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A company designed to overthrow the masses by our influence. Our slogan is simple, “underground inventive, overground effective.” At LRG we focus on the ones that are trying to pay their rent with their passions. Think of us as a support group for the independent and underground culture. We put the spotlight where we think it belongs, because it’s much more than clothing and concepts, it is a way of living. LRG, innovative essence for the above-average person.
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We SC WE L COME S WeACTIVIST O SCAR MEZA SHOT BY GIOVAN NI R E D A SUPERL AT IVE CONS P IR A C Y MA G No. 6 IN STO RES o r a t WeS C. C O M
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EDITOR-IN-CHI EF nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com
EDITOR
joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com
CREATIVE DIR EC TOR mark paul deren : madsteez madsteez@madsteez.com
A SSIS TANT EDITOR spencer pirdy spencer@blisssmag.com
EDITOR AT L ARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com
SKATE EDITOR chris ortiz chris@blisssmag.com
SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com
MUS IC EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com
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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson
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, Kelly Shannon
THE GARWOOD Wa r ren Sm it h Th rough The E yes of Nick LaVecch ia
BL!SSS Magazine 413 31st Street
FEB 2013
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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JR KENWORTHY PHOTOGRAPHY Anyone who has picked up a surf magazine in the past decade has surely seen a photo from one of our favorite photogs, and dear friend, Jason Kenworthy. Worthy just doesn’t shoot the action stuff, as he’s compiled quite the vault of lifestyle and just damn-right breathtaking photos as well. From empty barrels, palm tree silhouettes, unbelievable sunsets, candid wildlife and everything in between, there’s bound to be a little something for everyone. They’re the perfect accent for any empty wall, and his images bring a little bit of life to wherever they hang. Available for anyone to purchase, just log onto jrkenworthy.com and click the “prints” tab at the top and choose between prints or giclee canvas. Worthy’s even been telling us about a new metal printing method he’s been developing, but you’re gonna have to contact him directly to hear about that.
MOPHIE OURTRIDE
BANANA BEAT X ETHIKA Is that a banana in your pants or are you just happy to see me? Actually, it is a banana, and that’s what happens when the boys at Banana Beat Records team up with the crew at Ethika. With Banana Beat musicians like Cisco Alder, Shwayze, Kid Russell, Godfeather and Will Crum and Ethika athletes Louie Vito, Greg Lutzka, Mason Aguirre and Nyjah Huston, it was only a matter of time before these two brands got together to do something awesome. Still wondering what either brand is all about? Check them both out at bananabeat.com and ethika.com.
Nowadays, iPhones are pretty much the status quo, and let’s be honest, they have amazing video and picture-taking quality. Mophie has tapped into this, and as a favor for all of us who love to snowboard, surf and skate they’ve come out with the Outride iPhone case. The Outride transforms your iPhone into the ultimate wide-angle action-sports camera. The case can be mounted to just about any board or action sports vehicle you’re interested in documenting, has waterproof capabilities and is unsurpassed by any camera casing out there. No matter what form of extreme riding you’re participating in, you’ll definitely want to have a Mophie Outride mounted to capture yourself in action. Visit outride.com or mophie.com to learn more.
WOMEN’S STANCE BRIXTON TEAM PLUS 2 Brixton has started 2013 off with a couple of additions to their team in the way of surfers Tanner Razunko and Oliver Kurtz. Tanner, a San Clemente native, and Oliver, hailing from Florida, are two budding, young talents paving their own unique paths through the surf world. Both surfers are known for their above-the-lip antics, yet at the same time they are more than capable of pulling into anything and everything that comes their way. They blend perfectly with Brixton’s style and we expect to see plenty of action from Tanner, Oliver and the whole Brixton team in the coming months. So, stay tuned and log onto brixton.com to find out more about the adventures of Oliver and Tanner. 32
I think we can all agree that Stance is currently ruling the sock world hands down. They have some of the best team riders spanning all over the world in every facet of the skate, surf, and snow scene and their products are off the charts. For a long time they’ve been the go-to brand for all men’s sock accessories; however, they’ve recently added a women’s line that is just as appealing, if not slightly more decorative than its counterpart. Stance’s Women’s line consists of boot socks, everyday crew, anklets and snow socks with a wide variety of color and pattern possibilities that’ll leave your girl’s head spinning. Just don’t be afraid to mix ‘n’ match, girls, because guys love a little curve ball thrown their way every once in a while.
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DANE PACK Vans, Summer Teeth and Dane Reynolds are helping to spread the Aloha Spirit with a new collection that will be hitting stores soon. Vans worked with Dane to combine his own art from Summer Teeth, an Aloha print, and the material from an old comfortable coat to translate into this collection. We received three different pieces of footwear to try out as well: the Sk8-Hi Reissue SF, the Del Norte and the Lanai sandal. All three represent Dane, Vans and Summer Teeth to the “T” and offer you the chance to express your own island style as loudly or subtly as you’d like. Look for the collection to be in surf shops this month and keep the Dane’s Aloha spirit alive.
POW WOW HAWAII
Hawaii is a place of unmatched beauty and color that ignites and, in this case especially, unites creative minds from all over. Pow Wow, an event that exemplifies all that is worldwide contemporary art, is going on this month from February 9th-16th in Honolulu, Hawaii. The event will play host to over 100 international and local artists for a weeklong event of art creation on the streets, in public and for the public. Imagine a stage where you can interact and engage with artists and view them in their element. A few of the internationally known artists that will be on hand include: Dabs Myla, Faith47, Jeff Soto, Flying Fortress, Roid, Madsteez, Nychos, Jasper Wong, Slick, Meggs, 123Klan, Askew, Jase, Mare139 and Chaz Bojorquez. Pow Wow is about the breaking down of doors that are normally closed to the public eye, so we invite everyone to head on over to the land of Aloha for what is guaranteed to be one hell of an experience. For more information on the event, head to powwowhawaii.com.
COMUNE WMNS
DAMAGE GALLERY
We got a sweet little office visit from the mastermind behind the brand Damage Gallery, Trent Hernandez. Based out of Huntington Beach, Trent has been hard at work fine-tuning his collection and has got it to a place where his product can’t stay on the shelves. His version of modern art meets fine tees is exactly what has been missing the past few years, and we’re sure some of the bigger brands are taking notice. He dialed us in with a couple goodies and we gotta say that they’re top notch. Check them all out at damagegallery.com or shop for them at threadsandfins.com.
THE PLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO PEOPLE Keith Malloy’s film, Come Hell or High Water, was a perfect depiction of the untouched beauty, solace and enjoyment that the act of bodysurfing provides us with. From footage of the godfather of body surfing, Mark Cunningham, and the gliding watermen of Point Panic to the circus scene of the Wedge and the raw ability of a human and their fins against the raging sea, the flick had it all. Now, Mark and Keith have come out with The Plight of the Torpedo People, a collection of the photographs and texts surrounding the film. The book contains countless unique images and exclusive stories that will have you mesmerized. The Plight of the Torpedo People is a necessary addition to any wave rider’s library, so make sure to get a copy of this timeless book today.
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One of the hipper brands to make a real push in the market the past few years has just shown us a sneak preview of their first women’s collection. Not that we’re all that surprised, but the Comune Women’s product we’ve seen is looking absolutely amazing. A couple pieces got used in this month’s fashion shoot (page 68), and it was nearly impossible getting the gear back from the models and stylists. Now we’re no fashionistas by any means, but if our indicators are right this stuff is gonna be hot.
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FILTRATE RAW Since Filtrate’s entrance into the market in 2010, they’ve made more than enough progress to put them into a category with other elite eyewear brands. Now, with international success under their belt and plenty of great styles and designs, Filtrate is coming out with an all-new RAW Collection. The collection was handmade using the highest quality acetate frames and superior optical lenses. The end result is a completely organic shade with a unique look and feel. We had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek of this new line at Agenda and Surf Expo and were extremely impressed to say the least. Look out for Filtrate’s RAW collection to be hitting the shelves in early spring, and to keep up with their latest happenings, visit filtrateeyewear.com.
