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B A L A N C E K AL ANI DAVID NAT URE DARK YIN
O F
O P P O S I T E S
ELLIS ERICSON INDUSTRY LIGHT YA NG
RVCA.COM
ELLIS ERICSON INDONESIA
KANOA IGARASHI
Yadin Nicol
p: Mark Welsh
p: Mark Welsh
Yadin Nicol
Once upon a hell of a time. Our 50 years of innovation has helped us perfect what really matters — amplifying the thrill of human experience. Check out "Life Beyond Walls: Highway 101" featuring the adventures of Yadin Nicol, Dillon Perillo and the new Clark.
The experience is everything.™
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RANDOMS // 28 PRODUCT REVIEW //34 AMY GUIDRY //36 IRIS KERN FOSTER // 38 ASHLEY OUBRE // 40 DAN LYDERSEN //42 DANO – SHAPER PROFILE // 44 CASE MCLAIM – MURAL OF THE MONTH // 46 PILGRIM – SHOP OF THE MONTH // 48 INSTAGRAM // 50 SUPER TASTE // 54 NIX NIC NOOLEY // 56 VANS COMBI POOL PARTY // 60 PORTUGAL // 62 OLAN PRENATT // 68 SWIMSUIT 2015 // 74 THE ART OF MYSTERIOUS AL // 84 COLLIN HALE // 90 CODY HALE // 92 BJORN LEINES // 96 RVCA X JAPAN // 102 EZEKIEL: BAJA CASE STUDY // 104 RUSSEL SURFBOARDS - SHOP PARTY // 106 SPIRIT CLUB // 108 REVIEWS // 110 GROMS // 114
Photography: Ben Cope Art: Mysterious Al Model: Alden Bikini: Tavik www.tavik.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, Derek Bahn, Tom Cozad, Robbie Crawford, Ryan Donahue, Joe Foster, Sean Sullivan, Delon Isaacs
contributors 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, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon, JP Olson B a L!SSS Magazine 413 31st Street Newport Beach, CA 92663
JUNE 2015
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MICAH BROWN (MUSICIAN | IRATION )
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Micah Brown Live | June 20th OC Summer Fest | Newport Dunes @ VIP Cutlass Cabana
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.
Photography: Ben Cope Art: Mysterious Al Model: Samantha Bikini: RVCA www.rvca.com
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NICK GARCIA ďż˝ VULC
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5/8/15 4:06 PM
DEPACTUS MEP BAG
R.I.P. SHAWN "BARNEY" BARRON
With dudes like Mark Healey, Matt Meola, Fisher Heverly, Rye Craike and Chris Chistenson, it’s no wonder the boys at Depactus opted for the name “Men of Extraordinary Pursuits (MEP)” as opposed to the traditional “team athlete” or “ambassador” label. Seriously, these dudes do it all: surf, dive, fish, hunt, hike, paddle, spear… yup, just about everything extraordinary. So it makes perfect sense that the Depactus designers built a bag that can handle such pursuits. Let us introduce to you the Depactus MEP Bag, built to be watertight and keep whatever you need secure and dry, whether on the boat or on the land. It’s the ideal bag for any adventure and should be available by the time this ink hits your fingers, so get yours today.
rvca anp quarterly
The surfing world took a huge hit last month when it lost the infamous Shawn “Barney” Barron. Renowned for his huge aerial surfing and his development toward charging colossal Mavericks, the 44-year-old Santa Cruz surfing icon and artist will be incredibly missed. Rest easy, brother, we heard the waves in heaven are always hollow and air sections are infinite.
It’s been a long, anticipated wait but RVCA just released their new ANP Quarterly Magazine, featuring Gibby Haynes of The Butthole Surfers on the cover. For those of you who haven’t had the fortune to pick up an issue before, the quarterly is an oversized magazine publication created by RVCA that covers artists, musicians and other various people who just happen to be doing cool shit, regardless of a specific place or time. Key stories in this issue include artists Jim Drain, Cali Thornhill-Dewit, Ed Templeton, Jesse Spears, Matt Connors, the ’86 OP Pro Riot, The Deadbeat Club, and the Hippie Mafia, amongst many others. It’s well worth the read so get your hands on one if you can.
cf series fin Approved by real dolphins, the CF Series template was designed for reliable performance and has quickly become a favorite amongst the Captain Fin Co. team. This template is a perfect balance of drive, pivot and hold and will deliver in all types of conditions. If you can have only one set of fins, this template is the one to have, seriously.
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eidon musarity tour Eidon presents the Musarity Tour, a string of music, art, and charity events to help gather food for the hungry. The tour consists of five charity art shows that will be held in Southern California at various surf shops (Icons, Hobie, Katin, HomeGrown, J7) with musical performance by special guest Ray Barbee at each stop. Accompanied by live music, there will also be art works from Ryan Bryant, Mathew O’brien, Kevin Ginther, Aaron Dorff, Matt Wignall and more. The admission for each event is a donation of a minimum of one canned food item, which will be donated to a homeless shelter of the shop’s choice. Do some good and feed some hungry bellies by checking out one of these events!
vans sturdy stretch boardshorts With summer just around the corner, Vans unveils a new range of board short styles featuring Sturdy Stretch. Vans’ advanced Sturdy Stretch construction makes its debut in the apparel line this season with a diverse collection of original silhouettes that showcases both performance innovation and original Vans DNA, reinforcing the Vans Surf philosophy – Classic Styles, Modern Comfort. Vans Sturdy Stretch construction employs a versatile four-way stretch fabric that achieves the perfect functional balance between inwater action and out-of-water wearability. With a resilient fabric build combined with a durable stretch factor, Sturdy Stretch provides superior comfort and upgraded technical attributes for the everyday surfer.
red bull hart lines x curren capples Curren Capples stood atop the podium after the Detroit dust settled this past month at the inaugural Red Bull Hart Lines street skating contest. The first of its kind, the Hart Lines event was a developed by Ryan Sheckler and featured two separate lanes, each with its own unique set of features, and is the only event to tie in a timing element associated with each run. This caused some high-flying action that you didn’t want to miss. And while Sheckler may have been the favorite to win, it was Curren Capples who smoked the competition, taking home the $35K and a brand new 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T. Keep an eye for him doing burnouts across SoCal.
805 16-ounce cans Nothing says “MAN” like an oversized can of beer in your hand. That’s’ why we were more than thrilled when the Firestone Walker Brewing Company let us know that they’d be releasing our favorite flavor, 805, in 16-ounce 12-packs. That’s 192 beautiful fluid ounces, for all you mathematically challenged, which equals one hell of a good time. Don’t believe us, try it for yourself and pick up your very own 805 tall boy wherever finer adult beverages are sold.
tavik for backup battery The accessory giants over at Tavik have done it again, making sure we never get stranded with their new Form Backup Battery designed for the iPhones 5 and 6. The ultra-thin backup battery packs a mean punch by supplying your phone with several hours of extra juice. Never worry about your phone dying while you spend countless hours Tindering and talking to your mom or whatever weird thing you do on your phone! This external, pocket-sized blessing is available for purchase in stores and online at tavik.com, and it comes in black or gold.
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logstradamus by vissla Vissla is spreading its love to the East Coast this month and will be hosting Logstradamus, a renegade contest comprised of unconventional twists and turns. Gathering insight from Nostradamus, they’re predicting an immeasurable amount of weirdo ripping, golden chariots, and sopping blazers all atop singlefin surfing boards. Logstradamus does have a standard contest setup; however, judges and sponsors will be awarding wizardly maneuvers and most valuable blazer prizes throughout the day as well. Summoning all things weird, Logstradamus will be sent down from the heavens and into the water on Saturday June 27, 2015, in Virginia Beach.
the spy x richer poorer trancas
fyf fest 2015 Fuck Yeah Fest just released another spectacular lineup, marking their 12th year for delivering Los Angeles with some of the best collective music it’s ever seen. From the Jesus and Mary Chain to Morrissey, Frank Ocean and tons more, this year ought to be one for the books. Moving from Los Angeles State Historic Park, the festival will now be held at the LA Sports Arena & Exposition Park. Cop a ticket at your local record store, or on FYF Fest online. See you there!
Socks meet sunnies? Spy Optics is proud to unveil the SPY x Richer Poorer Trancas—the latest addition to the Crosstown Collection featuring a timeless pattern from Richer Poorer and the revolutionary Happy Lens. Literally keeping you happy from head to toe, Trancas is a Spy frame constructed from handmade acetate featuring unique transparent polka dots on the temple. Its counterpart also included in the collection from Richer Poorer is a crew sock in a corresponding polka dot color way. Available on June 2, look for the Trancas at spyoptic.com and select Crosstown Collection retailers!
indi surfs As more and more us get older and the years go by we are having families of our own, and if any of you out there that have tried to find a surf book for your little ones you know it ain’t easy. That’s the exact problem Chris Gorman came across, which inspired him to produce his first children’s book Indi Surf. The epic tale is influenced by his daughter Indi, who braves the ocean to catch her first wave. Full evocative images and easy-to-read text make it the perfect surf introduction to your little ones. Available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Random House, get your copy today.
arcade belts
we are all in the gutter but some of us are holding flashes Documenting the world of skateboarding for the last 20 years, the multi-talented Mark Whiteley just released a beautiful 100-page book featuring skaters such as Alex Olson, P-ROD, Ray Barbee, Jerry Hsu, Brian Anderson and much more. Mark Whiteley partnered with Seeing Things Publication and has been showing selected pieces from the book at Seeing Things Gallery in San Jose. If you’re in the area check it out!
