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Our Eco Poly Cotton fabric is the perfect blend of classic style and modern progress. This blend has an amazingly soft hand feel from the Cotton element, yet dries faster and holds up longer thanks to the recycled polyester element made from plastic bottle waste. The mix of these two materials allows for soft hand printing that looks perfectly faded and worn in right from the start. Our Eco Poly fabric is the perfect blend of classicstyle and modern function. This unique blend has an amazingly soft feel from its Cotton content, and dries fast and holds up longer thanks to the recycled Polyester made from plastic bottle waste. The mix of these two materials allows for ultra soft styles that look perfectly faded and worn in right from the start.
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EDITOR-IN-CHI EF nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com
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CONTRIBUTOR S
Matt Patterson, Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Spencer Pirdy, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers BL!SSS Magazine 413 31st Street Newport Beach, CA 92663 www.blisssmag.com Disclaimer: Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on a monthly basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to Blisss’ right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine reflect the opinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Blisss Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter which may reflect negatively on the integrity of the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior written consent from the publisher.
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Clockwise from far right: Quad, Lenox, Bueller, Platform II, Mic Snap Back
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ANON M-1
JAWS PADDLE IN
Few spots have played as big of a part in the progression of big-wave paddle-in surfing as Pe’ahi, a.k.a. Jaws, on Maui. Red Bull has taken note of this and has officially announced the formation of the RED BULL JAWS, Paddle at Pe’ahi event. This invite-only event consists of 21 world-class big-wave surfers and will be held one day between December 7th and March 15th when the waves at Jaws reach between 30 and 50 feet high. The event is paddle-in only and no assistance will be allowed from motorized personal watercraft. For all of you worried about having to choose between the Eddie and this event, well you won’t have to – the events will not be run on the same day. Keep an eye out for big purple blobs because that could mean a green light for the Jaws Paddle at Pe’ahi event.
Anon Optics has just come out with the M1- one of the hottest goggles we’ve come across in quite a while. In today’s world, speed and ease is a must have, and the M-1 is the ultimate in effortless lens change innovation. Anon’s exclusive Magna-Tech is the fastest, most advanced solution to swapping your lens tint on the fly. This low profile, lightweight framed goggle has it all with Anon Red Solex Spherical Lens Technology giving you superior vision in all directions. They even include a spare Graybird lens for those days when you’re not sure what the weather’s going to do. From Graybird to bluebird conditions - the M1 has you covered. Log on to anonoptics.com to land yourself a pair of these amazing goggles. You’ll thank us later.
WARD STORIES Our good friend Joe Alani came by the office to drop off the newest installment from …Lost Enterprises, War(d) Stories. If you were lucky enough to catch a few of the episodes released on the web, then you saw just how raw and outrageous the surfing and tales of War(d) Stories are. …Lost stays true to their legendary form in War(d) Stories by giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the life of “the world’s most interesting surfer” Chris Ward. From never-before-seen footage that’ll blow your mind to stories that’ll leave you wondering how Ward is still alive today, this movie has it all. Head to your local surf shop today so that you can add this timeless flick to your …Lost movie library.
DRIFT HD GHOST
We had a fun new product thrown into our laps this past month by the people at Drift Innovation. Their new HD Ghost cam is one of the most feature-rich cameras we’ve had the pleasure of checking out. The Ghost not only has an easy-to-navigate interface and controls, durability qualities that will allow you to get as extreme as you’d like, but you’ll also have instant gratification by viewing the clarity of the videos and images you’ve documented. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or just an average adrenaline junky, we think you’ll take quite the liking to this fine piece of technology. Kick the year off right by snagging the HD Ghost or visit driftinnovation.com for an assortment of other techno goodies.
RAEN & DEUS EX MACHINA BUTTER BENCH OC Ramps gave Jordan Hoffart the opportunity to develop a perfect bench that would be ideal for any popup session. The Butter Bench was born! It’s 14 inches high and 6 feet long, fits perfectly in any truck bed, and is extremely quick/easy to build. The combination of a recycled plastic grinding surface on top of its wooden base make it lightweight and extremely durable. The cambered birch base allows for stick-free slides ‘n’ grinds and takes an endless beating. “It’s simple yet effective, definitely the best bench I’ve ever skated!” states Jordan Hoffart. 34
Two companies we really admire, RAEN and Deus Ex Machina, have come together for a unique collaboration. In doing so, Deus chose three RAEN eyewear styles – the Lenox, Squire, and Underwood – that conveyed a rugged, yet defined demeanor. RAEN paired each handmade piece with an exclusive Matte Woodgrain acetate finish, custom etched Deus logo details, with optics by Carl Zeiss Vision lenses. The limitededition exterior packaging features a motorcycle print designed by Deus Creative Director Carby Tuckwell, as well as a custom eyewear sock and optics case for additional carrying protection. Basically these shades are handcrafted to perfection with all of the right detailing. Make sure to get your hands on this exclusive collaboration in 2013.
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SEABASS DREAM RUN
BULL TACOS Anyone who hasn’t discovered Southern California’s most “inauthentic Mexican food” should head on over to Bull Taco today and enjoy their tasty grinds. With shops in Cardiff, Oceanside, San Clements and at Padre’s stadium (open during games only), they’re perfectly located for that after surf or skate recharge that your body constantly needs. With guys like Nathan Fletcher, Jay Adams, Christian Hosoi, Cheyne Magnusson and Kassia Meador all backing the food, you know they’re doing something right. Get your mexi on today – you won’t be disappointed.
VANS OFF THE WALL SKATEPARK After what seems like a decade in the making, Vans and the City of Huntington Beach, with a lot of help from Jack’s Surfboards, have finally reached an agreement and broke ground this past month on the new Off the Wall Skatepark and Garage Skate Shop. The park is set to be open to the public in early Spring and boasts a 30,000-square-foot lighted park – including a 15,000-square-foot bowl area with a competition, backyard and beginner bowl and a 12,000-square-foot street plaza with enough features to satisfy everyone’s steez. The Garage Skate Shop will carry products from top skate brands, Van’s exclusives, and serve as the pro shop – with all the skate equipment and rentals one could ever need. This will be Orange County’s go-to skate park, and we’re sure there is going to be a huge blowout opening so be sure to check back and we’ll keep you posted.
JLAB CRASHER Crashing the party, in a good way, for 2013 is the Crasher portable speaker from JLab. This is the speaker of your dreams in more ways than one. With Bluetooth technology that streams your iPod, iPad, iPad Mini, iPhone, Android and pretty much any other compatible device you can rock out to your favorite tunes from up to 30 feet away. The Crasher can also charge your smart devices while simultaneously producing rich room-filling sounds for you and your party people. On top of all of this the Crasher can also act as a speakerphone for those moments when you need to tone it down and answer to the real world. This speaker is a no-brainer buy for everyone, so head to JLabAudio.com and get yourself a Crasher.
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Sebastian Zietz has had a winter season that has propelled him from happygo-lucky pro to instant World Tour threat. The 24-year-old Kauaian started things off by taking home the Reef Hawaiian Pro title. At the same time Seabass’s win qualified him for the 2013 World Tour and had him in the lead for the Van’s Triple Crown. At Sunset he continued to showcase his raw surfing by finishing 3rd. Then it was onto Pipe where Sebastian was crowned the winner of the Triple Crown after fellow Oakley teammate and VTC contender Adam Melling lost out in round 2. After that heat, the Hawaiian prodigy was declared the winner of the Van’s Triple Crown and was hoisted up by a crew of teammates and friends and carried from Off the Wall up to the podium while standing atop a board, grabbing rail and throwing shakas the whole way. Seabass eventually lost out in the quarters of Pipe, but not without pocketing over $150k, a $10k Nixon watch and a $30k Harley Davidson. We are excited as ever to see the three-thumbed Seabass on tour next year, and this just further cements the theory that good things happen to good people.
MAKAHA SKATEBOARDS Makaha Skateboards have been around since the early 1960s, and after a brief hiatus we’re proud to announce that they are back and better than ever. Many top surfers and skateboarders of yesterday honed their skills on Makaha skates. Now, with the high-performance models they offer in their Blue Line, skaters of all levels and abilities can enjoy their skates from beginner to downhill racer. We also can’t forget about the legendary retro favorites of the Gold Line, with limited edition models that are built to the exact specifications and manufacturing methods of those built in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Basically, Makaha Skateboards has you covered with finely tuned and crafted skateboards for whatever direction you’re looking to head. Check your local shops for Makaha Skateboards today.
THOM PRINGLE brixton.com
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SPY’S HAPPY LENS The team at Spy Optics has taken their pursuit of happiness a step further with the construction of their all-new Happy Lens. This lens has all of the UV protection, glare blocking, depth perception and color enhancement that we’re used to seeing, but the kicker comes with how you will feel while wearing these lenses. Spy’s designers turned to scientific research on the uplifting effects of blue light that directly correlate with happiness when they are transmitted through the human eye. They’ve taken this and applied it to these lenses. So, basically the Spy Happy Lens is promoting happiness within. Keep an eye out for these shades in spring of 2013 with styles that will have you looking your best and feeling even better.
