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ZACH MILLER
CON TENT S S BLISSS / ISSUE No. 122
CARLOS RAMIREZ
Issue N o .
122
WWW.BLISSSMAG.COM
18. RANDOMS 58. BONE ZONE 22. PRODUCT REVIEW 62. VOLCOM’S #THISFIRST WRAP PARTY 24. JASON JOHN 64. D*FACE: HAPPY NEVER ENDING 26. CARINE BRANCOWITZ 66. RYAN SHECKLER GOLF TOURNAMENT 28. SUPER TASTE 67. GROMS 30. YASMINE WEISS 68. MUSIC REVIEWS 32. WSL THE FUTURE CLASSIC 34. VANS PARK SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 36. HURLEY PRO ATTRESTLES 40. RAZY FAORI: PHOTOGRAPHER PROFILE 46. THE ART OF CARLOS RAMIREZ 52. JACK COLEMAN: ZONE FREQUENCY
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F E AT U R E D B E N J A M I N
A R T I S T:
J E A N J E A N R V C A . C O M
ISSUE No. 122 / STAFF
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Editor-in-Chief
NI CK K A L I O NZ E S nick@blisssmag.com
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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS JASON KENWORTHY, DOMINIC PETRUZZI, DANIEL RUSSO, TOBY OGDEN, TOM CAREY, BRIAN BEILMANN, JACK COLEMAN, ANDREW MAPSTONE, ADAM MORAN, DAVE NELSON, PAT EICHSTAEDT, JULIEN LECORPS, RYAN BOYES, ZACH HOOPER, TIM PEARE, MICHAEL LALLANDE, BOB PLUMB, PETER MORNING, BRYCE KANIGHTS, ARTO SARRI, ANTHONY ACOSTA, CAMERON STRAND, BRIAN FICK, DEVILLE NUNNS, GAGE THOMPSON, DEREK BAHN, TOM COZAD, BRUCE BEACH, ROBBIE CRAWFORD, RYAN DONAHUE, JOE FOSTER, SEAN SULLIVAN, STAN SIEVERS 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, BRUCE BEACH BL!SSS MAGAZINE / 413 31ST STREET, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92663 WWW.BLISSSMAG.COM Disclaimer: Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on a monthly basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to Blisss’ right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine reflect the opinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Blisss Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter which may reflect negatively on the integrity of the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior written consent from the publisher.
ISSUE No. 122
CARLOS RAMIREZ
If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com
CARLOS RAMIREZ INTERVIEW PG.46
@805BEER SEE MORE ABOUT JOE YEE AT 805BEER.COM
RAN DoM S
// RNDMS
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SLIGHTLY CHOPPY TRUNKS
Almond Surfboards have teamed up with Slightly Choppy (art moniker for Newport’s very own Scott Richards) and released these Almond X Slightly Choppy Trunks. They come with all the typical bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern boardshort: lightweight, fast-drying, two-way stretch that allows mobility and performance you need to rip as hard as you do. But the real appeal is the limited edition Slightly Choppy flag patch, keeping them simple yet refined. Made in America, order your pair today at www. almondsurfboards.com.
APPLE WATCH SERIES 3
When an email from Apple pinged our inbox and read, “Answer a call from your surfboard,” we couldn’t help but cringe. The thought of having to overhear some dipshit’s phone conversation while in the lineup is probably one of the most awful things we could possibly imagine. Then, the thought of lying to our bosses so we can squeeze another hour or two in the lineup on those rare perfect sessions instantly had us reconsidering the Apple Watch Series Three with GPS and Cellular. We’re sure it’ll be one these highly debated topics, especially when the phone (ahem, watch) starts ringing out the back. Regardless, we recommend you have that thing on vibrate if you’re surfing anywhere near us.
BROKE DA MOUTH
If you’re confused at first from the title above don’t be alarmed. Unless your pidgin-game is on point or you grew up in deep country Hawaii, chances are this might be the first time you’ve heard this expression. But we gotta tell ya, you’re gonna start hearing it a lot. One of our favorite families and founders of Banzai Bowls, Joe and Tiana Bard, have just opened up their latest eatery in San Clemente (118 South El Camino Real). And we don’t know if we can even call it an eatery, as they are dishing up some of greatest, mouth-watering poke bowls we’ve ever laid eyes on. Using only line-caught, never-frozen, premium big-eye tuna direct from Hawaii, and with a variety of different flavors, you truly have to try it to believe it. And we don’t claim to be linguistic experts over hear at BL!SSS but if we had to guess “Broke Da Mouth” must translate to “absolutely amazing.”
HOSOI X PENNY
I swear we see more Penny Skateboards on the streets these days than we see traditional decks. And there’s not a human being in the skate world more original than Christian Hosoi, so it makes sense that the Penny crew figured out a way to merge that gap. Let us introduce you to the Hosoi X Penny model, the newest addition to their already massive number of different decks available. The original “King of Style,” the Hosoi X Penny limited edition features the iconic Hammerhead graphic on the 27” cruiser. Available wherever Penny boards are sold, get yours before they’re all gone.
QUIKSILVER ORIGINALS
With nearly half a century under its belt, there’s quite a bit of history behind one of the original surf apparel brands, Quiksilver. Celebrating the nostalgia of yesteryears, the Quiksilver Originals Collection is an artdriven collection of modern styles crafted with premium fabrics. Bright and bold colors for daytime beach excursions combined with dark washes for the grittier night vibes make this another must-have for your evergrowing wardrobe. Get yours today at nearly every surf shop in the entire world.
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RETAIL STORES 157 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 (714) 361-3822 // 207 Main St. Huntington Beach, CA 92648
RAN DoM S
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SOLID SUN LOGISTICS
Our friends at Solid Sun Logistics believe that life is best lived under the sun, and we couldn’t agree more. Solid is an innovative system of ecologically responsible skincare products scientifically formulated to protect from the sun’s awesome but skin-destructive power. There are products designed for before, during and after sun exposure and they give 5% of all online sales directly to the preserving the ocean and outdoors via nonprofits Wildcoast and Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Visit solidsunlogistics.com to do yourself a solid, do earth a solid, and be solid!
