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L E O
R O M E R O
A U S T I N C A I R O C O R Y
K E N N E D Y
D A V I D E D
S T E P H E N S F O S T E R
R E Y E S
T E M P L E T O N
J A M E S J O S H
H A R D Y H A R M O N Y
J U L I A N
D A V I D S O N
K E E G A N K E V I N
N E S T O R
T H E
S A U D E R
“ S P A N K Y ”
L O N G
J U D K I N S
B A L A N C E
R V C A . C O M
O F
O P P O S I T E S
THE HOLDEN SNOWBOARD BOOT AND SK8-HI SHOE PROJECT BEGAN AS AN INTERACTIVE PRODUCT EXPLORATION BETWEEN VANS AND HOLDEN, AND LED TO A DISCOVERY OF THE COMMON VALUES AND DESIGN SENSIBILITIES THE TWO BRANDS SHARE. THE RESULT OF THIS TRULY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WAS A PERFECT BLEND OF HOLDEN’S PROGRESSIVE YET TIMELESS APPROACH TO MATERIALIZATION AND DETAILING BUILT AROUND THE FOUNDATION OF VANS’ CLASSIC STYLING. THIS PREMIUM PERFORMANCE OFFERING FROM HOLDEN AND VANS BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE MOUNTAIN, AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY WEARING THEM AS MUCH AS WE DID CREATING THEM. THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU.
PHOTOS: ANDY WRIGHT ©2011 VANS, INC.
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CHECK OUT DARRELL IN VG’S “SHOOT THE MOON.”
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Corey Smith is a painter, sculptor and photographer from Portland, OR, who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Smith’s high-gloss, ultra-flat paintings capture the joys of plasticity and pre-fab environments, celebrity as the ultimate blank canvas, and the absurd hyperboles of modern leisure. But rather than repackage the manufactured world into an aestheticized form–a la post-Warholian Pop–Smith favors a post-Pop approach that brings into day-glo focus the dark vision at the corner of the spectator’s eye. The paintings find their subject in the tension between the works’ fatalistic undercurrents and the celebratory aura created by Smith’s use of bold color and bright-lined contour. His sculptures and mixed media works develop some of these same themes, but rather than map plasticity onto flat canvas, Smith instead maps flatness onto plastic forms–whether by painting across arrays of commercially molded objects or by making use of the naturally deflective precisioncut panes of modern machinery.
Smith’s photography develops some of the same themes as his sculpture and painting–surface, extremity–but abandons ironies for a more intimate perspective. Most of his subjects are close friends or lovers, and Smith documents them at points where excess bleeds either into empathy or its impossibility, and where the romance of abandon intersects with abandonment.
His works are a Death Valley realism, infused with both sunny Californian optimism and morbid premonition. This is awful, deeply wrong, utterly fantastical stuff–a distillation of a time, a place, and a generation that are always already beside themselves.
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PHOTOS: MIKE SELSKY
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steve steve forstner’s video part out now at gravisskate boarding.com
10/10/11 10:25 AM
TO C RANDOMS // 26 OLIVER VERNON // 34 HEATHER JANSCH // 36 CHRIS SCARBOROUGH //38 PATRICK KRZYZANOWSKI //40 CMO // 42 SUPER TASTE // 44 DIRTY HARRY // 46 STEVEN WEBB // 52 THE ART OF KRIS KUKSI // 60 FASHION // 66 PEDDIE FILES // 72 COMUNE PRESENTS THROTTLED // 80 ACTIVE’S WILLABONG SURF CONTEST // 82 SOMETHING WENT TERRIBLY WRONG // 84 VESTAL PRESENTS PEDDIE FILES // 86 JACK OBLIVIAN // 88 CD REVIEWS // 90 GROMS // 96
Kris Kuksi
2011
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NEW WEBSITE IS NOW LIVE WITH ALL NEW CONTENT AND COLLECTIONS GO TO THE SITE NOW TO WIN A LIMITED EDITION EZEKIEL CHAIN WALLET
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EDITOr-I N-CHIEF nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com
EDITOR joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com
CRE ATIVE DI RECTOR mark paul deren madsteez@madsteez.com
E DITOR AT LARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com
SKAT E EDI TOR chris ortiz chris@blisssmag.com
SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com
MUSIC EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com
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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb
CONTRI BUTORS Matt Patterson, Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Spencer Pirdy 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.
NOVEMBER 2011 Cover Artist: Kris Kuksi
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10/10/11 12:19 PM
BRIXTON X FENDER FRIENDLY UNION The good folks over at Brixton have collaborated with Fender on two slick limited edition cases, one being a handmade guitar case and the other being a record carrier. The cases are inspired by a vintage reel to reel case some of Brixton’s creative minds found at a flea market. After introducing the idea to the people at Fender, the collaboration was a go and the rest is seen in the finished product. These cases are one-of-a-kind and any musician would die to have these in their possession. Go to Brixton.com to purchase the limited edition items that will be available later this month and be sure to keep an eye out for Brixton’s Holiday 2011 line that will be out soon!
THE BOOK OF SKULLS The skull is a world-renowned symbol that brings out fear as well as a different kind of beauty that is foreign to most. Skulls have always been considered sacred and are used globally in art, fashion, music and graphic design. Faye Dowling has brought to us The Book of Skulls, where we see work from some of the worlds most talented image-makers who have represented skulls in their own way. From the Grateful Dead to Damien Hirst, skate punk culture and countless other displays, this book will have you entranced from start to finish. The book is a must have, so go out and grab one and help celebrate the skull today.
SLATER’S WAVE COMPANY While Kelly has been working hard to become KE11Y, he has also been working on a little side project called, Kelly Slater Wave Company. Kelly is attempting to bring surf culture to middle America and beyond by making a signature wave pool or park. There are talks about Kelly working late hours on the top-secret project in LA, but just how good will this wave be? Will we be seeing a knee-high dribbler or a head high drainer? Whatever the scenario, it’s cool to see that Kelly is getting bored with mastering Mother Nature’s waves and is planning on manufacturing his own. We can’t wait to see the finished product and we know that anything with the KS stamp of approval on it is sure to be amazing.
ASTRODECK TECH
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This past month we visited the Fletcher family at their Astrodeck headquarters in San Clemente. Besides being in the presence of legends, we were also shown some of the newest technology coming from the original traction pad wizards. They’ve been working on Astrodeck Multigridlock, which has a two-step edge that catches your foot and toes for maximum traction. The 45° to vertical kick tail angle, gives your foot the lock you need for full control, and the holes in the arch are strategically placed between the squares for reduced weight. Not to mention, they have some pretty insane colorways coming out as well. Astrodeck surf pads allow you to feel and control your board for the ultimate surfing experience, so go out and get the best.
OUT2BRUNCH Blogs are in abundance and with so many pro surfers launching their own sites it’s hard to separate yourself from the pack. Yet somehow, Matt Wilkinson has done just that. His new blog Out2Brunch.com is anything but ordinary. From hard charging and stylish ripping to funny skits that involve Wilko being tied up to a bed by topless French chicks with red hair. It has the partying, the crazy surf clips and pretty much embodies what Wilko is all about, which is fun with a capital F. Log on and you’ll see what we’re talking about.
HAPPILY NEVER AFTER Jamie Heinrich and the 9000 Wolves Production crew have brought us a new feature length film of the likes we’ve never seen before. Our boy Jason “Nancy” Carrougher is one of the stars of the film and plays Cole. Cole was a famous commercial actor from the 80’s who has a newly discovered career as a photographer, all while struggling with relationships with his 13-year-old daughter and his newly found 18-year-old son. The trailer has a raw and dark feel to it, and seems to hit on issues that are normally left at the wayside. We strongly suggest that you check out ‘Happily Never After’ at 9000wolves.tv or the 9000 Wolves Facebook page for more details.
ARNETTE X DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN
Arnette has collaborated with Del the Funky Homosapien to bring two limited edition signature colorways of the Fire Drill available at Sunglass Hut. The Del edition of the Fire Drill features a matte black frame that dissolves out into purples on the lower rims and temples. Del’s signature logo is featured on one temple tip and the iconic Hieroglyphics logo gets placement on the other. It’s available with either blue mirror or polarized gray faded lenses. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to find yourself a pair, so get out there and represent!
MINI MOTO SURF The winter season is almost here and Fox is bringing the aloha back to Hawaii this year with the coolest dirt-meets-surf event of the season. The Fox Mini Moto Surf Challenge revs up on Thursday, December 1 at the Kahuku MX Track on Oahu, and then hits the surf the following day (Friday, December 2) at Pool Bar Break at Turtle Bay. Come on out to watch the action, or if you’ve got some crossover skills, get suited up. Either way it’s going to be an awesome event, as shop dealers, Fox athletes like Ricky Carmichael and Ian Walsh, along with industry heads battle it out in the dirt and surf. If you’re on the North Shore make sure to be there!