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For once in your life do your pants a favor and pick up Arcade Belts new art series collab from featured artist Brandon Lomax. From Olympic Valley, California, Arcade has been dominating the belt game since 2010, constructing belts with comfortable stretch, durable weaves and quality components that will last you until the end of time. The Lomax Art Series Belts feature bright watercolor-based artwork guaranteed to compliment all or your pants and add the extra pizzazz your lower half needs.
1. Art Life, Madalena - $90, artlifeisgood.com 2. Billabong, Shifty Lo Tides - $59.95, billabong.com 3. Captain Fin Co., Heavy Psych - $60, captainfinco.com 4. Depactus, Aleutian - $70, depactus.com 5. Ezekiel, Oleander - $55, ezekielusa.com 6. Imperial Motion, Vision - $54.95, imperialmotion.com 7. Hurley, Phantom Julian Elite - $150, hurley.com 8. Lira, Alvarez - $56, liraclothing.com 9. Neff, Hot Dog Hot Tub - $40, neffheadwear.com 10. Quiksilver, AG47 - $125, quiksilver.com 11. Roark, The Savage - $70, roark.com 12. RVCA, Gypsy Lines - $60, rvca.com 13. Tavik, Rico - $58, tavik.com 14. Vans, Psych Panel - $59.50, vans.com 15. Vissla, Petaluma - $59.95, vissla.com 16. Volcom, Macaw Mod - $60, volcom.com 34
The premise of my series “In Our Veins” is to explore the connections between all life forms and the cycle of life. Through a psychological, and sometimes visceral, approach, this series investigates our relationships to each other and to the natural world as well as our role in the life cycle. Concepts such as life and death, survival and exploitation, and the interdependence and destruction of living and nonliving organisms are illustrated throughout. Using imagery derived from dreams and free association,
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“In Our Veins” demonstrates these ideas in a surreal, psychologically-charged narrative. As an artist, one of the more influential genres for me has been Surrealism. With my “In Our Veins” series, my style was becoming progressively more surreal and I was looking to challenge myself technically and conceptually. One of the themes explored with this series is animal welfare. It is an important issue for me on a personal level but I also feel that it is a significant part of the future of our environment;
they go hand in hand. “In Our Veins” explores the interdependence of the human race to each other and to the rest of the animal kingdom, as well as the planet itself. One cannot exist without the other; therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we care for each and every living thing. Of course I believe this is important not just for the survival of the planet but also out of a moral and ethical obligation as well. One of my trademarks seen throughout the series is my depiction of animals. I wanted
to emphasize their importance and do away with the notion that animals are “less” than humans. So each animal, be it mammal, bird, etcetera, has been endowed with something we often (arrogantly) consider a “human” quality. For example, some animals such as wolves have more “human looking” eyes, or the animals are posed in a strong, maybe domineering, manner, or they have a facial expression that could be considered “human.” Above all, even if they are depicted in a state of distress, the animals featured have a strong presence.
Interview: Liz Rice McCray Hi Iris, will you please introduce yourself to our reader? My name is Iris Kern-Foster; I am a visual artist creating mostly abstract paintings on paper or papered linen. I am from Austria and live in Huntington Beach. Will you tell us how you got into abstract painting? I’ve been surrounded by abstract art growing up. I remember most of the exhibitions I went to with my parents as a child were abstract art, or maybe those are the ones that got stuck in my memory. I have been drawing and painting all my life but I ended up studying digital art, because at the time (early 2000) I thought it was the most contemporary art form. But my perception of media art has
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changed a lot; I think it’s very selfreferencing and reaches a limited audience. So eventually, after a digital drawing phase I ended up following my real passion - painting. To me, abstract and expressionist art is timeless; it evokes thought and emotion, it can be reinterpreted every time you look at it and I don´t get tired of creating it. Tell us about some of your consistent influences? My work is influenced by neoexpressionism, postmodern thought and the desire to contribute to continuity, to add contemporary relevance to something that was once revolutionary without being a copycat. Punk’s not dead and neither is abstract, expressionist art. In my more subject-related pieces I explore human relationships, the couples, the strangers, the crowd
and the urban anonymity. What brought you to California? Are you here to stay? Love. I met Joe 19 years ago when he was touring with his band, we reconnected in 2010. Here I am, married to my teenage hero. How many people can say that? I don´t know if we will stay here forever; for sure for as long as Joe is dedicated to surf photography. I can work anywhere, but he needs an ocean – and athletes. What’s the dynamic between you and your husband regarding art? Do you share a studio? Do you ever collaborate? We work extremely different, not only because Joe is a photographer and a musician and I’m completely untalented in both areas. We approach art differently. I am an
inspiration hunter. I have to read and surround myself with art and architecture and interesting people. Joe does not need any of that; he is his own muse. We also collect art and our taste is a few centuries apart. My studio is a mess and his studio is the ocean. If we ever collaborate it would have to be a discipline that is neither of our main fields. We are each other’s most honest critics and I am grateful to be with an artist. It makes life better. Where can people check more of your art? On my website kernfoster. com and www.saatchiart.com/ iriskernfoster. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
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Interview: Liz Rice McCray Hi Ashley, to get right to the point tell me about yourself. Hi! Hmm, let’s see. I’m an art lover, traveler, and foodie. Most of my days are spent drawing, daydreaming about Paris, and eating Ramen. I’m pretty simple. Sounds lovely. What mediums do you work with? I mainly work with graphite powder and India ink, but lately I’ve been playing around with charcoal for some darker pieces – messy but worth it. Will you give us some insight on your photorealistic drawings? For as long as I can remember, the human condition has enchanted me. Nothing is more interesting than the reality of daily life - the jobs you hate, the lovers you take and lose, the selfloathing, the insecurities... It’s honest, and I appreciate that so much. Expressive faces, body language that tell a story... It’s fascinating! I can’t imagine drawing in a style that lacked that realism (execution or content). I was surprised to find out that you are self-taught. Your wonderful
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graphite drawings almost look like photographs. How do you manage that? I’ve been drawing for about 10 years now and it’s taken that long to get the hang of this, haha. Being self-taught is the best and worst thing for me. It’s gratifying in that your own trial and error shape your pieces in going forward, but it’s difficult sometimes because I’m not as in the loop when it comes to tools that make the process easier. I’ve been using the same handful of tools for a decade now (paper, pencil, powder, tape, erasers, ink and rulers) and I guess I like being a creature of habit. There are YouTube tutorials, workshops, Instagram pages and such, solely dedicated to helping people learn to draw and giving them tips on tools, technique, etc. I didn’t have that when I began and by the time those resources were available, I’d already found a comfortable groove and didn’t want to budge from it. Would you say the process is laborintensive? Will you give some insight and explain the steps of creating these drawings? It’s definitely labor-intensive. Most of my drawings play around with white space, and that part has to be pristine. I place
drafting tape over the white of the paper and sort of draw inside of that shape. Next, I lightly pencil a guide for lighter and darker washes of gray. I layer the powder, step back to gain perspective, then layer again and repeat this process until the realism is there. This can take hours or days; depending on the size of the piece and the effect I’m going for, blurry, double exposure, simple realism, etc. I can’t complain though, it really is therapeutic. What would you like the viewer to take away from your work? This might be kinda corny, but I remember becoming obsessed with Van Gogh when I first started. I studied his work and appreciated that but then I read his musings and fell in love. He wrote once, “I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say ‘he feels deeply, he feels tenderly’,” and I thought that was the most fabulous desire. That’s what I want, and I couldn’t phrase it any better. What are you really into right now? Honest answer? Okay. Jellyfish, The Walking Dead, those weird mush-faced cats, Sriracha... I’m into anything whimsical or peculiar. I feel like I should be saying I’m in to Picasso, but these
were the first things that popped in to my head. Those cats are amazing… So, what’s your favorite part of living in DC? DC! Sigh, my hometown. The touristy stuff is always lovely, cherry blossoms in spring, the monuments, catching Obama and his motorcade rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue holding up traffic, but my favorite part…? Quiet afternoons in the museums or one of the indie movie theaters. I’ll go on a weekday and it’ll feel like you’re the only one there (the theater serves wine, by the way!). You make me want to spend more time in DC. Tell us where can people check out your art? My work is represented by the Robert Fontaine Gallery in Miami, so anyone who wants to see pieces in person, definitely visit. I’m in great company there, and I promise I’m not biased when I say that I love that gallery. My website of course, www.ashleyoubre.com, is up to date and I live on Instagram (@oubash), so take a look and say hi to me there. Thanks for taking the time to answer our interview. Looking forward to following you on Instagram.
Interview: Liz Rice McCray
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Hello Dan, will you please introduce yourself to our readers... who are you, how are you, all that good stuff? My name is Dan Lydersen; I’m a visual artist, armchair art historian and parttime gonzo ethnographer of American culture. Mostly, I make paintings and show them in galleries and museums.
matter of plumbing. Science advances, technology develops, globalization occurs, but we’re still just animals motivated by fear, food, and sex, trying desperately to make sense of our own existence (or ignore it). When you consider that modern humans have been around for 200,000 years, Bob’s Big Boy and Jesus Christ might as well be contemporaries. That’s largely what my work is about.