DEREK’S LOCKS
Ezekiel and World Industries newest pro Derek Fukuhara is well known for his polished street skating and for having a pretty amazing head of hair. But what if we told you that after a year of growing his hair out to perfection Derek was going to snip his locks right off? That’s right, Derek has cut off all 11 inches of his hair. But he did it for a great cause – he’s donated his hair to Locks of Love. For those who don’t know, Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to kids who have lost their hair through illness. This isn’t the first time Derek has donated to Locks of Love; in fact, this marks Derek’s 5th year contributing. We give a lot of respect to Derek for his kind acts and are elated that Ezekiel and World are backing him. For more on how to get involved with Locks of Love, head to locksoflove.org.
ALPINESTARS GIVEBACK To round out the end of 2012, the folks at Alpinestars were busy making their presence known on the North Shore of Oahu. Between event signings, promo giveaways and their annual Kahuku MX park takeover, they donated 10 Alpinestars beach cruisers to the Surfrider Spirit Sessions organization. The bikes will find new permanent homes to “at-risk” youth and teens. Lookout for these bad boys racing the sidewalks of the 7-mile miracle stretch on the North Shore – it always puts a smile on our faces to see things like this happening.
VOLCOM SHOES The boys at Volcom are up to their usual tricks and we’ve just got a sneak preview of their Volcom Footwear Collection set to drop sometime early summer of 2013. If you’re lucky enough to be at the Agenda Trade Show in Long Beach or Surf Expo in Florida you might be lucky enough to get a sneak peak as well. Either way, these things are going to be hot, so be sure to get a pair and style up your feet when they drop.
BYRD HAIR PRODUCTS DING DRX
With more and more people taking up surfing every year we’ve been seeing a strong influx in the business of ding repairs. No matter how skilled you are, you’re bound to slip up every once in a while and launch your board into a jetty or collide with Barney Sr. from accounting. The problem then comes with finding someone reliable and skilled to fix your magic stick. We’ve found just that person and he goes by the name of the Ding Dr. He’s available to mend your ailing board back to health whether you’re in San Diego or Los Angeles. He specializes in all types of repairs from epoxy SUP’s to standard PU shortboards, he’s fast and he won’t overcharge you. Make sure to give him a ring at 714-721-3767 or visit his site at dingdrx.com.
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Big Bird, a.k.a. Chase Wilson, dropped by the headquarters this past month and filled us in on the new project he’s undertaken. Anyone who knows Chase knows that he’s got some of the finest groomed hair on the West Coast – an old chip off his father’s shoulder. Putting oneand-one together, Chase has just released Byrd Hair Products. First to his line is good old Byrd Pomade, designed to keep you looking slick in and out of the water. Finer retailers have already caught on to this and are carrying Byrd Hair Products, so look for the hand-carved Byrd stump wherever you shop.
RAMIRO “FURBY” SALCEDO SPLITUSA.COM // FACEBOOK.COM/SPLITCLOTHING // PHOTO: ELY PHILLIPS
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“Dense paintings, layered with collage and printmaking elements, they are monumental, comprised of recurring motifs: galloping horses, tornadoes, pyramids with eyes hovering above, sky riddled with arrows, billowing clouds, all chronicling inevitable cataclysmic events if the U.S. continues its damaging policies.” Words: Matt Gonzalez Politics permeates the work of artist Andrew Schoultz, a Wisconsin native living in San Francisco. His latest work appropriates the American flag, a symbol of freedom and patriotism to some, imperialism and capitalism to others. He stretches military-grade flags and uses them as a canvas, which he covers in gold leaf and gobs of paint. Sometimes he covers the entire flag, leaving only the underlying texture of stars and stripes projecting through. At other times he covers only part of the flag, leaving a vestige visible. Schoultz presents a dialectic on the embedded symbolism of the flag, confronting both what it purports to represent versus its true nature. Some will argue Schoultz is desecrating a symbol of liberty, yet he’s actually making a statement challenging patriotism. Schoultz’s flag paintings aren’t anti-American, but they tell an uncomfortable truth: the United State’s foreign and economic policies are ruining this planet. Schoultz doesn’t hesitate to treat these flags the way the government sometimes treats its people. Gone is any pretense of respect. A nation that falsely purports to embody freedoms must be challenged if it’s to transform into what Americans believe its symbols represent. Now the flag denotes poverty, diminished civil liberties, perpetual war, and environmental degradation. By exercising his right to speech and defending our lost democratic values, Schoultz’s flags are patriotic. Purchased from the official-sounding The United States Flag Store, Schoultz reveals that these military flags are actually made in China. The very emblem intended to evoke national pride is enmeshed in the politics of outsourcing. Some Americans may decry what they believe is an artist’s manipulation that defiles their symbol of national identity, while hiding a poignant truth – Americans can’t pay local workers decent wages even when manufacturing their own national flag. This political irony is what Schoultz’s work concerns.
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In tandem with his flag paintings, Schoultz paints detailed narrative work for which he is best known. Dense paintings, layered with collage and printmaking elements, they are monumental, comprised of recurring motifs: galloping horses, tornadoes, pyramids with eyes hovering above, sky riddled with arrows, billowing clouds, all chronicling inevitable cataclysmic events if the U.S. continues its damaging policies. Schoultz’s illustrations are part history, part prophecy. The work portrays a contemporary drama ranging from natural calamities to the man-made collapse of the global economy. Schoultz provokes a meditation on U.S. war waging, and the devastating consequences capitalism delivers, evidenced by the continued military presence in Western Asia and effects of global warming. Through a chorus of repeated symbols, Schoultz presents nondescript narratives of collapsing empire. Trade deficits, bank failures, and our debt crisis, all underscore an alarming truth: China owns an unprecedented $5 trillion worth of the U.S.’s debt, marking a shift in global economic supremacy. Viewers must decide how to read Schoultz’s political narratives. For some, it’s simply aesthetically pleasing. For others, it’s an incendiary narrative by an artist who tells it like it is. Schoultz succeeds because his canvases can read literally or metaphorically. Some see gallant horses striding about, others rider-less warhorses galloping amidst a barrage of arrows, as if a medieval army had skirmished. Somewhere there is a better world. For the time being, Schoultz isn’t painting it. Make sure to check out more of Andrew Schoultz work at adrewschoultz.com and catch his exhibit Fall Out at the Moore Gallery, markmooregallery.com, opening mid-January 2013.
WeA c t i v i s t J A S O N L E E SHOT AT HIS HOME STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES B Y G IOVANNI R E DA
FOR MO RE O N T H IS SUPE RLAT IVE SPAC E w esc. co m
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Words: Spencer Pirdy On Friday December 14th, Joel Parkinson etched himself into surfing history as a world champion. In front of a support group of friends and family at the Billabong Off the Wall House, Joel rejoiced as time ticked down in semifinal number two of the Billabong Pipe Masters as fellow Aussie Josh Kerr put an end to Kelly’s dreams of adding a 12th title trophy to his collection. To say that Joel’s hoisting of the world title had been a long time coming would be a giant understatement. On the final day of the Pipe Masters, Kelly and Joel faced off on opposite sides of the draw to decide who would take home the hardware for 2012. Once Kelly reached the quarters it was a matter of Joel finishing a place ahead of Kelly to earn himself the crown of world champion. Joel would get by CJ Hobgood to face his brother Damien in semifinal number one by negotiating the tricky backdoor bubbly tubes on offer. Then, in arguably the best heat of the whole event, Kelly had an absolute shootout with longtime pal Shane Dorian. Kelly started off strong but Shane stayed true to his BackDorian nickname by answering with a 9.33 and an 8.87. In the end, Kelly was able to muster up a 10-point ride in the heat to squeak by Dorian and keep number 12 in reach. The pressure was back to Joel as his semifinal heat turned out to be a nail biter. Damien Hobgood surfed with his brother’s vengeance in mind and battled Parko up to the dying seconds but never found the wave with enough opportunity to take the heat. Parko was in the final now and a showdown of epic proportions seemed destined to unfold. But, Kelly still had to go through a determined Josh Kerr who wasn’t allowing anything, title drama or a tweaked neck, to deter his Pipe title ambitions. Kerr put Kelly up against the ropes right off the bat with a 9.20, and then as if to signify that it was Parko’s time, the ocean went flat. Kelly was never given an opportunity to respond, and after 10 years of slugging it out, Joel Parkinson was awarded the title of #1 in the world for 2012. While a storybook ending would’ve seen a duel between Kelly and Joel in the final of the Pipe Masters, Mother Nature just wouldn’t let it be. Nevertheless, competitive surfing regained legitimacy once again for the drama that
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unfolded. If there’s anything to learn from Joel Parkinson’s career it’s that consistency and resilience will, eventually, pay off. Joel hadn’t won an event in 2012 until Pipe, coming after the fact that he’d cemented himself as world champ. Before that, Joel’s highest places this year came from runner-up finishes at Brazil, Teahupo’o and Trestles. Joel’s no stranger to finishing second, especially at the year’s end. Since his tour inception in 2001, Joel has finished runner-up on four separate occasions – in 2002, 2004, 2009 and 2011. To speak to the ups-and-downs of his career, in 2009 Joel started the year off with a slew of wins that had him sitting comfortably at number one in the world. Then came a fateful Bali trip, wherein he suffered a devastating ankle injury. The second half of 2009 saw Joel drastically lose momentum and, ultimately, lose the title to childhood friend Mick Fanning at the end of the year at Pipe in heartbreaking fashion. Joel was a good friend though and still helped lift Mick across the sand to the podium. At this point, Joel could’ve thrown in the towel. He could’ve felt satisfied with always being second best and would’ve still gone down as one of the world’s best surfers, minus a title. He wouldn’t let that be though. After another second-place finish behind Kelly in 2011, Joel took a more fluid, yet at the same time focused, approach in 2012. Parko trained relentlessly for and took part in the Molokai to Oahu paddle race with Wes Berg, finishing third in their division. Whether it was this outside competition, a big-wave session with Gmac in Portugal or the fact that Parko made his arrival in Hawaii a delayed family affair, something sparked change in his final results. These changes in routine mentally and physically gave Parko the edge that he needed in the final “dog fight” heats of 2012 that would make or break his world title aspirations. A feat that seemed unobtainable for Parko for so long is now rightfully his. He’s battled through adversity and letdowns, and instead of being looked at as the talented Parko who could’ve been, Joel Parkinson is seen as the champion who finally got his. Sure, it took him a while, but better late than never, and with Mick fittingly there to raise Parko up on his shoulder and return the favor from 2009, Joel can savor the taste of victory and forever know that 2012 was his year.