KLING TO KATIN The folks over at Katin, a.k.a. America’s surf company, have just locked in St. Augustine, Florida’s Gabe Kling. Gabe has spent time on the dream tour and is currently surfing in prime events all over the world. Gabe, otherwise known by his alter ego “Thor,” is a fierce competitor who you definitely wouldn’t want to draw in a heat. At the same time Gabe is soft spoken and lets his surfing do the talking, but believe us when we say that his surfing speaks volumes. We’re happy to see a great surfer like Gabe and a legendary company like Katin linking up. Visit katinusa.com to keep tabs on Gabe’s latest happenings, and peruse through all of Katin’s products while you’re at it.
SIGNA BOOTIES The folks that brought us the most-sought-after five-finger running shoe have just dove into the watersports market with their Signa booty. Hitting retailers this month, this thing is perfect for wintertime SUPing, kayaking or any exotic, reefindulging adventure your little heart desires. With slip resistance, non-marking soles and perforated holes for draining, Vibram FiveFingers has made the perfect shoe for in the water and on the deck. And like everything Vibram does, each little piggy has it’s very own home. Check them all out at vibramfivefingers.com.
ELECTRIC MAKEOVER The volt is back and badder than ever with Electric’s recent logo facelift. Twelve years in Orange County will do that to ya, and to help with the redesign they brought back the original identity creator Eric Crane. With the new look, the Electric crew is also expanding its range of products, offering helmets, watches and other electronic accessories. We can’t wait to see what goodies these boys come up with, and now you can buy them all direct at electricvisual.com. Log on and start shopping.
WAHOO’S TURNS 25 Wahoo’s just celebrated its 25th anniversary this past month by throwing a party at their flagship store in Costa Mesa. The mayor was there to honor the Wahoo’s crew with awards and a commemorative placard. New menu items were announced and plenty of exciting plans for 2013 were unveiled. Wahoo’s has grown to over 60 locations nationally and plans are now in the works for their first international store to be opened in Tokyo. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 25 years since Wing, Ed and Mingo introduced their iconic Mexican/Brazilian/ Asian infused cuisine to Southern California. During Wahoo’s 25-year journey many have tried to imitate their ideas but few have succeeded. BL!SSS is more than proud to have worked with Wahoo’s over the years and we look forward to another 25 years of the freshest, tastiest food around!
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SIERRA FELLERS FACEBOOK.COM/SPLITCLOTHING // IG: @SPLITCLOTHING SPLITUSA.COM // PHOTO: ELY PHILLIPS
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Words: Denise Gerson Seeing is not believing at Wynwood’s Zadok Gallery, where the artistic sorcery of Brooklyn-based artist Patrick Jacobs will be on view. Jacobs, who holds an MFA from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, produces miniature, circular dioramas of exterior and interior environments that blur distinctions between natural and unnatural worlds, while challenging notions of artistic invention. Ranging in size from 2 to 9 inches in diameter, the concave lens-covered spheres are lit from behind and must be gazed into through holes in the walls. Each oculus rewards that intimate experience with a hyperrealist, dimensional scene that confounds, dazzles and provokes. Jacobs is best known for telescopic vistas of idyllic pastures and forests, myopic views of lush blossoms. The charming utopias, which evoke
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a pleasurable sense of calm and harmony, are in stark contrast to his slices of interiors, replete with fire escapes, window panes, and paneled walls, which, peeped at through virtual keyholes, provoke urban unease and stir voyeuristic sensibilities. He painstakingly constructs and assembles the tiny worlds by hand with tweezers and brushes from a dizzying array of incongruent materials that include paint, plaster, hair, wire, polyurethane, ash, wax, aluminum foil and archival paper. Relying on sculptural foreshortening and other spatial distortions, Jacobs arranges the tableaus while peering through the lens that ultimately seals each surface. Inspired by both natural phenomena and the human condition, the artist delights in the transformative nature of his work, which defies classification.
Ultimately, whether conjuring paradises lost or urban realities, Jacobs’ visual accomplishment, aptly termed “magic naturalism” by one critic, is a mesmerizing tour de force of illusion and perception, creativity and artistic process. Patrick Jacobs’ work was featured at Art Miami’s Context from December 5th through December 9th. My work is a leap of faith, in which the imagined is made real through an act of sheer will. The homeowner searches his lawn for the postemergent weed in a heightened state of awareness, conjuring up visions of a dandelion. The imagined takes on an exalted significance and becomes synonymous with a journey for something greater. Roots and hyphae take hold, stalks, caps and crowns push up proudly,
persistent despite the greatest odds. Strange formations arise inexplicably by supernatural means. Urgent steps must be taken. But, closer observation achieves only further distancing from a perceived reality. The real vanishes, existing only in the mind. “In these metaphysical theaters inhabited by the imagined, the ordinary seeks transformation through extraordinary circumstances,” Jacobs explains. “It is the attempt that is important, even (especially) when it ends in failure. Perhaps a first glance would reveal a small brown mushroom transcendent in a mystical landscape. That would be to me a wonderfully precarious proposition.” For more information, be sure to check out patrickjacobs.info and wynwoodmiami.com.
“Aiming to make architecture perform the unexpected, the creations of Alex Mustonen and Daniel Arsham of Snarkitecture is the collaboration of territories between the unique disciplines of art and architecture.” Words: Kelly Shannon :: Photos: Markus Haugg
Aiming to make architecture perform the unexpected, the creations of Alex Mustonen and Daniel Arsham of Snarkitecture is the collaboration of territories between the unique disciplines of art and architecture. At their Brooklyn, New York, art and design studio the pair collaborates with other artists and designers to investigate structures and materials, seeing how they can be manipulated to serve new and imaginative purposes. Most recently, Snarkitecture designed an entrance pavilion for Design Miami/ 2012. Titled “Drift,” the entrance took the
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familiar white vinyl tent and reformulated the material to create an illusion of a floating environment. “Inflated tubes (were) bundled together to create a topographical landscape in suspension: an ascending mountain above and an excavated cavern below,” says Snarkitecture.com. The tubes were arranged to fill the area of the entrance courtyard, and then once inside, the tubes were raised, “to create areas of circulation and rest for the visitors entering and exiting the structure.” Little filters of light passed between the cylinders of the inverted landscape “creating a space both interactive and
contemplative.” Perforations in the canopy gave views of the Miami sky and allowed natural light and fresh air into the interior of the tent. “The lightness of the floating tubes underscored the mass of the enormous installation,” which was visible from a distance of several blocks. This unique installation was not only a statement, but also a landmark for visitors of Design Miami/. In November 2012, Mustonen and Arsham paired with American fashion designer Richard Chai to create a pop-up retail installation of mirrors, creating an exceptional
visual (and overall sensory) experience showcasing Richard Chai’s collaboration with Palladium Boots. Mirrors lined the walls and ceiling of the exhibition space, compounding the Palladium boots at every angle. The focus of the installation is four specific boots designed by Richard Chai for Palladium, “which stand on inverted white cast replicas of themselves.” Snarkitecture’s role in this collaboration was turning the space of the pop-up shop into something stimulating and, of course, unexpected. To view more of Snarkitecture’s work, visit snarkitecture.com.
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“Traveling gives a host of new and different architecture, people and conversations to be inspired by.”