That’s a good answer. One element of your paintings I enjoy is your recurring themes... humorous NOW culture mixed with historical reference. Will you tell us about your subjects and their backdrops? The difference between history and the present is only a matter of perspective. It’s easy to think that we’re different from people who lived 500 years ago because we use the Internet to buy shaving cream while they pissed in pots and threw their shit out of windows, but that’s mostly a
What do you think is most misunderstood about your work? Is this an odd question to ask you? It’s an interesting question but I don’t think it’s my place to say. To define the ways in which people misunderstand my work is to presuppose that I have ultimate authority over the meaning of my work. Meaning is fluid and determined as much by the viewer as the artist. There are always specific ideas and intentions behind my work, but I don’t expect them to translate unequivocally, nor would I want them
to. Good art should always be a little mysterious. Will you tell us about your childhood ambition? I didn’t have one specific ambition, just a lot of creative energy that led me to dabble in all sorts of things. Acting, writing fiction, making stopmotion animations, playing in bands… I discovered painting when I was 17 and that eventually pushed all my other hobbies aside and became a career. So tell us then, what are you really into right now? Cycling, theatre, woodworking, existential angst… The usual stuff. Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us? Right now I’m working on the largest and most intricate painting I’ve ever embarked upon. It’s sort of a culmination of everything I’ve done
over the past eight years. I can’t tell you much because it’s still in the planning phase but it’s a giant set piece riffing on the idea of the Theatrum Mundi. In terms of imagery, it has more going on in it than all of my previous paintings combined, some of which appear as little vignettes inside the piece. It’s an all-consuming obsession at the moment. I haven’t been sleeping much lately. That’s exciting, we’re look forward to seeing it once it’s finished. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Last question: where can our readers check out your art? All of my work is online at danlydersen. com, where people can also sign up to be notified of upcoming exhibitions. I also usually have some work hanging around at Jack Fischer Gallery, who represents me in San Francisco.
Photos & Interview: Delon Isaacs You’re originally from Brooklyn, but when did you move to Orange County? How old were you when you first started to surf? Yes, I was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1966. I moved to Orange County in 1978 and started surfing a few years later. When did it hit you that you wanted to shape surfboards, and when were you confident enough to call yourself a shaper? I had been airbrushing boards for a while for a few different shapers and around a lot of board builders watching them work. I ended up with an old blank that had been sitting around, and one day when the surf was bad I shaped it up. I started shaping in 1987 and a few years later I started working for Brad Basham in San Clemente. Working for Brad I got to be around a lot of other shapers and learned a lot about building surfboards. I ghost shaped for a few people and started doing a lot of my own shapes. Once I started shaping full time was when I felt confident enough to call myself a shaper.
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Who was the first person to buy one of your boards, what was the board and how much did you sell it for? I can’t really remember whom I made my first custom for. It’s been a long time! I made myself the first few and friends would ride them. Then I would make them boards off those. I had a lot of friends that surfed so it took off pretty fast. At first it was all thrusters. As far as what I sold the first one for, I can’t remember the prices back then but they were cheap compared to prices today. I was just charging my friends cost at first but people started ordering boards from me pretty fast and I was charging them for the shapes. Do you have a specialty in the surfboardshaping world? Do you enjoy shaping all different types of boards from thrusters to logs or do you have a specific field? My love for building surfboards is definitely fueled by building traditional long boards and retro style short boards. I try to stick to that. I am still hand shaping all the custom orders and I really enjoy getting in the bay and shaping boards with multiple stringers and putting tail blocks on them, doing some over the top stuff.
Do you have a favorite person to shape boards for? Who are your favorite surfers to watch? I like building boards for everyone, with the top being long boards to people just getting into it. Just watching how stoked they are when they first see that new board is a pretty cool feeling. I like watching surfers who are having fun. To see someone in the surf who is surfing really good is one thing, but to see someone surfing and really enjoying themselves, that’s what it’s all about. Jared Mell is pretty awesome to watch surf. He takes everything to the point where you think he’s going to fall and some how pulls it off and flows right into the next crazy move. It’s hard to tell when he is surfing switch or regular footed. How annoying is the term “bro deal”? Oh yeah, the bro deal! Everyone wants a deal; it’s just part of being a surfboard shaper. The boards I build are not cheap. So much work goes into them and I would hate to not pay the guys in the glass shop who work so hard on them and make them what they are worth. Think of it this way: you show up to work today and your boss says
to you, “This is my friend, you’re going to do some work for him today but you’re going to do it for free.” You would not be happy. What’s the old saying, “Good boards ain’t cheap and cheap boards ain’t good!” How’s all the music stuff going? Have you played any cool gigs lately that you are happy about? What type of music is it that you play? The music thing is going great and I have a lot of fun with it. I just played a show X in Hermosa Beach. That was super fun. I have a show coming up in Huntington Beach with the Blasters on June 6th, which should be awesome. I play blues, rockabilly, roots-style, good old American music. What’s the future look like for Dano Surfboards? Any new models, riders or exciting news? Nothing too crazy coming up, just focusing on building quality surfboards that are fun to ride. That’s what it’s all about: getting in the water as much as possible and having a great time.
@805BEER SEE THE DAVID BOND STORY AND MORE AT 805BEER.COM
Interview: Liz Rice McCray Photo: Phil Sanchez Welcome to LA! For over a year of somewhat obsessing over Case and his signature hands we have finally locked him down for our mural of the month feature, with a two for one. Excited to find Case on the West Coast and in our back yard, we jumped on the opportunity to feature his Downtown LA [DTLA] walls as our monthly mural. If you happen to be in LA, make sure to check them out – you won’t be disappointed. And send us pictures, hashtag #blisssmuralofthemonth, because we would love to see! Thank you Case for taking the time to answer our questions. You’re back in Frankfurt now. How long were you in the US? Did you enjoy your stay and get to see any sights while you were here?
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Yes, I’m back in Frankfurt after six weeks of traveling. I spent almost four weeks in Los Angeles. It was an unusual way to explore LA ‘cause I don’t have a car. So I stayed in Venice and downtown. In Venice I had a bicycle to reach the wall in Playa Vista. In downtown I stayed one block away from Flower and Pacific where both DTLA walls are. How did DTLA walls come about? Who asked you to paint them? The murals are part of the “Do Art Foundation” wall project, a non-profit organization. They contacted me in February while I was in Hawaii. I flew over to meet those peeps and to discuss the objects. How many pieces did you do while in LA? During the four weeks I did five huge walls, three in Playa Vista and two in DTLA.
We originally were going to feature just one of the two neighboring DTLA walls, but we have changed our mind and our Mural of the Month is a two-for-one, due to proximity. Will you give us some insight behind these pieces? Those two hands showing the different ways of counting up ‘til three. You have the one way how Americans count and you have the other way how Europeans count. So both ways are different but have the same aim – to reach three. It’s based on a sketch from Gustav Klimt I saw during my study time. So the murals are located between Flower and Pacific, DTLA. Will you tell us a little about the neighborhood? I did two hands in this particular area, DTLA. The houses are different but the same too. The wall you originally wanted to feature is the smaller one.
It’s on a council house, where regular people with lower income are living in. The other house is a retired home for people who earn a lower pension. That’s what Victor the facility manager was telling me. Did you give this mural a name? If yes, what and why? No, I don’t name those. I think the gestures speak for themselves. Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us? More walls to keep our eyes open for? Some are coming! More walls for sure. I’m planning to go to Bushwick in summer to see my good friend Joe! Let’s see what happens.
Interview & Photo: Delon Isaacs When was the store established and who’s the general mastermind behind the shop? In 2012 by the foolish and masochistic Chris Gentile. Tell us a bit about yourself, Chris Gentile. Been living in Brooklyn since 2002. I’m a visual artist that happened to open a surf shop. What is Pilgrim’s mission statement? We don’t have a mission statement. We hope what we do will speak for itself. How does the store differ than your average surf shop? How are the pieces sold in the store selected? I think all surf shops are different from one another. We focus on what is relevant to where we are in place and
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time and sell the things that are of the highest quality and have a unique point of view. What’s the surf scene like in Brooklyn, New York? Who’s your average type of customer? There are plenty of surfers in the city. We’re in NYC, so our customer is from every socio-economic and ethnic background you could imagine. Our customers are amazing. You guys have a pretty wide range of different types of surfboards? How is the selection picked? What are your favorite shapers at the moment? The frequency of good surf isn’t as high as we’d like it (on our coast) but it can get real good... so having options in your quiver is the best way to enjoy the maximum amount of days wave riding. That’s the way we think about our selection. There are so many fantastic board builders out there that it’s hard to include all
of them. I love all the shapers we work with and the fine people that glass everything. I believe surfboard building is a folk tradition; it’s regional and a craft that is generally passed down from a master to an apprentice. You can’t go to school for it; you have to learn it by watching someone that knows their shit and by making a ton of mistakes trying. I have a penchant for craft and process, so naturally I’m drawn to shapers that are technically the best at what they do because of their surfing abilities, wave riding abilities and experience shaping, like a Dave Parmenter and young guys who are on the same path, like Ellis Ericson. I also like the guys that are uninhibited and go at it without following rules like Robin Kegel. It’s a fact that some of the most important design advancements and achievements in surfboard design have happened in people’s sheds and garages. What’s the store’s home break
like? Is there one? East River goes off on an outgoing tide with east winds and a Circle Line Ferry doing seven knots up river. We saw that you guys spin records in the store? What’s been playing in the store the last couple weeks? The boys are getting a bit tired of my Brazilian Tropicalia collection so they’ve seem to be listening to Robert Lester Folsom, Gary McFarland, Yusef Lateef, the first two Bob Seger System albums, The Stroke band from the ‘70s, etcetera. We play what feels good in the moment, which is why Vinyl is so great. Every 20 minutes or so you have to think about what you want to hear. We like that method better than 20,000song iTunes playlists that just keeps running all day, everyday. What’s Pilgrims Surf + Supply future look like? We’re pilgrims so it’s always an unknown but hopelessly optimistic path.