VESTAL + W HOTELS
POLER STUFF While doing a little bit of early Christmas shopping the other day, we stumbled upon a nice clean website of premium gear called Poler Camping Stuff. What kind of stuff you ask? Poler Stuff is tents and accessories that are simple, good looking, well designed gear for people that are travelers, couch surfers, regular surfers, skateboarders, snowboarders, bicyclists, parents, kids, car campers and anyone else looking for something that looks good, is a good value and is all about having fun on road trips and in the outdoors. It’s stuff that is made for people that have adventures all over the world while wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. It’s for people that wonder why everyone is trying to pretend they are going to do first ascents on Alpine peaks instead of celebrating the fact that they are having adventures that are awesome in their own way. We like it, so check it out at polerstuff.com.
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Vestal has partnered with W Hotels to release a collaborative ZR-2 watch, available exclusively through W Hotels The Store. The limited edition Vestal + W Hotels watch is available in three distinct finishes – brushed stainless steel, matte black, and polished gold. Additional characteristics of the watch include an inlayed “W” dial icon, applied Vestal logo plate, custom case back artwork, and a classic 3-link bracelet with premium two-pusher, butterfly deploying clasp. All of this, along with a Vestal guitar pick is presented in a special Vestal + W Hotels branded acrylic box. The collaboration watch is available at select W Hotels worldwide including Miami, Scottsdale, Chicago, Times Square, Puerto Rico, Fort Lauderdale & London. The next time you’re lounging at the W make sure to check out this sweet new timepiece and add it to your collection.
JESSE STEELMAN brixton.com
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10/18/11 10:24 AM
STADE CALFORNIA We gotta give a big shout out to entrepreneur Billy Stade for following his dream and opening up Stade California in South Coast Plaza. Known in the SoCal retail world for founding and growing The Closet for the past decade, it comes as no surprise that he’s up-scaled his whole operation into his newest lovechild. The retail location seems to be mixing the best of the surfing industry with some higher-end fashion and is set to feature a four-chair salon on store premises. Our first glance at his new digs left our jaws on the ground, as it looks like he has once again set the bar on where future retail could be going. Check it out the next time you find yourself meandering floor 3 at South Coast Plaza, it really is impressive.
NFL BOARDIES Maybe it’s the fact that we almost didn’t have an NFL season, but for some reason this year has been as exciting and action packed of a football season as we can remember. To add to the fun, Quiksilver has teamed up with the NFL and come out with some signature team boardshorts. Any fans of the Chargers, Raiders, Jets or Giants should definitely get on the ball and purchase themselves a pair of their team’s signature shorts. If you’re lucky you’ll be wearing your Charger shorts out at Pipe and Reef Mcintosh will hoot you into a bomb. But don’t count on that because the odds are better that the Chargers will win the Super Bowl this year and lets face it - that is not looking too probable. At any rate, go grab some of your favorite teams shorts and enjoy the rest of the season.
MAMMOTH OPENING DAY! Summer is gone and winter is upon us and that means that opening day of one of our favorite snow resorts is very close. That’s right, Mammoth Mountain will be getting into the swing of things starting November 12th with their Mammoth Mountain Concert Series featuring The Black Lips and Ra Ra Riot, going down at the Canyon Lodge at 9pm. Tickets are available via MammothMountain.com or by calling 800-Mammoth. Make sure to get your tickets and while you’re at it purchase your season passes for the mountain, because if this season is anything like last years record-setting season then you’ll definitely want to be there!
OLD MA N & THE SE A It’s not often we give our parents credit when and where they deserve it, but after our Editor’s (Joey Marshall) father sent us this picture from somewhere in the Pacific we finally decided to give him a little ink. It was his 60th birthday and he was wearing his lucky BL!SSS shirt when he tangled with this short-bill spearfish somewhere between Hawaii and the Marshall Islands. Needless to say, the crew ate well that night and Captain Jack put another notch on his belt. Stoked to see you catching fresh fish on our tax paying dollars!
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EX CHILLOUT There are a ton of energy drinks popping up every day with edgy names that sound like something you’d here a roided-out weight lifter scream. To be honest, we’re getting a little fed up with them. That’s why we were so happy to find a drink that put an end to all of the tweaking and raging that energy drinks bring. Ex Chillout is a one-of-a-kind, natural soothing drink that helps you kick back. Our friend Larry was nice enough to stop by the BL!SSS office and give us a few samples of Ex Chillout. The drink is the perfect remedy to counteract the high-strung, fast paced lifestyle we all live and to top things off it’s delicious as can be. Look for Ex Chillout at your local stores and allow yourself to rest a little easier.
RON ENGL ISH EXHIB ITION
DUSTY’S NEW SHADE Dusty Payne, the smooth operator himself, has just come out with his own signature shade from Electric. The “D. Payne” is the perfect blend of style, comfort and protection. The shade is available in polarized levels one and two, so whether you’re on an all-day fishing trip or simply cruising the beach for chicks, you will be covered! Who knows maybe you’ll even start charging hard and boosting high like Dusty. They’ll be in stores this month, so check your local hardware stores, golf pro shops, adult entertainment outlets and many other places that Dusty frequents to snag a pair of his new shades!
Street artist and painter Ron English will be exhibiting some of his best pieces this month at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City. Ron is a rare talent in the art world, putting out some of the most eye-catching art we’ve ever seen and from the looks of it his “Seasons in Supurbia” exhibition should be nothing short of fantastic. There will be 18 new paintings when the show starts November 19th and runs through mid-December. The Corey Helford Gallery is located on 8522 Washington Boulevard in Culver City, so go and be amazed by our boy Ron English.
WHODINI HANDMADE We stumbled across this little gem of a company this past month and thought it was necessary for all our readers to check them out. Whodini Handmade is based out of Long Beach, CA and are making limited edition wallets and one-of-a-kind tote bags. Just in time for November, they’ve got a whole range of mustache totes and wallets with proceeds benefitting the Movember Charity. Log onto whodinihandmade.com and get yours today.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN OF SURFING For the first time in history two of surfing’s heavyweights, Hurley and Billabong, have joined forces to bring us the very first Australian Open of Surfing. Going down in February 2012, the ASP-sanctioned event will take place at the world-famed Manly Beach in Sydney. We all know it takes a massive pocket book to make an event like this happen and it’s no surprise that these two giants have teamed up to bring one of the biggest surfing events Australia has ever seen. If this is something that gets your heart racing as much as ours, head to Tillys.com for a chance for you and a friend to win round trip airfare, accommodations, a $500 Hurley shopping spree, $1000 spending cash and VIP passes to the event. Now there’s a giveaway worth signing up for!
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EOS-1D X Cannon has once again shown us why they are number one in the camera world as they have just released their EOS-1D X. This (the EOS-1D) was Cannon’s flagship DSLR camera nearly a decade ago, and while the newest release looks nearly identical to its ancestor, it’s anything but. Merging the best of both worlds from their Mark III and Mark IV editions, the new camera will offer both high-speed shooting as well as full-frame sensor and high megapixel rating, at 18.1. But don’t go emptying your piggy banks quite yet as this $6800 beauty won’t be available to the market for another couple months. Still, it is something to start saving for.
Visually, Brooklyn-based artist Oliver Vernon’s paintings draw upon an incredibly varied pool of influences, from abstract expressionism, to post-pop surrealism and the polished finish of figurative realism. Formally, his work is about the deconstruction, and hence the necessary reconstruction of visual space. From this central dichotomy stems many others: logic/illogic, physical/metaphysical, imprisonment/liberation... His paintings come to us, perhaps, as detailed snapshots of the few primordial milliseconds when the blueprint of the universe was being sculpted from the final throws of chaos. In this sense, anything goes. Each painting has it’s own set of rules, or rather the rules are being bent, broken and ultimately formed within each painting. Color, form, energy, architecture, good, evil, flesh and machine are lurking, never as physical entities, but as transient archetypes searching out their final places within the framework of the cosmos. Apart from
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this macro view, Oliver’s work can be seen at the micro level as well. We can view his paintings as representations of how the mind is formed from a foundation of thought, reason, and aesthetics, and how these entities are simultaneously at odds and interconnected. Oliver Vernon was born in New York in 1972, received his BFA from Parsons School of Design in 1995, and currently lives and works in Northern California. He has exhibited his work in cities all across the United States including New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Washington DC, Denver and Chicago, and has also shown in London and Toronto. His work is part of numerous collections, including the Microsoft Corporation and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. To see more of Oliver Vernon’s work go to oliververnon.com.