Morgan Herrin is an artist with an extensive background in wood crafting and carpentry that unites a deep understanding and appreciation of the properties and materiality of wood with a fascination for the human form. His works have utilized wood to mimic materials ranging from the hard surfaces of iron, copper, and bronze, to the more delicate and fragile organic shapes found in nature, from plant and moss forms to bone and skin. In this new exhibition of his work, he takes as his subject the remains of the Ice Man (or “Oetzi” as scientists named him), the mummified 5,300-year-old man that was discovered in 1991 in the Eastern Alps near the border between Austria and Italy startlingly well preserved in the ice, as if thousands of years had not passed. The sculpture, in a similarly vivid fashion, is an astonishing, frighteningly lifelike image of our ancestral past captured in an almost dancing gesture, as if frozen in time for all of eternity to witness.
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In his previous work, Herrin created works that harkened back to classical sculpture, using as his primary medium standardized dimensional lumber—planed wood with a smooth finish prepared primarily for commercial construction purposes. His newest work utilizes found, aged lumber, which allows for a rougher, weathered appearance and the qualities of a grittier realism, aligning perfectly with his current subject matter. Herrin earned a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002 and an MFA in Sculpture in 2005 from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. His work has been exhibited widely in solo and group shows in the United States and in art fairs such as SCOPE New York. Herrin lives and works in Richmond, Virginia, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University.
TIDE DATA
CORY LOPEZ
KILLER TIDE
FREESTYLEUSA.COM
SUNRISE - SUNSET
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“The birds-eye view reveals that we are just small creatures, not that we’re not as important as we think we are.” Words: Kelly Shannon
While most photography is captured with two feet on land, German photographer Bernhard Lang somewhat prefers to snap his photos from a few hundred (to a few thousand) feet in the air. The Munich-based artist captures aerial shots as a reminder to Earth’s inhabitants how vast our environment is, and how small we are.
nature just work in your favor? I do work a bit on the colors in Photoshop.
Life looks pretty fabulous from above. Do you prefer the birds-eye view or looking at things from ground level? It depends on the subject. The perspective of the birds-eye view might show things from a view less common.
What else do you enjoy taking pictures of? Fun for me has been to shoot team posters and autograph cards for my favorite professional soccer team “TSV 1860 Muenchen.”
What’s the message you want to send through your aerial photos? The message might be to show the impact of the human beings on the natural environment. On the other side, the birds-eye view reveals that we are just small creatures, not that we’re not as important as we think we are. The colors you capture in your aerial photographs are beautiful. Is there any methodology to this, or does
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Where have been your favorite places to take pictures of from above? Near the Alpes, around Munich.
Are you involved in any other art besides photography? Just as a visitor of exhibitions. Which artists are your biggest inspirations? Edward Burtynsky and Nadav Kander. Favorite bands or musicians? The Cult, The Cure, Jimmy Hendrix, Deftones, Dead Kennedys, Kyuss.
TROY LEE
“Working in watercolor, the gorgeous detail Ball achieves in her renderings, coupled with vivid blooms of color wash, attest to her mastery of a traditional, and at times overlooked, medium.”
Words: Nicole Schwager
A tenet of Laura Ball’s artistic practice has been exploring aspects of the inner mind and the subconscious. While creative efforts to this end frequently result in visceral, otherworldly expressionism, Ball’s current methodology is to sublimate the expanse of the unknown—to contain the expanse of the universe of the mind—into delicately rendered natural creatures, which she piles and twists into creatures of the mind. In addition to prompting personal, thoughtful investigation of themes of the subconscious, both positive and negative, viewing these works is a pleasure for many reasons. Working in watercolor, the gorgeous detail Ball achieves in her renderings, coupled with vivid blooms of color wash, attest to her mastery of a traditional, and at times overlooked, medium. Furthermore, the incredible personality Ball imparts to the animals she depicts—a stalking mountain lion, a wildly consternated walrus, the sardonic eyes of an owl devouring a mouse—achieves a degree of verisimilitude among the carnage and chaos and encourages the viewer to suspend their disbelief. Image courtesy of David B. Smith Gallery, Denver
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Ball’s process is painstaking, and the level of detail she achieves is astounding. Featured in the “Artist Notes” section of this catalogue, a series of her sketches presented with this exhibition reveal the methodical planning which underlies the structure of her creatures. As Ball explores concepts of the internal, her pictures tell a dynamic visual story. Resisting narrative, and in tension with the frozen tableau she constructs, her compositions invite looking again and again. The creatures she conceives convey so much more than a sum of their tumbling parts, and rather than crafting an image of, Laura Ball gives breath to, the void. Laura Ball’s current exhibition, Minotaur, is on view through January 19th, 2013, at David B. Smith Gallery in Denver. This text is excerpted from the foreword of a full-color, 88-page catalogue produced with this exhibition and available now at davidbsmithgallery.com/store.
Makua Rothman grew up on the North Shore of Oahu and started surfing at the age of two. At just the age of 18, he caught the world’s biggest wave (66-feet) and took the surfing world by storm by winning the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Award. This surfing champion is now pursuing another passion in music as an accomplished ukulele player and singer. He has been taught by the likes of legendary musician Iz Kamakawiwo’ole, Ledward Kapaapana and John. Makua wants to be the ambassador of Aloha to the world through his music - playing to crowds around the globe. His
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music is a good-vibe, Hawaiian-infused sound to get you smiling and enjoying your day no matter where you are! Aloha. Makua’s new album is titled “Makalane Road” and is now available on iTunes. You can also download a free song “Waiting for You” from Makua’s RVCA music page rvca.com/ makua-rothman-music.
“By carving into the paper in a particular way, one can feel the power and the magic and the luck. The face is a mirror of the soul - for better or worse. Portraiture is my way of encapsulating and understanding the ongoing museum of human experience, to show who we really are, body and spirit.” Words: Douglass McDougall
I’m the obligatory art student dropout cliché, what can I say? From 1992–‘94 I was studying for a BA in fine art at Glasgow School of Art, but I dropped out in my second year because I became a bit disillusioned by it all. In many ways my language stemmed strongly from an illustrative practice, and at that point I was still excited about maintaining and expanding with my own program. I was like the odd kid on the block dabbling in something that was looked upon with a certain prejudice, while the likes of Bill Viola and especially the all-new London YBA’s were beginning to generate an entirely new fabric of conceptual impression within the interests of many students and tutorials alike. In all reality I was still wired to the whole social realism thing that had channeled itself through the Glasgow school a decade earlier. And on top of this I was simply not prepared at that time to be courageous enough for my convictions.
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In 2000, after a period of full-time non-art-related employment, I eventually moved from Glasgow to London and began working on my art career. I found myself a part-time job as a technician for the private gallery Gimpel Fils, and the remainder of the time was spent in my studio. My first real break was the Stanford University purchase of ‘Another Drink to Cold Women’ in 2005. To see more of Douglas McDougall’s work be sure to check out zoomorpix.tumblr.com.
Photography: Dominic Petruzzi :: dominicpetruzziphoto.com :: Model: Chrissy
Florida isn’t exporting just oranges anymore; it seems like there has been an influx of East Coast beauties showing up on the shores of Southern California lately. And since January is Chrissy’s birthday month, we thought it fit that she be our very first Super Taste for 2013. If you’re reading this, then the world really didn’t end this past month and you can look forward to another 11 months of delightful Super Taste spreads. Enjoy. Makeup: Lauren Breedon :: laurenbreedon.com:: Retouch: JasonSchorle.com
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Words & Photos: Dave Wilfret :: Party Photos: Christos Katsiaouni
Art Basel Miami Beach, that time of year when the art world and all of its lurkers descend upon the tropical port known to natives as the ‘Magic City.’ What’s there to really say about this six-day gluttonous feast for the eyes except that it’s overwhelming. There is art here, a lot it, but there are also parties. Parties to celebrate the parties that follow the dinners that happen after the openings. And while you can normally bullshit your way through any door in Miami, it’s getting tougher to crash these events that are usually full of people that you don’t even want to talk
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to. All of those good folks are at the Deuce, The Sandwich shop, or somewhere over in Wynwood, on that side of the water. The thing about Art Basel Miami Beach this year, and maybe it’s been like this always, is that the art just seemed like an excuse. Of course, in its purist essence what is happening is just an enormous trade show; people weren’t even really there for the goods. ‘Connecting’ was a term overheard quite often, and it really does make sense that what people now go down to Miami for is just a sexy, tropical networking event. Major party brands have taken notice.