Words: Jennifer Bostwick Have your creative inspirations changed throughout the years? My creative inspirations have not changed much. People out in the wild, other artists, my kids, and music are my main influences. The music and artists that inspire have changed a bit. You created a lot of doodles/ drawings in France. Does travel influence what kind of art you work on? A ton, yeah. The people, architecture and things I hear said on the streets all play a heavy roll in what I draw and paint; probably the biggest. It is the same when I’m home. Traveling gives a host of new and different architecture, people and conversations to be inspired by. After spending decades in Northern California is it difficult to stay open minded and inspired living behind the “Orange Curtain”? No, I don’t find it difficult. I keep my mind open and think I see things other people often miss. There is a good art scene here in Southern
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California and I try to surround myself with creative, open-minded people. It would be [difficult] if I just zip-coded it and cruised through life focused on myself, unaware of the others around me like many people do here. The travel helps too, to keep inspired and keep an open mind. I do miss the people in Northern California and the slower speed that people travel through life at … and the trees. Do you ever get artist’s block? How do you move past that? Not in the sense of not knowing where to go or in a lack of ideas sort of way. I do have trouble getting a good flow sometimes, though. I just need to keep moving and working through it and it always passes. It’s like anything else – you need to work hard at it [making art] to get the desired end result. What is a perfect day in your life? Wake up leisurely, relax with coffee and a book, hang with the kids, work in studio, ride bike or skate, play at the beach with my family,
dinner, more studio time. You have had two massive group shows in NYC with installations and a traditional hung/curated show. Is that a fun or stressful process? It’s super fun. I dig it. Since I’ve curated each of them, I was able to choose artists that I enjoy spending time with. Each show we basically lived and painted together for a solid week. We had a house together one year and we built, created and painted the installation all day, every day. Then we hung a gallery show of pieces of art we brought for the show (60 pieces the first year and 100 pieces the second year). There are stressful moments for sure, because no matter how well you plan it always feels like you are down to the wire that last day or so. But, overall it is really fun and I like that process and environment of working together with other creative people. Where would you like to show next? I’m working on getting a date set
for a four-man show I’m putting together for the Fecal Dot Gallery in San Francisco. I also have a fiveman show in Laguna in April and a solo at the end of the year at Space 1026 in Philly. What record is on your turntable right now? Mantovani and his Orchestra “Themes from Broadway.” Nerd, I know. I have a pretty eclectic mix of vinyl that I listen to. It’s ‘20s and ‘30s music, Blues, Jazz, Fats Domino, Elvis, Sinatra, Ramones, Circle Jerks, Devo … Whatever feels good in the morning. You are not a huge fan of social media, but why do you like Instagram (@russpope)? It is simple and a cool way to say a lot, share a lot or a little without words. Share a photo of, in my case, artwork. People can like it, just look at it … whatever. There is not a bunch of interacting, at least for me, and no accepting or denying friends. Easy. I like it. It’s a nice way to see what my friends all over the world are up to as well.
Words: Mary Ciaramonte
These works were born in the beginning, when I was a child in rural West Virginia. I was raised simply, helping my family farm our land. We had no television or things of this nature, so I was absorbed in the workings of my imagination and the observations of the world around me, and this I translated into paintings and drawings. I continue this practice today, taking much of my momentum from the people and things that surround me. What I want is truth, to see the truth in everything and everyone. But there’s no sure ground. It’s a problem never to be solved and that is what I love about it. Mystery hangs somewhere between darkness and light, and I aim to explore with my painting as a narrative. I want to echo this provocative daydream, to communicate both the human disposition and the mysteries therein and ask the viewer to wonder at our beautiful world as I do. To check out more of Mary Chiaramonte’s work, go to merrysee.com.
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“Mystery hangs somewhere between darkness and light, and I aim to explore with my painting as a narrative. I want to echo this provocative daydream, to communicate both the human disposition and the mysteries therein and ask the viewer to wonder at our beautiful world as I do.”
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Photography: Dominic Petruzzi :: dominicpetruzziphoto.com :: Models: Natasha Oakley & Devin Brugman Hailing from the beaches of Sydney, Australia, and the shores of Maui, Hawaii, are this month’s Super Taste beauties Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman. This is the first time BL!SSS has featured two girls in Super Taste because separating these two bikini goddesses would have been a crime. If you’re not already familiar with Natasha and Devin you are definitely missing out because they quite literally wear A Bikini A Day. These beach beauties have combined their raw sex appeal and entrepreneurial genius to create the blog abikiniaday.com. What started out as sexy snaps on Instagram has quickly become an online phenomenon, appealing to both bikini addicts and hot-blooded males everywhere. But don’t be fooled by their pretty faces. With A Bikini A Day, college educations and a successful production company, these girls are on the fast track to success. Hair: Lauren Breedon :: laurenbreedon.com :: Makeup: Veronica Mendoza :: veronicamendoza.com :: Bikini: Tyler Rose Swimwear
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AFENDS PROMOTES A FREE-LIVING LIFESTYLE BY E XPRESSING OURSELVES T H R O U G H A R T, M U S I C A N D T H E S P I R I T U A L SIDE OF THE ACTIVITIES WE LOVE.
OUR MOTTO IS ‘QUESTION EVERYTHING’ WHICH I S N ’ T A B O U T U S E D U C AT I NG YO U I T ’ S A B O U T Y O U E D U C AT I N G Y O U R S E L F.
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and organizers of all three events that added to the build up of the swells. At around a week out, the Hawaiian events were slashed due to bad weather, and all eyes turned to Pillar Point and the site of the Mavericks Invitational as the last great big-wave contest hope. On the afternoon of Wednesday the 16th, much to the pleasure of Jeff Clark and anxious fans, the call was made that the event would run at 8 a.m. sharp on Sunday morning.
Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Tom Cozad
Mavericks
Mid January saw the North Pacific coming to life dishing out an endless string of purple blobs. Before forecasters even had a chance to digest what Mother Nature was producing, calls were already being made by anyone and everyone for the Eddie, Jaws or Mavericks contest to be run. Big-wave surfers sharpened their 10-foot guns and fans began living vicariously through Twitter feeds and Instagram posts from invitees
On Saturday, the weather was more like a summer day in Southern California than a midwinter day in Half Moon Bay. The buoys had jumped up to 9 feet at 22 seconds and Mavericks was beginning to see some 20-foot faces make their way into the lineup. By 2 p.m. the lineup went from15 underground chargers to over 40 of the most elite big-wave hellmen in the world. Mark Healey, Pete Mel, Jamie Mitchell, Greg Long, Skinny, Alex Gray, Dave Wassel, Grant Washburn, Ben Wilkinson were just a few of the big guys participating in the warm-up session, and even first-timers like Damien Hobgood and Josh Kerr were out there getting a taste as well. A few sets came in just before dark that had everyone scurrying for the horizon, and that night
everyone slept restlessly as they anticipated what the following morning would bring. Sunday morning revealed a gorgeous pastel sunrise and clean high-pressure conditions for the third day in a row. In the first hours of the morning, the lineup at Mavs seemed uncharacteristically quiet to the untrained eye, but low and behold every 15 minutes or so a sizeable wall would rear up on the first reef and detonate, reminding everyone as to whom they were dealing with. Sure, this swell wasn’t even close to as tall as when the contest ran last in 2010, but with a strong 20- to 22-second interval filling San Mateo County’s waters the power and vertical faces of the 30-foot faces made due for the swarm of boat spectators, webcast viewers and surfers. Where the 2013 Mavericks Invitational may have lacked in consistency and size, it rightfully made up ground when the steep sets rolled through and highlights aplenty were nailed. In the first heat of the day Mark Healey’s beyond-vertical takeoff on a colossal left had everyone in the channel fist pumping. From the channel angle you couldn’t quite make out whether Healey
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Peter Mel
had pulled the insane attempt, but later Go-Pro footage revealed the heavenly view he experienced and just how close he came to stacking it. With the more westerly angled swell hitting, Mavericks both goofy and regular footers were opting to go left. Other highlights from the day included Nathan Fletcher redefining the cutback by maneuvering his oversized board into a roundhouse cutback and rebounding off of an intimidating Mavericks lip. The maneuver itself was enough to blow your mind, but when he emerged successfully and acted as though it was no big deal riding away was when we knew we were dealing with one of the most humble innovators of our time. What really took everyone’s breath away came from Peter Mel when he took off under the lip on one of the largest sets of the day. Pete made it look like he was toying with Mavericks and stayed standing straight up in the pit until he drove into the cascading waterfall of the lip and met his demise. It was the wave of the contest by far – no exit needed. In the final Pete matched up against Zach Wormhoudt, Greg Long, Alex Martins, Shawn Dollar and Mark Healey. Beforehand, the boys had struck an agreement to split the winnings between them, and as luck would have it the final saw some of the most consistent flurries of the day. In the end the Condor, Peter Mel, soared to victory showing everyone how truly talented and knowledgeable he is when dealing with big waves of all kind, and especially with the Mavs bowl.