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Words: Liz Rice McCray
Everything horse - A little girl’s infinite love for horses is almost like the color pink… that mad obsession/passion for everything horse: “horsey girls,” drawing horses, horse toys, Black Beauty, etc. Many grow up and out of the “horsey girl” obsession, but Heather Jansch is one girl that stayed true to her childhood passion of drawing horses, still dreams of horses roaming outside her front door, and turned it into her reality. Heather Jansch is a world famous British sculptor known for her life-size sculptures of horses made from driftwood. Heather lives and works on a 14-acre estate in Devon County in Southwest England. The estate is named Sedgewell Coach House Gardens. She tells the story of finding the Sedgewell Coach House, “I found a very small house, high on the hill above a wild-wooded valley, with a stream running through it. The land had been untouched for forty years and was virtually impenetrable… creating a garden in it became another of my passions and easily my biggest sculptural project. Ten years on, the house is much bigger and the valley is still a place of wonder to me - rich in wildlife it has become a sculpture garden and is open for charity twice a year.”
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Each September she opens her magical sanctuary for three weekends and does an open house at her Devon estate so spectators can view her home, sculpture garden, woodland trail, and on-site gallery where her smaller work, bronze sculptures, and drawings are exhibited. There is no charge, the artist’s only request is for visitors to bring wine and champagne corks in clear bags if they happen to have any at home. Most all of Heather’s sculptures are made from salvaged and found material - the driftwood for her famous horse is found on nearby beaches, the oak used in her equine sculptures is supplied by nearby estates’ woodlands, hooves are made from recycled copper or sometimes even recycled lead. Jansch does as little carving as possible in an effort to keep the wood in its handsome, organic state. She has shown her work in galleries and museums all over the world. To see more of her work visit heatherjansch.com.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEVERAGE LEATHER JACKET
Interview: Liz Rice McCray So you just made a big move? Where did you move from and where to? What was the reason behind this move? Yes, we did. My wife and I recently moved from Nashville, TN to Medford, MA, part of the Boston area. We lived in Nashville for 10 years and wanted a change of scenery and to try someplace new. Adventures! That sort of thing... Will you tell us about aftermath? Aftermath is the title for the body of work I’ve been focusing on for the last couple years. It explores the idea of an existence after an ambiguous cataclysm like a new Big Bang. We are unsure what kind of bang it was exactly and now the world we are looking at is similar to our own, but things are now more askew
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and strange. The ideas and elements from our collective cultures have now become literal agents of evolution. It’s an observation of our species and culture taken into absurdity. What mediums do you mostly work in? Lately I’ve been focusing mostly on water-based media and drawing, but I originally trained as an oil painter and would like to make more work in that medium as well. I have also done some bodies of work in photography. I mostly try to work in the medium that best fits the idea at the time. Will you give us a little history on you and your art? How did you start? Some insight to your work?
It’s all my grandmother’s fault. She gave me paints and brushes to play with when I was two or three and it stuck. So it’s something I’ve done as long as I can remember. As to insight, I just observing our culture and society and follow my impulse on what feels worth making work about. What are the positives and negatives for you in regards to being an artist? Positives are getting to do and say what you want. The hours are pretty good. The negative is that it’s all on you to make it happen. If you’re having an off day it really sucks... What and who are your biggest influences?
Honestly, it’s life. I just like to take in what’s going on around me, stuff I see on the news, things I observe in my neighborhood, walking around town, nature etc… I also like to look at our history and how we’ve gotten to where we are. Where can people check out your work? I have a website, www.scarboy.net that people can see some things. I also work with a few galleries where people can check things out in person, Foley Gallery in NYC, Curator’s Office in Washington D.C., and Marcia Wood Gallery in Atlanta. http://www.foleygallery.com/ http://www.curatorsoffice.com/ http://www.marciawoodgallery.com/
Artist Smack Down! :: Words: Kelly Shannon
When we think of watercolor, we think of Bob Ross, talking in his soft, happy tone about the beautiful landscape he’s painting. We don’t generally associate a watercolor with the world of professional wrestling. Enter artist Patrick Krzyzanowski. Greatly humored by professional wrestling, Krzyzanowski takes a playful and amusing approach to watercolor painting, one of the oldest artistic traditions known to man. Cave paintings were considered watercolor, and the 25-yearold Toronto based artist creates a correlation to professional wrestling as today’s modernized caveman. His paintings illustrate the barbaric joke that is the “sport” of professional wrestling, from the absurd costumes to the gratuitous violence. Yet Krzyzanowski exaggerates the melodrama of professional wrestling with, ironically, superdetailed lines and delicate brushstrokes. How would you describe your art to BL!SSS readers? I paint totem poles of wrestlers, but like, really small, and in watercolor. Are you trained or self taught? I studied at the University of Guelph, where the few faculty that comprised the small art program were all amazing artists - and very supportive and generous teachers. What is the medium in which you work with the most? Watercolor. Although I hope to do something completely different in the near future, like sculpture, I don’t want to become pigeon holed as a watercolorist. What do you want people to get out of looking at your work? I don’t have any real expectations on what people’s viewing experience should be, although I am happiest when people find my paintings funny. Which is your favorite piece of work right now? No favorites, but the works I like best are clever and funny (in that order). Artists that exemplify this and I’ve seen recently are Cory Arcangel, Roman Signer and BGL (an art collective from Quebec City, Canada). Why are you an artist? I’d probably attribute it to the faulty genes I got from my artist parents. What inspires your work? Every December I spend a week or two in South Florida to escape Toronto’s winter. Florida resonates well with my practice. Check out the series Smell the Blood at patkrzy.com.
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Shubin, always a breath of fresh air at the BL!SSS HQ // Remy Stratton mapping it all out // Scott Posner makes sick fins // Jenna Graves makes this spread! Jeff Hurley // Mike Estrada waving the BL!SSS flag // Steve Stratton is nation wide // Rob Havassy’s new calendar coming soon
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Brian Leung // Jake “Denim Master” Hoose // Chris Brewster is Sarah Palin’s baby daddy // Ray Coder is into it!
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Big Tony // Robby Adams monkeying around // Miles pretending he’s hard at work // Troy Elmore
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JP knows what’s up // Mike Escamilla
Photo: Domin ic Pe tr u zzi : dom in icpe tr u zziph oto. co m // Model: Angel Porrino :: angelporrino.net
This drop-dead beauty is Angel Porrini. Angel has more than just goddess like looks going for her. You may remember Angel from The Girls Next Door where she lived in the Bunny house for a season. Well, the Las Vegas native has returned to Sin City to star in “ABSINTHE” at Caesars Palace. Along with being a mom we think it’s safe to say that this Angel’s plate is full. Hopefully we will be graced by her presence again very soon and I’m sure plenty of BL!SSS readers will be front row at her show with wide eyes! Hair & Make u p : M or g a n F a l l on / / R e t ou c h : J a s on S c h or l e . c om
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Interview: Justin Ruttkay Photos: Dave Molleck *unless noted The surfing microcosm of Orange County can be like a bowl of jellybeans, rife with surfing talent of all different looks and flavors. Trying to hedge a bet on which one will be picked out of the bowl and become the winner is almost a pointless task. If you’re one of those up-and-comers trying to make your mark on the surf community it can be nearly as daunting at times. As Jason Harris has learned, nothing comes easy and surely if it did it wouldn’t be as much fun getting there. With his surfing career on a new brink, Jason “Dirty Harry” Harris is just doing his thing, in all the right ways. Alright dude, why Dirty Harry? Because there’s nothing really dirty about you. Well everyone just kind of started calling me Harry all throughout high school because I did have a solid mop going, and because of my last name I guess… but Dirty slowly got tacked on because I could usually be found down at River Jetties, and it’s not the cleanest place on Earth.
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So you’re really not that hairy of a guy so if you shave your head are you going to come up with a new nickname? Nah, I’m pretty sure this will stick for a while, I mean I’ll probably be in my 40’s and my friends will still be calling me Dirty Harry. I’d be stoked if it could last that long. I see that you have a little wannabe stash going, is this your first time experiencing manhood, or did you loose a bet or something? Hahaha, I didn’t loose a bet, it’s just a poor excuse for a mustache. I just really can’t grow facial hair. I guess I can only hope to one day have a full
Tom Selleck stash. You’re from Huntington, how have you been able to stand out living on the other side of town, surfing more of low the key areas like RJ’s and the state beach? Well, I definitely like to try and stay away from the world famous Huntington Beach Pier as much as I can. The waves to me around the state beaches and River Jetties are a lot more fun, just punchier. I’d like to try and be known as the guy who’s not grinding at the pier everyday, and kinda doing my own thing sorta down yonder, trying to get some clips. Also making a few runs out of town for swells, especially in the wintertime.