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Photography: Dominic Petruzzi @dominicpetruzzi Model: Rikki Barton @rikkibarton DT Management Hair & Makeup: Olivia Taddeo @mua_olivia
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Creed McTaggart :: Photo: Woody
Creed McTaggart :: Photo: Woody Toby & Creed
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Words: Delon Isaacs The year is 2879, and due to pollution the oceans have all dried up, thus making surfing extinct. Nix Nic Nooley, meaning “Let’s Go Surfing!” in a futurist language we’ve yet to understand, is an epic tale about two knuckleheads Zilou and Bibilou and their quest to go back in time so they can surf. Yeah, this is a full on surf movie with surfers acting.
Beau Foster
Directed by Toby Cregan, Nix Nic Nooley displays an all-star cast of surfers/terrible actors consisting of Creed McTaggart, Duncan McNicol, Thom Pringle, Ellis Ericson and Beau Foster. Included in the movie is a friend section with small surf parts from Dion Agius, Noa Deane, Nate Tyler, Andrew Moony and Wade Goodall. The movie really has everything you need: badass surf jumps, big barrels, party scenes, Beau Foster as a chick, and weird ‘80s porno-type acting. When we asked Creed where the inspiration for the movie’s plot came from he just responded, “We’d usually just get really hammered and grab the camera then act out these stupid scenes and just went with it.” The most impressive factor about the entire film is the fact that it was it was completely self-funded, untainted by any type of surf corporate who-ha. We asked director Toby Cregan why it was so important to be able to produce a piece of work with just his buds and not have to meet the criteria of some surf company or magazine. “Man! It’s so important. It feels really nice to have done something completely independent for no other reason than to have a good time and a
Beau Foster
Thom Pringle
few beers,” he said “Yeah, fuck a criteria, touring the video doing premiers was amazing! It’s such a trip that literally everyone in the film are my really good friends so when we were showing the vid it was always the best vibe. It was a real help having the guys involved in every part of the process. Everyone that had a section in the vid helped me from editing to selling shirts at the prems, feeding me and paying for my flights. Mainly Creedo. Thanks, Creed. I’m thankful to have such good, creative, surfy dudefriends to work with. What we have done is literally all I want to do for the rest of my life.” Be on the lookout for the release of the Nix Nic Nooley DVD probably some time this summer. In the meantime, you probably could just bug Toby [@tobycregan] or Creed [@creedencecandyxx] via social media if you really, really want to see it.
Ellis Ericson
Our Upcycled Coconut Stretch Board Shorts are made with yarns upcycled from coconuts. Upcycling is the process of converting useless products into new garments. This allows us to create performance garments with faster dry times and UV protection while reducing the amount of coconut husk waste in landfills. Clockwise from action: Eric Geiselman, Jordy Lawler, Derrick Disney.
Creators & Innovators
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Tom Schaar :: Photo: MRZ
Chris Miller :: Photo: Delon Isaacs
Steve Caballero :: Photo: Acosta
Alex Perelson :: Photo: MRZ
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Christian Hosoi :: Photo: Delon Isaacs
A decade of monumental skateboard shredding goes down in the books this year, as Vans marked its 10th anniversary of the Vans Pool Party at its very own Combi Bowl in Orange, California. Chillin’ poolside at this competition was far from anything relaxing, as competitors were just going ham with some of the biggest airs and longest grinds seen to date. Rookie Tom Schaar worked his way to the top of the podium in the Pro Division, taking home his very first Pool Party Championship at the impressive age of 15. Chris Russell, a crowd favorite, gave Tom an extraordinary run for his money but fell a hair short while breaking his board at the end of a vicious run.
Pedro Barros :: Photo: Acosta
The splash from the past in the Legends Division was up next, as the undisputed icons of bowl-riding history took battle in the gauntlet. Again, it was Chris Miller who was crowned with his ninth Pool Party victory. Sharing the stand was Vans’ Steve Caballero in second, and rounding out the podium was Eric Nash with third. Defending the Masters title for a back-to-back win, Bruno Passos did it again in an epic final against second-place Stephen Revord and thirdplace Darren Navarette. Although the competition rounds were amazing to watch, nothing in the contest can quite compare to the thrill of watching Vans team rider Pedro Barros land the incredible square-to-round-peninsula transfer. The maneuver had never been done before, so it proved to be a fitting conclusion to cap off 10 years of the Vans Pool Party in Orange.
Greyson Fletcher :: Photo: Delon Isaacs
Masters 1. Bruno Pasos 2. Stephen Revord 3. Darren Navarette Legends 1. Chris Miller 2. Steve Caballero 3. Eric Nash Pro 1. Tom Schaar 2. Chris Russell 3. Pedro Barros
Joshua Borden :: Photo: Acosta
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Words & Photos: Tom Carey
These days I try to pick surf trips not for the waves but the culture, scenery and vibe. Portugal checks all of those boxes and then some. After sweating trip after trip in tropical locales, the chance to get into some cold weather gets my heart racing. And Portugal has it all: epic right point breaks, wedgy beach breaks and some tubes to top it off. The Northern Atlantic can really stir up some waves in the fall and winter months. The weather can one day be amazing just like California and the next day be a crazy storm with gale-force winds that can rip through your house and lock you indoors for a few days. Portugal is the perfect place for the Metal Neck crew to take in some culture. Sure there’s amazing waves, but we travel for the fine wine, exquisite dining, historical siteseeing and local flavor. We are not there to drink beer, drive fast, rock out and surf our brains out. That’s definitely not us. You’ve got us wrong. We were like scholars on this trip. Hahaha, who are we kidding? Portugal was the most epic canvas for our fast-paced, hectic lifestyle. We shredded, drank the town dry, blasted music and raced up and down the countryside in search of waves. Keep in my mind we had the dream crew: Wade Goodall, Creed McTaggart and Andrew Doheny, three of the most interesting regular footers in surfing today. Wade is undoubtedly one of my favorite surfers of all time. His skill level is absolutely up there with some of the best surfers in the world. He’s had some bad luck lately, fracturing a bone in his leg that kept him out of the water for almost a year. This was his first trip back and you could tell he was fucking psyched. Everyone’s respect level for Wade is so high. He’s the original surfing hessian. In a surfing world full of hipsters and posers, Wade is such a breath of fresh air. His surfing is raw, fast, crazy and yet fine-tuned. One afternoon while surfing some solid 6-foot Coxos, Wade grabbed a wide one and went for a massive front side full rotator on one of the biggest sections you’ll ever see. That’s Wade. He can ride the barrel with the best of them and then blow your mind with an air on a section that 99.9% of people would kick out on. He’s the fucking best dude ever. Creed is one of those types of people you really like after just minutes of meeting him. He’s a crazy animal on land, always partying, but then in the water he is this totally polished madman. He rides these massive surfboards with no deck pad but you can tell he’s totally comfortable in double-overhead surf. He’s a big dude too, and having grown up in Western Australia, big waves must feel like head high trestles to him. He’s also not scared to go for a 6-foot slob air on a dumpy, overhead, ankle-breaking section. Andrew “Droid” Doheny is one the best rail surfers in the world. Totally unpredictable and explosive, he’s so damn fun to watch. The right points and A-frame beach breaks in Portugal fit his surfing like a glove. Andrew’s turns were the perfect contrast to Creed and Wade’s overthe-lip surfing. Together we had a real eclectic group of unique surfers and Portugal was a perfect location for our exploits. We all met up in Lisbon airport on a rainy day in October. From California it’s an easy trek to Portugal with only one stop in Newark. From Australia, Creed and Wade had it pretty rough, but they’re fucking troopers and adjusted quickly. From the airport it’s a quick drive to Ericeira, our home base for the next 10 days. The country has amazing toll roads that get you around the coastline in no time. Ericeira is one of the most amazing surf destinations in the world. It’s home to countless waves; some are world class and others are downright all time. The World Junior
Andrew Doheny Wade Goodall
Championships were held in Ericeira last year and it’s no wonder why. There are big slabs, heavy right point breaks, fun beach breaks and amazing reef points. The water temp is much like California and surfing is almost as popular as soccer in Portugal. WCT surfer Tiago Pires is like a god in Portugal, second behind soccer god Christiano Renaldo. If that doesn’t tell you something about the sport in Portugal I don’t know what will. The first five or six days were classic days in Portugal. We scored Coxos, the big classic right point, for a few days and then a few beach breaks that were working. Next thing we knew a big storm was barreling down on us so we decided to jump in the car and head for Spain where the winds were working. We woke up the next day and started barging. We were across the border in the afternoon and got a surf in at Coruna, a beautiful bay with the most picturesque city surrounding its waves. We got in touch with an amazing madman named Oscar that ran the local surf shop there. He pointed us in the right direction and we found some playful waves in between rainsqualls. He then took us in and housed us for the night. I don’t think he knew how big of a commitment that was, as the crew was ready to tear it up in Spain. The Spanish can party and Oscar was no exception. We ended up ravaging the town ‘til the sun came up, and luckily
Creed McTaggart
Wade Goodall
most of us made it home. TBar, our drunkard filmer, found a warm bed to sleep in and showed up a day late. Spain is so much fun; I’d suggest any young adventurer lose yourself in that area.