COMPLEXCON LONG BEACH
The second annual ComplexCon Long Beach is gearing up to go down in about a month’s time (November 4th and 5th) and we couldn’t be more excited. The convention/festival is a one-of-a-kind experience highlighting art, music, food, shopping and some priceless discussion panels consisting of todays’ most influential designers, musicians and celebrities in a format that connects the audience on a personal level with these high profile personas. The announced musical lineup already consists of NERD, Gucci Man, M.I.A., Young Thug, DJ Kahled, A-Trak, Dram, SuperDuperKyle and so many more - but we’re certain they have some special secret additions that you won’t wanna miss out on either. But the music is just a small portion of what ComplexCon is all about, as the brand activations are out of this world as well. There’s not enough space in this little rant for us to tell you about all the good stuff they’ve got cooking so you’re just gonna have to go and see for yourself. Tickets are available at www.complexcon.com and will surely sell out, so do yourself a favor and get them now before it’s too late.
FIX MFG – BOARD SWORD PRO
I don’t know about you but we’re kind of tool junkies down here at the BL!SSS headquarters. Anything to make life easier right? Leatherman’s, folding multi-tools… you name it and we’ll take it. And that’s exactly why we were stoked when handful of Fix Manufacturing newest compact multi-tool showed up at our office. Latest to their arsenal is the Board Sword Pro, a compact stainless steel skateboard tool powerful enough to make all necessary critical adjustments and small enough to fit in your coin pocket. The same size of a matchbox, this little puppy is equipped with multiple wrenches, screwdrivers, a file, a safety blade and of course a bottle opener. Like we said, the necessities. Pick one up today at your local core shop, you’ll never know when you’ll need it.
PASSENGER PUFFY BLANKET
When is a blanket not a blanket? When it’s a Rumpl Puffy of course. Rumpl has been on the forefront of utilizing new technologies for making blankets versatile and durable enough for even the most active of lifestyles. They’ve teamed up with Passenger Clothing Co to release the Passenger Puffy, a weatherresistant blanket built for abuse and guaranteed to keep you cozy. Light, packable, quick drying and stylish as can be, it’s become our newest addition to our travel pack for those spur-of-the-moment escapes. Get yours wherever finer products are sold or direct at www.rumpl.com.
BUELL WETSUITS
With our experience we’ve found that the cream of the crop wetsuits tend to be those developed in areas with extremely cold temperatures by dudes who actually spend excessive amounts of time in cold water. Located in Santa Cruz, CA it’s no wonder we continue to rave about how warm all the Buell Wetsuits are. We first mentioned this brand nearly a decade ago when BL!SSS was in its infancy, and it’s been a pleasure watching them develop. Making big moves and dropping the throttle, they’ve just opened their flagship store, Buell Surf Shop, this last month in their hometown of Santa Cruz, CA. Not limiting themselves to just wetsuits, the store is stocked with all types of surfboards, prone boards, SUPs, apparel, accessories and or course, Buell Wetsuits. Pretty much anything that any ocean-lover could need for his next adventure. Be sure to check them next time you are in Santa Cruz (912 41st Avenue) and ask about their “Try Before You Buy” demo program so you get exactly what you need.
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WWW.L U R KING C L A S S .C O M
PROD Uc T
RE VIEW
// PRDCT
No. 122 // Flannels
RVCA
BILLABONG
POLER
ONEILL
HURLEY
BANKS
QUIKSILVER
RIP CURL
SALTY CREW
VANS
VOLCOM
ROARK
Camino Long Sleeve Flannel / $65
Butler Flannel / $55
Everyday Check Long Sleeve / $40
Sycamore Flannel / $49.50
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Furnace Flannel / $59.95
Dri Fit Cora / $70
Seager Long Sleeve Flannel / $59.50
Caden Long Sleeve Flannel / $60
Tonio Shirt Jacket / $99.95
Sherman Woven Shirt / $75
Skeg Flannel / $60
Nordsman Flannel / $76
JASON JOHN interview / liz rice mccray
Meet Jason John, American realism painter born in Detroit, raised in Pennsylvania and currently residing in Florida. Jason John recently exhibited at the WWA Gallery in Los Angeles, Sylvia White Gallery in Ventura and Gauntlet Gallery in San Francisco. To see more of his work go to www.jasonjohnart.com. You have truly intriguing subject matter with underlying contradictions that seem to carry over in several pieces. Your work seems to have a lot of different levels. Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration behind the themes of your paintings? In the last series of paintings (approximately 10) my work has been moving in the direction of identity development and evolution of the self. I have been using the layers or screens of shallow spaces with the dimensional figure to create a tension or struggle between the spaces. I like what you say about contradictions. I feel that these shallow spaces do kind of contradict each other. Sometimes they meld and create balance and sometimes they create friction or contradiction. I see this as a reflection of how the time of our life moves through such spaces. Please tell us a bit about what you work within your studio practice and your creative process. Usually I have some idea of the painting to begin with, but the final piece never seems to end up where I intended it to go. The initial idea just provides the direction of the painting. I will hire model(s) that I feel would best fit the space and composition of the painting. I will shoot about 200 photos under varied light directions and model positions. I will choose one image and have it printed to life size. After this my process moves to a series of sketches both on paper and in Photoshop. Usually I will paint then go back to the sketch process until I can beat out the final direction or I can see a distinct direction. Sometimes I will draw on my photo reference. So, usually the paintings find their own way. As artists we are not always fully in control of where the work goes. Do you ever get bored of Realism? I guess I don’t get board of Realism because I don’t think of Realism as a tradition. I think of rendering of form as a way to communicate human characteristics, memory and existence to a viewer on a spectrum between reality and the completely non-objective. I think I am more interested in space and the interaction of space, both recognizable and not recognizable, and how we travel through such space, both depicted and real.
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Your work is tantalizing, ambiguous and captivating to look at. What effect do you hope to invoke in viewers through your art? I always hoped that the viewer would travel in and through the represented figure as a viewer would travel into a Mark Rothko or Josef Albers. I always felt both painters depicted deep memory and personal space within a non-objective ground. I just feel I use more recognizable form than they do. I enjoy that answer. So tell us, what artists are you really into right now? I just have so many, but here are a few that I look at for influencing my own work (at the time): Justin Mortimer, Kerry James Marshall, Mamma Andersson, Mary Weatherford, Ross Bleckner, Peter Doig, Eric Fischl, Inka Essenhigh, Tomma Abts, Adrian Ghenie, Cecily Brown. This list seems to change every few months. I also have a Pinterest Page where I save what I like, www.pinterest.com/jasoncjohn. I’m going to follow. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? Where can people check out your art? I have a website at www.jasonjohnart.com, and I will be in a show at Arcadia Gallery in Los Angeles in October. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.
