Bad Moon Saloon
Photographs and Illustrations by
Max C. Kim
I remember Til Two—a down-home blues bar tucked away on the Oakland side of Shattuck Avenue in the early ’80s. With its red brick walls, low ceilings, and dim lighting, it felt like a secret sanctuary. Sandwiched between a fish market and Flint’s BBQ, it was my little corner of paradise. I was a regular. The waitress knew me well and always saved a small bowl of peanuts just for me.
The place pulsed with blues music, soulful dancing, and a parade of colorful characters—like the guy who’d offer a line of blow near the men’s bathroom. Those nights brought me a joy I can still feel today, a thrill that lingers in memory.
I can still see “Chicken-Legs Jimmy,” his blues harp bandolier slung across his chest, commanding the stage with a sound that cut straight to the bone. That place, and those nights, left an indelible mark on me.
Bad Moon Saloon is my way of keeping that spirit alive. It’s a tribute to the grit, warmth, and soul of a place I miss deeply. I still hear Chicken-Legs Jimmy closing his sets with his trademark line: “If you ain’t got the blues, you ain’t got the soul.”
Qualification:
(1987 – Present)
Freelance
Graphic Designer, Architectural Photographer, Illustrator
Honolulu, Hawaii
Architects Hawaii Limited (AHL)
Architectural Photographer, Graphic Designer
Honolulu, Hawaii
McNeil Wilson Communications
Graphic Designer, Art Director
Honolulu, Hawaii
Loomis & Pollock
Art Director
Honolulu, Hawaii
Peck Sims Mueller
Assistant Art Director
Honolulu, Hawaii
MAX
(No Relation)
Graphic Designer and Illustrator
San Francisco, California
BA in Graphic Design
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California
My practice spans decades across graphic design, art direction, illustration, and photography. Working in agency and independent contexts, I’ve shaped editorial, cultural, and commercial projects for publishers, studios, nonprofits, and brands—developing visual identities, directing imagery, and producing work across print, digital, and photographic media.
Selected Collaborations include:
Ulupono
AHL
American Savings Bank
Leo A Daly
3form
KYA Design Group
mga Architecture
Moss & Associates
Ferraro Choi
Olena Center for Health and Wellness
JABSOM
McNeil Wilson Communications
Anthology Marketing Group
Bishop Museum
Mark S. Kawata Attorney at Law