Who are the guys you like to surf with on a daily basis, or trips? I have a good crew of friends that I went to school with who I pretty much surf with all the time: Sean Oates, Bret Myers, Jrutt, Sterls. They all rip and inspire me. Then whenever I can jump on one of Timmy Reye’s missions I try and take advantage of that and usually learn a lot from him. With all the guys coming up in OC, what makes you so different and unique than the rest of the pack? There are so many talented surfers coming up around here to even have
my name thrown into that pack I feel lucky. I’ve just been working on these short films with my good friend Matt Payne. He is genius behind the camera and in the editing bay, I owe a lot to him. We’ve just been trying to create some original stuff that will stir up a little reaction, but still bottom line feature surfing and sorta steer away from the typical blog rip clip or day-in-the-life segment. We’re also just trying to expand on my nickname and in doing so pay homage to a true badass Clint Eastwood With these little short film projects you guys are doing do you see anything bigger down the road or are you keeping it sort of blogosphere? Well, it’s really just kind of a grass roots project that we’ve been lucky enough to gain coverage online just by sending it around. We don’t really plan on coming out with any sort of blog right now. We just really wanna keep having fun with the project, and keep Photo: Jerome Mosetic
things fresh and original and see where it goes. It takes time just to get the super 8 processed so were not pumping out edits every couple weeks, but I think that’s what maybe helps it standout a little. Are you looking to come out with the full pro surfer blog down the line? I don’t know… blogs are cool. I look at Danes blog everyday, but I don’t think I’m really into having my own. Analog has helped me out a lot with their site, and posting things. Then just by shooting the Vimeo link around our friends have been kind enough to post it, which is cool. Maybe down the road I’ll succumb to the blogosphere but for now I’m alright without a domain name or a tumbler. Didn’t you just pull the trigger on a last minute Nicaragua trip for some of
those little south swells we had? How was that?? Yeah, that was insane. It was nice going there knowing that there was going to be a swell. Just a little side note though, don’t fly Continental, they were a last resort for us, but by all means steer clear of that airline. We found a pretty good little outer reef in the land of the beach breaks, which was a nice surprise. Last day syndrome was in full effect though, the waves went flat and the Tona’s started flowing early, which led to some golf cart shenanigans and peace out to my big toe nail. We’re wrapping up summer, how did you survive the crowds and minimal swells that went down in the OC for the past couple of months? I tried to find some hidden gems somewhere. I jumped on the Mainland
Mexico bandwagon as much as I could. I really just wanted to try and steer away from the crowds. Kolohe can have Lowers, but if I can barreled somewhere, and maybe have a few anti south wind days, I’m happy. Do you think that with the surf industry going more and more corporate that these grass roots projects are needed to keep surfing at its core? Absolutely, because it shows creativity, and basically just having fun which is what surfing is suppose to be. I trip out when I see some kid who’s making sixfigures punching his board and yelling cuz he didn’t land an air reverse. I think contests are cool too, ya know. They have their importance, but at the end of the day there is only one winner, so I guess I’m just trying to do things that set myself apart a
little bit. At the same time I’m motivating myself to see where I can take my career outside of grinding contests How does an underground guy like yourself find someone to film you everyday? My good friend Matt Payne, who I went to high school with, was a couple grades younger than me and just approached me and asked if I was down to film sometime in super 8. I was a rookie when it came to film, but once I saw the raw stuff I knew we could try and make something cool. We’ve been friends for a while, and we live right next to each other and get a long really well. So I think our friendship is the main thing, and I’m just lucky enough to have Matto on my side right now because I think one day he is definitely going to be one of the top filmmakers around.
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Interview: Mikendo Known in my book as the oldest 20-year-old alive, I never cease to be amazed by Steven Webb. I find that when you surround yourself with people who you are constantly learning from, and hopefully them learning from you, it creates a tight friendship with a greater worth and it keeps solid longer. This is how I view my friendship with Steven Webb. With the search for various health and protein benefits in Goji berries found in China, or drinking ionized water because Cancer can’t form there... I mean, it’s unusual when a 34-year-old man like myself is learning from a 20-year-old kid about health, nutrition and general good habits. Isn’t he supposed to be eating Del Taco or something? Read this interview and be enlightened. Oh, and his skating isn’t bad either.
Photo: courtesy of Red Bull
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B.S N-Grind :: Photo: courtesy of Red Bull
B.S Lip Fakie Manny 360 Flip Out :: Seq: Mikendo
So… Let’s start off with the simple stuff, what’s your age, where are you from and who are your sponsors? I’m 20 years young, from Redlands, California and I skate for Red Bull energy drink, Stereo Skateboards, Ezekiel Clothing, Converse flow and the Agency Boardshop. Wait, did you say Red Bull? Like actually on the team? How does that work? How do you apply for that? Did you show them that you could shotgun like 100 bulls daily? Yes sir. I’m pretty stoked to be honest; they’ve done so much for me. I guess I have the wings they were looking for. Speaking of Red Bull, you just came back from the Mississippi Barge Skatepark thing, tell us exactly what is that about Who all went, what the concept was, etc? So what happened was Red Bull built a concrete skatepark on a river barge and invited me and some of the rest of the team Switch H-Flip Photo: courtesy of Red Bull
including Joey Brezinski, Luis Tolentino, Ryan Decenzo, Ron Deily and Zered Bassett. They were kind enough to let me bring my friends Ray Maldonado and Austin Gardner, we had some wild times. The concept was to cruise down the Mississippi river with a fully built skatepark barge and skate different cities along the way. Red Bull held contests at each stop and the winners of those get to compete at the grand finale in New Orleans. It was rad because there were so many different skaters that were on different parts of the trip, we always had a massive crew. Converse sponsored the event and had some of their team out as well, so we got to shred, make friends and see new places... good times! Oh, Austin Gardner, the guy who smashed my chair into 100 bits because he was jealous of my mustache? He’s like your best best bud, and part of your RVK posse eh? What the fuck is RVK? Yea sorry about that, Austin’s a bloody mess, he can’t stop
drooling half the time, haha. RVK is the Redlands skate crew and if I told you anymore I’d have to kill everyone who reads this. A couple of RVK dudes, Colin Commito and Rudy Felix are killing it right now by the way, check out their company at compadreskateboards.com.
Yea, IE is definitely burnt but that’s what I come from. Mushrooms are the shit dude, did you know that certain species of mushrooms can eat radiation. And yes, there are lots of stories, they’ll definitely blow your mind then help get it going in the right direction!
I’ve met Felix, that dude is awesome… hoodish awesome! Austin just texted me some questions to ask you, one being, why are you homeless in IE? What are the benefits and non-benefits to living out of your car? Planet Earth is my home. Well, I consider myself a nomadic person, so I don’t like to be in any place too long... Plus, rent is stupid expensive. The benefits are being I’m ready to go whenever, where ever and the non-benefits are that my car is filthy!
Since you’re kinda young to be health food obsessive, tell us about all these crazy health diets you’ve been on. You mentioned one about ionized water or some shit, tell us more. What could be more important than health? If you eat right you will live a long time and feel better, what more incentive could you want? The quality of your life is everything, for me, that means eating right. The funny thing is “eating right” for me is completely different for another person; I just try and do what makes sense based on the information I believe. Oh, and have you tried spring water fresh from the spring? Pretty amazing stuff, haha.
And with the IE (Inland Empire) being your home base... I guess that would explain your mushroom tat? There’s a whole story behind that I’m sure.
Ok,
now
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F.S 180 Fakie 5-0 Photo: courtesy of Red Bull
B.S Nose Pick Photo: Mikendo
N-Slide Party H-Flip Photo: Mikendo
B.S Smith Photo: Mikendo
tell me the top favorite three places you’ve ever been. The top three favorite people ever and favorite video parts? Ok. The 3 places… Hmmm, the mountains are pretty cool and for skateboarding I gotta give a shout out to Barcelona, plus you cant beat home and that’s Redlands for me. My favorite people gotta be myself, first and foremost, haha… Also, Marc Johnson is the homie and you, Mikendo. Lastly, my favorite video parts is a tough one but I’m gonna go with Marc’s part in Modus or any Mike Carroll parts, haha! Lastly, give your thanks and give your high fives. Thanks for life!