NIGHT GLOW
Free glow in the dark cap with online orders in October
ENJOY THE JOURNEY. LEAVE NOTHING BEHIND.
www.mizulife.com @mizulife
CARINE BRANCOWITZ interview / liz rice mccray
We’re completely enamored with Paris-based illustrator Carine Brancowitz and her detailed yet simplistic illustrations that explore adolescent youth and elements of everyday reality. Be sure to check out more of her art at www.carinebrancowitz.com. Many thanks to the lovely Carine for taking the time to answer our questions.
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So let’s start: Will you tell us where you are in this very moment? Please describe the setting. I’m in a train between Italy and France, thinking of my past and constructing my future. Being captured for a few hours forces you to make plans to escape.
If you were not an artist, what do you think you would be? A poet. I wish I had some skills at writing poetry. The words. This immensity of meanings! They are like stones you throw in a river. Big, powerful, small, flat, colored... some are drowning and some are skimming stones.
That is very true. Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process and techniques? I should say my creative process starts with going fishing. I collect images, things that inspire and touch me. Through the years it has become a torrent full of miraculous catches. At the moment I like drawing spaces. I dream then create them in my mind as if I was already living in them. I choose the things that surround me, books and art pieces I want around me. Forms, colors, vibrations are linked by a magical equation – a formula I don’t even know.
Final question: Where can people check more of your art? I think there will be an exhibition in Paris soon. Please check out my website or my Instagram [@ carinebrancowitz] for updates and news.
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Thank you, Carine.
WWW.SUPERBRANDED.COM
@SUPER_BRAND
S SUPER TASTE photography / derek bahn / @dbahnphotos model / natalie boras / @natamals makeup / victoria mcgrath / @vixavagemakeupartistry agency / newmark models / @newmarkmodels
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YASMINE WEISS in her own words
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I have always been fascinated by human beings. It’s hard to express why exactly, which is almost certainly my reason for making art. I started drawing at the age of three, and as far as I know I never was interested in anything else other than “people.” Everyone knows the parable of the blind men and the elephant: each man feels a different part of the elephant’s body, but only one part, such as the tail or the leg, and they all come to a different conclusion - the man who touched the leg says it’s a tree trunk, and so on. Each man of course misses entirely what the elephant really is, because each of them can only perceive one aspect of it. Likewise, I have always felt that there was some important truth to be reached by representing human beings; something central, much bigger than the sum of its parts, and certainly something worth the search. I also believe that taking the time to paint, draw, to conduct that research with my hands - as opposed to taking a photograph or any other “instant” mode of capture - has an important effect on the end result, on the viewer, and of course on the maker. The process is long, and along with the dust, sweat and mistakes, it seems like something else has time to enter the mix, perhaps while I’m sleeping or away from the studio. That something else is probably better and more important than anything I could manufacture. So I’ve stuck to the traditional medium. My portraits are not made to be pictures. They’re meant to be alive - to be a presence. I use several methods in order to achieve that effect (some of which are technical), and to be understood fully the work really needs to be seen in the flesh, revealing that very “present” quality which doesn’t translate to photographs or a web page. Make sure to check out more Yasmine Weiss art online at www.yasmineweiss.com. ISSUE 122
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WSL THE FUTURE CLASSIC
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HISTORIC SURF COMPETION TEST AT THE SURF RANCH MEDINA AND MOORE TAKE TOP HONORS
9/19/2017
PHOTOS / WSL By definition a test is “a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use.” Well, aside from intentionally not giving us a live webcast, I’d say #thetest at Kelly Slater’s wave pool in Lemoore, CA, went over pretty damn well. The best of the best were invited and they did not disappoint. All day the social media sphere was lighting up with updates. “Holy shit! Did you just see Toledo’s first of three barrels followed by 4 turns?” Then, Stephanie Gilmore would be cheater-fiving her way through one of the deepest tubes of the day. Kelly even braved his broken foot to take part in some history. Courtney Conlogue, Mick Fanning, John John and more were all elated at the chance to be amidst the inland surf trip of a lifetime. At one point it might’ve seemed a bit monotonous, but then, the man of the month, Filipe Toledo showed us what diversity looks like in the pool. With perfect timing and knowledge of what was to come down the line, Filipe sped past a normal turn section entering the middle bowl section. It was there that he eyed up and launched a massive full rotation alley-oop. He landed perfectly and continued ripping.
opposite page (left to right): Gabriel Medina / Carissa Moore / founding fathers / John John Florence / Kanoa Igarashi this page (left to right): birds eye view / Filepe Toledo / Shaun Thompson and Kelly Slater discussing hydrodynamics / Mick Fanning / Gabriel Medina, Filepe Toledo, Steph Gilmore, Carissa Moore / Steph Gilmore / Ace Buchan
By day’s end, Carissa Moore on the women’s side and Gabriel Medina on the men’s side won #thetest. This was truly a historical day in the world of surf. Now, granted that there are opposing opinions on whether the world of pools in surfing is an immediate world of the future remains to be seen. However, with all of the rumored changes taking place next year, it’s more than likely we’ll have Lemoore on the 2018 WSL schedule.
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VANS PARK SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
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OSKAR HALLBERG FIRST PLACE MENS NORA VASCONCELLOS TAKES WOMENS DIVISION
9/19/2017
WORDS / PAUL O’CONNOR
PHOTOS / LWA
I spent the weekend in Shanghai watching the Vans Park Series World Championship. This was an amazing event, and as a skateboarder I was blown away by the skateboarding I witnessed. The finals were outstanding in both the men’s and women’s heats. Huge congratulations to Nora Vasconcellos and Oskar Rosenberg-Hallberg for coming first in their respective classes. But hot on their heels was outstanding skateboarding by the other competitors.
