Songs Illuminated #4

First Part Starting to really hate the pattern these intros I write are falling into — some sort of apology for this, that, or the other. This one started off that way, too — and not without cause given this issue is 3 months late. Reality is, 2021 brought more than its share of chaos, and the timeliness of a local skate zine is hardly the worst of anyone’s problems.

TBH I almost scrapped the issue altogether. (I guess I kinda did. That big 4 on the cover should be a 5 by now.) But instead, I did what I could. I cut Part 2 of the Binocular Monovision essay and recruited more photographers than ever before. Not wanting to let these guys down helped push me over the top. Can't shout out Jake, Bill, Carlos, and Joey any louder. I've never even met any of these guys in person and I already owe them a beer or twelve. The skate community just rules so hard, and I consider myself blessed to take up my tiny corner of it. I hope to continue working with continued on page 23

Songs Illuminated Issue 4 Why kicky front anything when you can kicky front everything?

Inside Mid-life Maurader Mission: Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Glory Hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 N-Men Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 OG Ghost Jam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Grass Valley Contest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Newark Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Senders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Mirror Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Ender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Outside John Worthington at the speed of high. Power Inn. Thatside Ryan Plate slapping crooks like a cop on paid administrative leave.

This-side The Dirty Ben’s Smiths: dipped, never clipped.

Backside Matt Pailes gets tubed in midtown Sacto. [o*] Jake Levon Soulsides Lately, I’ve been stoked on the final season of Money Heist, still working from home after all this time, just how good Ace Trucks are out of the box, frontside boardslides, and Tim Olson’s ((the video)).

Midlife Marauder Mission A Travel Diary: August 10–14, 2021 Words & Stills: Aaron. Action: Bill.

Spokane reminds me a lot of Reno with hints of Tacoma.

Stretched the plane legs at Joe Albi skatepark. Neat humps and spine blobs, but weird dead-end handball court walls and the deadliest, mini-est of mini-bowls.

Northern Idaho is as Bizarroworld western Vermont as it gets.

Crossing the stateline into Montana and clearing the mountains, speed limit goes to 80. This is an early indication of how few fucks this state gives, backed up with by the number of  masks I'd see over the next in four days.

South out of Missoula to Stevensville, and my first Evergreen pump track. These things are as fun as they are exhausting. In Sacramento terms, think of layering the Wild Rose snakerun into and over itself and the Oak Park plaza, all in a space just about the same in the size of either and you get the idea. This one came deserted, and with a great big shade tree.

Next stop south is Hamilton, a fever dream of a park. A Masters’ thesis in Spatial Calculus would have come in handy. Massively outnumbered 10:1 by scooters, which, given the waterfalls and blind corners, could quickly get gruesome. I would love to come back for an early morning session. It gets hot up here, climate deniers.

Last stop south is tiny Darby, a rodeo town with heavy Amador vibes. The park is empty, with a nice breeze, but sunbaked with legit tumbleweeds to sweep from the bowl. The blessing and curse of two-out-of-three empty parks in a morning is you’re dust by 1 p.m. I stopped off at a fishing spot and dunked my head in glacier water. Best decision of the trip.

A few uneventful days through Helena, on to Bozeman, then back towards Butte. Just the other side of Missoula sits Alberton, a fun blend of compact and complex. Has to be in the Top 10 list of most beautiful places to skate. Highly recommended.

Cour d’Alene, Idaho. Arguably the best park of the bunch. Lots of Evergreen-type twists’n’trannies but with all the essential street obstacles, too. The summer fires and 105º temps I was attempting escape in California caught up to me here, but not only did the skaters finally outnumber scooters, no one seemed to mind that you couldnt see across the parking lot, let alone the lake.

Unforgettably-named Montana Businesses Advertised by Roadside Signage • Boss Logs • Beetle-cleaned skulls • Balloonatics • Blue Live Matters Mini Storage

Opposite page, from top: Snowmelt creekbed; Downtown Bozeman; Hamilton. This page, clockwise from middle top: Alberton Before; and After; MSU on the river in Missoula; Spokane; Alberton; Stevensville Evergreen badge. [o*] Aa

Stevensville

SPK

CDL

Sequence: “Shirtless in Cour d'Alene,” not starring Tom Hanks.

Back Stander-upper to fakie taker-inner. [o*] Aa

This spread, corners: Dalton Beeson @daltron_3030 splits the difference — one low, one high, two spots. Flip back-D in the SV. Seatbelted booster for the rodeo fans of Darby. [o*] Bill Cain @billcain

Polson Big Sandy Alberton

St Ignatius

MSS HNA Stevensville

Hamilton Anaconda Darby

BTT BZE

Darby

Chris Ferrari @chris_ferrari.ii Bombs over Big Sandy, MT [o*] Bill Cain @billcain

Friends Section

[o*] Joey Vela @xbosco18x / Glory Hole, Summer 2021

N-Men Annual

August 21

Rick Riffle @rickle_riffle

Vinny @vincenzotauz Invertical after dark. [o*] Jake Levon @jakethehated

Jay Polanco @jay.polanco__ / Pop Tart / Power Inn [o*] Jake Levon @jakethehated

September 25

O.G. Ghost Jam

Clockwise from top: [o*] JOEY VELA: Brandon Fields @brandoneggar/@oldbonestherapy feebles for the Beebles; Brent Schneider @mentalstands-up, don’ts give-up-'de-fight 5-0. [o*] CARLOS AMAYA: Mitchell Mendez @mitchellincursive tips it over and pours one out for the Tom Max @meow_max gets gangster for the ghost of James Gandalf-lien-to-tail.

brental/parttimeskateboards gets-up, homies. Paranormal FSO by Brent;

Griffin Clingman @griffindorkus front tailslide Kevin Kowalski @kevin_kowalski front blunt James Gray @jmaes_gray smith Archer Braun @archerbraun back tailslide

Kacey Soares @kaceythaposer flippin’ fingers to tail all the way from Arcata and into second place.