Greg Long
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SUMMERTEETH.COM
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“You will see God when you watch this film.” These are the words of Jack Coleman as he describes his psychedelic freeform take of modern-day surfing through his new film “Secret Sound Underground.” Through the ambient sights and sounds that Mr. Coleman allowed us a peek at, you can see how the making of this film was no small feat. Jack’s not sipping Pina Coladas poolside after long days filming perfect Padang in Bali – he’s rolling super 8 and 16mm in the darkest crevices of society, never leaving even the most insignificant thought of cultural aspect out. Jack’s Secret Sound Underground takes us all over the world with mind-numbing footage from three different Indonesian islands,
Mason Ho :: Photo: Tom Hawkins 58
Japan, Brazil and, of course, Coolifornia. He’s got everyone and anyone in surfing’s relevant headlights like Creed Mctagart, Ozzie Wright, Andrew Doheny, Alex Knost, Ford Archbold, Ellis Ericson, Jason Salisbury, Conner Coffin, Beau Foster, Jared Mell, Alex Gray, Timmy Reyes, Chris Ward, Mason Ho, Mitch Coleborn and Mob Rachado. One would think a project like this would be years in the making, but Jack somehow has accomplished all of this in eight months. The premiere of Secret Sound Underground is happening on Feb. 28th at the iconic La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas. Make sure to get to your seat early for what promises to be an out-of-body surf spectacular.
Fun Facts by Jack Coleman
The film was shot in these five locations… Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil and California. It was a six-month project, and it was my third independent film. It was shot all with Super 8 and 16mm film. Approximately 120 rolls of film were shot for this project. During the shooting of the film in Mexico, Ford Archbold and I got searched by Policia in Baja. They found nothing and let us go with a smile. While in Lombok (Island in Indonesia) Chris Ward happened to be at the camp we were staying at, and he had something mysteriously stashed in the rafters of the room I was staying in. He then grabbed it and told me what was in it. He then consumed it, went out in the water for a surf and
the first wave he caught from that session is in the film. Joining the cast with small cameos on big waves are Alex Gray and Chris Ward, both of which have a wave count of three. They come out of their tubes each of those waves. The name “SECRET SOUND UNDERGROUND” was inspired by an underground music studio Alex Knost, who I ran into while wandering the streets of Japan one rainy morning in July. The movie has a few secret messages in it… due to the excessive amount of a particular surfing move in modern surf films there is an “Air Reverse Count.” First-time cast member Mitch Coleborn made his section in one day, two sessions, and two spots. One spot is called “Secret Beach.” Andrew Doheny has two characters in the
film, a game show host and a contemporary rock guitarist whom swings on trees and “writes songs man.”
them beyond repair.
Creed McTaggart was my secret weapon going into the film, an underground surfer who rides all different crafts equally as talented. His part was filmed over a one-week period in Bali where we met up for the creation of his section.
Jason “Salsa” Salisbury got his nickname at the age of 12. His brother Chris, who also appears in the secret movie as ‘Mr. Nice,’ has a nickname as well of “Cridder.”
Conner Coffin, Parker Coffin, Ryan Perry, Brad Gerlach and I hit golf balls off a mat into a cow patty during the making of this film. While doing so, Brad Gerlach stepped on my glasses and broke
Salsa :: Photo: Tom Hawkins
Parker Coffin and Brad Gerlach each appear in the secret movie.
Ellis Ericson was a driving force behind the making of the film spending countless hours in the car on the hunt for waves. His level of froth was only sustainable for a 2-week period, where he finally hit the wall when the waves died. Ford Archbold was injured the first
five months of shooting the film. His part was the last section to make it into the movie. Indonesia is financially one of the most “wealthy nations” in the world. In the spiritual world, getting “pinned” means to be visited by spirits and brought into their worlds. Dane Reynolds is not in the movie. BINTANG actually means star. Creed McTaggart is 18 years old and the youngest cast member.
Alex Knost consumes a mushroom in Japan at the very beginning of the film. Ozzie Wright made a painting entitled “Anti-Bad Vibe Shield” during the shooting of his section. SECRET SOUND UNDERGROUND has a running length of approximately 40 minutes. Ellis and Salsa live together in Bali and named their Villa “GOOD VIBES.” Much of the film has a crooked horizon line due in part to a malfunction in equipment that
was finally figured out five months into the project. The credits song is “I Wanna Be That Guy.” Rob Machado’s character is named “Mob Rachado” because of his regular-footed approach to the waves. His character came to me when I watched him in a mirror in 1992. The official trailer is quite possibly the most experimental surf trailer ever. It runs for 4 minutes and 30 seconds and uses Disney classic “Pink Elephants on Parade.” During the making of this film I
Ellis :: Photo: Tom Hawkins
Mason Ho :: Photo: Tom Hawkins
only slept on Andrew Doheny’s couch twice. Because Mason Ho did not like the WQS format and contest locations, he made it into this surf film and we fist-pumped each other in the film.
Sound DVD cover and rainbow. Hawaii was supposed to be the final shooting location for the film. Instead, two separate Mexico trips were taken.
Underground Californian charger Timmy Reyes has a one-wave cameo.
The “Raven” or “Crow” is my spirit animal and makes an appearance in all of my films. This one they are all collaged together in one continuous shot.
Jared Mell appears multiple times throughout the movie here in California and Mexico, one day of which was his birthday.
Fireworks are used for a dramatic effect in the movie. There was a significant burn injury sustained during the making of this film.
There are approximately 40 tubes that are exited throughout the movie.
Rob Machado tried to hike up sharp lava rocks to meet me, with no shoes on, so I had to yell down to him in conversation.
Beau Foster’s part was shot over a three-week period here in California; he only had five good waves in that time period because lack of wave quality. This film will ask the question what is “Intellectual Property?” The only fin design not represented in the movie is the ‘Bonzer.’ Tom Hawkins has shiny balls. Jamie Parkhurst designed the Secret
There is only one two-second topless shot in the movie. Metal Jimmy head-bangs his way into this movie as well. There are three separate trips to Indonesia in the making of this film and I visited three of their islands. This BL!SSS Mag is the first to break this story.
Ozzie :: Photo: Tom Hawkins
Steven Reeves : Lien
Words: Steven Reeves Photos: Mikendo & Derek Fukuhara When Mikendo hit me up about an Ezekiel shoot, naturally I was down without hearing any details. Everyone over there is so fun to be around, I didn’t need to hear anything more before agreeing. Then on top of the solid crew of dudes going, I learned that we were going to clean up a DIY spot that The Commoners had built. It’s basically two opposing vertical walls 64
with about 5-foot quarter pipes built on them, essentially creating a half pipe with one side having about two feet of vert and the other having somewhere upwards of 10 feet. The spot is in an old drainage ditch so it needed a bit of TLC, to say the least. A trip to Home Depot was in order before any skating went down. After we all had our caffeine and quick taco lunch fix for the day, we headed over to get some cleaning
supplies. On day one, we had a pretty big crew consisting of Mikendo, Derek Fukuhara, myself, Red Bryan, Darien Brown, Steven Ban, Jay Diebel, and Josh Hawkins, then adding the second day of Marty Murawski, Steven Webb, Vince Duran and Adam Davies. Needless to say, when a bunch of skateboarders walk into a Home Depot security takes quick notice. We quickly picked up a tail, and much to his confusion he watched us fill our cart with trashcans,
Derek Fukuhara & Vince Duran Steven Webb : BS Kick Flip
Steven Webb
Marty Murawski
Dylan
Homas Leurentop
Adam Davies : 360 Flip
Steven Reeves : FS Transfer
Marty Murawski : SW Pivot
spray paint, Bondo, and brooms. Before we even made it to checkout someone actually stopped us and asked what kind of weird car repair we were up to. We explained the whole situation and the employees quickly flipped the script, as they were asking us for photos of the spot and fully supported us in helping out. One employee even asked us to come back and show some before-andafter pictures. We loaded the van and arrived, realizing that the flat-bottom in between the quarters was pretty rough. After a quick sweeping, Bondo was the first thing that needed to happen before we could really get any shredding on. Josh held it down as the Bondo connoisseur of the day, and he created a smooth and perfect path for us to skate. We set up a couple of trashcans, swept and cleaned up and then proceeded to skate! Everyone was stoked on the spot and we pretty much skated there all day. A couple of locals even showed up and were psyched on how much the Bondo had helped. I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that a great time was had by all. Thanks again to everyone over at Ezekiel and definitely the Commoners for building such a fun spot! This again proves that skateboarders can come together and create and maintain some of (in my opinion) the most fun things to skate.