left page (left to right): Oskar Rozenberg / Overview of the park / Tom Schaar / Cory Juneau / Christian Hosoi / Pedro Barros, Oskar Rozenberg & Tom Schaar this page (left to right): Pedro Barros / Nora Vasconcellos / Alex Sorgente / Jack Fardell / Kisa Nakamura, Nora Vasconcellos & Brighton Zeuner
Wearing my sociologists hat was another part of the reason for my visit. This was a landmark event for the Vans Park Series (VPS), holding the World Championships in China, and I wanted to observe and learn about the event first hand. I had the great fortune of speaking to a wonderful array of personnel at Vans, California Skateparks, the ISF, and the The Boardr. I learned a great deal in the process. I also had the pleasure of hanging out with my HK friends, Warren, Brian and Mat, along the way. Thanks to all these guys too. Logistically the organization, construction, broadcast, and administration of the event had a whole host of unique issues involved. The positioning of the event on the Bund, Shanghai’s eye catching and impressively monumental waterfront, provided a mesmerising backdrop. However, the rain became the biggest test of the contest. It resulted in the semi-finals being bumped forward a day to the Friday, and the finals being delayed throughout the Saturday, finally getting underway around 3 p.m. Some things to note: The spirit of the competition, even as the Olympics increasingly becomes a focus, still promoted the values by which skateboarders hold dear. This was both conscious and subconscious. Something I have referred to previously as prefigurative politics, or more simply, skateboarders communicating what skateboarding is about through the demonstration of the inherent values and ethics of the culture. Two examples underline this. First, Pedro Barros’s final run was a dramatically powerful display of his skill and could have easily secured him the title. However, Oskar’s run was rewarded with first place because it demonstrated a spontaneous creativity and complexity that strikes at the heart of skateboarding innovation. It is a testament to the Vans competition that style and creativity is rewarded in line with technical ability. Another point of interest that I observed came after Nora was awarded the championship prize. She posed for photos, talked to the media and then as everyone departed she snuck back into the park to have another skate. She stood side-by-side with the same girls she had just been competing with; laughing, joking and skating with them. I don’t think I have ever seen this in another sport, a world champion tennis player, gold medalist sprinter, or even football player, playing for fun after the event.
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HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES
PHOTO / WSL
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FILEPE TOLEDO WINS, JORDY RETAINS RATINGS LEAD SILVANA LIMA VICTORIOUS
9/14/2017
PHOTO / WSL
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PHOTO / WSL
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PHOTO / WSL
PHOTO / WSL
PHOTO / WSL
PHOTO / WSL
PHOTOS / DEREK BAHN (UNLESS NOTED) It wasn’t at all the Lowers forecast we wanted to see, not one bit. Not after Tahiti. But what the hell can you do when the Hurley Pro Trestles comes to town post swell (one of the only one-week runs of south swell the West Coast saw this summer) with nothing in the long range? You feel lucky enough to be relying on the most consistent wave in Southern California. Aside from a less-than-savory forecast they were forecasting we might see someone or something that could break up the parody on tour that’d been seen from the first seven events of the year, each being won by seven different surfers. As the early rounds dawned we began to see weak swell trickle in that would have significant ramifications on the end-of-year results. In round two, Matty Wilkinson, winner of the Fiji Pro, and Owen Wright, winner of Snapper, both fell. In round 5, Billabong Pro Tahiti champ Julian Wilson went down to an in-rhythm Kanoa Igarashi, who was feeling the Cali flow. A big tip of the hat goes out to past Lowers winner Bede Durbidge. Bede’s retiring after this year and surfed a solid heat against John John Florence in round 5, going down to the kid who he coached to a World Title last year. Good on ya, Bede! The quarterfinals may just have been the best surf the contest saw the entire event. Ace Buchan displayed near-perfect technique on his backhand to defeat this year’s Brazil winner Adriano De Souza; John John dispatched Jeremy; and Kanoa couldn’t get past Filipe. The heat of the event up to that point came in quarterfinal number two with Jordy Smith taking on Frederico Morais in a power surfing showdown of epic proportions. Jordy went on to win, but Frederico pretty much has sewn up rookie of the year for 2017.
previous spread (left page, left to right): Filipe Toledo / Brazilian champs Silvana Lima and Filipe Toledo / Mick Fanning walkabout / John John Florence / John John walking on water. previous spread (right page, left to right): Jordy Smith / board caddy / photo montage / Filepe Toledo hand plant / John John fins out / Filipe rises above the crowd this spread (left page, left to right): John John Florence blasting / John John all smiles / Filipe takes a moment to stoke out the groms / Rob Machado and Bob Hurley / Kanoa Igarashi / Jordy Smith this spread (right page, left to right): Ace Buchan / John John and Ross Williams pep talk / Rob Machado and Tyler Allen / overview / Filipe Toledo / Jeremy Flores / John John mixing in with the groms
Finals day was slow, but when the top four of the event are surfing it’s still entertaining as hell. John John couldn’t summon his normal wave whispering magic to eliminate Toledo’s relentlessness, and Ace’s backside magic was stopped short. For the final Jordy came out swinging with a 9, but then the ocean went to sleep. Filipe manufactured an 8 and a high 7 to become the only repeat champion of the year with the Hurley Lowers Pro win. Now, Jordy continues to wear the yellow jersey with John John, Julian, Wilko and Owen rounding out the top 5. It should get interesting again in Europe, but don’t be surprised if you see another repeat winner or two.
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PHOTOGRAPHER. PROFILE. BLISSS / ISSUE No. 122
INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ Alright dude, here we go. Let’s start with the basics, every cliché question asked. How did you get into photography? Well I shot my first photo in a photo class I took in high school. Basically we made a pinhole camera out of cardboard and I used that to shoot my first photo with. Ever since then I’ve been hooked on photography. That’s rad. Do you still have that photo? I wish I did. I think my mom threw it away. So when you were first introduced to photography were you immediately shooting skateboarding? I would have fun shooting school projects, my friends and family. I started shooting skateboarding once I graduated high school.
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Above: Joseph Campos / Fs Air / Scappoose, OR Left: Jonathan Seiberling / Board Toss
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You’re pretty big on shooting film. Do you prefer to shoot film over digital? I like to shoot film for fun and pleasure but when I’m obviously shooting a serious trick I shoot digital. Film is definitely more fun because I’m not having to look at the back of my camera as much and I love printing in the dark room. Let’s get tech! What are your favorite film stocks? I would say Kodak 125px. It’s a film stock that Kodak discontinued a while back, but when I could get my hands on it I would shoot it all day. What about skateboarding caught your attention? Why shoot this? And how did you get into skating? I got into skating pretty young – my older brother skated. Once my cousins started skating I just started to skate with them. They showed me my first video “Baker 3” and I started to skate middle school through high school. I don’t skate that much anymore, I’ll cruise around every once in a while. I ate too much shit during my high school year, haha. So what’s your ethnicity again? I am 100% Jordanian, but I was born out here though. What gets you stoked to shoot nowadays? Well, whenever I find good lighting or a good composition to be made I get stoked. Also a new spot is always fun to shoot at.
opposite page Hill Bomb / Los Angeles, CA this page above: Jonathan Seiberling / Kickflip Fs Board Slide / Eugene, OR below: Austin Thongvivong / Nollie / Lake Oswego, OR
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What have you been working on? I’m always shooting skateboarding but lately I’ve been shooting some travel stuff during all these trips I’ve been going with my friends. I’ve also been shooting some music as of lately and some rad bands. Most of all I’ve been shooting with you a lot while you’re working on the video project with the kids Ryan, Joe and John. That’s pretty much my main focus right now skating-wise – it’s coming out great. Pawnshop? How did you start hanging out with these dudes? Well I’ve been shooting the kids now for a while. They would introduce me to some of the other riders. We would go on missions every once in a while. Eventually I started hanging out at the shop every once in a while where I met the owner AP (Anthony Piscopo). He’s helped me out a lot and given me plenty of advice. Everyone over there is rad, all good homies for sure. So going back to the photo stuff… who are your favorites out right now, and who inspires you and your work? I would say Glenn E. Friedman, Grant Brittain and Anthony Acosta.