Cebolla Méndez @quiverworld

Every time I have a chance to shoot Marcus Atwood Jr. @sacjitt some stupid shit always happens.

Very possibly a Bigger-Flip over the hip —ask Helmet Kid, he knows. J-Worth got the clip at least.

Just like a prayer, First Place & Best Trick winner Elliot Bouchier @ellbouch takes you there. Madonna.

OCTOBER 17

Previous page: J.D. Sanchez @jdsanchez_ skyballing a lien air [o*] Bill Cain @billcain This page (clockwise from top): Josh Rodriguez @joshrodriguez91 checking the inversion layer. Demarcus James @wallybin indy-grabbed bootybomb to fakie. Kody @kody.tamehana, frontside Schmitt’s Creek Special. Funfarmer Shaw Collins @shucklins plantin’ beans. Garth parties on in the deep end for the Waynes that cannot. All photos this page: [o*] Joey Vela @xbosco18x

Clockwise from top: Stoops, Curb Files, Artisan United, 86'd, Cemental, Tails Of …, Mather Skatepark, Double Down, Bigfoot.

continued from inside front cover

(S)ender

Double Down #1 & 2

Stoops #8

Dirt Diana Bound / 4C / Ads / 68 & 64pp

Eby Ghafarian Bound / 4C / Ads / 68pp

This Lowcardladies spinoff is all about participation and representation.

Lots of local love.

Ted Barrow piece on middle-aging the cube.

The One-offs section is always fire.

86'd #5

Cemental #14

Wolfgang B Bound / 4C / Ads / 8pp

Ty Hopkins Staple / B&W / Ads / 36pp

Highlights: Dilo, Ace, Archer, Chatman.

Archer at Baldy on the cover. Frank Shaw, lots of DIY pipes and pools inside.

Curb Files #2 & 3 Daron Key Staple / 4C / Ads / 32 & 4pp

Grip art feature is a cool touch. #2 takes the win with a sick paste-in photo cover.

Mather Skatepark Brian Johnson Bound / B&W / No Ads / 4pp

Just like it says, a little highlight reel of Sacramento's most popular park. Lovingly shot on film.

Tails Of… #1 Bound / 4C / Ads / Thick

Rich Jacobs-curated collection of skate-adjacent artists, from GSD to Swank to Grant Brittain.

Artisan United Jason Arnold Bound / 4C / No Ads / 118pp

18 skate industry artists ranging from well-worn standards to lesser-known greats.

Like with most things, you can tell an actual skater made this.

Bigfoot #1 Migzy & Amy Caron Staple / 4C / Ads / 42pp

Villa Villa Cola history/ retrospective. Jell-O shots with Breezy & Fabi.

Trades Welcome: DM @songs.zine on IG.

contributors so that this project can be bigger than me. I don't have any ambition beyond seeing the next one in print, but that doesnt mean I can't want it to matter.

I hesitated to run this over a photo of Ryan since, at first, it didn't relate. The shoot was easy: convenient, zero bust, and he got his trick in less than 10 minutes. But between then and now, he took a hard hit to the head that really scared him. Rather than pack it in as so many would at 40, he took a few days off and now wears a helmet.

Not ideal, and he's already catching shit for it, but you know what’s cool?

He was back skating within the week.

So much respect that he carries on, however unsurprising that he does.

For those of you that know Ryan, he's overcome way worse; stuff that has literally killed others less capable. I won't dismiss his well-earned toughness, but confident his 25+ years on a board taught him the skills needed to persist.

For being such an asshole sometimes, skateboarding is also an amazing mentor, instilling the spirit that keeps us trying tricks across multiple missions despite the broken boards, tickets, and the rest.

Deep breath, y'all. 2022 is here and we won't be fooled into thinking things are gonna be any easier this time.

We’re lucky to have skating and each other to be grateful for daily. But if you’re struggling, keep in mind that the quote “The worst session comes to an end at some point. The next one will always be better”* applies to much more than skating. Write it down if you have to, read it often.

Then hug the homies. Let's do this damn thing.

* P. Kigongo, Mostly Skateboarding podcast, 5.16.21

Mirror Line

Ricky Guerrero @guerreroricky reaches for the sky. [o*] Carlos Amaya @carlosshoots

eniL rorriM

(Deep) Ender

Roger Varela @rogervarela86 Three fingers of flat in a South Sacramento backyard. [o*] Carlos Amaya @carlosshoots

“The Idaho Loveseat” sounds almost as dirty as the sky was in Cour d’Alene that day. Not even an AQI near 200 could keep Jameson Martinez @antiscooter_ from this back feeble.

IG: @songs.zine