TALES FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN

WHAT IS B-SIDES?

  • B-Sides is an original comic book series drawing influences from music, film and street culture

  • Centred on a dive bar in counter-cultural Sidetown, B-Sides explores the lives of characters living their best, dysfunctional lives away from the mainstream and the bright lights of the glamorous side of town.

  • Pre-order Issue 1 from Kickstarter and be the first to receive our debut comic, with over 100 pages of stories and a range of exclusive limited edition collectible covers

  • The population of Sidetown are available to own as digital collectibles. You will be able to submit your character to us for a ‘casting call’ to see them appear in future issues. If yours is selected for a role in one of our stories, you will be paid for their acting appearance!

  • B-Sides will encourage fans to contribute scripts, illustrations and story concepts as we bring Sidetown to life together.

Support our Kickstarter

WELCOME TO SIDETOWN

IF YOU LOOK DOWN THE BACK OF THE SOFA OF LA YOU'LL FIND AN OLD, DUSTY, BUT INCREDIBLY PRECIOUS RARE GEM - SIDETOWN.

And there, you'd 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 centre of it all is the B-Sides bar, the beating heart and soul of Sidetown, with Viv, the tough but loving matriarch ruling the roost helped by Gus, the barman, who lives in an old airstream in the car park behind the bar.

In front of the bar, on their bench, you'll usually find Slippery Kev and his mate, Sketch - a Riff Rat.

The Riff Rats live with, and under, the other residents of Sidetown in their own Riff Rat 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, Needles and Plastic, run by the couple Sheena and Debs, who also run Sidetown FM 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 LA, 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 that looks ideal to start doing up.

Come and visit Sidetown, it's a dusty, precious gem that's ready to shine.

COMIC NO.1 – STORYLINE OVERVIEWOPEN MIKE'S    
OPEN MIC

In the LA suburb of Sidetown, Open Mike tries to persuade people to come to his open mic night with his customary verbal over-explanation.

When his favourite band arrive to play the local stadium, Mike decides to ask them to play his open mic night too.

Unable to see them at their hotel, and unaware the gig has been cancelled - due to a Taco Truck exploding the night before - Mike finds himself on an odyssey across Sidetown - meeting eccentrics, misfits, Rappers and, nearly, the police, along the way - to see the band at the Stadium.

Meanwhile, the band's manager, Rex Pyrex, who goes to the B-Sides bar, says the band can play Open Mike's open mic night.

It all builds to the final scene where a seemingly unsuccessful Mike returns to the crowded bar to find the band are there.

With more of his customary verbal over-explanation Mike introduces the band who wait in the Green Room with crates of homemade hooch.

What could possibly go wrong?

It's Falling Down, meets Spinal Tap, meets the Freak Brothers.

COMIC BOOK   
LAUNCH

WHAT'S COMING YOUR WAY FROM SIDETOWN?

  • Issue 1 is launching on Kickstarter in physical and digital form. Click the ‘Notify me on launch’ button on Kickstarter to receive the latest updates and timings from the team.

  • Issue 1 is weighing in at over 100 pages, with contributions from our chief scriptwriter and lead artist across long and short form fictional tales from the cast of Sidetown, as well as real musician interviews.

  • Issues will be produced regularly, in physical and digital form across a variety of marketplaces - we will share a list of retailers on full launch

  • After our Kickstarter project for Issue 1 has been fulfilled, we will begin the ‘casting call’ process for submitting your Sidetown characters for future comic appearances.

Get notified on Kickstarter

IN THE BOOTH

MUSICIAN INTERVIEWS ARE A REGULAR FEATURE OF OUR COMICS. WE GET THEM ‘IN THE BOOTH' AND EXPLORE THEIR ART AND THEIR INSPIRATIONS

  • With a huge art spread across two pages, our guests ‘In the Booth' will relax with us as we take them on a journey through their music past, present and future
  • Who would you like to see ‘In the Booth'? You may see one or two familiar faces appear in other parts of the comic too…

THE ANIMATED
FUTURE

  • B-Sides is a comic book series and will always be our focus, but to raise awareness of our launch, we teamed up with Blind Pig Studios to bring Sidetown to life
  • Get to grips with the vibe and attitude of Sidetowners in the video above
  • As B-Sides grows in popularity, we would love to explore the potential of making longer form animation around the cast of Sidetown, with a series as the ultimate goal…

BLIND PIG

One of the UK's leading animation houses, Blind Pig Studios is an award-winning, collective of animators, designers, creative directors and composers who have produced industry-leading work for brands including Disney-Marvel, the BBC, Netflix, Adidas, Pepsi and EA.

They have also worked in music videos for bands from ELO to Friendly Fires.

Based in London's Soho, they work in both 2D and 3D.

SEE THEIR SHOWREEL HERE>>

THE CASTING CALL

#001

Each B-Sides Pass comes with a digital collectible of a character from Sidetown, each one uniquely styled with its own set of music and street culture attributes

#002

As the owner of that character, you can be paid for any appearances they make in the comic…

#003

When we're creating new issues, we'll put out a casting call with a brief to pass holders to nominate one or more of their Sidetown characters to attend an audition.

#004

Through the audition we'll initially choose the characters we want to feature. Over time, the community will vote for their favourites too!

#005

Characters chosen to be extras will be paid our standard extra fee comparable to that or a movie extra.

#006

Characters chosen for leading roles will be paid more. (B-Sides will provide the voices for any speaking characters.)

#007

You will be able to own multiple characters to increase the chance of seeing your collectibles come to life in each comic!

CONOR McNICOLAS -
CO-FOUNDER

Previously editor of NME and Top Gear mags and CEO of agency in WPP. Now a B-Side.

GREG BOURNE –
CO-FOUNDER

Founder. Entrepreneur that makes stuff happen. Obsessed with contemporary art and music. Comic producer.

NICK BUTTERWORTH -
PRODUCT AND OPS

Previously Head of Finance at The O2 London and Brighton & Hove Albion. Also strategy at The Weirdos.

MIKE LONDON -
HEAD WRITER

Besides being a B-Side, Mike is a writer and director of short films, and a writer of even shorter bios.

DICKIE -
ARTIST

With a head full of skate, surf and grunge, Dickie birthed the core feel of the B-Sides collection. He's a professional designer and abstract fine artist.

HAYLEY -
ARTIST

Hayley is pop culture and music obsessive. Responsible for bringing unique characters and wild traits in the collection.

DAVID -
ARTIST

Established comic-book artist David has been bringing B-Sides to life on the digital page and in animated form.

JOSE SOEIRO -
WEB3 STRATEGIST

The co-founder of blockchain company Cradleblock, and the W3bly platform which Sidetown is built.

GRAHAM -
DESIGNER

Graham is a digital designer who brings a wealth of experience of working with major global brands to B-Sides.