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You’re pretty big on music, what are some of the bands and artists you are into right now? Right now I’ve been listening to a lot of Soft Kill, Ariel Pink, Shit Kid, Guantanamo Baywatch, Ducktails and there’s too many rad bands to name off. I’ll listen to most genres of music honestly. Pet peeves? Bad drivers and concerned citizens at skate spots. I know you got some lingo, right? I say “oh yeah” a lot, haha. Say we eat a good meal, that’s “Killswitch.” I also say “gold” a lot too, haha. Where is Razy headed? Try to keep having as much fun as possible. I will continue to shoot skateboarding. I also would love to start shooting more travel and music in the future as well.
spread: Tre Williams / Bs Wall Ride / Los Angeles, CA left: Grom / Vans Razy Signature Shoe center: Julian Restrepo / Nollie Bs Crooked Grind / West Covina, CA right: Ryan Rodriguez / Ollie / Los Angeles, CA
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CARLOS RAMIREZ
COMMONMAN, UNDERDOG, ...CHAMPION INTERVIEW / MARSEA GOLDBERG
This month we have the pleasure of featuring Coachella-based artist Carlos Ramirez, formerly one half of the art duo The Date Farmers. Ramirez’s new body of work is stunningly multidimensional, integrating Mexican iconography with embedded catholic symbolism, and it is peppered with political and pop culture innuendos. Just as multi-faceted as the subject matter, the body of work is structurally textured as well. Ramirez employs various house paints and acrylic in his work, as well as found objects from the “City of Eternal Sunshine.” We asked good friend Marsea Goldberg of New Image Art Gallery to ask Carlos a couple of questions about his art, an upcoming film project and the Coachella Valley. Many thanks to Marsea and Carlos for taking the time and energy for such a lovely interview..
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What is your contribution to this film/art project? What are you doing on the project and how did this project that combines art and film come about? Aside from the aesthetics and certain elements, I also helped compose and conceptualize part of the narrative and certain aspects of the project that Max Joseph initially envisioned. When will it be coming out and where? I heard Marfa, Texas, Los Angeles, or will it be both? Is that still happening? Apart from being cohost on Catfish, Max Joseph is a dopeass filmmaker that has done films, shorts and tons of other work that has touched, explored, questioned and brought to the forefront a lot of today’s abrasive and sensitive issues in an honest and unapologetic way. [He covers] issues that seem to be becoming the norm in today’s social climate, which are some of the same issues I explore in my work. We’re both using a similar formula and approach, so cohesion of the two was a no-brainer and he asked me if I’d be down to collaborate on a project with him. 48
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“As part of my continued journey and part of the former collaborative The Date Farmers, my work and vision have grown immensely, and on so many different levels.” I’ve never seen anything done quite like this and on this scale, so we’ve been working on this project figuring out the logistics as we go, as there are no previous reference points. But I think I can safely say it’s close to completion, so very soon. And yes, Marfa and Los Angeles are both being considered.
How has your work grown through the years as part of The Date Farmers? As part of my continued journey and part of the former collaborative The Date Farmers, my work and vision have grown immensely, and on so many different levels. Having someone to harmonize and resound ideas with can be a very reinforcing thing to an artist, especially on self-doubting, fucked-up days. How is your art different now that you are painting separately? It’s different in that I’ve started to explore and venture into that whole idea of making it more personal and intimate in the sense that all risk or reward, curse or blessing, is mine, and in whatever the subject matter may be, as I keep developing and evolving the subject matter or message. What are your favorite subjects to paint? I paint and draw shit that I like and that which intrigues me, so most are my favorite, but I tend to lean towards animals or
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clowns; they seem to offer innocence and escape in today’s world, along with humor and emotion, and they point back to the natural world. How have our current political climate, racism, immigration and the cancelling of D.A.C.A. impacted people in Coachella, you, and how does it play out in your new artwork? Man, where can I start? Funny how we say “climate.” And if that’s the case then “hate” seems to be the wind right now that is blowing the sand off and revealing these issues that have never really gone anywhere. They have been right below the surface all along. Immigration and racism are nothing new, especially to those who have been in the social trenches or on the political frontlines the whole time. The cancellation of D.A.C.A., that was deservedly earned and fought for by young people that only want the best for themselves and this country, stems from what can only be a negative and dark place. And it has affected the Coachella Valley in the same negative way it has affected every other city in the U.S.A. – creating fear, hate and social instabilities and nothing productive. I think today’s political climate has gotten to an obvious point, a point with no in-betweens, creating separation and the fraying of the American people and forcing the choosing of certain sides, all of which is manifesting in not only my work, but in force among artist in the art world. What do you have planned for your future creatively? Any large projects? I hope to and have definitely been exploring into larger public works and installations, the last being a 30-foot sculptural piece I designed after my nephew asked me to draw him for “Coachella.” I titled the piece “Sneaking Into The Show,” and it’s of a shirtless cholo, his lowrider bike and his girlfriend, which ended up being more of a protest piece. And I am already in planning for future public projects.
“I tend to lean towards animals or clowns; they seem to offer innocence and escape in today’s world, along with humor and emotion, and they point back to the natural world.” Your work has an amazing color vibe – where do you think that stems from? Apart from certain color combinations being more fulfilling to me, I have always been drawn to the use of color in most Third World countries, where the population seems to lean more heavily on imagery and the use of color due to high rates of illiteracy. How have Coachella and the nearby desert communities changed since “Coachella,” and how has it impacted the arts? Nothing has changed for the surrounding migrant or working-class communities surrounding Coachella, but the amount of traffic has. Most of the art installations brought into “Coachella” aren’t local, so the impact it has had on the local art scene is almost none. Are you still treasure hunting in the dessert for collage materials? I am still looking in the desert among other places for material, and supply is in abundance since I mostly use discarded materials. To see more of Carlos Ramirez art go to his Instagram @c.ramirez2323, and he can be contacted via email at c.ramirez2323@gmail.com.