Finding their way into targeting the niche, and along with the generous support of various liquor brands, whose goal is to ‘own’ Art Basel, which ply them with unlimited booze until the hotel decides that they need to charge $15 a drink from the free bottles they just got from the party. Whatever. Things are still fun and the quality of babes is outstanding (rich girls are awesome), and the hookers have great lines and for some reason act like they don’t want you to know that they’re a PRO. Enough about partying though.
If you’re still reading this, let’s talk Art, with a capital A. Down in Miami during this mob scene there are two kinds of art: Indoor and Outdoor. This city is a strange enough place that graffiti was actually used to gentrify nearly an entire neighborhood. Although Wynhood is still very visible in Wynwood. And who knows what that place is like 51 weeks out the year? The scene over there has gotten a bit too claustrophobic to really appreciate what’s going on, but there were a couple bright spots. SP.One painted an amazing piece in the hood this year, and Wane went gigantic too. Harking back to the days when it was about top-tobottoms and end-to-ends. Indoors, it was a little less obvious who came out on top. If we were to go by what the rappers were doing, it would be like this.
Beyoncé looked at Barry and Puff Daddy went for bold Copped two Andrew Schoultz’s That were flags all dripped in Gold Rick Rozay bought a Mosse In front posing just like a Bawse While Jay-Z got misguided and acquired a fake David Choe for the loss
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Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Courtesy © ASP It really is quite a treat to be a member of the surf media elite in December. Getting flown over to Hawaii, immersing myself among the end-of-the-year madness that is the Triple Crown, getting a few fun sessions in here and there, eating lavish meals. Then, getting to sit front row at one of the team houses right on the 50-yard line at Pipe to witness surfing’s super bowl showdown between Mick, Parko and Kelly in one final climactic display of competitive grit. Watching this all go down in dramatic style with the warm sun beaming down on me and beautiful women walking all around. Ah, this really is paradise… But then I woke up. Partly because the door to our office kept opening again and again and partly because my high bandwidth stream had all but fizzled out. My daydreaming was over and here I was, back in rainy Southern California listening to Joe Turpel, Ronnie
Blakey and statistician Dave Stansfeild, huddled around a few Macs with a bunch of friends, co-workers and even a few strangers who had wandered in from the streets having overheard the webcast. For the past six hours now we’ve been glued to our computers, only straying for a moment to order food and answer emails. We’ve been hooting and hollering like little kids, proving that Pipeline can be just as exciting for an avid surf fan, whether you’re on the beach or watching online. For me it’s like Christmas; it’s the one event I can’t miss. Hell, it might even be better – watching Pipe from the comfort of your computer. Aside from the awkwardly dressed GT there are a lot of plusses: no sunburns from that beaming sun, no fear of getting a beat down for checking out one of those pretty
Joel Parkinson
Josh Kerr
Slater
Damien Hobgood
ladies and, of course, there’s instant replay. Yeah, I keep telling myself that this webcast is way better but then the goddamn thing freezes again. It’s the final day of competition and there’s a lot to be decided – a world title, a Pipe Masters title and even some re-qualifying for other surfers on the cusp. Pipe is a little wonky this morning, to say the least, but still a mindsurfer’s dream with plenty of glory holes spitting in each direction. By now, Mick’s been eliminated ending his long-shot title chances, Joel has advanced to the quarters and Kelly is about to take on Gabriel and Josh Kerr in round 4. A quick glance back saw the first rounds of the Pipe Masters going off. Aside from some tricky afternoon conditions that had a few competitors taking the leap of faith, high scores were being dropped at both Pipe and Backdoor. Kalani Chapman and JOB were right at home, strapping Go-Pros to the front of their boards to document their heats inside the green room like it was just another day at the office. Yadin Nichol showed us all why he’s worthy of remaining on tour by packing some Pipeline bombs kamikaze style. Shane Dorian, Seabass and Dane Reynolds all made good use of Backdoor to advance further into the competition. Even Kolohe Andino got in on the flawless conditions, in particular, with a backside no-grab-rail Pipe beast that blew him out into the channel. In the end, Kolohe
lost out, but not without making a clear statement that his comfort level in heavy conditions continues to get higher. The Hobgoods were flaring up on lefts and rights, and on any other year this would’ve been enough to satisfy our surf hungry appetites. But this year, with a world champ still waiting to be crowned, we wanted to see the top seeds take to the water and let the drama unfold. Jump to the first heat of round 4 and our prayers were answered with Kelly, Kerr and Gabriel. Something’s amiss though, as Kelly looks all out of sorts in the tricky final day conditions. The only thing he really did well was to use half of his broken board as a shield to block Gabriel Medina from exiting a barrel in the final seconds of their heat that would’ve surely sent Gabriel straight into the quarters. Instead, Kerr took the win and rightfully so. Josh re-injured his neck after failing to exit a Backdoor barrel. Kerr summoned all he had within him to finish out the heat and advance in first place. Afterwards, he was sent straight to Kahuku hospital to get precautionary X-rays done. Meanwhile, back in the office we were a little bit bummed. We wanted to see Kelly in true form, and certainly we did not see this in his round 4 showing. Luckily, for the competition’s sake and for our viewing pleasure, the real Kelly emerged for round 5 and posted the day’s highest heat score. Alright, GAME ON! This is what we want to see. Then came
Yadin Nicol
Seabastian Zietz
Dane Reynolds
the quarters and Parko’s turn. From here on out Joel had to finish a place ahead of Kelly. With both Kelly and Joel advancing to the semis, Joel beating CJ Hobgood and with Kelly narrowly defeating Shane-O, in a heat that was without a doubt the best of the event, Kelly and Joel seemed destined to meet in the final. This was getting intense and I wasn’t leaving my seat for anything. I was a possessed surf fan, entranced on what was bound to unfold. The majority of the room including myself wanted Parko, but there were a couple of Kelly/Florida fans as well letting their support show. Semi #1
Shane Dorian
Kieren Perrow
CJ Hobgood
Miguel Pupo
Gabriel Medina
Kalani Chapman
Kolohe Andino
came with the pressure cooker on Parko to advance. He did. Then semi #2 with Kelly and Kerr. We watched as Mother Nature played spoiler at the hands of Kelly. Kerr caught the heats only real scoring ride, and then in the last minute the camera stayed fixated on Parko, flanked by Bruce and Makua, as he celebrated his first-ever world title. As for the final… Well, to be honest, it would’ve been nice to see Kerr win, just for the fact that he’d toughed it out all day. But in the end Parko’s roll just kept going and he came away with two crowns. It is a relief to see Joel win the World Tour title,
for without a title, we’d all kind of cringe when thinking back on his career. As for the Pipe Master, it’s nice he took that too, because now all the haters can’t bitch about him not winning an event while he defends his crown in 2013. With that said, another year of pro surfing has come to an end and another Pipeline webcast is in the books. I know that I thoroughly enjoyed the show and I’m sure that no matter where you were in the world, as long as you had an Internet connection, you did as well. Until next year, Aloha!
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Words: Brian Fick
I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, in a town called Gulfport, which is about an hour east of New Orleans. The South is a great place but didn’t offer me that much as a skateboarder. My parents weren’t rich so going to college didn’t seem like a good idea at the time. I knew I didn’t want to stay in Mississippi forever, so I decided to join the Army right after high school. I spent a total of eight years in the military as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne and have jumped out of a perfectly good airplane almost 60 times. I was really fortunate because I entered the military right after the first Gulf War and got out one week before September 11 – talk about close calls! I first became interested in shooting photographs toward the end of my enlistment. I got the photography bug right away and became completely addicted to figuring out how to take proper photos. I would always look at great photographs and wonder how they were made and the story behind them. I’m self-taught and I remember shooting the same type of film for almost three years straight. It was Fuji Sensia 100 (cheap slide film). I was experimenting, comparing and taking notes on each image, slowly learning from my mistakes. I’ve been skating and shooting with many of my skateboard heroes for around 12 years now … It’s surreal because I never thought that my life would take this turn. My main reasoning for moving out to San Diego was to go to college and learn how to skate vert ramps, and just enjoy the lack of humidity on the West Coast. Slowly but surely I began gaining the trust of some of the best skateboarders in the world and began shooting photos with them on a regular basis. As I’m writing this, I’m still shooting photos of skateboarders and landscapes the most – those are my two favorite subjects to photograph. Thanks for looking, and check out some of my other work on my website brianfick.com or follow me on Instagram @brianfick.
