1/2 off for a laugh...
BaB: How old were you when you 1st realized your dad was rocking that sweet stache? Amy: When I was born, Dad had the handlebar/beard combo with hair down to his waist, so I guess its fair to say Ive always been aware. I've heard stories that I liked to grab at it as a baby, and I remember as a child my Dad liked to scratch my face and belly with his beard to tease me. I called his beard “Billy Goat Scruff," thinking that I was cleverly citing the fairy tale.
Did you like it? I cant say that I liked being scratched by his bristly beard, no, but I did like the attention the hair/facial hair combo seemed to get. Growing up in the south, mustache/beards have been in style since the civil war, but he was obviously a hippie/biker/Willie Nelson type, so he would get some looks. I liked feeling like my Dad was mysterious and cool, and that he scared teachers and boyfriends sometimes. To be honest, he looks better with the face hair than clean shaven.
How do you feel about facial hair now? What's acceptable to you vs. not? I generally don’t like it…. It doesn’t feel good against the skin, it chaffs places, and it makes me break out (wow... I just totally made other people's face hair all about ME!). It looks good on some dudes, like it belongs there, but as far as romantic partners go I can't do a full beard/stache because it's weird to make out with someone that feels like you're making out with your Dad.
Also, there's this epidemic of novelty face hair- where people act like they are doing some sort of magic trick if they wax their mustache - that’s a bit annoying. I do think it's cute when guys get lazy and haven’t shaved for a few days - and I have dated a few guys that have the permanent weeks worth of scruff on their face. I guess I take it on a case-by-case basis. If you HAD to kiss someone with a goatee, stache, beard, or handle bar mustache - which one would you pick - and why? Famous dude- Salvador Dali when he was like 25 or so, cause he was cute. I would name a not famous dude, but I might get myself into trouble…
Have you ever dated anyone with a full face of hair? If so, have you ever felt the urge to cut it off while they slept? Yes, I have… a fellow who grew a very thick beard and mustache for a play. I didn’t have the urge to cut it because the discomfort I endured during the production was offset by the promise of a shave after the show closed (and for the record, I think he does look better without it). I do sometimes have the urge to cut a big patch out of those really long, ZZ Top-like beards when I see someone that has one, or one half of someone's mustache just because I think it would be funny. I will admit certain face hair can be a deal breaker for me… I'm sure it doesn’t feel awesome to shave your face, but since I basically shave from the neck down, I don’t feel like its an outlandish request for a fellow to not have a crazy beard that hangs to his belly button.
(Miss Amy Wright)
What's your favorite movie star with facial fuzz? What star do you think would look better IF they shaved? My favorite movie star with facial fuzz is Johnny Depp. He doesnt grow much because he’s part Cherokee, but hes been rocking the bit that he can grow for a few years now. There is nothing that could make Johnny Depp look better, except if he was sleeping next to me... I think that would make him look better, although I'm sure many women would beg to differ. He is pretty much my favorite everything, not just movie star with facial hair. I also like George Michaels Diablo look, and think he looks better with than without.
Anything else you'd like us to know/share..... I recently saw a guy that was about 75 years old wearing a t-shirt that said “my mustache brings all the girls to the yard” and nearly fell over laughing. Frank Black has an awesome song about growing a beard called “My Fu Manchu” that you should add to this site, if you haven’t already.
Last night was amazing. Very cool culmination of the Sophie Madeleine bearded goodness... and just like I like it too: tender, soft, humorous, lengthy... like a good beard.
By all means you should get Sophie's record so that to bask in her musical hairiness, however watching her play live (and dedicate the last song to B-a-B) is a whole 'nother lovely experience.
The love the Sophie so kindly showed B-a-B reverberated throughout the evening; which included an EP release party for Pearl and the Beard and was also amazing in and of itself (more news on that at a later time).
We are humbled and appreciative of the transatlantic proveit from a dispatch of Rocky and Balls themselves... So, without further ado, Build-a-Beard is proud to present LIVE from NYC, The Beard Song (Ode To A Beard). Enjoy!
Cousin Eddy's antics from National Lampoon's "Vacation" or (my personal favorite) "Christmas Vacation," runs more parallel to Randy Quaid's personal life than previously suspected. Just as Eddy was a fun loving, mooching, self-absorbed, and often times "mistaken" character, Quaid is not far behind.
A salt & pepper bearded Randy Quaid (we love it!) and his wife, Evi, were arrested this past weekend - with a $10,000 bail - after they were found living in a guest house on a million-dollar property Quaid once owned.