Words: Corinne Faith Leita
“A post-industrial Rococo master, Kris Kuksi obsessively arranges characters and architecture in asymmetric compositions with an exquisite sense of drama. Instead of stones and shells he uses screaming plastic soldiers, miniature engine blocks, towering spires and assorted debris to form his landscapes. The political, spiritual and material conflict within these shrines is enacted under the calm gaze of remote deities and august statuary. Kuksi manages to evoke, at once, a sanctum and a mausoleum for our suffocated spirit.” - Guillermo del Toro It seems natural to feel a sense of peace and serenity when viewing one of Kris Kuksi’s sculptures from afar. They appear to be intricate gothic vistas. Expansive and thoughtfully constructed landscapes from a time long passed. It is only when you observe Kuksi’s sculptural worlds more closely that you see the life and vitality they portray merging with darkness and chaos. There is a dark satire hidden in these works. The characters within seem as if they are struggling under the burden of their armory only to suddenly jump out with gusto, frantically stabbing and firing their miniature w e a p o n s . Human and beast hybrids stalk the
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shadows, ambling with uncertainty. The larger figures who over look this bizarre charade give a sly smile, knowing that they are in on a joke, and that you, the viewer, may take a while to get the punch line. These pieces from Kris Kuksi are an allegory to the modern world. Depicting scenes of war, interspersed with religious and mythological iconography, Kuksi allows us to tap into our own Jungian archetype, be it the warrior, the hero, the villain or the fool. We wonder how we can be at “war” with ourselves, with our environment and how we often act the “fool” while pursuing nonsensical and insignificant material gains. Kuksi believes that the
architecture of our social life has so many sharp angles that seem to pierce us. Not to mention the over stimulating abundance of advertising and product placement that, everywhere, pollutes what our eyes behold. He believes that it is the modern world that bedevils us, and those places of retreat and solitude become ever farther away. So, he finds his own creative solitude; constructing his sculptures with the post-industrial flotsam many of us would dismiss as trash. Massproduced figurines, pop culture refuse and small-scale models of historical figures populate Kuksi’s neoclassical realms. The enormity of the detail in Kuksi’s work, the incredible fusion of symmetry and chaos, and, the realization that this modern musing on our current state of affairs has all come out of the heart of the American mid-west certainly begs the question - Who is Kris Kuksi? What compels him to do what he does? And why do so many influential people, from so many different cultures and sub-cultures, find themselves in fervor over his work? Having grown up in rural America just north of Wichita, Kansas, everything in Kris
Kuksi’s environment seemed unrelentingly ordinary. He felt that his life was pressured and, to blend in to this ordinary environment, that he had to conform to what everyone else was doing. Kris constantly drew pictures when he was young. He spent time with his grandmother when his mother worked during the day and she was always encouraging Kris to develop his imagination. She had a lot of stationary paper that he really made a mess with, but which harbored his love for drawing. Kris describes his grandmother as very intelligent woman, explaining that she could be a schoolteacher but instead raised 10 children. Kris still remembers his mother as a wonderful woman, the kindest, sweetest person he has ever known. His father was absent, having left his mother soon after he was born for another woman. Kris states that he believes his coming into existence was an event neither parent intended. Kris, as a child, wanted to live in castles and fairy tales. Growing up in rural area, he felt sequestered from the usual activities of the city dwelling child; he longed for what he didn’t have – cable television, for instance, or the opportunity to occasionally see a movie. Undoubtedly, one’s chance placement in the world directly affects what one can become but Kris always felt that he was different. He was the outsider kid from the country, always longing for the apparent abundance and culture of urban life. Having been isolated, largely as a result of the severe social phobia of his mother, the young Kris made her [his mom’s] anxieties his own and it took years for him to overcome them. Despite these difficulties and early feelings of isolation, Kris does not complain. What he learned to value was hard work, service, and a sincere appreciation of life. This appreciation of life soon
encompassed a fascination with death. Living in the country so often brought Kris into contact with dead animals. As Kris grew into a teenager and began his high school career, he found himself immersed in wonderful days of art class and his introduction to painting. Although Kris was already known for being significantly advanced in his drawing abilities, he was now able to develop his painting skills and, in the eyes of his classmates, he became a star. Though gradually gaining recognition for his talents from his peers, Kris’s family life was spent in a near state of seclusion. Throughout his adolescence Kris was surrounded by Catholic idealism and parents who monitored his every move. His mother and stepfather suffered a form of social phobia, which meant that Kris never went on vacation nor ate at restaurants. Mass was attended at 6 am on Sunday and confession was performed once a month.
Kris describes his art teacher, Joe Pfannenstiel, as the angel who encouraged him to pursue his art career further through college which was something Kris’s family had a hard time imagining. With the belief of his high school art teacher and the encouragement of his peers, Kris did just that. He was accepted into Fort Hays State University where he successfully completed both a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in painting before traveling halfway across the globe to immerse himself in the techniques of the Old Masters of Italy and Austria. Kris has said that his best ideas come to him at 5:00 in the morning. By then he has worked all night and is nearly ready to pass out, but suddenly, before the dreams truly start, ideas emerge. As his head nods into dreamland, a snapshot vision appears. Kris has always wondered where such things can come from considering that, perhaps he somewhat transforms into an antenna, receiving transmissions from the netherworld. When Kris dreams he never sees color, but when he receives these flashes of images they are full of color and intensity. He sees these visions for a split second yet, can recall every detail. “I always start with the blinking light of an idea and then a sketch and then the materials to make them. I
use just about anything that would work for the sake of the overall effect. Model parts, toys, wood, plastic, metal, you name it. I arrange it all, cut them up, behead them, burn them, glue them all together and paint them. I don’t use real skeletons... yet!” Kris creates sculptures that are satirical and meant to challenge. They are full of grim prediction and hopeful possibility. Each one of us carries complex behavioral constructs, which Kris attempts to express by distorting the figures in his works. Many of his figural forms carry cumbersome weighty objects and containers wrapped around their waists: emotional “baggage.” Kris is also intrigued by the thought
processes of humans, as we seem so focused on only ourselves. Most of the figures and characters in his works act as though they are exclusively occupied by what is in their own minds. They appear totally absorbed in their own thoughts, perhaps daydreaming, and oblivious of all the other beings surrounding them. It seems to Kris that, for all man’s achievements, none of these are of greater importance than nature itself. Our minds, full of vices and discriminations, must take a little step
back a n d r e f l e c t ; if only to save ourselves. Many of us exist in a make-believe world and choose to pursue a decadent way of life. We fiddle with nature, and such play is fine until someone gets hurt. Humans have played, destroyed and rebuilt this fragile planet without thinking about how we may be harming it. We bite the hand that feeds us; we hurt ourselves in pursuit of greater satisfaction. Back to Kansas, where Kris still lives. Where Evolution is a four letter word and where the Reverend Fred Phelps
thinks homosexuality is a deliberately chosen, diabolically wicked life style – much like choosing to be a Democrat. Such an incongruous spot for an enlightened artist! But, perhaps folks like Kris Kuksi are needed in such locations. Geographically, any show Kris has ever done in North America has turned out to be at least 25 driving hours away. Kansas is flat and mostly uneventful. There are vast fields of nothing but scattered buffalo enclosed within lengthy fences. Kris never feels distracted by cumbersome mountain vistas and ocean side retreats. The lack of such diversions allows him to spend long hours in his studio, where he devises his anti-modern-culture creations, 3D social commentaries and metaphorical wars.
Kris Kuksi’s sculptures have impressed and intrigued a great many people. His works reside in the collections of notable public figures such as Guillermo del Toro (film director Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy), Fred Durst (musician and film director), Chris Weitz (film director The Golden Compass and American Pie), and Mark Parker (Nike CEO). In fact, Mark Parker was so enamored by Kuksi’s sculptures that he granted Kris a ‘blank check’ commission with the only instruction being - “Do something huge!” But, it is not only Kuksi’s sculptures that have gained recognition and praise. Meeting George Guillaume was the catalyst for Kris to create a painting that would end up amongst some of the finest portraiture displayed in the United States. George was a transient sort of fellow who Kris had the pleasure of meeting at the local library one evening. His long gray beard, baldhead and heavily worn clothing gave the impression that he had walked straight out of biblical times.
Having already seen him a few times around town, Kris had always felt that his look would make a great portrait painting. That evening, amongst the bookshelves, he approached George. Kris introduced himself and asked George if he would like to be immortalized as the subject of his next piece. “How much does it cost?” George responded, and, with laughter, Kris answered, “It’s free, George.” The twinkle in George’s eyes was infectious and that was the beginning of a very special and unique friendship. With George’s permission, Kris completed a very small six by six inch acrylic portrait that was eventually accepted into a prestigious and highly selective exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
art has been featured in international art magazines, on book and album covers and used for theatrical posters.
“I’m very selfcritical and never pat myself on the back, never. I accomplish things very well but I never spend too much time enjoying it. I have to do more, I think that it must be for a grand pinnacle somewhere that I will be at. Maybe it is only to inspire people to change things in this world.” Kris Kuksi is a phenomenon. He is highly skilled in drawing, painting and sculpture. He forms equally strong bonds with influential businessmen, enigmatic film directors, popular musicians and the locals in his community. His work has garnered awards and has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. His
Kris demonstrates through his work and his life, that two conflicting concepts can be connected and still show symmetry and harmony. The light shines through the dark. We learn about the intricacies of human nature through mechanical debris. An individual can make connections with the poverty stricken as well as the abundantly wealthy. Religious icons can co-exist with mythological creatures. A war tank can masquerade as a church. Modern toys can be reconfigured to look like ancient artifacts. And, a kid from small-town Kansas can grow up and reach the world. Make sure to check out Kris Kuksi website kuksi.com and pick up one of his books KRIS KUKSI: Divination & Delusion available at Last Gasp, published by BeinArt Publishing.