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J AC K C O L E M A N F I L M S
Photo - Kenny Hurtado
Z O N E F RE QU E N CY WO R D S & P H OTO S / J AC K C O L E M A N
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Two years in the world of Surfing can sometimes seem like light years. The time flies, and innovations in board design and performance keep pushing surfing to new heights. In all of my years there really hasn’t been one where surfing hasn’t grown in popularity. Surfing is everywhere and continues to grow. I love this time in surf film making history; lots of people really gobbling up the imagery, with lots of different filmmakers to choose from. I hope to keep independent film making relevant in this new age of web shorts and 1-minute Instagram clips. I still feel that there is just too much love for sitting down with some friends for a half hour and watching a surf flick! It will always be a sought-after visual experience. Surf film making will never die! In the span of two years I have figured out you can get a lot done in that time, enough to create a feature-length surf film that sticks. It’s been a little over a year since my last film “THE ZONE surf movie” came out in July of 2016. THE ZONE was by far the most fun I’ve had making a movie since I started in 2009, so I immediately started shooting the follow-up. That is where I am at now. I realized that I was actually starting to live out my dream of chasing swells while shooting some of the world’s best, and seeing far away cultures as I was doing it. It’s always exciting when a new film project starts to get going, the soundtrack starts to take shape, and the cast members start to get on board for trips and shooting. 54
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Making movies for me is almost all about the surfers that are featured in it. All the cast that will be in the upcoming film, named ‘ZONE FREQUENCY,’ are pretty much my favorite surfers and humans on the planet. Surfers like Ryan Burch, Bryce Young, Ozzie Wright, Robin Kegel, Derrick Disney, and Ari Browne will be a few of the usual names in the cast. Really excited to add some new cast members to the film as well. Mason Ho, Asher Pacey, Wade Goodall, and possibly Gavin Beschen are just a few to be determined as fresh faces for the new flick. I think showcasing these cultural surfers is the recipe for another exciting movie that everyone can get behind.
ABOVE: Justin Adams - San Clemente LEFT - FROM TOP: Jack Coleman - On location Indonesia Ford Archbold - Laguna Beach Ryan Burch - G-Land BELOW: Screen grab PREVIOUS SPREAD: Tanner Prairie - Newport Beach
I feel like when I’m making a film it’s not just for this time period, it’s more for when I’m dead and gone. I want my movies to have substance with a long shelf life, a documentation of this particular time period in alternative surfing. Look for this movie to be much of the same as the last – an extension of the formula I’ve grown comfortable with presenting. It’s simple: just my favorite surfers riding some interesting boards in some world-class waves to some nice music. Movie should be ready for release July/August of 2018. ISSUE 122
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I feel like when I’m making a film it’s not just for this time period, it’s more for when I’m dead and gone. I want my movies to have substance with a long shelf life,
a documentation of this particular time period in alternative surfing.
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LEFT: Christian Aguilar - Balboa Peninsula, ABOVE: Bryce Young - In the Bin, BELOW: Derrick Disney - Into the Zone Frequency
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TED BORLAND / FB Z RAIL
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PHOTOS / SCOTTY ARNOLD WORDS / TED BORLAND
What can I say about the Bone Zone that hasn’t already been said? A lot of people know the basics – we used to be a little DIY preseason park in Guardsman’s Pass in Utah. We made edits and eventually got the boot from the canyon cops. Now we’re at Brighton Resort, we’re a little older and our park is a little more polished. We still film a lot of snowboarding, some of our friends are pro boarders now, while others have real jobs. But the overall vibe is still the same, for me at least: It’s pure stoke and love for snowboarding. You can say all you want about what it was and what it continues to be, but when you really break everything down the Bone Zone goes down in the first month or two of the winter. At that point of the year, everything fucking rules about snowboarding. You don’t care that the conditions suck or that your gear is getting thrashed, because it’s sure as hell better than not snowboarding! The simplest of tricks can gather hoots and hollers from throughout The Zone. Tricks get harder, people start going for it a little more and the sessions escalate into full-on demos pretty quick. It’s crazy how much things can progress up there. It’s even become kind of a video part warmup for a lot of dudes at this point. You can go up there to get your tricks dialed or whatever, or you can just go up and hang. The whole vibe is just awesome. There are some really rad people that hang out up there, including everyone from Grenier and Bode down to small, little middle-school crews of kids teaching each other how to build jumps. Somehow it spreads outside the physical boundaries of The Zone too. We can post an Instagram photo of a dusting of snow on the ground next to a tiny little rail and it’ll get more likes and views than if I were to post the ender of my video part! The feeling I get knowing that our group of homies is getting people around the country juiced to go snowboarding is indescribable. I’m honestly honored to have a place like this in snowboarding. I look forward to these days just as much as looking forward to the deepest powder days of the year. I’d also like to thank anyone that’s ever come up and ridden The Zone, helped build, poached, or just watched something from here – it all contributes to the hype of early season snowboarding. This shit ain’t rocket science up here. We’re just going up to the mountains, getting fired up for winter and building things that we think would be fun to snowboard on. Snowboarding is the shit and I’m glad that places like the Bone Zone can exist to help people realize how fun it can be to go mess around with their friends!
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TOP ROW L-R: JESSIE PAUL / FRONT BOARD, BENNY URBAN / BONK BOTTOM ROW L-R: ALEX ANDREWS / HIPPY HOP, SPENCER SCHUBERT / BACK LIP, TED BORLAND, TED BORLAND / GAP TO FB
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VOLCOM’S #THISFIRST WRAP PARTY 9/9/2017
PHOTOS / LEVI THOMPSON On Saturday, September 9th, Volcom hosted an all-ages party at the Volcom Garden – an all-in-one music venue, art gallery, and boutique in Austin, TX, to celebrate the global winners of #ThisFirst. With over 900 party-goers throughout the night, guests were never without entertainment. The night was hosted by rapper Fat Tony, had live set by psychedelic electronic DJ Al Lover, and featured psychedelic R&B band Night Beats. It was presented by Sound on Sound Fest In partnership with Austin-based skate shop No-Comply, and a “best trick” battle ensued on the mini ramp with the winner walking away with a $500 cash prize. The event showcased the talent of the #ThisFirst winners, 14 contest winners whom Volcom gave the opportunity to turn their passion into a paycheck. Art installations by the winners filled the boutique art gallery while Costa Rica-based one-man band Fabian Ruiz jammed with “Wadaiko” drum virtuoso Atsushi Miki. Canarus Leon, along with his crew RAD, hyped the crowd with an all-out b-boy dance battle. To conclude the evening, the crowd was given and exclusive sneak peek of a forthcoming #ThisFirst documentary – a short film highlighting the journey of each winners’ irrational pursuit. ABOUT THE CONTEST: Throwing out the traditional job application, Volcom asked candidates one question, “What’s your ‘this’ and what would it mean for you to put #ThisFirst?’ The search received over 10,000 global entries - from roller derby to launching a food truck in Alaska, passions spanned a variety of topics including sustainable farm-to-table food sourcing, charity work, animal rescue, make-up artistry and even crochet. For more information about #ThisFirst, go to http://www.volcom.com/this.
