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THE FIRST ANNUAL
GOLD COAST TATTOO EXPO
by Jonathan Williams
Photos by Cory Gillispie and Jess
From the January 2005 issue of Prick Magazine.
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 Jonathan Williams (Prick Music Editor), Lyle Tuttle, Eddie Kolos (H2Ocean) and Jimmy G
(Murphy's Law lead singer). |
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Considering it was a first time convention, the Gold Coast Tattoo Expo held at the Hilton Palm Beach
Airport November 12-14, 2004 in West Palm Beach, Florida went extremely well. Featuring tattoo artists and
piercers from all over the East Coast and beyond, this small gathering kept the vendors and guests busy
and entertained all weekend.
Rather than have all the bands and festivities scheduled for the evening like most conventions I've been to, the Gold Coast
Tattoo Expo featured performances and seminars throughout the day to keep it interesting for those not tattooing or getting
tattooed. As usual, Friday was the slowest day as everyone trickled in and got settled. Even so, there were still plenty of
artists buzzing away, some well after the doors had closed to the public. And the hard luck rockabilly and rock 'n' roll sounds
of the Dead Bombers, the Psycho DeVilles and the Downshifters kept the party going until late that night.
Saturday was off to a busy start as well as artists such as Gil Montie, Lisa Schmoldt, Russ Abbott, Pooch, Joey
Hamilton, and Mark Longenecker seemed to constantly be tattooing or preparing to tattoo. Hardcore bands Get The Ammo
and Ten New Toes played during the afternoon and rap-rockers J-Base went on in the early evening. Lyle Tuttle then held a
slideshow seminar on the history of tattooing and the tattoo machine. He seemed a little peeved when he realized he was
going to have to compete with a band playing next door, but when the Hep Cat Boo Daddies started their set he said he
really enjoyed their rockabilly strumming.
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 Deano Cook (Psycho Tattoo, Atlanta). |
 The World Famous Gill Montie of Beaumont, Texas. |
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Judging for the tattoo contest began after the Boo Daddies were finished performing, with Pete Meiners of Gill
Montie's Tattoo Mania, Elvis Crocker of New York Hardcore Tattoos and Bill "Whitey" Freeman of Inksters Tattoo doing
the honors. While the judges made their final decisions, we were treated to a performance by the Abusement Park's Doll
Party Burlesque Cabaret, which basically featured girls with tape over their nipples dancing around to industrial music and
pouring hot wax on one another. Winners included Marshall Edkin for Best Color and runner up for Best Sleeve, and
PRICK's own Cory Gillispie for runner up in the Tattoo of the Day category for his pirate by Longenecker.
Saturday night was capped off by
performances by the Van Orsdels and
Murphy's Law, who packed the small ballroom
for their set of goof punk tunes. Murphy's
Law not only dedicated a song to a
Mowhawked fan in the front row, but also
made up a song on the spot about the
Abusement Park's show called "Fire and
Wax." The party continued at the pool bar
with several artists and band members sharing
drinks, pizza and Cuban sandwiches.
Sunday started off with a seminar on
color realism by Deano Cook for tattooers
who had pre-registered. In the main room, it
was another busy day for artists like Lisa
Murphy, Wes Diffie, Needles, Horisei, the guys
from Pair O Dice, and the ladies at Chicago
Inksters. The Psycho DeVilles played another
scorching set during the afternoon before the
judging for the tattoo contest began. Sunday's
judges were Del Seevers of Krazy Horse
Tattoo, Lisa Schmoldt of Level 5 Tattoos and
Chris Harris from Orlando. Again, after the
contestants had shown their stuff, the
Abusement Park performed, only this time it
was a more traditional burlesque show that
did not involve the Lords of Acid or candle
wax. The categories on Sunday were Best
Overall Male, Best Overall Female, Best Black
and Grey, and Tattoo of the Day. A guy named
Noodles won Best Overall Male and Beth
Shivers took home Best Overall Female, with
Tattoo of the Day going to Angela Hawkins.
By the end of the weekend, the
Gold Coast Tattoo Expo had proven to be a
smooth and well-organized convention
where everyone seemed to have fun. The
only grumbling I heard was that there were
no passes for the entire weekend and guests had
to pay an admission fee each day. But with three
days filled with bands, seminars and, of course, tattooing
by some of the best around, I would say
that was but a minor inconvenience.
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 Murphy's Law. |
 The Hep Cat Boo Daddies. |
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 The Dead Bombers. |
 The Psycho DeVilles. |
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 Winners Dana Pollard and Beth Shivers. |
 The Abusement Park Dolls. |
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 The Abusement Park Dolls. |
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