Dress – Volcom volcom.com
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Top – O’Neill oneill.com Bottoms – Pull-In pull-in.com Suglasses – Filtrate filtrateeyewear.com
Jacket – Hurley Pants – Hurley hurley.com Hat & Shoes – Models own
Dress – O’Neill oneill.com
Dress – insight insight51.com Sunglasses – Vestal vestalwatch.com
Jacket – WESC wesc.com
Intro: Chris Fiel :: Interview: Peter vs. Eddie Man love - Few things are as beautiful, as powerful, and as natural. A good friend can pick you up when you’re down and knock you back down when you get too high. Our collective history is chalked full of these larger than life duos: Batman and Robin, Maverick and Goose, Spongebob and Squarepants… To quote the 1988 cinematic masterpiece Young Guns, “You get yourself three or four good pals, then you’ve got yourself a tribe. And there ain’t nothing stronger than that.” I’ll be honest; I have absolutely no idea where I was going with that. I guess the point I was trying to make is that very few people
Eddie gawking at Peter :: Photo: Cole Barash
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surpass my love for the Young Guns franchise. Mr. Peter Line and Eddie Wall happen to be two of them. So of course I was honored when they asked me to write the intro for their BL!SSS Magazine Peddie Files interview. Like any great love story, Peter and Eddie’s relationship was born of late nights, world travel and steady diet of Bud Lights and cigarettes. They say opposites attract and this bromance is no different. Peter’s an innovator who’s effortless style made him the crown prince during snowboarding’s
Eddie :: Photo: Kyle McCoy
Eddie :: Photo: Kyle McCoy
Eddie :: Photo: Peter Morning
Peter :: Photo: Cole Barash
Eddie :: Photo: Peter Morning
Peter :: Photo: Cole Barash
heyday. Eddie’s a grinder, who worked his way to the top of his sport through blood, surgeries and the occasional international runway model. What they have in common however, is the theme of the Peddie Files project, a shared love of their art and a vision of how they want it perceived. In the day of big budget, multi-year film projects and trick progression reaching an unfathomable level, Peter and Eddie took a simpler approach replacing helicopters and closed park shoots with smiles, friends and fun… all to
a Justin Bieber soundtrack. Ladies and gentleman, Peter Line and Eddie Wall are the (P)eddie Files. Peter: Why did we choose this name for our movie again? Eddie: We combined our names, The Peter and Eddie Files, “Peddie Files,” we’d like to explain this to people before they arrest us. Eddie: Do you remember when we first met? Peter: No, but I’ve heard the story
of you first meeting me at the US Open after Jason Borgsted beat my cab 9 with a backflip 180. Apparently, I was a bit pissed and took it out on a young Eddie Wall. Eddie: Yeah, you didn’t seem like you were in a very good mood, but I got your autograph on my backpack and a photo with you. You weren’t smiling. Eddie: So we are passing the computer back and forth for this interview, what else are we passing back and forth?
Peter: Oh, I guess we’re going to have to submit a collab drawing the both of us are working on at the same time. For those of you out there reading this crappy BL!SSS news print, Eddie and I always do stupid little drawings together when we’re bored on trips. That’s what we’re doing now; swap computer to drawing, he writes I draw, he draws I write. I drew the steaming balls part of the drawing. Eddie: And I drew the arm holding it.
Photo: Kyle McCoy
Peter :: Photo: Cole Barash
Peter: On a more interviewee type question, I’m listening to you talk about you being hung over and hitting a huge rail, how often in trips are you hung over hitting scary shit? Eddie: Sometimes... It’s hit or miss, some rail trips we are filming all night so there is no time to go to the bar and get beers. But other days we finish early, and then it’s nice to go get a little drunk. Then the next morning I may be a bit hung over. Actually, every rail contest I won back in the day I was completely hung over. Eddie: Have you ever won a contest drunk or just hung over? Peter: Ah, I don’t think I ever did, I do remember getting hurt during practice at an Air & Style contest and going out that night thinking I couldn’t ride the next day because of my knee. Then waking up with no knee pain but a raging hangover. I got 5th. Though I would have got 5th at that contest no matter what. I did the first backside rodeo in a contest there and they didn’t even know what I did. The judges apologized to me afterwards for not knowing
what I did. Though, between getting 5th and making finals was $15 grand, it was still kinda nice of them. I’d rather them have judged it correctly. Peter: Have you ever seen any fucked up judging at the events you’ve been to? Eddie: Yeah, a funny story in Japan, the Slopestyle contest in Nagano, I had the best run of my life, doing all my tricks perfect in pre-quals. Mark Frank fell on the hip and straight lined the rest of the course. When they posted who was in the finals (top 10 made it), everyone said I shouldn’t even go look, cause they assumed I qualified first. But I went to look anyways... Well, I was 14th, not even making finals and Marko was 3rd! I just had to laugh, Japan loves Marko so much that he can not even do 1 trick and get 3rd in qualifiers! But hey, Marko’s the man, so I was just laughing. Eddie: How many Bud Lights did you drink out of my fridge tonight? Peter: Tonight? We’re in the editing studio, numbers don’t count, just the quality of the genius that Bud Lights give a person during a video edit.
So... not enough. We need more to make this video even that much more amazing. Wait, just cause you have malaria and can’t drink, you’re asking me this? If you weren’t sick, you’d be toe-totoe with me drinking Bud Light and making this movie that much better. Guaranteed, if you were drinking, this movie would have way more slow-mo and helicopter shots than Art of Flight. Eddie: I guess that’s true... but I just got done filming for the Danny and Dingo show in Costa Rica and South America. We caught crocodiles on a river at 1am, we put our arms shoulder deep into a water buffalos asshole to feel a baby fetus, and they also made me jump into a small concrete pool 4 feet deep with fresh cow shit... Now I am home and have malaria. It sucks trying to edit this sick, I’m bummed.
Eddie, hole in one Photo: Moustache
Eddie, hole in two Photo: Moustache
Eddie: So when you were growing up, did you ever imagine doing a project with Eddie Wall, I mean, you’ve looked up to him for a while now, huh? Peter: You stuck your hand into a water buffalo’s asshole! Eddie sitting in poop Photo: Moustache
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Words: Corey Smith //COMUNE/Drop City family with Ray Gordon front and center // Kiyo doing a burnout on his Knuck // Shaun and Corey // Ray Gordon poppin’ a life wheelie through the famous 2nd St tunnel // Hot Rod enthusiast // Brit and Ryan // Gaggle of girls: Sally, Rudy, Noelle, Megan, Monica, Brea, and Alice // a few of the custom bikes on display // Scott Manning and Tall ass Ray Gordon
On October 8th, COMUNE hosted “Throttled,” a Ray Gordon photography exhibit and motorcycle show. Ray Gordon has been a COMUNE/Drop City contributor since day one, and we were so happy to finally have him travel from his hometown of Portland, OR and come to LA to show his work. Ray arrived a couple of days early to help set up the show. Being that he’s now a family man, he took it upon himself to celebrate his temporary parental freedom by forcing me to accompany him in punishing his/our livers. Regardless, we pulled through and set up the show without a hitch, just moderate to heavy hangovers. During the day before the show, COMUNE homies, bike builders, and miscreants decided to take a little ride through downtown LA. Ray didn’t have his bike with him so we loaned him a barely legal dirt bike to tear up the road. Like a champ, Ray accepted the loaner and proceeded to jump curbs, pop wheelies, and lay down some of the sketchiest maneuvers ever. Once the doors finally opened, people had already been showing up and the gallery was packed. Ray’s giant 8-foot triptych photo prints loomed over the viewers. Images of Camaros jumping 40 feet in the air, fur and leather clad Portland girls hanging out in seedy motorcycle
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shops, Hot Rods ripping up the salt flats, and other generally badass themed imagery packed the walls of the Holding Company. Outside the gallery, the partygoers were kept fed with all American hot dogs and their thirst quenched with ice-cold Pabst Blue Ribbon aka Portland’s best refreshment. JD Sansaver of Flying Monkey Fabrications curated the selection of custom bikes. Builders included Falcon Motorcycles, Joey C., Kiyo, Cro Customs, Boyle Custom Moto, Austin Sherbanenko, and Wes White. At the end of the show Kiyo came into the gallery and did a couple burnouts on his 1947 Knuckle around the “Throttled” floor logo. Smoke filled the gallery and the crowd cheered. Everyone cleared out and headed next door for the after party at Medusa Lounge where we had COMUNE/Drop City contributors Plague Vendor aka PLG/VNDR perform. They tore the roof off the place and by then end of the night girls were kissing, everyone was dancing, and I definitely wasn’t driving. Way to go Ray Gordon, this was definitely our best COMUNE event ever!