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left to right: Volcom’s Todd Hymel, Ryan Immegart & Mike Aho with #ThisFirst Winners / Fat Tony / Canarus Leon / Winner portraits / Danny Lee Blackwell of Night Beats / Austin party people / Atsushi Miki / #ThisFirst Winners / Winners’ art on display / Fabian Ruiz one-man-band / Night Beats / Al Lover
10TH ANNUAL
RYAN SHECKLER GOLF TOURNAMENT 9/10/2017
WORDS / ASHTON MAXFIELD
PHOTOS / MICHAEL CUSTODIO
In a time when it seems that nobody can get enough, it is refreshing to see Ryan Sheckler giving to those in need in a big way. This is the 10th year that Ryan held his golf tournament to raise money to help kids and injured action sports athletes through the Sheckler Foundation.
left to right: Reggie Bush, Ryan Sheckler & Klay Thompson / Captain David Reyes / Gretchen Sheckler-Hachee, Jameson DeCew, Angelique Zaki & Matt Berger / Towne Park crew shotgunning beers with tournament attendees / Deborah Choi, Paulina & Don Brown and Ashton Maxfield / Mark Hachee and Randy Wayne / Leo Fioravanti hanging at the Lume Cube activation / Sage Erickson and her crew
Pro skateboarders, surfers, basketball players, baseball players, football players, celebrities, golfers and more than 500 individuals came together in Dana Point at Monarch Beach Resort & Golf Links for Ryan Sheckler’s 10th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, presented by Oakley. Mikey Taylor, Davis Torgerson, Leonardo Fioravanti, Evan Geiselman and other notables such as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), Avenged Sevenfold and professional athletes such as three-time NBA All-Star Klay Thompson and professional football players Reggie Bush and Ryan Mathews golfed and raised $300,000 to benefit the Sheckler Foundation’s “Be the Change” initiative. Reggie Bush and his foursome took home third place. Second place went to Matt Sanders of Avenged Sevenfold’s foursome. Former Major League basebabll pitcher Clay Hensley and his team took home first. Sponsor Lume Cube was awarded Best Hole Activation with a nautical-themed slingshot game, and Sara Peterson from Zebra House Coffee won $3,730 from the Find Your Grind 200-foot helicopter ball drop and donated all of her winnings back to the foundation. All those who participated left with big smiles and that warm and fuzzy feeling knowing they’ve helped a great cause. Kudos to Ryan Sheckler and his foundation for all that they do. We’ll see ya again next year!
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D*FACE HAPPY NEVER ENDING
WORDS / RECKONING PR On Saturday, September 23, Downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) premiered solo exhibition from UK-based multimedia street artist D*Face, entitled “Happy Never Ending,” in Gallery 1. D*Face (a.k.a. Dean Stockton) has been at the forefront of his practice since his initial breakthrough in 2005. Working with a variety of mediums and techniques, he uses a family of dysfunctional characters to satirize and hold to ransom all that falls into their grasp – a welcome jolt of subversion in today’s media-saturated environment. His ambition is to encourage the public eye not just to “see” but to carefully consider the surroundings of our day-to-day, and society’s increasingly bizarre fascination with celebrity culture and mass consumerism. Regarding his new works, D*Face shares: “For me this work is about the tragedy of losing someone you love. Not just in the physical sense of death but also in the metaphorical way that romance has become such an artificial thing in recent years. Courtship used to be a craft, something careful and considered; marriage was an everlasting bond of trust and commitment. Today though, romance is comparable to a shop-bought commodity – instantly attainable at the touch of a button or swipe of a screen. In a constant search for someone or something better, people treat others as if they were mere objects – infinitely attainable and instantly disposable.” By rethinking, editing and subverting imagery drawn from decades of materialistic consumption – currency, advertising and comic books – D*Face transforms these now iconic motifs, figures and genres in order to gain new insight into today’s conspicuous society. Describing his work as aPOPcalyptic, D*Face seeks to pick up where the masters of 80s American Pop left off – to establish a very real, albeit tonguein-cheek, criticism of our consumer-dominated world. The opening reception for “Happy Never Ending” was hosted Saturday, September 23, from 7-11 p.m. in Gallery 1 at Corey Helford Gallery. The reception is open to the public and on view through October 21st. For more info visit, www.coreyhelfordgallery.com. 66
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OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION
9/23/2017
PHOTOS / JESSICA LOUISE, BRYAN ‘BIRDMAN’ MIER, SPRAYING BRICKS left to right: artist D*Face / artists Shepard Fairey, RISK, D*Face / D*Face in-process shot / bust-ed / get in line / D*Face, Sarah, Perry during wedding ceremony / Shepard Fairey, RISK, married couple Perry and Sarah, and D*Face / Happy Never Ending - show artwork
Hometown: Anaheim, CA
CJ Collins @cjcollinsskate
Age: 14
Sponsors: Toy Machine, Vans, Volcom, Red Bull, SoCal Skateshop, Bronson, Independent, Bones Wheels, Black River, Electric, Shake Junt. collins / 122
Photo: Chris Ortiz
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No. 122 / MUSIC INTERVIEW
PRETTIEST EYES
Interview & Photos by David Evanko
Who is Prettiest Eyes and how did you come about? Prettiest Eyes is Pachy (Drums & Vocals) and Marcos (Bass), both from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Paco Casanova (Keyboards/Electronics) from Juarez, Mexico. The three of us share the same need of wanting to combine all our influences to create something genuine and true to us. You have one of the most unique sounds out there. How did growing up in Puerto Rico/Mexico influence your style? Growing up on an island makes you dedicate yourself to your craft in a pretty obsessive way. There’s not much more to do apart from working, going to the beach or hanging out, so arts and music are the things that tie everything together. We also grew up in a moment that downloading music was accessible and the need to find music that was not commonly played taught us to experiment more. So growing up listening to Hispanic music interlaced with all these influences from American and European music can really set you apart from the rest. Luckily, we blend in well and everyone seems to be very receptive of what we do. How important was reggae when you were growing up and what bands were you exposed to that influenced you to play heavier and faster? Reggae gave us insight into the importance of feel, flow, groove and detail. It’s a big influence on what