SF Bay Bridge
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Rudolfo “Gugu” Ramos: 360 Kick Flip
Antelope Canyon
Mesa Arch
Alex Perelson: Back Tail
Peter Hewitt: Rock n Roll
Marius Syvanen: 5-0
Wes Kremer: FS Feeble Grind
Alex Perelson: Indy Air
Duane & Olson
Peter Hewitt: BS Smith Grind
Shawn Patrick: BS Ollie
Lance Mountain: Sad plant
Benji Galloway: BS Lipslide
Jared Huss: FS Boardslide
Rune Gilfberg: FS Air
Chad Bartie: Nose Blunt Slide
Aryehk Krause: Nose Grind
Drew Dezort: Wall Ride
Div Adams: Indy Nose Pick
Zarosh Eggleston: FS Air
Lincoln Ueda: Lien Nose Bash
Tim Williams: 5050
PLG: BS Smith
Interview: Shelby Menzel and Mike LeBlanc Photos: Bob Plumb ML: Gus, you’re from Alaska. Why is it different up there then the lower 48? Sometimes it’s a frozen wasteland; sometimes it’s a winter wonderland. In the summers it’s in the 70s and it’s light 24 hours a day. I see at least a moose a week, run into a bear hiking in the mountains at least once a summer. It feels unregulated and wild compared to anywhere else I’ve been in the states. There are a lot of reasons the birds all leave in the fall and there’s a lot of things that make Alaska a shitty place to live sometimes, but if you grow up here everywhere else feels crowded. ML: What’s your feeling about Canada? Is there a difference in attitude from the USA? I’ve spent most my time in Quebec so I can’t speak to the rest of Canada, but as far as Quebec goes I really love it. The cafes and the wine, the people are very kind and a little strange. ML: You’re very creative when you’re snowboarding. Do you think about new things you want to try/do or wait to see a spot and just daydream it and make it reality? Thanks! Yeah, I think about new things I want to try a lot. Sometimes it keeps me up at night. I fill page after page in composition books full with the stuff.
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SM: I’ve heard you dream in colors, is this true? When we all got naked and swam in the phosphorescent! We were gods that day. Sometimes life’s a dream in colors! SM: How do energy drinks play a role in your athletic performance? I drink three Red Bull/vodkas every morning. ML: How do you write a song? What comes first, the lyrics, music? I was watching that new Rolling Stones documentary. Mick Jagger says it’s like putting together a puzzle while looking through a kaleidoscope. I thought that was so clever! You end up writing 4 or 5 little guitar or piano parts arranging them together then trying to get the timbre of your guitar to sound like it does in your mind. Then I hum a little tune then I sing a couple lyrics. All of a sudden you got something where there was nothing! Usually, you don’t know if it’s any good or not until three or four days after it’s done. Then you usually throw it away and
start again. Eventually you have three or four that you like and you keep it and release it on a self-titled EP in a couple months, The Bright Hollow, that you guys should all listen to! ML: Have you ever jammed with someone that’s annoying, or do you just love it all? The only time I’ve had trouble is when I used to go play in my drummer/guitar player friend Scott Holland’s basement and this one kid would come though every now and again and he was real into playing ska. But mostly it just expands your musical boundaries! SM: Have you ever discussed art with Blaise Rosenthal? Mostly we discuss philosophy or music because I’m fairly ignorant when it comes to art. He’s really out there though – one of the smartest and strangest humans I know. His art is really beautiful too. ML: Who’s your favorite human? Man, there’s too many! You two, Estay, my parents, my brothers, Leonard Cohen, Hemmingway, Jon Ronson, that guy from the National, Jeff Bridges, Bill
Murray, Bob Dylan, Win Butler, Scott Liska, Allen Ginsberg, Neil Cassidy, Jack Kerouac, Jesse Burtner, Justin Meyer, Jed, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Woody Guthrie. SM: What’s your favorite animal? Crows for the air, Lynxs for the ground, Orcas for the sea, or maybe a baby fox because they’re so cute! ML: What’s your favorite day of the year? This year it’s going to be when the Hobbit comes out. Yes! If you had one wish what would it be? To be able to see all the other planets with aliens on them! Or at least for people to be better to each other and better to the planet. ML: Why do you play music? Why do you snowboard? Which is your favorite? Because it gives me such a beautiful feeling. I read that they think humans played music together before there was a spoken language. It feels so right to sing and play music. I’m sure that viscerally every human that doesn’t do it misses it on some level. Snowboarding too is such wonderful feeling in a completely different way. I’m glad I don’t have to choose between the two. ML: What is all this about 2012? What do you think of the state of the world, people wise? I think there are too many people. Maybe everyone shouldn’t have so many children. Or one of these people should invent a spaceship that would allow us to colonize a new planet. There’s no room for the animals anymore, or the forests, or even the people
anymore. On the bright side, rock and roll is good again and there are six openly gay senators in America, and they won’t be putting people in jail for smoking pot anymore in two states. So, as a society, I think we’re going in the right direction. Now we just need to make it sustainable. SM: Any predictions for 2013? Shelby Menzel will make all The Bright Hollow’s music videos for little to no money… please? SM: Could you wake up tomorrow and never skateboard or snowboard again? I could if I woke up on a deserted island with Estay with really nice waves and a surfboard and coconuts and everything. ML: Where is Gus in 10 years? What are you doing? On a deserted island with Estay with really nice waves and a surfboard and coconuts and everything. ML: Shout-outs? Thank you Holden, thank you Shelby for being such a nice neighbor in Portland, thanks Java for letting me use the truck, thanks for electricity and the electric guitar, thank you Claus for the Memotron, thank you rock and roll gods for my god-like guitar-playing abilities, thanks Jesse Burtner, thanks Blaise, thanks House of 1817, thanks Dave’s killer bread for sending me boxes of delicious bread, thanks Justin Meyer, thank you Shelby for being such a nice neighbor in Portland and for making all our music videos for little to no money. Please? And everyone else I forgot.
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Clark Little was born in Napa, California, in 1968. Soon thereafter, the Little family moved to the North Shore of Oahu. This is where Clark began acquainting himself with some of the most treacherous shorebreak in the world. Clark felt unique comfort where many trembled and panicked. Soon Clark was doing the unthinkable and surfing the most foreboding spot on earth, a spot that even the craziest hell men of surfing avoided at all costs – the Waimea shorebreak. At this point, Clark was the subject of many photos and gained high regard as a top North Shore surfer, but all along he seemed to be simultaneously training himself for his future calling in photography. Then, one day Clark’s wife brought home a picture that she had bought of a wave. This innocent purchase sparked a flame inside Clark that has led him to where he is today. Interview: Nick Kalionzes
In what started out as a playful hobby has now seen Clark gain worldwide recognition for his innovative angles and imagery that seem to have the ability to teleport people from all walks of life inside waves. Clark has been recognized in the past couple of years for his amazing work. Among other awards and accolades, Clark received the Oceans Photography Award at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in 2011 and made a special guest appearance on Good Morning America. He’s had exhibitions all over the US, Japan and Brazil and has a following that spans across the globe. As you’ll see, Clark still lives the humble life he always has, putting family above all else, and he continues to let his passion for the ocean and photography be his driving force. Odds are that if you wander down to Keiki on a random day with swell in the water you’ll see Clark in his element, getting tossed around by the shore break like a little kid – accumulating amazing images, and, in the process, enjoying every little bit of bliss that his life has to offer.
How did you get started in photography? I, of course, used to surf the shorebreak a lot. I surfed a lot since I was a kid and kind of got that vision. I started surfing the shorebreak for many years and then got comfortable in large shorebreak waves. I guess six years ago my wife brought a picture home of a wave that she purchased at this place called “Pictures Plus” in Pearl City. That’s basically, to be totally honest, when I said, “Why’d you buy that? I can go out and take a picture. I know how to get into the shore break and all of that.” That’s what kind of triggered it, and I went out and grabbed a small Cannon SD 500 camera and went on Amazon and bought a little $150 water housing. I went out and started taking single shots of big shorebreak waves. Nobody was doing that and I just started playing with it and saw the potential and saw some really cool looks. I started shooting my brother and family and friends and they were tripping and they’d never seen anything like it. Two months later I ended up getting a real camera – a Nikon G200 with an SPL water housing with a fisheye. I invested about $4000 into that and then I just went crazy, shooting everyday in big shorebreak by myself and coming up with unique new images that nobody was doing. Everyone was chasing Pipeline, chasing that cover shot for Surfer or Surfing. I went there a couple of times but it wasn’t my thing. I was lucky enough to go into my comfort zone, which was the shorebreak, and do what I love. To capture images and share images, which turned into selling images, which turned into making a living and a full-time job that I really love and have a passion for. It’s a crazy thing but I guess that’s what happens in life. My life changed career-wise.
When you first started off, did you ever lose any cameras? No, I got cameras ripped off of my hand in huge waves, but I’ve always – I mean, sometimes it takes 5-10 minutes on the beach in huge shore break hunting high and low for my camera – but I’ve always been fortunate to find it. I have lost them many times … I mean, I’ve lost my fins. Luckily I haven’t lost my drawers, but it can be heavy. I can only imagine some of the beatings you’ve taken getting those images. It’s good beatings most of the time. I like getting beat up; it’s part of the fun. I don’t know how much you go in the ocean or whatever, but it’s a passion. You know how it is, it’s like you’re tumbling around in the shorebreak like a little kid, but with the camera in hand and you’re trying to get that shot where a lot of people are looking at. You’re just trying to get that different shot. So, you started shooting at Waimea but you shoot at Keiki a lot, right?