Andrew Doheny
We all woke up in a haze of drunken stories and loose searches for our belongings. We reluctantly packed up the car and headed back to Portugal to round out the end of our trip. The storm passed and we woke up the next few days to a solid new swell that lit up the coast in classic fashion. We decided to search for some new
waves and found the most epic beach break just south of Lisbon. We were freaking out to the sight of 4-foot A-frames marching up and down the beach. Five or six jetties lined the beach giving us an amazing vantage point to peer right into the tube or shoot some airs with Lisbon in the background. It was the perfect end to an awesome trip. We met some new friends along the way, obtaining some directions on where to tear up our last night in Lisbon. Apparently, heaven is a placed called Bairro Alto. The
Creed McTaggart cobblestone-lined street was the classic European party town. We rented a flat and somehow found a parking spot dead smack in front of our apartment, burning up the clutch to our Volkswagen in the process. We must have stuck out like sore thumbs, as every drug dealer in the city tried to sell us drugs the first 20 minutes of us being there. We proceeded to get dolled-up and painted the town red, finishing off the trip in grand style. Creed was on fire, grabbing a ride on the back of a dump truck at one point and then shooting fireballs from his butt at a bum on the other side of the street. The scam artists taking turns at trying to rip us off was pathetic. We almost had to club them off of us. I think sometimes they mistake surfers as drugged-out hippies.
Live music was on tap at most of the bars and American music was flowing into the streets. We ended up making it out of there alive without getting drugged or killed and actually having a good time at the hundreds of bars that lined Bairro Alto’s streets. Before we left the flat we set about seven alarms for our 9 a.m. flight. Of course only about three of them went off and we flew out of the house like a bunch of screaming banshees. Thank god the car was parked where it was or we would have never made the flight. I must have run three red lights on the way to the airport almost killing us. We made it with minutes to spare, as agents pulled us out of customs and guided us onto the flight. It was such a classic way to end the trip. Portugal, we love you!
Andrew Doheny Wade Goodall
Photos: Nick Minkler
Interview: Nick Minkler Every kid is good now, right? With all of these super supportive parents out there, private training facilities, gimmicks, how-to videos, and the abundance of plazas and parks… It’s just a great time to be young and skating. It’s brewing all kinds of talent, everywhere. With some though it’s the straight up “street life,” because kicking it at home is fucked, drugs are lame, and I’m just not feeling the afterschool sporting programs. Olan is one of those kids who was out in the streets skating all day and into night, surviving on whoever has what. You know what I mean? It’s not like his mom or dad is coming through with a packed lunch, like, “Go Olan!” He’s street as fuck, man, I’ve seen him so many times in his younger days with, like, broken trucks, two bolts that are barley holding it together, missing bearings… just the worst possible setup ever, and he’s out there just full speed ahead and not a care in the world. He’s a survivor; he’s the real deal. – Minkler You still whippin’ the 733 (Los Angeles Metro Line)? What you sayin’? Have any good stories of the 733? Bro, that bus be turn. It be fights, boom boxes, twerkin’… all that. I see you’ve been skating a lot in your athletic sneakers, like the Jordan 6s. Why? I’m not sponsored by any shoe company, so what ever is in my closet I skate. And RIF.LA supplies me with my gyms. You pretty much skated through those in like a month. They do last and they are really good to skate in. You’re in high school, right? Yeah, I go to Hamilton High. I’m graduating soon though. Any plans for the summer? Skating. Hopefully jump on a few trips. What’s up with the modeling gigs? I don’t know, I mean I don’t have an agent or anything. I used to have a manager but we don’t really talk anymore – it’s more like word of mouth really. People hit me up, and yeah, I fuck with modeling – that shit’s tight. Where are you from? LA. My dad used to live in Venice one block from the boardwalk so I grew up there most my life. And my mom has lived in Leimert, so I would just go back and forth. Where is Leimert? Is that considered “The Jungles?” Naw, Leimert is just right outside The Jungles, but yeah, we use to stay there too. When you’re not skating what are you up to? I really skate all day, every day... but if I’m stuck in the house and it’s raining or whatever, then I’ll probably make some beats on Fruity Loops. I like messing around with Photoshop and those Adobe programs… I’ve been taking this digital imaging class for a few years now. I see you got the gold grill now on the bottom. Where did the inspiration come from on that? Madonna? Naw, gold is just pimpin’, man. We see that you’re in both the IC videos and the Delistatus videos. Is there not one crew that you skate with? Naw man, I just skate with whoever is down to skate. Whoever hits me up that day, it’s like, “Yeah let’s link up.” You’re a pretty well rounded skateboarder. I’ve seen you skate just about everything and get in on every session. Is there one thing you really like skating though? I love skating ledges, ledges are super fun. I grew up skating that ridiculous quarter pipe in Venice at the old park every day. I didn’t really have the pop for the “P” ledge or anything else. How do you feel about skating as of right now in 2015? Is it good? Bad? I’m not an OG or anything but I’ve been skating my whole life and seen all these whack fools try and invest. Basically, FUCK EVERY SKATEBOARD COMPANY THAT HASN’T BEEN IN THE GAME SINCE AT LEAST ‘05.
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Sponsors? Gnarly, RIF.LA and Orion. Skinnies or baggies? The dark blue baggy Carhartt denim, lookin’ like Nas in Belly. Would you like to clarify to the people that ask the question, “What are you?” Black and white! Dude, you have a major babe fan club out there? And they are anywhere from like 15 to 55. How you deal with that? It’s stressful breh, but ay my snap chat is @opsupersayan. Is it annoying when they fuck with your hair? They’re always wanting to play with the hair, or like style it or whatever. If they weird, then yeah. You ever surf? Once, I stood up on whitewater first go. It’s nothin’. Lesgetit. I grew up boogy boardin’ though. Remember seeing Eric “Tuma” out there? Yeah, that’s the legend, homie. He was like, “This is your beach, too,” which is sick coming from Tuma. Yup, Tuma’s the man.
Five-0
Switch Crook
Maggie :: Bikini: Tavik :: www.tavik.com 74
Alden Bikini: Hurley www.hurley.com
Samantha Bikini: Volcom www.volcom.com
Alden Bikini: Body Glove www.bodyglove.com
Rayne Bikini: Lira Clothing www.liraclothing.com
Rachel Bikini: Volcom www.volcom.com
Rayne Bikini: Eidon www.eidonsurf.com
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Interview: Liz Rice McCray
This month is our dreaded swim issue, and for most of our readers (some employees included), our most beloved issue of the year. So when thinking of artists that could collaborate we finally landed on Mysterious Al. Not to overwhelm you, dear reader, but there are a multitude of factors that come into play when doing a swim/artist combo cover. Thank you, Mysterious Al, for taking the time and transforming our cover. Hi, Al. While browsing your website, I clicked on the “About” link thinking there would be a full bio and it tossed me back to Google, thus, making me chuckle, maybe because it surprised me, or maybe you really are Mysterious Al. Aside from the name, it seems you’re not really one for the spotlight. Am I reading you correctly? Will you elaborate? I prefer to let my work do the talking. You know when they make a film out of your favorite book? They never get the characters right. You co-founded the ‘Finders Keepers Crew.’ Can you please tell our readers about this collective? Back in the early 2000s I co-founded the crew with D*face, Dave The Chimp and PMH. Galleries had no interest in showing us or our peers so we started hosting illegal street exhibitions with works made from trash. We found alleyways or disused shopfronts and literally nailed the work to the walls. Old wooden boards, fridges, bins, broken televisions… Anything left out on the street got decorated, celebrated for an evening and then given away to attendees. We did a few shows until they got too big for us to control… Hundreds of people would show up down some pissy alleyway to look at art and party. It was an incredible time for art-loving drunks. Who are some of the artists associated with ‘Finders Keepers Crew’? Well, everybody knows who D*face is now. We probably ‘exhibited’ around 100 artists over the span of the events. So many of our friends and contemporaries took part: Miss Van, Adam Neate, The London Police, Shantell Martin, Flying Fortress… An all-star lineup before anyone got huge.
So now where are you currently living? And why? London’s a beautiful city but it’ll sure kick you when you’re down. I wanted to be somewhere new and exciting so I moved to Melbourne. It’s good here. What can you say about the Australian art scene? It’s healthy and proactive. Normal people like graffiti here, so there’s no shortage of walls. It’s an acceptable hobby. We really enjoy your monster eyes on beautiful girls… Would you call them “monster eyes” or would you explain them differently? They say that eyes are windows to the soul. It’s amazing how much you can alter the personality of an image by changing just the eyes. Will you tell us about your subjects? My current work is loosely based on an ancient tribe living secretly in the city. They come out at night. If my paintings are their paintings, then the portraits are of the tribe’s people. The women are the warriors of the tribe. They’re the most feared and respected, just like real life. Did you direct a zombie film? I did, and a ballet. It was a five-
minute zombie ballet called ‘Life After Beth’ about a girl who’s in love with a Zombie. We did a few film festivals with it. It feels like a long time ago now. Ok, not to be depressing, but one of my favorite questions to ask: When it is all said and done, how would you like remembered? A great question. The older I get, the more reflective I’m becoming. Painting walls is fun but leaving a lasting, positive impression on this earth is the ultimate up. I hope I can do that through the work I make and the people I meet. Where can people check out more of your artwork? Instagram is the best place, instagram. com/mysteriousal. What’s coming up next for you? Making this new body of work has been like falling in love. My paintings have taken on many forms over the years, but I’m finally feeling like my work has really hit its stride. I’m influenced by ancient tribal masks, but I’m bringing things into the 21st Century through my colors and methods. My solo show opens at QV Gallery in Melbourne on July 23rd. For more details check my instagram or www.mysteriousal.com.