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Words: Will Barraza :: Photos: Luke Nguyen & Morgan Rindegan // Dragon Ping Pong Tourney champ Tom Cassidy & runner up Scott Shaw // Willabong champs Team Spy: Ryan Burch, Chris Abad, Mike Losness, Brent Futagaki, Bill Keller & Andew Valentine // LRG Beer Pong Champs Jenna Nanci, Andrew Durso & Greg Harriss // Bill Keller & Mike Losness // Bryan Knoop & Greg Boylard on the motorized cooler // Corey Cady & Will Barraza // Ben Whiting, Kellan McCleary & Salman Zahour // Lauren Mouck & Jenna Nanci // Cardiff Kook // Cheyne Cadogan // Keith Beckley // Corey Cady
For the past seven years, Active Ride Shop gathers up all employees and invites the surf industry to the Willabong Surf Contest. It is a great way for everyone to get out of the ofďŹ ce, have some food, compete against your competitor brands and surf all day. Active owners embrace this as a way to give back to their employees after the back-to-school rush and a way to interact with their vendors. This year the event was taken to another level as Will Barraza (coordinator of this event) thought it would be cool to book four campsites at San Elijo State Beach for three days and invite select brands to sponsor some rad activities for the Active crew to enjoy before the day of the contest. The good times began when the team over at Brixton picked up the Active crew at the campsites in a limo bus and drove them over to the Saloon in Encinitas and treated them to Tacos and open bar. Jason, Lenny, Nate, Justin and the rest of the Brixton Crew came out to hang and party with everyone. The bus then dropped off the squad at the campsites where Rick Irons, Grant Nyquist, Sean Taylor and the rest of the Dragon Optics guys awaited for a ping pong tourney, bracket style, where winners got cash and dragon goods.
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The next morning the fellows over at Team BK, Bill Keller, Travis Fischer, Keith Culver, got out the kitchen utensils and hooked the boys with some breakfast burritos. Shortly after the crew from Ezekiel, Danny, Justin, Quirk, and Pete, came out for a surf then took the crew to the famous Pipes Cafe for lunch. The fun kept on going with Dan, Andrew and Hans from LRG sponsored the Beer Pong tourney. Four tables were set up with 20 teams of two going at it all night. Beer and Pizza were provided by LRG and big prizes for the winners. Everyone that actually woke up on time walked up to see 4-foot waves pumping and the teams were ready to compete. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams consisted of LRG, Brixton, Dragon, Yeah. Nice, Raen, Spy, Dakine, Nixon, Filtrate, and Ezekiel. Scott Overland and the Dakine crew hooked up everyone that attended with burgers. Jordan and Mike from Electric/Volcom provided coffee and doughnuts. Dave Downing, Geoff Moysa and Mike Hamabe from Analog dialed in the Active crew with Pizza Port post contest shenanigans. The winners, which was team Spy, took the stacked six elephant trophy to place at their headquarters. Mike Loseness, Seaside sensation Taylor Clark, and Chris Abad were a few stellar performers that surfed this year.
Words: Willie Marshall :: Photos: Rosalie Torres // Zach Kinon, Stefan Attardo & JLord Reynolds // Random awesome people on the streets around the world // Robert “Sticky” Shaw & Jesse Fulton // Amy Beams with Joey Pulsifer // Brent Koops, Randy Gordon, Floris Gierman & Mikey de Wit // Storm Chasing adventures in Tornado Alley // Maximillian Piras and his posse // Blood, sweat, tears and David Gravette screaming at the top of his lungs
On October 14th, we ventured out into the dark night, all the way up PCH to the Seal Beach ghetto to check out the Flotography Show, titled, Something Went Terribly Wrong at the Golden State Goods on Main Street. We were all sadden by the tragic events that had recently taken place just blocks from the venue – a crazy man had recently walked into a busy salon and committed a mass midday murder, leaving eight innocent people dead. It’s was just a coincidence that Floris Geirman’s “Flotography” show was taking place later that week in a nearby venue, with good friends coming together for good times and a great cause to boot. DJ Wade was on the turntables and PBR was cold and free, making sure no one had any excuse not to come in off the street and check out the photos and the beautiful girls milling about. Floris has been taking photos for some time now, traveling the globe while working for various companies within the action sports arena. A lot of his portraits are of various industry folk, professional skateboarders, and weirdos alike. Some of the coolest
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photos were the ones of the “storm chases” that Flo has been on lately, a new hobby that consists of chasing huge storms across middle America, hoping to get eaten up by giant tornadoes and getting some incredible shots along the way. All of the art was reasonably priced and for a good cause, so whether you went for the free beer or just to say hi to your old friends, everyone left feeling good. The proceeds from the art show help to benefit “Giving Children Hope”, a cause to help fight hunger in Africa. The money raised will be donated to buy food, medicine and medical supplies to help save lives in countries like Somolia, Ethiopia and Sudan, caused by one of the worst droughts in 60 years in this region. Anyone who purchased the photos or donated to the cause was entered in a raffle for a chance to win some awesome prizes from Vans, Flip Skateboards, and Volcom. Check out more at flotography.com and goldenstategoods.blogspot.com.
Words: Eddie Wall :: Photos: Ryan Donahue, orangecounty.com // Peter & Eddie introducing the Peddie Files // Party people // Jillian & Megan // Ryan Roberts, Addy Giddings, Jason Hassan & Ugene // Henry, Ford, & Richie // Dr. Doonan with a lovely // Angie & Steven // Jared of the Black Lips with Katy Goodman of Vivian Girls // Nicole Hanriot, Josh Tinkess, & Omar // Stephanie Salinas & Christina Shaw // Mel & Hannah
The Peddie Files is finally out and the boys at Vestal decided to host the premiere! Originally, I spoke with Vestal about doing a small premier with about 50-100 people on a small screen and have a few beers for everyone to sip back on. Well, Vestal decided to turn it up a few notches and make it one of the best parties of the summer! They brought in a giant screen, huge speakers, fences, security, port-a-potties, and sponsored VIP areas. They also decided to have an open bar the entire night supplied with Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, vodka Red Bull, Peligroso Tequila, and Sailor Jerry Rum. They also brought in Jared from the Black Lips to DJ and a professional Double Dutch jump rope team for entertainment! When you entered the premiere you even got a Peddie Files wristband and Vestal put those on roughly seven hundred people. Seven hundred people on a Friday night with an open bar made for an awesome time. People were doing keg stands at the Forum tent and falling all over trying to jump into the Double Dutch game, and that was before the movie even started. The DJ brought the music down for a minute for Peter and I to introduce the movie
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and then the Peddie Files began. The entire purpose of this movie is to make people laugh and inspire viewers to call up some friends and go snowboarding, and then go party. We had about eight songs in mind for the intro, and since we couldn’t choose one, we just used little pieces of them all, for the pure sake that nobody was there to tell us we couldn’t. After the intro you can see an opener by up-and-comer Parker Duke, then the movie leads into Johnny Paxson, Gabe Taylor, a friends section, Peter Line, and myself. The soundtrack has a wide range of music from Jay-Z to Bob Dylan, from Wu-Tang to the intro song from the cheesy sitcom Friends. Peter chose the credits song about getting drunk and eating chicken and the movie came to an end. Partygoers were completely out of control wasted and that is exactly what we wanted. Thank you to all the sponsors who made this movie possible and a special thanks to Vestal for the best premiere ever. We would also like to thank everyone who came out for the premiere; we really appreciate your support, even if you were just there to support the free booze. If you want to see the movie, download it free on videohypershred.com, we’ll see you next year.