Josh Hawkins : FS Flip
Dress – RVCA rvca.com Shoes – Model’s own
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Shirt – Lira liraclothing.com Shorts – RVCA rvca.com
Hat – Brixton brixton.com Tank – Hurley hurley.com Skirt – Volcom volcom.com Sunglasses – Model’s own
Dress – RVCA rvca.com
Dress – Volcom volcom.com
Shirt – Volcom volcom.com
Jacket – Nixon nixon.com
Jacket - Comune thecomune.com Dress – Lira liraclothing.com
Shirt – Comune thecomune.com Pants – Comune thecomune.com
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“Forget 3D models, do bas-reliefs, Ron!”
Interview: Liz Rice McCray Ron van der Ende from Rotterdam, Holland, collects old wood, doors mostly, in any color he can find. These are gently ripped to thin planks on a circular saw bench with the paint layers intact. This veneer-like material is then used to cover a constructed bas-relief in full color wood mosaic, introducing techniques into sculpture that natively belong to painting. Hi Ron, will you start off by telling us a little bit about yourself? Hi Liz. Hi everybody. I’m Ron. I live in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I’m husband to
Anna. Father to Mila. We own two cats. I am a sculptor. How did you get into bas-reliefs with salvaged wood? It was a slow process of discovery. The first years after finishing art school I experimented with all sorts of materials until I came to a stage where I felt I needed to choose just one to specialize in. I picked used wood because of its possibilities both for construction and the use of color. For a number of years I constructed 3D objects and models, mostly of ships. They were quite popular. In fact, I have been able to live off of my work since. Still, I
was not satisfied because I felt restricted in scale and subject matter. Also, I wanted to work more direct (accurate models require intricate preliminary drawings) and more to the point. I wanted to be able to do cars. I needed to do cars! I had this problem simmering in the back of my head for years. Then at one moment the solution just popped up, “Forget 3D models, do bas-reliefs, Ron!” It was a revelation. In that instant I knew it could be done quickly and convincingly, that the result would be unique and striking. It felt like I had stumbled upon a hitherto unknown world of possibilities. And it was mine alone to explore!
Your work is so lifelike. How do you create that mosaic feel? Will you explain your technique and creative process? Can you put into words the emotional process behind your sculptures? There are two things at the basis of my work: My collection of doors and other painted wood (this is my color palate because I do not use paint!); and my collection of images that refer to ideas for subjects or detailing and materializing of subjects. Both collections grow continuously. I always choose the subject myself. Much of the creative process happens in this choice. I always try to find multiple reasons to do a certain theme. It has to be interesting as a theme and as an image; it has to be interesting for the challenge it poses for execution; and perhaps most importantly, it has to promise to be interesting as an eventual object. In reality these pieces look like a ‘thing’ more than like an ‘image.’ Perhaps it is not obvious on the photos but in the end they are really sculptures. They have a presence. After choosing the images that say something
about possibilities for the use of materials and lighting, and after distilling drawings I can use for constructing the shape of the bas-relief I head to the studio for a nightly projection session. Luckily I live next to my studio! I usually take some nice music and some beers. I love this part. I use a beamer to project the drawings on a large white wall and I assess which drawing to use and the most optimal scale for the work. After I decide I slide some pieces of plywood in front of the projection and copy all the elements I will need for construction the following day. Construction of the bas-relief shape takes between one and five days depending on complexity and size. This is a noisy spell because next I will take the wood that I want to use (the colors I have chosen) over the circular saw bench to create a 3mm thick veneer that still has the, often antique, paint layer on it. The next step is the most labor intensive: covering the bas-relief in a full color mosaic. The pieces for this reclaimed wood puzzle are made on a professional jigsaw machine. But this is a puzzle where nothing is known in advance. The
process is still very much like painting. In fact, I am able to use many techniques from painting, which is really fun to do in a sculpture. I can incorporate light and shadow and reflections. I can make it look like it is wet or obscured by fog or darkness. What is your connection with cars and transportation? How do you choose your subjects? Have you ever done a sculpture of one of your cars? I like cars because they are in fact a very common subject. Step out your front door and what do you see? I love to revitalize themes that have once been important but that have since been forgotten about … things that we only vaguely remember loving as a kid. I’ve never done a car I own myself but I did once do a Renault 12, which is the first car I remember my father driving. A nice car! Tell us about your childhood. Did you aspire to be an artist? I grew up in a small village as the son of a contractor/ carpenter. I knew I wanted to be an artist by the time I was 12. I had no notion of what it meant, I guess, but I knew I was good at drawing and that I loved to do it. Also becoming an artist seemed to present a way out… a route to the big city. I came to the academy to become a painter but opted sculpture by the end of the first year because I thought it would mean a fresh start after spending my whole childhood
painting and drawing. And it did. Of course, by now I have come full circle in more than one sense since… what I do combines painting with carpentry! What does your studio sound like? Do you still do a music exchange? I like to play new music constantly. I do a music exchange on my weblog artbbq. nl. Each December I invite fellow artists to name the best music they played in their studio the past year. It is a remnant from when artbbq was a fully functioning daily artblog from 2003 ‘til 2007. What does your studio sound like without music? Machine noises and hammering and an occasional cursing. Is there a song or a band that really motivates you? There are always new ones but a couple of them stick. For example, Thee Oh Sees from San Francisco and Woods from Brooklyn.
When you are not creating art what do you do with your time? Well, there is not much time left but I also try to have a family life. And I like to ride my bike. Any advice for artists who are just starting out? Go for it completely or don’t bother. It is a very competitive trade but if you go all out you can’t fail. Do you have any upcoming shows or projects you can tell us about? Where can people check out more of your work? I have a solo show in Los Angeles opening late May with Ambach & Rice gallery. It will have all new work. And people can check out the work on my website, ronvanderende.nl. Thank you so much for taking the time do this interview. Thank you for having me, Liz!
Photo: Wells
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Huntington Beach’s Kanoa Igarashi is 15 years old. His passport is as full of stamps and visas as someone who competes on the Word Tour. He is a full-on golf geek that loves Banzai Bowls, Apple products, Audis and most of all surfing. He’s been competing since he can remember and winning for just as long. He hasn’t been touted as “the next big thing” just yet, and he has been quietly going about his business with the best year of his young career. BL!SSS caught up with him between returning from three weeks in Hawaii and gearing up for the China 4-Star ASP event.
chandelier section and the next section when it bowled up I went too low and got the lip straight on my back and hit the reef a few times while I was under.
So how was Hawaii? We heard it was your first time staying at the Quiksilver Pipe House. Tell us about it. Yeah it was really cool, being able to just look out the window and see Pipe is amazing. It is definitely the best place to stay on the North Shore.
What were you doing on the down days? We played a little golf at Turtle Bay a few times. By the way, we played the Fazio course while the president was on the Palmer course. Just wanted to throw that out there.
We saw on your Instagram (@igarashikanoa) you got a little banged up at Pipe? Yeah I had a pretty good one, but it had a weird first
We heard you paddled out into some big second reef – did you get any? Yeah it was a good experience. I woke up that morning and I could hear the waves from my bed and I knew it was gonna be good. I got one but it was just an airdrop and it closed out. Took me over an hour to get the one closeout.