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Photo & Interview: Chris Whitaker
Tell me about the skate scene in Vermont and the people who inspired you and really got you into skating starting out. Wow, the skate scene in Vermont is very tight-knit and strong. One would think the scene is small in a small state like Vermont, but actually there is quite a large crew of skaters who really rip it up. There is little to no coverage so it goes unnoticed. Also, many of the really good skaters have moved out of Vermont and have gone to California. Examples being Marshall Heath, Dave Abair, Dave Mull, Steve Mull, Chris “Cookie” Colbourn, Jordan Maxham, and my brother Cody Hale, to name a few. The younger generation here in Vermont is still progressing at a fast rate, and it reminds me of a younger me – hungry to learn. Love that. Not a ton of spots, but for me it holds plenty to do as far as challenging myself, and really that’s what interests me, learning above all. Who inspired me to start skating? There was a crew of older generation skaters on the local level who got me pumped to be out there too, trying to get some: Bobby Hackney Jr., Ethan Indorf, Scott Furkay, Clint Ayres, Tommy Sizemore, Kyle Burroughs, Oliver Reed, A-Dog RIP, Parker and my good friend and filmer Travis Card and Luke Sullivan. Seeing those guys filming and throwing down was super inspiring to me as a young buck. We just had you out here in LA for two weeks staying with Cody; I was hyped to see how much you accomplished in that time. How do you compare East Coast versus West Coast skating? How do I compare East versus West Coast skateboarding? Really, I have the same mindset when I am on either side of the continental U.S. For me, I try to film as much as possible in a short amount of time. So, back home I only have time to skate two, maybe three days a week if I’m lucky. So, I am out each day even if the weather is shitty, trying to get some tricks on film that are on the level. Rainy weather just means no skating or only two or three spots are able to skate. Most of the spots are very hard to skate. Meaning, that if you can get a trick it will be hard work and it will be worth it also. The biggest difference is not that the spots are any better; they seem just as rough, and not easy to get a worthy trick anyway. The real biggest difference would be that the weather on the West Coast seems like it is very favorable all the time, whereas back home it’s like I hope it is nice on the days I have off, otherwise it might not be very productive. I’ve eaten at your restaurant a few times, over in Winooski, VT. Good stuff. What do you have going on in your life at the moment other than skating? I have a full-time life outside of skating, as in a full-time job as a sous chef at a restaurant. This type of job is very demanding, and it makes it so I only have two or three days maximum a week to skate. Every time it depends on whether a filmer is available also. So when I do get to skate I really appreciate it and every chance I get to film. It is very valuable to me and I am also satisfied to skate a skate park, just to get my fix. I feel like I need skateboarding every week or else I am super stressed out and bummed. So not being able to skate most of the week is very motivating when I do get the chance. Don’t want to waste anyone’s time, you know? What’s your take on skating for a living? Is it something you strive for or do you like the balance you have now? I know you have a lot going with the house and your schedule in VT. My take on skating for a living is that it is the best-ever possible situation. I don’t think I could live in California long term, so that right there makes it impossible for me to make a living skating. But as far as skating goes, I will skate either way. It has been fine so far. To be able to get paid for skateboard
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riding seems like a fantasy dream goal, but it would be a win-win for any company that would pick me up. So far in life, that has never happened for me personally. That’s ok, and that’s why I need a regular job to make a living and survive. I do really appreciate the lifestyle living in the country provides. It doesn’t seem sustainable to me to live in any city. I can’t help feeling that way. I really do want to become a farmer and live off the land some day soon. Raise animals and grow food seems like the only way to live to me anyways, especially when the economy is fucked and nothing is for certain anyway. Might as well be self-sufficient. You’re one of the few in this day who has stayed away from the whole social media craze… No Facebook or Instagram. Why? I like when you said recently, “I’ve never even downloaded an app.” You have a computer and an iPhone so you’re not living under a rock. I remember you wrote down a list of “Conspiracy Theory” videos you got me started on in Minneapolis on the back of a grape Philly Blunts package in 2008! Where’s your time spent on the Internet these days? Elaborate on that for us and tell us how you feel about the Internet impacting the skate scene. I am glad you asked this question and I am happy to elaborate. I am staying away from social media because I really do value personal time and freedom. Not to say social media takes away from your freedom, but it does in fact cross some boundaries that are sketchy if you are not aware of what you do with it and if you really think about the facts. I see people that do have Instagram that get sucked into it for hours a day that turn into hours a week. I am lucky my girlfriend shows me every time I am on there and tells me what all my friends are up to. Also, on the record, the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) has admitted that they no longer need investigative undercover agents digging into people’s personal lives to uncover dirt and find research on people. Because people willingly post every detail of their personal lives without thinking on social media, I.E. Facebook. So, anyone can be searched by name and find out every belief system that a person holds. Also, it is super easy to find who you network with as well as your location and where you go each day, etc. So for an intelligence gathering service, such as the government, this is an extremely valuable tool for them. Lastly on this topic, even when you quit Facebook, they still hold onto your information for three years! At least anyway, that’s not to say it is less than that, but possibly more. If you look into any of the NSA documents that have been leaked, it states that all the phone calls, emails, all social media is in databases in a few places in the USA, namely in Utah and other data centers that are being built to store this massive load of data and computers are needed to decipher the key phrases and info to incriminate people. Basically, we live in a Nazi Germany or Maoist China or a Stalin Soviet Union police state. Be careful of what is put out there. Freedom of speech isn’t free. Anyways, that shows you a lot of what I feel about conspiracy theories. It is not a theory if there is fact to back it. That term conspiracy theory is used nowadays to discredit people who maybe have real valuable information. The sites I visit on the Internet these days are: Corbettreport.com, Tradgedyandhope. com, Hellaclips.com, and theberrics.com, as well as youtube.com for all types of learning and entertainment adventures. That’s really it. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years – much love and keep shredding everybody! Peace-Collin
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Photo & Interview: Chris Whitaker
I first asked your brother who inspired him starting out. I know you were actually the first to get a skateboard in the family, so how long did it take Collin to hop on board? You’re right, I was the first one with a skateboard in the family, but Collin managed to pick it up a lot quicker. We used to share the board that I had and eventually he got one of his own and has been steadily progressing ever since. He has been very inspiring to push further each and every time I skate. You’ve been in California for about a year and a half now. Your Transworld checkout part from last year was insane! What are you working on now? I appreciate that about my checkout. Worked hard filming for a good year to produce the checkout. Trying to learn and film new tricks is always a challenge but extra rewarding nonetheless. Right now I am working on a new video part for the upcoming Warco video, then I have a project with Matix I’ll be working on later this year, which I am stoked for! I can’t wait to see the final products. Do you have any regrets of moving to LA? How do you compare skating out here to back home? LA can get a little hectic, but I love living here more and more each day that I’m here. I live in Echo Park, which has a good mix of trendy people and Mexican gangsters. The only regret I have is not moving to LA sooner! I love it out here, new spots and new areas to explore… although, I definitely miss skating with my brother and seeing the good homies. The only difference between East and West Coast skating is the weather. East Coast is extremely limited as it is, aside from the different seasons they endure. Out here in Cali every day is the same; it’s amazing how many nice days in a row we have! Makes sense why so many people are out here. What do you like to do besides skate? Tell us about anything you have going outside of killing it on a board. I’ve been working on a few things other than skating. I work a few days at a pizza place in Los Feliz at the moment. I’ve also been working on a few woodworking projects that I’ve been getting stoked on, making tables and other stuff out of old skateboards. Always good to reuse and recycle. Do you feel like your family has helped motivate you within skateboarding? They seem really supportive of seeing you guys do what you love. I remember your mom saying you’d be crazy to not come to LA with us on that cross-country road trip from VT with Cookie and Jordan. I guess she was right because you’ve been here ever since. Family has been one of my biggest influences with skating because we used to always travel together to go to contests or other events when Collin and I were younger. Now, living so far away from them, it makes me appreciate all the good times and all the amazing opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. I’m glad I took that chance and made the road trip out here with you guys because it was the prefect opportunity to chase the dream with my best friends! Just like the good ol’ days.
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Interview & Photos: Sean Sullivan Bjorn Leines is a beast. Anybody who has rode or shot with him knows this. A combination of power, experience and what, from a distance, may seem like a reckless disregard for his own safety, Bjorn has been leading the charge for the first generation of modern snowboarders since the mid ‘90s. In a game where the riders turn 25 and suddenly get dropped by all their sponsors for the next hot 19-yearold, Bjorn is nearing 40, shattering stereotypes and showing the industry that age ain’t nothing but a number. As the youngest of the legitimate board sports, snowboarding’s first generation of pros have finally grown up and are having families, and in some cases, like Bjorn’s, redefining the meaning of growing up. Age: 38 Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah/Big Lake, Minnesota Years Pro: 20 Sponsors: Rome Snowboards, Under Armor, Celtek, Ovan Optics, Remind Insoles, CFR snowboard racks, The Youth Shelter Supply Shop, & Blue Bird Wax How Many Video Parts: Dunno? Twenty or so. How Many Covers: Dunno? Twenty or so. How did you find snowboarding? I grew up skateboarding in Minnesota and I wanted to be able to skate in the winter, and so we would take our wheels and trucks off and use shoelaces for bindings… The next year I saved up for a snowboard! Who was your first sponsor and how did that come about? 90 Clothing… Thru Kevin Staab. I skated with him at a local contest in Minneapolis, MN, and later he heard about my snowboarding in Utah. You’ve done it all, contest podiums, street video parts, big mountain charging. What’s your favorite thing about snowboarding? My favorite thing about snowboarding is the freedom of expression, choosing your own paths and manifesting tricks, meeting people and sharing adventures.