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Interview: Max Ritter
Jack Yarber aka Jack Oblivian might best be know for his years of work in the gritty garage pioneers from Memphis, The Oblivians. When I called up Jack and told him I was from Orange County he told me he last played here fifteen years ago with The Oblivians. A quick chat with Jack and you sense he is quite the character that harbors a treasure chest full of music business wisdom and endless entertaining road tales that he is eager to share. These days Jack is still cranking out killer tunes and fully devoted to his love for music year after year. You would be hard pressed to try and figure out all the bands he is in at any point in time. Jack’s new solo record is the summation of a full lifetime of experiences and musical inspiration lived by a traveled veteran all packed into just over thirty minutes with just that right polish. If you haven’t stumbled across Jack Oblivian’s latest, Rat City, be sure to take some “me” time and have a listen. It plays through nicely. What was your earliest musical thought? Just trying to get an instrument I guess. (Laughs) How many songs do you think you’ve written in your life? I don’t know. Probably more than I would actually think. At least a hundred maybe. Probably five that are really good and then there are about ninety-five more. (Laughs) How has the reception to the new album been? So far seems pretty good. A lot of my friends tell me they like my new record but it means a lot more when it’s somebody you don’t know. I think I have seen more on this than anything I have done in the past. I spent a lot of time on this one too. I wasn’t in a rush so maybe that’s the payoff. It’s been good. Did you end up working with a producer on this album? It’s mostly myself. The guy from the label and I were kind of 50-50 on it. He had a little bit of say so… I had nineteen songs and I wanted to put every one of them on there. He didn’t want to do that. (Laughs)
In the end he is probably right. It made sense to me though. I had some instrumentals and things like that I thought would be good in the middle of side two. Bruce Watson is the guy that runs the label. He engineered two songs but about 80% was recorded at my house. I’ve never really had a producer. Sometime I think it might be good if it’s somebody who is right for you but if it’s somebody who is not right for you it could be bad. The guy I mixed with is a really pro mixer. Sometimes we didn’t see eye-toeye on things but I think a lot of the reason why the record sounds good is because of him. One of the things that really strikes me about the album is the differences from song to song. Talk about how you bounce stylistically all over the place on this thing… I listen to all kinds of music. Pop. Sometimes hard rock or metal. Blues. It just depends on the mood I am in. It’s not a record where we are doing it in a two-week period or month period. It’s spread over a longer period of time where I played whatever I felt like at the time. If you heard the songs that got left off - the styles vary even more. I never really was thinking about making a certain kind of record. I just did whatever I was doing and tried to put all the songs together. It is what it is. It’s also a solo deal so it’s not like there is a band that is really trying to have a uniform sound. It’s sort of like a mix tape. How did you get hooked up with the Fat Possum camp to help you distribute this record? Bruce at Fat Possum has recorded stuff for me over the years. That stuff was never really on the Fat Possum label. It would be on Sympathy or something. Around three years ago he started his own label called Big Legal Mess because he wanted to put out records that he liked. It’s through the office of Fat Possum but it’s more his baby or whatever. He has put out all kinds of stuff that he likes. Old music. Some gospel record he found at a thrift store that’s just been forgotten and things like that. It’s better than a lot of other places because that’s what they do every day. They are trying to sell records. They don’t really book bands or gigs or tours or any of that stuff. They just do the record end of it. And they are only like an hour and half away. It’s not like a small label in Germany or a fan who works at a grocery store, ya know. Guy wants to do a seven-inch and it takes him two years to get it out. (Laughs) I’ve done that before. I’ve always thought having your own label would be cool but there is a lot of work that goes into it. You’re involved in so many revolving musical projects, talk about some of your
other current musical endeavors. I just played a week with this band Haunted Hearts. I’ve been playing drums with them on and off. I also play drums with King Louie in this band called Loose Diamonds. We did a CD a few years ago, slowly doing another one. That dude writes songs like three a day. He never runs out of ideas, ya know. (Laughs) I really like this new Limes record Tarantula. Did you have a hand in that? Yeah, he is actually my roommate. Over the years I’ve played with them in the weirdest ways. Back in the early 2000’s I had a different roommate and that was his drummer at the time. I’d just be laying on the couch listening to them practice. This would happen all the time. Then the night of the gig I’d be hanging out there and he’d say, “Hey man, you want to play with us?” So I’d be playing with them without practicing. I guess I had kind of heard it so I sort of knew what was going on but he would never say, “Hey you want to practice with me and play this gig?” It was never that way. It was always just right at the gig. (Laughs) I think the one time he asked me to practice it was on guitar and then at the gig he asked me not to play at all. (Laughs) It was the oddest thing. But yeah, I am playing drums with him now. Out of your entire catalog of work, what sticks out to you as your definitive work? Probably “Mad Lover” or “Strong Come On.” Probably those two. I don’t even like the recordings of those songs but live… Probably “Mad Lover” live. The Oblivian’s current state? We haven’t really talked about a tour. We’ve been talking about possibly playing in Texas sometime. Since we’ve been getting back together we try to play somewhere we didn’t play before. At this point that would be Texas. Texas was always good to us back in the day. We still haven’t played LA. That’s another one we are probably gonna do. It just depends on what everyone is doing at the time. I am leaving to tour behind my new record in a week for six weeks on a European tour. Bruce at Big Legal Mess thinks it’s totally ridiculous. He said, “We are paying for your publicist and promoting your record in the states and your going to Europe to play where you hardly sell any records over there at all. You are doing everything backwards.” (Laughs) He’s like, “Why are you doing this”. I said, “I dunno that’s just the way I work.” (Laughs) What can we expect next from Jack Oblivian? Doing a 7” with the band that is playing “Girl On The Beach” on this record. It’s with those guys but we are playing on small amps, more of a low-fi sound. It sounds more Gypsy sounding than crystal clear. Look for that Spring next year sometime. As far as an album, I don’t know man! This one wore me out. Hopefully we will be coming out west with The Oblivians soon! Thanks Jack. Be sure to pick up Jack Oblivian’s Rat City!
Photo: Tiberio Sorvillo
Alex’s Bar :: Thursday October 6th, 2011
Long Island’s Cymbals Eat Guitars have been on the go lately, touring behind their latest release, Lenses Alien. On this evening at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach, openers Hooray For Earth were quite a nice complement to CEG’s awesome hook-less rollercoaster of noise. If you’re a fan of 90’s alternative rock bands like Built To Spill then CEG is up your alley. Their keys player Brian Hamilton is a techy sound wizard and has his own custom pedal company called Small Sound Big Sound. If you’re in the market for some weird effects cruise over to their website at smallsoundbigsound. com. With pedals like “Fuck Overdrive” and “Team Awesome! Fuzzmachine” you’ll be sounding good in no time.
Photo & Review: Max Ritter
Reviews: Max Ritter
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Limes Tarantula & Blue Blood Goner
Amerigo Gazaway of Gummy Soul Fela Soul Self-Released
Real Estate Days Domino
The Stuyvesants The Finer Things Vol. 1 & 2 Self-Released
Shawn Cripps is rumored to be quite the interesting character. If you read this month’s interview you’ll know he actually lives with fellow collaborator Jack Oblivian. Just a house full of badass Memphis rockers; no big deal. Goner has taken it upon themselves to give a proper release to some of Cripps back catalogue that has been floating around for the last ten years. His hammered voice is rabidly attractive and sounds like it’s got some serious mileage. There is just something rad about how he nonchalantly proclaims, “Guitar Solo” on the tune “5 Years”.
This is the latest brainchild of a Nashville producer named Amerigo Gazaway and his vintage hiphop connoisseur posse know as Gummy Soul. This project is eight tracks of eclectic mash-up between afro-beat legend Fela Kuti and hiphop pioneers De la Soul. Hip-hop may be dead, but thanks to this dude Amerigo it never sounded so good. Pick it up via bandcamp free download.
All the attention New Jersey band Real Estate has been getting around their new sophomore album Days is nothing short of well justified. Their mesmerizing pop tunes are undoubtedly addictive and just what the doctor prescribed when the stress level is riding high and you’re looking to take it down a notch. It’s all too easy to get lost in their layers of clean reverby guitars.
Sophomore double-album from Brooklyn’s finest instrumental beat smiths, sonically nobody is blending classic jazz and soul sounds into classic buttery head bobbers like these two right now. Not to mention there is so much material here. We can only hope some quality MC’s jump onboard and lay some heavy spit on these things in the month’s to come. Free for DL at thestuyvesants. com then just close your eyes and drift away.
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AGE: 12 HOMETOWN: NEWPORT BEAC H, CA BUT DEEPLY ROOTED IN SANTA CRUZ SPONSORS: QUIKSILVER, FREE LINE DESIGNS SURF SHOP, OA KLEY, SANUK, SUPER BRAND, HDX ENERGY DRINKS , FUTURE FINS, OCEAN & EART H FAVORITE SURFER: DANE REYN OL DS Photo : Tony Roberts
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AGE: 12 HOMETOWN: CARLSBAD, CA SPONSORS: BURTON, VOLCOM , DRAGON, SUN DIEGO, NIXON, OSIRIS & MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN FAVORITE RIDERS: TYLER FLAN AGAN & DAVE DOWNING Photo: Peter Morning
AGE : 9 HOMETOWN : DANA POINT, CA , CURRENTLY IN AUSTIN, TX SPONSORS : DOGTOWN SKATEB OARDS, SLAYSHTANK FAVORITE SKATERS : MIKE MO, BOB BURNQUIST (SWITCH TRE TO 50/50 ON THE RAIL ON TH E MEGA RAMP), SHANE O’NEILL, AND TOREY PUDWELL Pho to: Austin Dodson
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