So tell us about the highlights from last year. Where did your roll start and where did it end? It all started when I won the Belmar Pro Junior, then I won the u18 USA Champs, then I got second at the US Open,
Photo: Maassen
Photo: Wells
Photo: Wells Photo: Wells
then I won double divisions at the Ripcurl Gromsearch Nationals, and it all ended at… well, Hawaii. Hawaii was a huge highlight in this year for sure. How was the US Open and that crowd? Did that many people get you nervous? No, I loved it! I love surfing in front of a lot of people. Especially, at my home break where 40% of the crowd were my friends.
Photo: Maassen Photo: Maassen
You’ve been with Quiksilver for the last three years of your young career. How has that been going? They have been really supportive in my
Photo: Maassen
Photo: Maassen
Photo: Coots
surfing. From Chad taking me to go surf in the morning to getting the opportunity to go to trips with the best surfers in the world, they do a lot for me. What are your future goals and when do you predict you’ll be a force on the WCT? My goal in surfing is to win a world title. I don’t know, I just want to be on the tour when I’m ready. Tell the readers something that no one would typically know about Kanoa. I eat at Banzai Bowl everyday. And I’m in all honor classes. Photo: Coots
Wyatt Stasinos
Words: Nick Russell :: Photos: Andrew Miller After an amazing few months in the Pacific Northwest, it was time to leave the black hole. I had an amazing opportunity to meet up with the Levitation Project crew and fly with Seaba Heli up in Haines, America. A rite of passage for any true snowboarder looking for the next step, the trek north to Alaska is like a biblical journey. The lifetime dream is coming to life, making the experience all the more surreal. After a long game of Tetris while packing gear into the Tundra, Wyatt Stasinos and myself started out on our 1,500-mile journey to the land of bald eagles and spines. Making it through the Canadian border with manageable hassle, the open road was embraced. Giving ourselves about five days to make the drive before the LP crew arrived, time became nonexistent. No phones, no GPS, no obligations and no music except for a “best of” CCR album and a scratched Michael Jackson CD. We stopped when we were tired, ate when we were hungry and simply camped our way through British Colombia and the Yukon. The mild temperatures of Baker had made me soft. The bitter cold of
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Nick Russell
the Canadian highway tundra got to me. Getting out of my sleeping bag and making breakfast on the back of the truck was a mission. Everything had frozen: eggs, butter, milk and water. In temps like that, our freeze-dried Mountain House meals quickly became the food of choice due to the convenience and ease. We got gas in an authentic Eskimo village; saw buffalo, bison, lynx and eagles. A refreshing and warming stop at the Liard hot springs roughly marked our halfway point. The temperature was about -10 Fahrenheit that day. After several sunrises and sunsets we approached our destination. Stopping on the pass before officially entering into Alaska, we decided to stretch the legs and soak in our first real glimpses of the behemoth mountains surrounding us. I instantly grabbed my Pow Surfer and dropped down a wind-scoured field into a looming whiteout. I quickly realized the snow was not soft, picked up speed and ate shit. Upon arrival in Haines we were greeted by none other than Kevin Jones and Standard cinematographer Ondo. Over lunch I listened to stories of carnage, quickly understanding the severity and consequences of one’s mistakes out here. “Always watch your slough.” Slough. That word
Black and white room. : Nick Russell
The elusive Northern Lights.
Cruise control. : Nick Russell
The kingdom.
Seaba’s chariot to the mountain tops.
became more important than a condom in the Red Light District in Amsterdam.
would be a morning ship and evening ship. After our warm-up run, we quickly progressed to larger lines with serious consequences.
After another few days of camping and aimless split boarding, we met up with the rest of the crew and moved into a luxurious house. A rad local woman by the name of Holly had rented out her house to us for the month, while her and her kids just stayed with friends. People in Haines were the most downto-Earth people I have ever met. Unlike just about all other towns along the Alaskan coast, the citizens of Haines decided to close their ports to cruise line tours. Although it would bring huge revenue to the town, the people of Haines didn’t want their hometown to be overrun with tourists. Kudos to them.
Glorious morning run. : Nick Russell
Our crew consisted of myself, Wyatt Stasinos, Andrew Burns, Laura Hadar, Adam Dowell, photographer Andrew Miller and LP owner/ cinematographer Nico Nolan. From the first day we were treated to a nice high-pressure system and stable snowpack. On an extremely limited heli-budget, we would make the most out of what we got. Usually splitting into crews of two riders and two media, there
On the third morning, Wyatt and I headed out to a face called FFAA. We had studied Wyatt Caldwell’s smoothly executed line from the Yes movie the night before. A huge cirque filled with endless lines, it also had a ring of overhanging cornices atop most entries. The warmer temps of April had been causing many of the cornices to pull apart from the mountains, creating black holes atop these beasts. Once we had chosen our lines, it was time to bump up to get into the goods. We were unable to land directly above our desired runs, so we had to get dropped off a little down the way. Local AK mountaineer legend Willy Wacker led us on a down-climb on the other side of the mountain until we reached what we thought to be our entrance. “I don’t like the looks of this, I’m going to rope up. You guys belay me while I check it out.” Willy took literally one step and disappeared in front of our eyes. It was like Harry Houdini dropped though a trap door. Our guide was hanging roughly 15 feet down a crack in the
Wyatt Stasions lets off some steam.
Surfy days on the cat.
Mark of the native tribes.
This is the pillow of your dreams. Wyatt sends one into a deep slumber.
Second run of the trip, racing out from the slough ready to sweep me off the mountain. : Nick Russell
A team effort.
Haines, America Wyatt peacefully waiting for eagles.
Taking flight. : Wyatt Stasions
mountain. Instantly grabbing the rope, we felt the tension of his body. Not saying a word, we slowly pulled him back up to sunlight. Thanking us, we quickly moved down the ridge to find a better drop in point. The thing about riding and filming in Alaska is that you are always trying to get the best light possible. It is simply too expensive to waste a shot with poor light. By the time we reached a feasible spot to drop in, the shadow had crept around the corner, forcing us to move further down the ridge. At this point we were all roped together in case of another lurking hole. Willy led the way, then Wyatt, and I trailed behind. Stepping up over one last rock before an island of safety, my foot slipped though a thin snow bridge. I caught myself with my snowboard in one hand and feet kicked out to each side, suspending myself over an unknown crack in the mountain. Feeling the tension on the rope, Wyatt turned around The only cheese-wedge of the trip. : Wyatt Stasions
to see me struggling. Pulling me back up to safety, I said “thanks,” and we moved on. Heart racing and adrenaline pumping, I was now on top of a line that I had not scoped out nor knew what to expect. Wyatt eyed up a nice spine with pillows down to a hefty exit air and laced it. I found a manageable route down, enjoying the steepness while trying to stay in the light. They say that while snowboarding in Alaska you go through every emotion/feeling possible. I found this to be true. While waiting at the airport you are cold and jittery with an army of butterflies in your stomach. When riding you feel almost weightless and like time is standing still. At the bottom you are sweating, stoked and ready to take on the world. Huge thanks to The Levitation Project, Seaba Heli, all the guides, Nico Nolan, Nic Trimble, Andrew Miller, Holly, Wyatt and the rest of the crew for good vibes and a great time. Thank you, Alaska!