1:41 p.m. : Switch back 5, landing out of frame about halfway down this page. What’s your take on the current contest scene? I think that the skill level of the riders is really high, and it’s rad to see guys like Stale Sandbech and Danny Davis bring style to the forefront of doing technical tricks. You competed and made the Olympic team only to get cut at the last minute so a coach could use the last space on the US squad to send his racer girlfriend instead of you because she had a better chance of medaling, even though you had a winning run in your bag of tricks. Did that help refocus you? Maybe it did. At that time Forum Snowboards was just starting off and built the team and through that opportunity I guess that I
got into filming video parts. You’re one of the only American’s to ever be indoctrinated by the notorious Canadian Wildcat Crew. What was rolling with those guys like? Did you learn a lot from them? Haha. Yeah, it was a crazy time for sure! Devun was always the leader of the pack and he really took care of me when I would come to Canada. Him, Dion, Duff, Chris Brown, JF, Kale Stephens, Dave Cashen, Gatean, Pete, all the boys… We were just living young, wild and free. I think the biggest lesson I learned from the crew was that it made me take a hard look at what my future would be like if I stayed on the party path. I was about to be a father at a fairly young age and I
just sorta took a step back from that scene to focus on the new challenges of fatherhood. Those guys were always so much fun and had my back… and I had there’s. I still do! Tell us a classic Devun Walsh story. Devun is the type of guy that has a big heart and seemed like he had a way of making the guy that wasn’t the coolest feel included. I admired him for that… When it came to snowboarding he always has had the sickest style and would stomp most everything… He also had the biggest hot sauce collection, and always was spicing up the BBQ. And let’s just say he was prolly the smallest guy in the crew but he could put down the most beverages.
As one of the original members of the Forum 8, what was it like being a part of a team like that? Has the role and dynamics of snowboard teams changed since the Forum 8 days? I think that it was a pretty insane era in snowboarding. Forum was taking after the skateboard marketing route and focused on putting together one of the raddest teams around… With Mack Dawg behind us we were able to put out some pretty good videos and the tours were usually crazy. Peter Line was one of the top shreds at the time, and his riding and influence helped to elevate the whole team in a major way. During those times it was a really tight group, from the riders to everyone at the office down in San Clemente, CA. We all spent a lot time together so it had a real fraternity feeling to the brand. Today, some brands are achieving this same feeling I think, but very few. We all had a voice back then, within the brand, and I think today only a select few companies value and utilize the feedback from their riders. Tell us a classic JP Walker story. JP is pretty rad guy when you hang out one on one. He’s sorta like a little kid in way; he just gets so excited about stuff. I remember when he got one of his first good paychecks he went and bought night vision goggles. How sick is that? Just getting to buy something that you wanted when you were little.
With such a prolific career, you’ve done your fair share of travelling. Is there anywhere you haven’t been that you want to go? Yes, I would like to go to Russia, to the Himalayas, and explore more of Alaska. Tell me about your favorite snowboard trip of all time? Tough one. A very memorable trip was going to New Zealand with Terje and Jaime Lynn. We stayed out in the middle of nowhere and got to do some heli boarding… The conditions weren’t the best but I was just really stoked to be riding with the guys that influenced my snowboarding. Describe an ideal day of snowboarding for you, anywhere on earth, any crew. Powder day… In the backcountry with the homies, Utah, Jackson, BC, AK, Europe… anywhere really! You’ve got a wife and two boys, so what’s it like being a full-time family man? We were joking on our last trip that pretty soon we’ll have to rent our own RV because your kids will be taking our bunks. It’s amazing being a dad! I feel very blessed to have a wife and family. It’s a lot of work and worry to take care of them but it is the most rewarding thing in my life. Seeing them grow
5:37 p.m. : Punching the clock with a switch back 1 straight to the trailhead.
6:56 a.m. : Waking up early is good for you. Halfcab
and help shape them into who they are is a huge responsibility, and without Kristin I don’t know what I would do. She is the best! It’s really fun now that the boys are growing up and are so interested in the same things that I am: skateboarding, snowboarding, motocross, hunting, and of course digging in the snow or dirt. Haha, just like dad… We have never pushed them into these hobbies, they just want to do them and seem to have an ability to send it. It can be pretty scary to say the least. But I believe that God doesn’t put obstacles, or challenges, in your life
that you can’t overcome, and being a family man feels so right. In what year did you co-found Celtek Gloves with your brother Erik Leines? What made you guys want to do that and what kind of doors has that opened for you? It was in 2003. We wanted to be able to create products that we could really believe in. At the time we were both riding professionally and continued to do this for the first four years, running the company out of the basement of our houses.
We watched how Volcom had grown so quickly and got to experience firsthand many different aspects of research and development for the brands that we rode for. So, we decided to create Celtek and it has grown from there. The goal is to create an innovative product that embraces the influences and culture of our community. It has been sorta like going to business school this last decade or so. Some lessons were hard to learn but we have had a lot of support and challenged each other to excel. Now we are able to build this umbrella that is starting to take care of our friends and families. It has led to many introductions with various mentors, both within our industry and also outside of it. Last winter Celtek produced a film called Nothing To Prove, and it won a Telly Award for “Best Action Sports” online video! What made that flick different from all the other snowboard movies out there nowadays? I think that it has been well received because it shows a little more in depth of what it is like filming during the season. All the different aspects and variables that pop up through the course of the season: from weather battles, to injuries, riding with different crews on different terrain… it sort of takes
the viewer on a journey instead of the normal format of hammering clip after clip, which can be hard for the viewer to relate to sometimes. This winter you were travelling all over working on your project Bucket List. What’s the deal with this project? Bucket List is all about checking off things that are on your “bucket list” of things to do snowboarding: from destinations, to putting together different crews, learning a new trick or simply going on an adventure. What were some of your season highlights while working on Bucket List? Going to BaldFace Lodge with Erik Leines, Ben Ferguson, Jason Robinson, Tyler Nicholson, Darcy Bacha, filmer Leland McNamara was pretty all time! Just starting the New Year up at the lodge was incredible. BaldFace has a special feel; you can really see that they care about snowboarding and our culture!
9:51 a.m. : Pro Tip # 221. Don’t take your eyes off your landing. Cork back 3
What does next winter have in store for BJL? Working on the new Bucket List project, launching Ovan Optics, growing Celtek with my brother Erik, pushing my snowboarding abilities and shredding with my sons! You’ve had one of the most lengthy careers in the game. Any words of advice for kids on the come up and the boys out there doing it who’d like to add 10 more years to their career? I would say stay humble, stay hungry, and understand that the snow community is fairly small, so create good relationships and always maintain your integrity. Be yourself, not what someone else wants and truly strive to live your dreams. Remember that you are the only one that can place limitations on yourself.
RVCA swarmed Japan during the month of May with an eclectic group of advocates. On Friday, May 22nd, RVCA hosted a pop-up shop opening at the Ron Herman store in Tokyo. RVCA ANP Artist Kevin Ancell was present and did a live painting in the shop while Tokyo fans looked on. The event was also attended by RVCA advocates Christian Fletcher and Zak Noyle, who were on hand for the Greenroom Festival. At the Greenroom Festival, RVCA took over a shipping container where the brand was showcased through another live install by Kevin Ancell and with a display of Christian Fletcher surfboards and his personal chopper. Christian was on hand greeting guests, signing autographs and taking photos with his Japanese fans. In the Greenroom Gallery, Zak Noyle brought a collection of his photography to show, and playing the festival were RVCA advocates the legendary Tommy Guerrero and the newly crowned WSL Big Wave World Tour Champion Makua Rothman. A great time was had by all, and Tokyo will forever have RVCA in its heart.
1. Kevin Ancell with Dogtown piece 2. Christian Fletcher with his motorcycle and local frother 3. Wave art from RVCA ANP artist Zak Noyle 4. Street view of RVCA pop-up shop at Ron Herman Opening store in Toyko 5. Legendary skate icon Tommy Guerrero with Kevin Ancell 6. Christian Fletcher and Ancell 7. RVCA Advocate Makua Rothman
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SUMMER 2015 A C T I V E R I D E S H O P. C O M / W O M E N S
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Words: Kyle Kennelly The Ezekiel Surf Club lurks as a tight-knit group of friends with likeminded surf philosophies rooted in experimentation and good vibes. The boundaries of displacing ocean water needed new opportunities, and with five hulls packed and loaded, two members, Kip Armstrong and Kyle Kennelly, sought out perfect points for researching glide, flow, and flex. With nine flex fins at their disposal between a 9’2” Putnam Hilbers Design, Son of Sam 7’6” Fineline, Hot Generation 7’4” Fineline, MP 7’1” Liddle Death Board, and a 6’6” stubbie (shaped by fellow surf club member Travis Harder), the two tested, evaluated and shared the information they learned about each infinitesimal alteration. With nothing but days filled with triple field surveys, beach lounging trials, and testing board/fin theories with empirical evidence direct from randomized controlled trials, the two young scientist gathered valuable data for the discipline. The Son of Sam, a board that was modeled off of Nat Young’s revolutionary logs of the mid to late 1960s, the long hull seemed to provide much more carvery than anticipated. Alternatively, some of the shorter hulls provided some interesting qualities when
ridden as if they were longer. This balance between lively surfing on longer hulls and more loggy surfing on mid-lengths has opened a door for further research and development, as stoke outcomes were at their highest given these variables. There was a unanimous conclusion that fins with qualities that resemble that of a thicker front foil provided the researchers with an ease that cut through the water with less effort than those fins with a narrow or regular front foil. This made going as straight as possible much more difficult, though the two tried their best to refrain from performing directional changes while on the wave face. The fins resemble those that were made by legends such as Steve Krajewski, who used to hand foil his own fin templates for his Liddles back in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Kirk Putnam and Brian Hilbers have designed contemporary fins with these inspirations directly in mind, and others out there have been working with these unique fin aspects as well. We look forward to reading more from the Ezekiel Surf Club’s developments behind convex bottom contours and flexfinology in the near future as the body of literature continues to grow. (Disclaimer: Displacement hulls only go straight and they will ruin your surfing.)
