In this episode of The Adventures of Pipeman on W4CY Radio, Pipeman sits down with acclaimed cartoonist Jay Howell, the original character designer for Bob's Burgers and creator behind Sanjay and Craig. They discuss Jay's unique presence at music festivals, his journey into the festival scene, interactions with legendary musicians, memorable stories from on the road, the power of character art, and the importance of authenticity and kindness in the creative world.Main Topics Covered
Jay Howell’s Background and Work
Character designer for Bob’s Burgers and Sanjay and Craig
Artistic collaborations with Vans and skateboard companies
Touring the festival circuit with Danny Wimmer Presents
Art and Music Festival Crossovers
How Jay became a regular at major music festivals
His process for drawing artists and festival-goers
The excitement and vibe of Incarceration at Shawshank Prison
Stories of Connection
Creating a Bob's Burgers-style portrait of Pipe Man’s late grandson
Intention behind staying kind and accessible in the face of fame
Backstage Festival Insights
Unique energy and atmosphere of Incarceration and other Wimmer festivals
Working at festivals side-by-side with high-profile musicians
Memorable Encounters
Hanging out with Slash from Guns N' Roses and Kerry King from Slayer
Tattooing musicians (including Fall Out Boy and Waves)
Doing on-stage live drawing at Sonic Temple
Personal Values & Community
Importance of being approachable and positive
Jay’s commitment to connecting with fans in person
Key Discussions and Stories
How Festivals Became a Home for Art Jay shares how his time as a tattoo artist in LA led to an impromptu invitation to tour with the Wimmer festivals, resulting in three years and counting of festival adventures 06:10.
The Emotional Impact of Art Pipeman recounts a touching story about Jay creating a personalized Bob’s Burgers-style drawing of his grandson, highlighting the meaningful, personal side of artistic work 01:25.
Festival Standouts: Incarceration at Shawshank Prison Jay and Pipeman reflect on what makes the Incarceration festival unique—its wild atmosphere, intimate setting, and the “movie set” vibe created by the infamous prison backdrop 02:54.
Celebrities Are Fans Too Jay describes his excitement about meeting favorite musicians at festivals, emphasizing that artists like Slash and Kerry King are just as enthusiastic about comics and art as he is about their music 05:42.
The Art of Staying Real and Grateful Jay reflects on his artistic philosophy and personal commitment to kindness, inspired by some of his own disappointing artist encounters growing up 02:25.
Notable Quotes
“Why is there a weird cartoonist at a metal festival every time?” — Jay Howell 00:45
“...if I ever get any fame whatsoever, I’m gonna be the coolest person I can possibly be.” — Jay Howell 02:34
“Slash is like probably the coolest dude…he lives and breathes that kind of stuff…he wants to meet cartoonists, he wants to hang out with artists.” — Jay Howell 05:08
“I'm a fan just like everybody else, brother. Seriously.” — Jay Howell 05:53
“There's a lot of people to draw, so I gotta learn how to draw quick for sure.” — Jay Howell 08:29
“If you see me walking around, say what's up. That's all I care about…I'd love to talk to you and I'd love to draw you if I get a chance. That's all I want. That's all I care about.” — Jay Howell 08:42
Danny Wimmer Presents: Major music festival promoter
Upcoming Events:
Inkcarceration Festival at Shawshank Prison
Slayer at Rocklahoma and Power Trip (Mexico City)
Sonic Temple Festival (mentioned as a recent event where Jay did live drawing)
Connect with Jay Howell
Approach Jay at music festivals—he welcomes fans to say hello and request a drawing!
No explicit contact info provided; Jay prefers personal, in-person connections 08:39.
Listen & Subscribe. Stay tuned for future episodes of The Adventures of Pipeman on W4CY Radio for more creative encounters and behind-the-scenes festival stories!
Pipeman in the Pit is a music, festival, and interview segment of The Adventures of Pipeman Radio Show (#pipemanradio) and from The King of All Festivals while on The Pipeman Radio Tour.
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