Yeah, Keiki and Waimea. I started probably more Waimea Bay and then I started going to Keiki and going along the shores. Shooting small waves, big waves, clean waves, turtles, dolphins… changing it up a little bit, you know? Summertime little waves underwater, above water, mixing it up a little bit. Sometimes sunsets with some foam and some trough, trying to get a little bit creative. The main thing is just Hawaiian paradise and Hawaiian beauty and just trying to capture that. People love Hawaii and it’s nice to expose it and share this beautiful island that we live on. What’s an average day like for you? An average day is… now, I wake up
and get my gear ready of course around probably 6:30 or 7, I stop at Starbucks, that’s a 100% guarantee, and I head down the hill and drop my kids off at Sunset Elementary across from Pipe. Then I drive straight to Keiki and I kind of scout it and text people, talk to my other friends who are out shooting and the lifeguards to get some idea of how it is. And then it’s pretty much out there between 7:30 and 8, right before the sun cracks the mountain there. That’s pretty much it, I go out for two hours if it’s descent and sometimes I’ll stay out ‘til noon or so. Depending upon how it is, I’ll come in and eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and I’ll try to take a nap, but these days it’s hard to come by. I’ll edit the pictures and
calendars, iPhone cases and all kinds of prizes and the proceeds are all going to the Kokua Foundation and Waialua High School. Kelly Slater displayed an exhibit of his GoPro Hero3 images that he has accumulated over the last few months. The proceeds went to charity for Waves4Water. We had 12 canvases of his up there that we auctioned off. It’s a cool thing. Kelly has always been really supportive and people can come in and purchase these things and we’ll really be able to help people out.
then if it’s really good I’m back out there at about 3:30 or 4 o’clock until the sun goes down. That’s an average day when it’s good. I was talking with a friend and he told me to ask you about working with some animals. What’s up with that? (Laughs) Maybe he’s talking about little surf rats? Yeah, I mean that’s a trippy story. This was a long time ago. I was shooting for Surfer at that time and I saw these two groms; I was shooting some reef breaks and I looked down like 30 yards and I saw these two kids pushing something like little surfboards or something in the small waves. I didn’t know what they were. So, I ran down there and when I saw them throwing the rats like this I couldn’t believe it. So, I grabbed my fisheye and said, “Hey do you guys mind? I’ll give you a two-page spread in Surfer.” And I ended up getting a few killer shots of the rats taking off that made it look like Teahopu size. Not to be mean to the rats but those guys could swim and it was interesting. They were having fun it seemed like anyway. I got some cool images, and that was actually part of a lot of my exposure. My pre-gallery and website exposure was the surf rats. Man, they’re legends. So how’s your gallery going? We just had our two-year anniversary party at the Haliewa gallery and we had food, beer, wine, water and a raffle. We raffled off some canvas pieces and
Anything else? I love what I do and am fortunate and happy that I do what I do. Family comes first! Make sure to check out Clark’s gallery in Honolulu, and you can also visit his website at clarklittlephotography.com.
Words: Vern Laird :: Photos: Deville First trip, last trip. That’s all that ran through my mind the entire time I was on this trip. As far as I know, this was going to be the first trip for the Bones Swiss Bearings team, and I had no idea if this was even going to work. My initial plan was to go to Tampa Am for the contest and from there go to Orlando and Miami with the Am team riders who were already going to be in the contest. Sounded like a good plan to me, but one thing I know from my many years of working in skateboarding is nothing goes according to plan. Before the trip started I already had guys backing out on the trip, but I couldn’t cancel the trip. I already had plane tickets brought, hotel rooms reserved and a van rental to pick up. So what to do now? I decided to ask some of the pros on the team to see who would be down to go to Florida with a bunch of random ams that they don’t know. Somehow I managed to get a few guys to come, but now I am spending way more money than I thought I would for this trip. These are the guys who were on the trip at some point: Torey Pudwill, Tony Manfre, Danny Fuenzalida, Benny Fairfax, Jake Johnson, Boo Johnson, Forrest Kirby, Steve Reeves, Joel Meinholz, Clint Peterson, Evan Smith, Andrew Cannon and Luis Tolentino. So now all I’m thinking is I hope this is all worth it. This might me my first trip and my last trip with the Bones Swiss Team if I don’t get something out of this. We headed out to Orlando after Tampa and stayed there for a few days. Evan Smith is from Orlando so we meet up with his friend Chris Blake and they took us around to some spots. We are only in Orlando for a few days but Steve Reeves managed to get a trick at the famous brick quarter pipe spot, and Luis Tolentino did what he does best – ollie everything in sight!
Torey Pudwill: Nose Grind
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Danny Fuenzalida: FS Ollie
Joel Meinholz: 180 to Switch K Grind
Boo Johnson: 5050
Forrest Kirby: Switch Nose Grind
Luis Tolentino: FS 180
From Orlando we drove down to Miami, but we had a quick pit stop in Ft. Pierce to say hi to my man Rob Perkins at Undercover Skate Shop. If anybody is making that drive from Orlando to Miami, go by and say hi. There’s a skate park close to the shop but we couldn’t skate it since it was raining. I haven’t been to Miami in years for a skate trip, and after seeing the MIA shop video I knew it was time to go back. There are so many good spots there and I have some good team riders that live there that can show us around. We met up with Forrest Kirby, Danny Fuenzalida and Joel Meinholz. Those guys are the OGs of Miami and know all the good spots to skate. We did a demo, the last-ever demo at MIA Skate Park. Steve Reeves did some things there that were never done before and will never be done again. Evan Smith was tour
MVP, managing to get something at just about every spot we went to. Luis Tolentino must have felt at home in Miami. Miami is much like the Dominican Republic. Luis kept us hydrated at a spot on the beach by climbing coconut trees while Joel Meinholz was handling business on the gap to ledge. We spent so much time at the last spot in Miami trying to get a photo of Fuenzalida for the article that we showed up late to our demo in Tampa. The demo at the Skate Park of Tampa was the last thing we had to do on the trip. It’s hard to make it on time to demos sometimes when you are traveling with a large group of guys. They never want to eat at the same time and they never use the bathroom at the same time. So what should be a four-hour long drive can turn
Boo Johnson: 5050
Clint Peterson: BS Flip
Steven Reeves: BS Nose Blunt
into a six-hour drive with a lot of people. Sorry to Ryan and Brian at the Skate Park of Tampa and to all the kids who had to wait for us to get to the park. When it was all said and done, I can’t believe this trip came together. I had a bunch of random guys together in a van. Most of them never even met each other before. There was one common theme at the end the trip, as everybody told me that they had a good time and it was one of the best trips they have ever been on. I had no idea if these guys would mesh. I had no idea if they would get along. I have been on trips were I have seen fights, blow-ups and meltdowns... and we didn’t really have any of that. So now I’m thinking first trip, more trips!
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Dress – Vans vans.com Earrings – Han Cholo hancholo.com
Jacket – Lira liraclothing.com Skirt – Volcom volcom.com Shoes – Jeffrey Campbell jeffreycampbellshoes.com
Shirt – Volcom volcom.com Shorts – WESC wesc.com Hat – Brixton brixton.com Shoes – Jeffrey Campbell jeffreycampbellshoes.com
Sweater – WESC wesc.com Sunglasses – Electric electricvisual.com
Dress – Insight insight51.com Sunglasses – Oakley oakley.com Shoes – WESC wesc.com
Shirt – Hurley hurley.com Pants – Hurley hurley.com Bracelet – Han Cholo hancholo.com
Shirt – RVCA rvca.com Pants – Hurley hurley.com Army Boots – Model’s own
Photo: Drew Smalley
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As illustrious and intriguing as being a professional athlete might seem, maintaining this lifestyle comes with major sacrifices. Yes, you get a whole lot of free product (thanks to his sponsors: K2, iNi, Dragon, Active Ride Shop and Pow Gloves), get to travel, have celebrity status, enjoy unique experiences, and have advantages that many dream about. However, what is almost always overlooked is how much work it takes in order to maintain a professional career, especially one as hot and cold as being a professional snowboarder. Shaun isn’t afraid to spend his Christmas morning sleeping on a floor away from his wife and family in order to do his job. Shaun doesn’t mind the sales meetings, the studio photo shoots, the rehab gym time, or the countless hours sitting on airplanes or in his truck. Shaun lives and breathes this life as much as anyone. He is still the same guy he was at 17 – completely in love and obsessed with snowboarding and everything that comes with it. He epitomizes dedication at its finest, and the proof is in the pudding. The guy produces over and over again. Here is what his peers had to say about him and his career: “Shaun McKay is the man. We spent many years filming together from Neoproto to People films and so on. One place we just loved to roll out to was Whistler, Canada. On one of our trips up to the great white north we had a great successful trip and had stacked some hammer shots for the new People films project. As we got closer to our home at the time of Bellingham, Washington, we were getting excited to see the homies and detach from the long filming missions we had just taken part in. As we were about 10 miles from the Canadian border all of a sudden our snowmobile trailer blew off the hitch and was S-turning all over the road, spewing our sleds off the trailer and almost causing a pileup of cars and our sudden death. We pulled over and took every bungee cord, tie-down and duct tape we could find and we went ahead and tied everything bungees, tie-downs, duct tape around the axle etc. This is why I love Shaun McKay, because no matter what the situations that we face together he would always work to come up with a solution. We drove that crazy trailer setup right into the border, answered all the questions that they had and finished the mission. That is what I love about Shaun: he is a resourceful human that will always find the positive in the situation and work to make it happen. Shaun, shred on brother, can’t wait to bury each other in some Mt. Baker deep-powder face shots!” -Patrick McCarthy, Pro Snowboarder
Photo: Ashley Barker
Photo: Phil Tifo