Photos: Michael Cukr 1. Professor Armstrong setting his line & engaging his glide function 2. Stokenometric examination #5247, Kyle Kennelly’s readings came in at about 7.24 here 3. Field study day 4: velocity launch experiment examining lift under bi-fluid transitions 4. Kyle threading the Liddle just ahead of the crest 5. High levels of stoke were associated with use of the fin: 9.5” hand-foiled PHD 6. Kip accidentally doing a turn, disobeying one of the key axioms of the study – he will be shamed by the scientific community 7. Scientists hard at work discussing groundbreaking statistical analysis on stoke outcomes for going straight 8. Stoke reading went thru the roof on waves where coffins were performed 9. Stokenometic examination #6632, Professor Kennelly appears least stoked prior to the consumption of coffee 10. 7’6” Fineline Hot Generation foil profile 11. Field study day 5: drive vs. drag optimization test 12. Kyle setting up to go straight & do absolutely nothing on this wave, a great sacrifice for the future of science
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Words: Spencer Pirdy There aren’t really too many pleasant places that you can go and hang at on the Newport Beach peninsula anymore, especially in the evening hours. However, one such place that has been there for decades and continues to brighten up the hood is Russell Surfboards. This past month, owner of Russell Surfboards JP Roberts and his crew of eclectic shop caretakers announced that they’d be having another Thursday night party. This one would be the sequel to their wintertime shindig that hosted all of Newport Beach’s finest and included custom wetsuit fittings by Reunion Wetsuits. This time around there were many of the same elements at play: great food by
Wahoo’s and Banzai Bowls, plenty of wild storytelling going on, and the fresh smell of 100% genuine Japanese rubber in the air with Reunion Wetsuits in the house. There were frothed-out shop groms watching ‘The Day Newport Died’ with wide eyes, and, of course, there were some of the most eye-pleasing, glistening, resin-tinted boards you’ve ever seen. Russell Surfboards truly has some of the best boards available in the whole SoCal region, and it showed that Thursday evening with how many people from the surrounding core surf community came down to support. After everyone had stuffed themselves full and felt up a few boards, it was time to call it a night. Big thanks to JP, Reunion, Wahoo’s and Banzai Bowls. Oh, and a word to the wise: if you’re looking for great boards with an authentic heritage behind them, cruise down to Russell Surfboards on 23rd street on the Newport Beach peninsula. The place is beyond pleasant!
Photos: Ben Ginsberg & Johnny Gehris 1. Legendary Mikey with a black beauty 2. The lineup of boards at Russell Surfboards is quite a sight 3. Shop grom never miss out on free food and good stories 4. New boards, old logos = a sexy sight 5. Good times were had by all who attended 6. Banzai Bowl’s Joe Bard talking shop 7. Even Newport’s legendary Spencer Pirdy told some stories 8. Vestal representing 9. Now I’m not sure what Ryo is measuring here but he assures us it’s for the perfect wetsuit 10. Ryo of Reunion Wetsuits knows a thing or two about wetsuits 11. Future rippers of Newport Beach 12. A fine wave-riding craft for just about anyone inside of Russell Surfboards
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Interview & Photo: Max Ritter Spirit Club is Nathan Williams of Wavves, his brother Joel Williams of Sweet Valley, and Andrew Caddick of Fantastic Magic/Jeans Wilder. How long have you known your bandmates, the Williams brothers, and how did Spirit Club come to fruition? Nate and I have been best friends for about nine years now. We met and became friends in Portland in 2006 when we both lived there. Joel I met a year or so later when we both moved back to San Diego and I became a fixture at the Williams’ house. It was there that Fantastic Magic, and then Jeans Wilder and Wavves started. We lost touch a little bit with both of us being super busy and just doing our own things. I moved to Phoenix in 2014, and I was starting to write the next Jeans Wilder album, and around the time my girlfriend and I were breaking up, Nate and I got back in touch with each other. I sent him a track I had recorded, and he said I should re-record it with him and his brother Joel, and we did. That song was “Eye Dozer.” We decided then to instead start a whole new project that we all shared an equal voice, and we all bring something different to the table.
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In the video for “Duster” where did the ideas for the “chillest dude ever” dead boogie boarder come from? Loved the heaven is tight! Our friend Jack Wagner made the video, and he came up with the concept. He is a talented filmmaker and writes some really funny stuff. It was pretty fun to film and there were a lot of funny things that didn’t even make it in to the video, like pulling a smoking bong out of my robe and putting it on the grave. It was pretty tight regardless. I’m really happy with how that came out. Making the album, how did that work between the three of you? We would all write demos during the week, and then Joel and I would come up to LA on the train every weekend and we would just record like crazy every weekend for about two months or so. We finished writing, recording and mixing pretty fast. You just have to wait for the vinyl plant to catch up to you, haha. The full LP just dropped, yet I saw just yesterday you guys already released a new single from possibly LP2? That’s crazy. When does that come out? We were originally shooting for October 2015, but there’s really no reason to put out two albums
in one year, so most likely very early 2016. We’ve already written and recorded demos for a good majority of the second LP. We are going into the studio with some pretty sweet people this summer. I can’t wait. Can you talk a little about the two versions of “Carousel” and “Ripped” on the album? “Carousel II” and “Ripped” were both songs that I wrote the music for. We ended up writing different versions of both songs, which ended up being “Carousel” and “Ripped II.” We liked both versions so we decided to release them both. The album artwork? I shot all the album art. The cover I shot in Encinitas randomly as I was walking to work one day. The next day the flower stuck in the freeway overpass was gone. The graveyard picture and the back cover of the row of palm trees were taken in Arizona. The connection to there and my ex-girlfriend runs throughout the whole album. Wearing Robes? Your robe game is on point. Haha, thanks! I actually bought that robe at Target because I needed a jacket and just decided to buy that instead. Then, I thought it would be funny to wear it in the
video and it kind of just stuck as my “thing.” I ended up wearing it in the Pitchfork videos and at our showcase at SXSW. Any upcoming touring? Touring for this first album will be hard. Wavves is very close to releasing their next album and they will be touring for the majority of the next year or so, which limits our ability to tour. We will most likely play some shows behind the first album, but it most likely won’t be a touring situation. We do plan on touring in the future so it’s coming. We just have to get the timing right. Any upcoming Jeans Wilder? I ended Jeans Wilder in 2014 when we started Spirit Club. I felt a need to escape all the emotional baggage that came along with the project, but a lot of the songs I had written for the final Jeans album ended up in some fashion as songs on the Spirit Club album. So I decided not to put out the album. But then, I had this unfinished album just sitting around eating at me and I found out I needed to finish it and share it. Some shit you have to face before you can move on. Thanks, Andrew! Check out Spirit Club S/T album available now on Ghost Ramp Records!
BRIG 14K WHITE GOLD
C R E AV I T E X N I H I L O M C M X C V I I V E S TA L W AT C H . C O M
Review: Max Ritter
Warm Soda Symbolic Dream Castle Face Matthew Melton strikes me as the type that will look like he’s in Hall and Oates and live in his van with his Tascam 388 for the rest of his life in order to personally preserve the legacy of power pop. Respect. Warm Soda LP3’s got some hammers.
Jacob Turnbloom Reborn Boys 7” Thrill Me I have a hard time not liking anything Jacob Turnbloom conjures up. From the drum sound to the guitar tones, the production on this one had me frothing and the songs are smith to the tits. Produced by Andrew Montoya (The Sess, Ale Mania, Beaters). Turnbloom also recently released a side project called Grave Walks with Dan Sartain that is worth a listen.
Dirty Fences Full Tramp Slovenly Dirty Fences hit me in the face with this timeless rat’s nest of rock n’ roll killers. If you like KISS or the Ramones then you’ll like Dirty Fences. This record rips. On tour until they kick the bucket!
KMD Black Bastards Metal Face Before MF Doom was MF Doom he was in KMD as Zev Love X with his brother DJ Subroc. If you want to brush up on your hip-hop history this record holds quite the tale. Recently reissued by Doom in a really interesting children’s pop-up book. A classic to say the least!
Rat Fist Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA Friday May 8th 2015
Review & Photo: Max Ritter
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Caught Randy Randall of No Age playing with his compatriot Sean McGuiness from the band Pissed Jeans showcasing their new project Rat Fist. It’s raw DIY rock n’ roll with some attitude and it rules. Chew Toys, Colleen Green, and No Parents opened. Loved it. GO see em!
#UTAHGIMMETWO
WE JUST PRINT THE SH&T! / ERIK@AMPERLITHO.COM / 760.213.4008 / 910 17TH ST. COSTA MESA, CA 92627
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Age: 16 Hometown: Dunedin, FL Sponsors: Expedition One, Ace Trucks, Bones Wheels, Matix, DVS, 187, & West Side Skate Shop Favorite Skater: Jimmy The Greek Photo:Â Ortiz
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Age: 16 Sponsors: Lira Clothing, Hyperflex USA, XM, & DSC Hometown: San Clemente, CA Favorite Surfer: John John Florence Photo:Â Foster
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Bamboo top ply with 6 plies of maple for a lightweight traditional feel. This construction improves impact resistance on landings for added board life.
GRASSROOTS CONSTRUCTION Artist: Kozyndan - R: Cameron Revier - P: Dustin Damron
ARBORCOLLECTIVE.COM
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