The couple was booked for investigation of felony residential burglary and misdemeanor entering a building without consent.
Back in March, when I wrote the Q&A with Rocky and Balls, I didn't actually meet up with Sophie Madeleine and Hannah Rockcliffe to do the interview... B-a-B staffers don't get an expense account (yet) to fly transatlantic... I did the interview not in person but via the Internets. There, I said it... So, when finally having an opportunity to meet half of the duo on my own turf, aka Brooklyn, I jumped at it.
Still groggy from a crazy night in Coney Island, I stumbled to breakfast with the full intention of impressing our fair neighbor to the east, as well as her local beardo by wearing my newly acquired Rocky and Balls T-Shirt (number 2 of 50, #justsaying). Yes, I was THAT guy, but so be it, it was the right occasion... besides, my wife told me I looked very cute 'in that little T-shirt,' so there.
What followed was a great lunch with even greater people. Sophie, Sonya, Tim and I talked beards, scruff, music, Brooklyn, Lady Gaga (yes, really), relationships, England and US geography, and much much more. Distilled below are some key findings.
To my surprise, the UK and Brooklyn facial hair scenes are very similar. Sophie wasn't going to indulge me with "Brooklyn is SO CLEARLY so much better"...
Like me, Sophie does not listen to the radio and preferrs the countryside to the metropolis. However, very much unlike me, she does not drink coffee.
Understandably, both Rocky's and Balls' boyfriends are beardos. More over, Sophie's beard is also her guitarist.
On September 24th Sophie has her 2nd NYC gig. 7pm at The Living Room (154 Ludlow St.)
Also playing that night, at 9pm, are Pearl and the Beard who aparently have fake beards for sale at the show.
Honorable mention: Sophie and Sonya played footsies while Tim and I blabbed on about music and media.
The U.S. Special Forces, aka Green Berets, are a special operations force of the U.S. Army tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue and counter-terrorism. The first two emphasize language, cultural, and training skills in working with foreign troops.
So it comes as sad news to BaB, that after almost a decade of growing long beards to emphasize deep respect for Afghanistan's bearded culture, many of our elite have been ordered to shave their beards. Seems veteran ops are complaining that they are not taken seriously by local leaders due to their facial fuzz, and they need these pillars of the community to trust them in order to gain intelligence into another bearded force - the Taliban.
Those in charge have stated clearly that they want "a professional looking" soldier in the field. Do those sporting beards really have the stigma of being uncouth amateurs incapable of serving our country? Wouldn't the beard also offer some sort of natural camouflage to our troops, as I'd assume it is pretty easy to tell who the American is when all, but two guys have beards?
Commanders report that beards are "sending the wrong message" to the communities overseas, but that said, special ops living in or near villages can keep their beards, "but are encouraged to adopt the traditional Afghan pokol cap instead of a billed cap."
*sigh*
What do you think? Should special ops be forced to shave? Does it send the wrong message? Ever have a personal experience at work where you were asked to run to a razor? Professionalism questioned?
Sometimes, as reporters of all things hirsute, we need to cover a topic that might make most of our readers blush (or take for instance, this co-founder). I wouldn't consider myself a prude, but as I stumbled upon Heckler Spray this morning, perhaps I should rethink that. Heckler reported that a woman (I am hesitant to call her a singer/songwriter at this point) by the name of Majela Zeze Diamond has written a song about having sex with bearded men - and writes explicitly about the joys it brings to her... shall we say... erogenous zones.
This Internet "star" has been quoted as saying, "Men are good for money, sex and vagina," but her recent “I love having sex with bearded men” video is why we're covering her today.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed victory this past Friday while driving the No. 3 in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Dale Jr. said the only acceptable outcome to the race was winning - that "if he was going to drive his father’s old No. 3 there was no point in coming in fifth." Dale Jr. then took a moment to thank his beard and beer for the win - noting that he started the year with it, shaved it off to do a commercial, then grew it back.
“I grew the beard back because I've been running better, y'all. Have y'all not matched it up? We had those first 10 races where we hauled ass, then I shaved, we ain't running worth a darn. Then I grew the beard back. Also I started drinking beer on Monday. I don't know. The beard ain't got its own personality. The beard does have a Facebook page, but it's not a real person, it's just a beard on my face.”
He concluded by stating -- “I drink beer every Monday and I grew a beard back. Those two things seem to be helping me. So really those two things deserve the most credit.”
Feb 7, 2012 at 11:39AM | By 
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