we do. The idea of drum and bass carrying the song and then layering with sounds is a method we use a lot. There’s a big punk scene back home so we would go to punk shows and reggae shows on the same night. Paco grew up playing Progressive Rock and Zeuhl, so he’s always had an ear for heavy and abstract stuff. Your live performance is always unpredictable. I think I’ve been hit in the head by each of your instruments at some point. Do you prepare for when things to get out of control or do you just roll with the punches? There are moments at our shows that always take us by surprise. Every show is different and we’re never ready for what might happen. It’s great. It’s also great to see the reaction of people that don’t know about us and just happened to be there by chance. We definitely roll with the punches. Speaking of rolling with the punches, you’re coming out of a pretty bad motorcycle accident that’s going to make it hard to play drums. How is this going to affect your upcoming shows? Yeah, I busted my foot on a motorcycle accident and can’t play drums for a while. It’s a bummer but we discovered that we could create great versions of our current songs with drum machines and approach them in a different way. It made us rethink our capabilities on making music and forced us to produce some stuff that will potentially extend our repertoire and move it in another direction. It’s something we’ve always wanted to try and now it’s the time. We’re bringing this approach to the Desert Daze show; it will be a special one for sure. Tell us about your new record and what you have in store for us. Our new album “P O O L S” is a collection of songs that characterizes an important moment in the search for our sound. It was conceived around a time that was about rediscovering what our band was about. We wanted to push boundaries and create something different. It’s definitely more adventurous and heavier than our prior releases. It will be out on November 6th – stay tuned to our social media! 68
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M U S I C
RE
RE VIEW S No. 122
Live Review & Photo by David Evanko
NUMB•ER Zebulon Café, Los Angeles, CA / September 11, 2017
When the world collapses and we are thrown into a post-apocalyptic state where we are forced to compete on Running Man, Numb•er will be the soundtrack. Until then, they will spur your mood swings and haunt your dance floors.
REVIEWS BY MAX RITTER
REVIEWS BY ROB MOLT
Neil Young / Hitchhiker / Reprise
Aviator Stash / Self-titled / Self-released
Between 1975 and 1977, Young and producer David Briggs periodically conducted recording sessions at Indigo Ranch in Malibu on nights of the full moon. Briggs said of the time, “He’d (Neil) turn to me and go, ‘Guess I’ll turn on the tap’—and then out came “Powderfinger,” “Pocahontas,” “Out of the Blue” and “Ride My Llama.” Two days, a day. I’m not talkin’ about sittin’ down with a pen and paper, I’m talkin’ about pickin’ up a guitar, sittin’ there and lookin’ me in the face and in 20 minutes – “Pocahontas,” noted Wikipedia. I’m making a mental note to write songs on a full moon. Hitchhiker is one of those magical nights in its entirety.
Whether it’s a punch in the face on a gritty street in Oceanside or a late night makeout in a single-mother’s SUV in Cardiff, North County San Diego is good for a few things. One of those things is Aviator Stash. The indie rock band’s sound is a wide range of styles, and just like a Solana Beach Range Rover, it is well polished. It takes serious chops to merge elements of extended prog jams and danceable lounge moments. And just like your dealer in the Swami’s parking lot, these guys have them. They’ve been playing a bunch so come down and check out their beautiful keys, slick guitars, and well-crafted performance. Or don’t, and just go to one of our many Indian casinos.
Curls / Emotion / Urban Scandal
Foo Fighters / Concrete and Gold / RCA Records
Like the new catchy tune from Chris Owens, formerly of Girls, and the first single from his new project with an old name Curls. Great songwriter. Possible Third Eye Blind riff rip-off here, but hey, who wore it better? Girls and Curls; whatever, it’s genius. Vante EP 11/7.
If your new boyfriend did good at his sports thing get him this album. Feeling bad about not seeing your son since the divorce? Just buy him this record. Do you and the guys from accounting like to get after it at TGI Fridays on work trips? You’re going to love this! Been known to head bang a little, but not too much? This is for you. Can’t decide on what your UFC walk-up song should be? This should help. Still not tired of albums being named “something and something?” We got you. There is nothing wrong with the Foo Fighters, and they have a lot of people to please. But rock and roll shouldn’t be this safe.
Metz / Mess of Wires / Sub Pop
Trouble in the Wind / Lefty / Self-released
Another stunning ballad from Metz. Psyche! Being an adult can make you just want to smash things sometimes, right? A great soundtrack to current affairs or just melting face is Metz in general.
This tree sure ain’t providing much shade. You’ve been sitting here hoping she’d have a change of heart, and maybe come back and pick you up. The scorpion says you’re screwed, but he’s always that negative. The coyote, on the other hand, is hopeful and keeps looking over the hill trying to spot the trail of dust from the truck for you. So far nothing. It’s getting dark, and man, could you use some water. The coyote and scorpion say goodnight, good luck, and leave you to wait. Are those headlights? It’s either her or the sheriff – both mean trouble. Trouble in the Wind is a perfect mix of Roy Orbison and Calexico. Folk instrumentation combined with powerful Americana vocals.
QTY / Michael - Single / Dirty Hit
Great Electric Quest / Chapter 1 / Glory and Death Records
QTY is a guy/girl duo rock n’ roll band from New York. Their new record is about, “the daily struggle to achieve a level of optimism amidst flashfloods of doom and gloom.” I think we can all relate to that shit. Amen friends. Their self-titled record will release 11/3.
To do list… 1. Ride my dragon back to Voldonor and return the crystals. 2. Rescue Octavia and save her from that damn lycanthrope. 3. Study the Book of the Six Serpents. 4. Drink much mead and learn to play the lute. 5. Listen to the awesome Sabbath-inspired metal of Great Electric Quest.
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A-TRAK & FRIENDS • DRAM • SUPERDUPERKYLE • A$AP FERG JADEN SMITH • VIRGIL ABLOH • SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD • SMOKEPURPP NONAME • WIFISFUNERAL • i am OTHER #BeGreat Party ft. Special Guests D R E E Z Y • C O Z Y B O Y S • C H L O E X H A L L E • Y U N G P I N C H • F A L C O N S INJURY RESERVE • G-WORTHY • RONNY J PRESENTS