“Shaun McKay is one badass mother. It is insane to see someone that has been in the game for so long and is still loving it just as much as the day he started. He is only getting better and producing better video parts every year.” -Curtis Ciszek, Pro Snowboarder “Shaun’s the man. Always the most organized of us. He’s the group leader, always first one in and always a plan what to do. He’s always doing something. While everyone else is having lunch, he has his camera out and filming, doing the filmer’s job. I’m lucky to have such a great friend.” -Eero Niemela, Pro Snowboarder “I had the privilege to film with Shaun McKay for a few months this past winter while working on our Volcom #IP2 Project. My main focus was Curtis Ciszek, but Curtis insisted that Shaun join up in our crew. I quickly realized why. Shaun has it dialed, everything from his backcountry experience down to how he wants his video parts filmed (mostly filming himself POV). He always kept very calm in all situations and really laid down the hammer when the time came. Most import to Shaun was that everyone out there was having a good time, always cracking jokes and laughing about all the bullshit involved with filming in the backcountry. He knows the spots and has the smarts to be a long-time powder destroyer for many years to come. I guess right now I’m just s’ing the D, but that’s probably why he constantly called our whole crew Dick Suckers.” -Jake Price, Head Filmer, Volcom Snow “When I would forget to pack my lunch, who would have extra for me? Shaun. When my truck broke down, who towed me home? Shaun. When my sled blew up, who towed me out? Shaun. Who was the guy setting up an extra camera, or taking photos when we did not have a photographer? Shaun. He can do sweet 900s, but above that he is a sweet all-around dude.” -Austin Smith, Pro Snowboarder “Shaun is one of the most motivated riders I’ve ever worked with. He’s always stoked and leading the charge. Not to mention, he knows what a solid video clip looks like and works hard to get it!” -Justin Eeles, People Films “Shaun McKay is a bad motherfucker. Everyone has a list of humans who have helped them get to where they are in life; Shaun McKay is very high on my list. The first year I filmed for Neoproto, he drove me around in his truck and doubled me all year on his sled. Anyone who has done the video-part hustle can understand what a huge favor that is to someone. He’s a good snowboarder, good surfer, and most importantly a good person.” -Bryan Fox, Pro Snowboarder
Photo: Russel Dalby
Photo: Vernon Deck
“Shaun and I have worked together on 10 movies as of this year. That’s 10 years of the stress, struggles, and tribulations of making a snowboard movie. That’s a long time for people in this business to be working together, especially in the rapidly changing world of snowboarding movies. The reason is, Shaun is not only a great snowboarder and a good friend, but he is a true professional. He knows what it takes to film a video part, to work as a group, as well as the ins and outs of making a snowboard movie. He is just a good human being, plain and simple. As long as I make snowboard movies as an independent producer, Shaun will be invited to have a camera pointed at him.” -Pierre Minhondo, People Creative Filmmaker
Photo: Drew Smalley
Photo: Vernon Deck
Photo: Vernon Deck
Rider: Spencer Pirdy
Photo: Patrick Howard
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Words: Mickey Nielsen :: Photos: Courtesy ASP: Kirstin // Makua Rothman // Bruce Irons // Kala Alexander // Greg Long // Ian Walsh // Dave Wassel // Alex Gray // Rusty Long // Ross Williams // Kalani Chapman // Clyde Aikau // Reef Mcintosh // Nathan Fletcher // Tom Carroll // Shane Dorian // Makua Rothman // Kelly Slater // Mickey Nielsen // Jon Jon Florence // Greg Long
On November 29, 2012, the opening ceremony for the 28th Annual Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau contest took place at Waimea Bay. Eddie Aikau was the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay, a champion surfer and in 1978 was a crewmember of the Hawaiian sailing canoe Hokulei’a, which capsized off of Lanai in a storm. He was lost at sea attempting to paddle his surfboard to land to save his fellow crewmembers. In 1986 Quiksilver clothing company decided to get the elite big-wave surfers from around the world to gather at the bay to celebrate his life as a true waterman. With a minimum wave height of 20 feet and a waiting period from December 1st to February 28th, this contest has only been held seven times during its history, as the waves decide if the contest runs. The invite list for this year’s contest was compiled by the surfers themselves. There was a more international field of surfers than usual and there was also a wide age range, with the biggest age difference between them being 63-year-old veteran Clyde Aikau (brother of Eddie and winner of the first contest) and new-school youngster 19-year-old John John Florence. This will make for a very interesting big-wave surfing contest.
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Quiksilver also awards a ‘Waterman Award,’ which is given to an exceptional lifeguard. This year’s award went to Gavin Sutherland, son of legendary surfer Jock Sutherland. This year also saw a special waterman award presented to photographer Michael Prickett for his heroic rescue in Tahiti, an incident that caused him to get the bends and suffer paralysis. The ceremony went smooth with legendary lifeguard and body surfer Mark Cunningham as MC and Ka’u Billy Mitchell giving the blessing to the surfers in the true spirit of Hawaii. Mitchell then presided to paddle out into the calmness of the bay to sit in the circle in the lineup. Led by Clyde Aikau, the surfers were given a chance to express their feelings at what it meant for them to be invited to this special event, and to express how this is just not a contest as much as a celebration of the life of Eddie Aikau. They finished by chanting Eddie’s name and throwing Lei’s into the water. As the sun was setting the surfer’s paddled into the beach to the cheers of the waiting crowd, and in the true spirit of aloha everyone was fed Hawaiian food and the music played late into the night. That’s how Eddie would have wanted it. A big mahalo goes out to Quiksilver, the Aikau and the Moncata ohanas, aloha.
J o rdan Maxham / Fro nt Croo k / Los An geles / PH OTO:D RAGON ETTE WWW.ACTIVERI D ESH O P.CO M
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Photo: Daniel Duarte // CAM’RON live at the Roxbury // Spotlight // Blake Anderson and friend // Anders Holm // DJ // The Club // CAM’RON & Freddie Gibbs // CAM’RON
With the uncertainty surrounding the Mayan prophecy that predicted “end of days” at midnight on Thursday, December 20, Southern California brand LRG took it upon themselves to ensure that if we were all in fact doomed – one final celebration full of great hip-hop and good company was a must for that evening. Calling upon none other than Dipset head honcho Cam’Ron – certainly no stranger to stages of that magnitude - the Harlem-bred rapper came out moments after midnight amidst a darkened room and certainly didn’t disappoint, delivering classics from his lustrous catalog as well as some newer bangers to hundreds of lucky attendees at
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the Roxbury in Hollywood, CA. Amongst notable guests ushering in Doomsday included the cast of Comedy Central’s hit Workaholics and rapper Freddie Gibbs. With that fateful prediction now firmly dubbed a “bust,” LRG looks forward to an even bigger year than 2012, which saw them working with the likes of Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka, and The Cool Kids, while still staying true to those that remain underground inventive. Here’s to the next “beginning of the end.”
Photos: Ellis, Glasser & Lowe // #1 Kelly Slater & #1 Steph Gilmore // #2 John John & Nathan Fletcher // Courtney & #3 Dane Reynolds // #5 Mick Fanning & Dion Agius // #4 Gabriel Medina // #6 Joel Parkinson // #2 Alana Blanchard // #7 Julian Wilson // #9 Jordy Smith & Lyndall // #8 Taj Burrow // Richie, Spencer, Alex, Tyler, Ellis & Jimmy // Chris Ward, Danny Fuller & Tori Praver // Jessica & Reef McIntosh The loosest night in surfing went down for the third year in a row at the North Shore of Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort. We’re speaking of course about the 42nd annual Surfer Poll Awards. Freddy P and Sal Masekela played MC for the night and handed out awards to the year’s top surfers and filmmakers. It came as no surprise to see Kelly Slater landing again at the number one spot of the male surfer poll for the 18th straight year. He was gracious as ever in his acceptance speech, and he seemed fired up to defend his world title at Pipe. Hot on his heels were a few new faces to the top 10 poll including John John Florence coming in at number two and Gabriel Medina at number four. On the women’s side it was Kelly’s Quiksilver teammate Stephanie Gilmore taking top honors followed by everyone’s favorite backside surfer Alana Blanchard at number two, and the always fun-to-watch Coco Ho at number three. For video awards Kai Neville’s Dear Suburbia took home the “Movie of the Year” title, and Dane Reynolds was honored with the “Best Performance of the Year” for his mind-numbing part in the movie as well. Our boy Reef McIntosh won “Best Barrel” for the shack he wrangled and somehow made during the last mega swell in Fiji, and “Worst Wipeout” went
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to Mark Mathews for a suicidal flogging you can see in the movie Fighting Fear. Plenty of laughs were had and drinks were downed, making it another successful year at the Surfer Polls. We’ll put our button-up Hawaiian shirts back in the closet for now and see everyone again next year! 2012 SURFER POLL RESULTS Top 10 Men 1. Kelly Slater 2. John John Florence 3. Dane Reynolds 4. Gabriel Medina 5. Mick Fanning 6. Joel Parkinson 7. Julian Wilson 8. Taj Burow 9. Jordy Smith 10. Owen Wright
Top 5 Women 1. Steph Gilmore 2. Alana Blanchard 3. Coco Ho 4. Carissa Moore 5. Sally Fitzgibbons
AI Breakthrough Performer Presented by New Era: Gabriel Medina Movie of the Year: Dear Suburbia by Kai Neville Best Performance: Dane Reynolds, Dear Suburbia Heavy Water: Shane Dorian Best Barrel: Reef McIntosh, Fiji Freight Trains Worst Wipeout: Mark Mathews, Fighting Fear Short of the Year: Electric Blue Heaven, by Joe G Agent of Change: Jack Shimko
Words & Photos: Morgnar // Rick Howard, Sean Malto, Sam Smyth, Mike Mo & Mike Carroll with Esmail Mawjee // Girl & Chocolate in the house! // Bill Keller, Keith Culver, Jason Callaway & Denzel White // Raven Tershy blastin’ it // Beer savages Futo & Cory Kennedy // Elijah Berle foot plant gnarness // Trunk Boyz // Pretty Sweet deck, kid // Pretty Sweet signing
It was a Pretty Sweet Trunk Boyz demo here at the Active Park. After having minds blown by the “Pretty Sweet” film, many fans of Girl & Chocolate came out of their way to the headquarters in good ol’ middle-of-nowhere Mira Loma, California, to see their favorite team riders shred in person. Needless to say, Raven Tershy, Elijah Berle, Cory Kennedy, Mike Mo, and Sean Malto demolished rather than demonstrated the park! While the OGs – Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, and Chris Roberts – watched on. The Active Ride Shop team riders, also known as the “Active Army,” were also throwing down hammers
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with the Trunk Boyz. The #prettysweet hashtag made its way through the night as the fans had their photo ops with the team. After the demo, everyone had the chance to meet and greet the team through the autograph signing and even more photo ops. Thanks to Sam Smyth and Jason Callaway at Girl for coming through as well as getting some of the team to the park after a long trip around the world! Be sure to check out the footage filmed by Marque Cox on the Active YouTube and even more photos by Morgnar on the Active blog at people. activerideshop.com.