We tried snow farming for a little extra cash. Nick Russell
Words: Nolan Hall :: Photos: Nolan Hall & Ben Gallardo Courtesy of Roberts & Tilton // Ed Templeton & Neil Patrick Harris // The calm before the storm - beautiful show // Naked jumprope girl // Nolan Hall, Grant Hatfield & Joshua Elan // Cleaning up a coffee spill - using the guy like a mop // Mary Skarbek, Carly Paquette & Lauren Kabakoff // Packed to the brim while Ed is signing books // Ashley Macomber & Oliver Hall Ed Templeton started off 2013 with an amazing exhibition of photography in the purest form. The show, entitled Memory Foam, was hosted by Roberts & Tilton and consisted of photos taken in Huntington Beach (mostly around PCH & Main). If you’re one of the loyal pawns following Ed on Instagram (@Tempster_ Returns), you’re no stranger to the daily HB Pier photos and shots taken while lurking around the pier on a daily basis. Ed’s fiber-based prints are sometimes painted over, drawn on, or come with paragraphs that give you more info on the image you see. This exhibition presented Ed’s photography framed up, hanging on the wall, simple and clean. His shows are usually an abundance of all kinds of works, from paintings and drawings, to sculptures and wood cutouts. Memory Foam was special in the fact that it singled out one of the mediums that Ed has mastered. I arrived early and had a fair amount of time to scope the show before the gallery filled up with people eager to experience HB moments frozen in time
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by the Tempster. There were some local faces amongst the art and photo nerd community at the show: Devin Briggs, Grant Hatfield, Ashley Macomber, Captain Soncho, Brad Elterman and Clint Woodside, who was alongside Ed the majority of the night signing copies of their split zine they just put out. Neil Patrick Harris showed up too in support of the Tempster. Ed is still recovering from smashing his foot into a million pieces, so he sat and signed books and zines the majority of the night. At some point, a large posse of uniquely dressed bicycle enthusiasts rolled up and put on a show of their own. They brewed and sold coffee and set up a grilled cheese stand outside, while a massive game of jump rope started up inside in the middle of the gallery. One of the girls got naked while bouncing in front of the packed gallery. They definitely brought some extra flavor the show. Memory Foam will be showing until February 16th, so be sure to stop in Roberts & Tilton to stoke out your eyeballs.
active womens spring/summer‘13
activerideshop.com/womens
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Agenda reception, looking sharp // Everyone was getting barreled // iNi’s Adam Shiffman & Tim Snail // Jon Stouffer & Mister Jim Shubin // Yea.Josh // Mark Powell, Jenny Moreno & Erik Paulsen // Jason Cohen // Ryan Hakman & HO BRAH! // Chad La Bass // Eric Espinoza and Eric Ruhle // Tal Cooperman & Pascal Stansfield
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase “What’s up man?” during January 4th and 5th at the Agenda Tradeshow in Long Beach, I would be a very rich man today. That’s right, it was all of the who’s who in the action sports and street wear world coming together for yet another installment of the evergrowing Agenda tradeshow series. No, The Long Beach Convention Center isn’t getting smaller. In fact, it’s the show that’s getting bigger. More brands, more people, more hot chicks, more food trucks and a whole lot more business was going down to start off 2013 than in the economic downturn dark ages of the past two years.
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Both days were action packed with buyers, bro’s and broads from wall-to-wall, and with the show falling on the end of the work week/weekend everyone seemed to be mixing in pleasure with business quite conveniently. All of the biggest of companies like Volcom, RVCA, Hurley and more were looking their best, and at the same time plenty of smaller brands seem to be sprouting up with fresh new concepts in every direction, signaling strong growth happening within our industry. Drinks were downed, deals were struck and hands were shook to kingdom come. These shows are just as exhausting as they are enjoyable, and although we’re pretty spent from long hours on the showroom floor we are excited about the next Agenda Tradeshow and all the good times ahead.
Words: Eric Meyers :: Photos: Peter Morning // Peter Morning, Danny Kass, Sticky Shaw, Sam Bennett and a group of girls way too hot for any of them // Mason Aguirre, Greg Bretz, Louie Vito, Quincy Davis, Coco Ho, Oren and Lauren Tanzer // Imagine Dragons // Mammoth events team: The people who make it all possible // DJ duo collectively known as Sex Panther // Coco Ho, Kalia Moniz, Elena Height and Kelly Clark // prom king & queen coronation and countdown // Plenty of snowbunnies at the prom this year.
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For a bunch of kids more comfortable in unwashed beanies than blazers, we sure do clean up nice. New Year’s Eve is everyone’s favorite time of year to dress up, get down, and tie one on, and the crowds descending upon Mammoth Mountain for the holiday are no different.
side, the Avalanche Room hosted some of Hollywood’s favorite DJ acts, Step Brothers and DJ Challah. In the Main Room the night kicked off with a killer set from White Arrows. Then, headlining radio-station favorites Imagine Dragons put on a live show the likes of which Mammoth hasn’t seen in several seasons.
This year, Mammoth transformed Canyon Lodge into a multi-story nightclub once again, replete with velvet ropes, VIP areas and a very appropriate prom theme throughout. Babes and their dates lined up near the entrance to get their prom photos taken before heading over to the Bottom’s Up Lounge, where DJs kept the energy high and the only time spirits were low was when drinks were dropped. Up another flight of stairs held two more massive party rooms. On one
Keeping in line with the prom theme, a king and queen were coronated just before Ashley Tisdale led the countdown and rang in 2013 amidst a celebstudded stage overlooking a sea of midnight make-outs. The romance was, however, fleeting. Moments later the DJ duo of Sex Panther took the stage and had everyone jumping around like House of Pain until last call.
Photos: The Fin Studio // Sir Warren Smith with invite poster // Photo of photos // Two-man band aka Jaw Gems // Photo of photos: Warren, Justin & Craig // Framed color work // Crowd shot in the midst of a true Nor’easter // This is a black guy singing // Another crowd shot showing East Coasters actually enjoy art… errr… photography Fix The Shadows Opens in Portland, Maine A darkroom photographic experience and traveling exhibit by Warren Smith and Nick LaVecchia with Craig Anderson, Dustin Miller, Dion Agius, Brian Nevins & Cole Barash and presented by Insight, RAEN and sponsored by Monster Children, kicked off to an excited crowd in an old maritime loft space along the waterfront of Portland, Maine. The opening night, held on December 21st, was met with raging winds and rough seas from a strong Nor’easter, which only added to the aesthetic of a show embracing the wild coast of Maine and the travels of surfer/photographer/ nomad Warren Smith. “There was a goddamn hurricane outside, it was 25 degrees and raining like hell, the walls were literally leaking and we were staring at 30 framed photos on the floor with no real idea of how to hang ‘em,” Warren said of the night. 98
“I think my hairline receded half an inch that day. Luckily, Nick and Jim are of the handy sort and they figured it out, while I hung the loose prints on a clothesline with ninny little clothes pins like a girl. But it all came out good, a ton of the local surf and art community came through, we sold plenty of prints and everything going to charity just made the whole experience that much more meaningful.” Inspired by an unplanned three-month search for quiet, Fix the Shadows is a traveling photo documentary project spearheaded by wandering surfer and artist Warren Smith, showcasing both the aesthetic and process of a handful of fellow artists, surfers, and photographers sharing ideas, cameras and cold, empty waves along the coast of Maine. All proceeds of the Portland, Maine, show are to be donated to Sandy Relief through Waves for Water organization to assist in the recovery of the greatly affected areas of the East Coast hit by the super storm this past October.
