In this interview, Chad talks with Nick Butterworth of B-Sides, the original comic book series, drawing influence from music, film, and street culture.
Centered on a dive bar in countercultural Sidetown, BSides explores the lives of characters living their best, dysfunctional lives away from the mainstream and the bright lights of the glamorous side of town.
Volume 1 is packed with long and short form tales from the cast of BSides. Some of our residents are more famous than others… Keep your eyes peeled for real-life artists! Scan QR codes in the comic to access popup animated scenes.
And there, you’ll meet a friendly bunch of equally rare gems all living their best life and working hard to make that life even better.
They’re a curious bunch of misfits, dreamers, and schemers who look out for each other and look after each other.
At the center of it all is the BSides bar, the beating heart and soul of Sidetown, run by Gus, the barman, who lives in an old airstream in the parking lot. In front of the bar, on their bench, you’ll usually find Slippery Kev and his mate, Sketch – a Riff Rat. With their own speakeasy under the floorboards, The Riff Rats live among the other residents in their own, ratsized world.
There’s a regular open mic night at the bar hosted by the slightly irregular Open Mike, who gets his name from being, well, open, too open… Next door is the vinyl record exchange, Sounds Good, run by the couple Sheena and Debs, who also run Sounds Good Radio from the back of the store.
On the other side of the bar is Bodhi’s Taco truck where you can get the best tacos in town, that is unless ‘surf’s up’, then Bodhi and his sous chef Nacho are nowhere to be seen.
Across the road is the Sideview Guesthouse, which was famous in the 60s as a musicians’ hangout and still attracts ‘name’ bands when they’re playing in LA. On one side of the Guesthouse is a recently developed office building which looks ideal for startups, on the other side is a rundown building ‘owned’ by the ever industrious Riff Rats.
Check out B-Sides, it’s a dusty, precious gem that’s ready to shine.