Words: Seth McKinney :: Photos Mark Choiniere // Everyones art sublimated on boardshorts // (bottom row) // Bruce Irons & Bob Hurley // Rob Machado checking out the art // Peter King on the mic // Sig Zane & Pat O’Connell
The 4th Annual Anti Canvas, a showcase of boardshort art for charity, went off Friday, December 7th at Soho Mixed Media bar in Chinatown, Hawaii. The event featured 30 artists whose work was sublimated onto a pair of Hurley Phantom boardshorts. The boardshorts were then sold to the highest bidder as part of a silent auction. The event is unique as all pieces are truly one of a kind and can only be purchased the night of the event. In addition, 100% of the proceeds of each piece sold went to one of two local charities: Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Pow Wow Hawaii. All 30 pieces were sold the night of the event and helped to raise $5000 for the charities.
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Kokua Foundation Hawaii submitted a piece that was autographed by founder and musician Jack Johnson. Rob Machado had a really cool piece featuring boarding passes and photos of his travels around the globe. Many of the participating artists were there to support the event and a good time was deďŹ nitely had by all.
Sean Duggan’s 1929 JD Harley Davidson // Ray Gordon photo // Sven Altmetz & company // Comune “THROTTLED” tee // CW entertaining some ladies // Alexis Gross - not looking gross at all // DJ BOC // Noel Sinclair Boyt with fiancé Caroline Dominick // Chris Thomas
A couple Saturdays past a large number of partygoers, art lovers and motorcycle enthusiasts gathered at R&R for artist and Drop City contributor Ray Gordon’s second installment of the annual show properly entitled “THROTTLED.” The show consisted of 40 new works: muscle cars, drag strips, choppers, dirt bikes, and a few babes on mini bikes all brought the show to life with a fond reminiscence, or better yet deja vu. Ray’s work has always had a quality of capturing a memory as opposed to believing you’re seeing it for the first time. As the crowd trickled in, and the sound of thunder grew from numerous motorcycles circling surrounding blocks, the mood began to find itself on the road to joy. JD Sansaver, who curated the bike show portion of the night, did such an outstanding job that the majority of the crowd would find themselves in hour-long conversations regarding 128
choppers like Ryan Grossmans “Devilina Chopper,” or Sean Dugan’s 1929 JD Harley Davidson that was recently ridden from NY to SF. Not to mention the margaritas from Peligroso, and beer from PBR swiftly set any unsettled nerves to rest. (Thank you Peligroso and PBR.) By 9 p.m. the crowd would reach nearly 500 people all trying to take what they could from the show, injecting opinions, criticisms, praises, cigarette butts and empty beer cans. True to form it, was another great COMUNE event thanks to all the talented friends we are lucky enough to have the pleasure of knowing. Special Thanks to: Ray Gordon, JD Sandsavor, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Peligroso, Biltwell, Dave and BOC, all the bike builders/owners, Patch, CW, Shawn, R&R Gallery, and everyone I forgot who contributed to such an amazing night.
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Words: Max Ritter
Last year Mac Demarco put out two super good releases, including his first full-length entitled 2 on which a highly credible Internet encyclopedia notes, “was made wearing only his ‘skivvies’ or underwear.” This interview was also done wearing only whitey-tighties … Viceroy CIGS? You wrote an ode to them on “2.” Why are they your go-to? I’m not really sure how I started loving them. I’ve smoked them for a long time, probably because they’re really, REALLY cheap. After a while of smoking them, mainly out of cost, I realized they have some weird extra chemical harshness that I like, real heavy-ass haul. Tell us about your beloved guitar you’ve used since you were 16. You’re wearing it on the cover of your album. What is that thing and will you ever part with it? Yeah I bought that thing for 30 bucks way back in Edmonton. It played like shit and sounded terrible for probably 3 or 4 years, but finally started behaving when I started playing it fulltime in Vancouver. I have no idea what kind of guitar it is, never had a brand name on it or anything, and at this point a lot of the parts are different, the old neck snapped and the pick guard blew into a billion little shards. I’m going to try and keep playing it forever; it’ll probably get trashed at some point though. Will we be seeing any of that collaborative album with Chris Cohen and Ducktails this year? Have you made any headway on that yet? It’s definitely a possibility. I’m not sure when, but we have talked about it a little bit. The thing is, we all thought it would be a good idea right as all three of us had new albums releasing, so in reality, we’re all probably going to be insanely busy for the next little while. Walk us through making a record in an apartment. Get a can of powdered instant coffee, forget about showering, and play drums quietly.
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What was “2” recorded with? I used a Fostex A-8 machine, which is like a sort of crappy 1/4” 8-track tape machine. I used some crappy mixing desk I bought at a garage sale, sounds alright, and a little $30 Alesis multi-effects unit. Mostly everything is recording on 57s and 58s, except the drums – I just put some condenser mic between the snare and kick and tried to make it sound good on one channel. Your sort of signature thing is slowing things down a bit to give them that strange warped feeling. Where did you gather inspiration for that technique? As soon as I bought my first four-track I noticed the pitch, or speed, knob on it. I used to just fuck around with it, turns out you can use it for pretty useful stuff though, be it making some weird-ass Elvis rock song or just changing the key in case you can’t sing the right notes. Definitely like the funky feel it gives. The chorus effect... Underrated? Chorus is pretty funny to me. It makes guitars sound really, REALLY strange. I still don’t really like that real fancy sounding chorus that is found on pretty much every rock album from the ‘80s, but this little effects unit I have has some really wonky slow ones. Just makes everything sound warped; actually makes it a little tough to record in tune too, but it definitely adds something special. Word on street is you can get a little weird at shows, any funny shenanigans as of late? We’ve played “Schism” by Tool at a couple of our last shows (laughs). Nothing has been inserted into my butthole lately though, if that’s what you’re asking. That’s a good thing! Thanks Mac. Check out Mac Demarco’s 2 out on Captured Tracks Records.
Thrill Jockey 20th Anniversary Live Review & Photo: Max Ritter
The Echoplex December 14th, 2012 Los Angeles, CA
Happy 20 years to Thrill Jockey Records! The diverse Chicago-based independent label is still going strong after over 200 releases. Headliners Wooden Shjips melted eardrums with some retarded loud-fuzz. Warning, if you see this band don’t get too close. It’s really, REALLY loud. I think I lost a majority of my hearing at this show. Oh well, it was a damn good time, and things were looking up when I left with a limited edition Dungeons and Dragon’sinspired anniversary poster. Congrats to founder Bettina Richards. Hopefully this month marks the start of 20 more!
Reviews: Max Ritter
Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city Bunch Of Labels
Moon Duo Circles Sacred Bones
The Sword Apocryphon Razor & Tie
Zig Zags Scavenger 7” Mexican Summer
40oz, Compton, 808s, Dominos, DR DRE, West Coast, Drank, Kendrick. When was the last time you heard of a rapper that actually went by his actual name? Drake sucks though.
I know what you’re thinking. Is that Gandalf? No, it’s Ripley Johnson from Wooden Shjips, DUH! Circles is Ripley’s latest conjuring of wizardry from his side project with collaborator Sanae Yamada. Same ol’ spacey, fuzzed-out psyche but a little more dance party. Title track “Circles” is a banger. Heyyyy!
The fourth saga of medieval sorcery metal from the dungeon of The Sword is upon us. A Sword track title never fails to sound like it could be another Conan The Barbarian sequel. Apocryphon for example is defined by frontman Cronise as, “secret writings or teachings about things that maybe shouldn’t be known.” Wicked.
This recording for “Scavenger” sounds a bit like dog shit but it can’t hide the wickedness that is captured. There is another specialedition 7” floating around released for Light In The Attic Records’ 10-year anniversary that pairs the band on a track with their influence Iggy Pop. The tune is a rendition of a Betty Davis composition from 1973. Check ‘em.
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