Interview: Max Ritter :: Photo: O Photo Jon Reis is no Braggadocio, ALL HITS! The new Night Marchers record entitled “Allez Allez” is full of HITS and is out now! Pick it up and read our interview with Swami Jon below. You recently reunited the Hot Snakes for some shows and you are bringing Rocket From The Crypt back together for some European dates this year. There is a new Night Marchers record that just came out and some tour dates as well. Things are back in full force. Talk about what gave you the itch to get all these things going at once? The Night Marchers record has been something that has been in the works for a pretty long time. We recorded the record like three years ago. Due to a bunch of different circumstances it ended up getting delayed. Once it started seeming like we were going to be able to clear up some time and play, we were like, “Ok, let’s put out the record.” The thing with the Hot Snakes kind of came together last year. You know, it doesn’t take a whole lot of time; we kind of do a couple of shows here and there. We have a lot of fun playing and it’s not like we’re putting out a new record or anything. We kind of just get together and jam and play. With Rocket I think it’s going to be a similar type of thing. I don’t know what beyond this year will be like; I think Hot Snakes will continue to do a couple shows here and there, scheduling permitted; same with Rocket. And then Night Marchers will kind of take our shots when we can too. One of the things that has come with age is the scheduling has gotten a bit harder just because everyone has shit going on. A lot of times we’re not in sync with each other. When we are, we try to make the most of it regardless of which band it is. As far as, “Why this year?”… I don’t know really. Hot Snakes were already playing; the Night Marchers had a record coming out already; with Rocket it was just one of those things where we got back together to do a song for Yo Gabba Gabba. It was the first time since our last show that we were all in the same place together. We started talking and what once seemed so out of the question, it seemed like this could be pretty fun. For me, playing again with the Hot Snakes shined light on how relatively easy and fun it could be. That’s about it. For any band I’ve been in it’s been fun but the easy part has kind of eluded me. How does a guy like you keep interested and motivated to keep making new music after 30 years of playing in bands? It’s never been a chore. I don’t ever really need to think about it; as far as being motived it just never crosses my mind. I guess we just must conclude that this is what I am supposed to be doing (laughs). I think your career path is set at this point. How about the new Night Marchers stuff? You still have a good sense of humor it seems. Give us a little insight into the meaning of a couple of these newer songs. I like the song “All Hits.” The lyrics go, “… every word from my lips, every drop of my piss… it’s all hits.” It’s actually every drop from my bits, which is what they call or refer to balls as in like England (laughs). So it’s actually, “every drop from my bits,” which would be jizz. That’s even funnier. So what is that song getting at?
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A lot of songs, and even songs I have written, actually try to shine some flattering of light on our abilities. There is a lot of music, especially rock music, that is kind of braggadocio. It’s kind of the synthesis of that. I think that there is lots of songs that are hit songs that really have no audience; songs that people don’t really celebrate but to me they are hit songs. And that list is really, really long. When I used to do a radio show it was all about playing the hits. Even though these songs weren’t hits in a conventional Top 40 sense. To me they are hits. So it’s a bit of that and then there is a bit of self-facing… It all is kind of a joke. Depending on the way music affects you it can be entirely disposable. Many times pop music and hit songs are the most disposable kinds of music. Because it’s things that descend and are totally put in everybody’s face and then people throw them away when they are done with it and move on to something else. It doesn’t necessarily make a joke of it, but you know… Sarcasm. I guess you could say it’s sarcastic to some degree. And it also name checks a lot of things I am into. Steve Martin and other things I think are really great. How about “Fisting The Fanbase?” Fisting the Fanbase was a song was actually a body of music before there were words. Not that it is usually the other way around, but with that song it was purely a musical thing that we were doing. The title came after and from the title came the lyrics. A lot of times I feel like when we play… I feel a little bit like a panhandler. There is something about playing a show and people paying to see you. There is something a little bit embarrassing about it. It feels like, “Oh please give us some money.” Don’t get me wrong I am glad that people do and buy our records and such. I never feel like I am really owed a living from playing music just because it seems really presumptuous. I have been doing this for a really long time and some of my best friends are people that I
met just from playing music. To turn it around and say they were good screwing everybody is pretty funny because I am pretty much talking about my friends. And you know, who doesn’t feel screwed? Nine times out of ten when it comes to entertainment you kind of end up feeling kind of screwed for some reason. At least I do. I think the song is just about that. The album art? The album art was by John Morton, who was the guitar player in one of my favorite bands of all time called The Electric Eels. They are considered by many, myself included, to be pretty much the first punk band. They were around in the early/mid seventies. They were definitely not a garage band holdover from the ‘60s. It was something new that they were doing. I am not saying they invented that kind of music because ultimately punk would have happened regardless. It would have happened in a complete vacuum. It was a series of things that happened and not just one big thing. However, they were a band whose influence was pretty widespread but also pretty obscure by most standards. Having him do the artwork was so awesome. His aesthetic is so awesome. Artistically his approach is… I don’t know how to put it, it seems to always be punctuated by a “Fuck You.” I always liked the artwork he did for his bands and having him do the artwork for this was a super big deal for us because we are such big fans. The artwork that he did is exactly in the style of the stuff that he does that we like so we really dug it quite a bit. Check out John D. Morton. Check out the Electric Eels. He was in a band after called X_X who are another great band and they put out two 45s. There have been numerous Electric Eel retrospectives. The band just had a 45 released that came out posthumously. It’s more than worth time to cruise that stuff. The guy is awesome. Swami Records, Mrs. Magician? Swami Records was a label I started basically with the Hot Snakes as a way to put out music, and over the years
we started encompassing other bands. We shut our doors for like four years or so and didn’t really put out anything. We kind of re-activated it with the Mrs. Magician record. For me, that band kind of fell out of the sky. A friend of the band who is a mutual friend of mine gave me a couple ‘45s and said hey check this out. I just thought it was so great. It was one of those things where it felt like, “Man, if I don’t put this out I am such a dumb shit because these guys are here in San Diego and I love it.” It had every prerequisite for me getting into something. I couldn’t believe someone wasn’t already putting out their record. For me, their music was something not only I liked but it seemed like for once it could be a band where I liked them and a lot of other people liked them as well. A lot of the music I like is kind of nichey stuff. Even with the bands I’ve played in; I know it’s not going to be embraced by all. I can’t say necessarily that I thought Mrs. Magician were destined for mainstream success, but I can say it was one of those times where I felt like, “Man, this might be a record a lot of people really might dig. I might not be the only one.” (Laughs.) What other tricks are up your sleeves for this year? I am always working on a bunch of stuff. I don’t really like to say much about it until it is actually coming out because so many things could happen between the idea and it actually coming to fruition, where there is actually something to show for it. I have a bunch of stuff planned. Whether or not they will turn into something where I can share these things with others is yet to be seen. For now The Night Marchers has some shows on the West Coast and East Coast. We have a 45 split with Mrs. Magician coming out which we will have in times for these shows we are doing together. That is about it! Thanks, Jon! The Swami knows all kids. Buy The Night Marchers “Allez, Allez” out now on Swami records!
FIDLAR Live Review & Photo: Max Ritter
The Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA : January 20th, 2013
FIDLAR’s Brandon Schwartzel (featured) sending a face-bass dive during a recent soldout show at The Constellation Room in Santa Ana. Frontman Zac Carper wore a big smile in between songs and noted to the crowd, “This shit is so fun; you guys should all start a band.” FIDLAR’s self-titled, brand-spanking-new debut full-length is out now on Mom + Pop so go get it.
Reviews: Max Ritter
Matt Costa S/T Brushfire Records
The Growlers Hung At Heart Everloving Records
Our friend Matt Costa and HB native has a new record out, full of that warm folky signature Costa sound for you to drift away with. The new record is Matt’s most far-reaching and lush sounding yet. It’s been beautifully produced by way of time spent in Glasgow, Scotland, and it hosts some brilliantly talented players. Don’t be shy – get all vibey on Matt’s new masterpiece.
You want something done right, you got to do it yo-self! Beat it Dan Auerbachle! Wait no longer Growler fans, as the new record is finally on the shelves. It’s a premium Grade-A beach goth party and contains some of their strongest songs yet. Via Costa Mesa, CA. Go BUY DAT SHIT!
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Fuzz 7” Single This Time I Got a Reason” b/w “Fuzz’s Fourth Dream Trouble In Mind Records The latest from the never-ending Ty Segall music-making factory. Never low on mind-blowing and fuzz pedals. Shred of the month. Fuzz is his newest side project with his mainman guitarist Charlie Moothart. The 7” sold out in like five minutes so I guess you’re going digital.
The Heartbreakers L.A.M.F (Definitive Edition) Jungle The Heartbreakers formed when Johnny Thunders and bandmate Jerry Nolan left the New York Dolls. This is their only full-length release and is one of the best records that was ever invented. The original release was marred by some muddy mixes, which the band never really figured out probably because they were so hopped up on smack. A cleaner mix edition submerged in 1994, but now kids you can dig even deeper into the history of glam punk with THE DEFINITIVE EDITION! It’s complete with all the bells and whistles including early demos and some other awesome trinkets.
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matt wessen
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