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P R E M I E R 2 .0+ & ST R AT O S LT+ - T H E P E A K Y PA C K
SLASH AND BURN When it’s time to make the transition from sea to snow, there’s no place like Mammoth. Just ask Shayne Pospisil. When the lifts start spinning, he heads up Hwy 395 to kick the season off right with secret stashes, wind lips and natural, surfy terrain that takes the slashability of this big mountain off the charts.
randoms • 20 product review • 24 george boorujy • 26 andrea nakhla • 28 nick cave • 30 susanna majuri • 32 super taste • 34 damea dorsey • 36 the art of pryce lee • 42 julian lewis • 46 rvcaloha • 50 surf toons • 54 tai vandyke • 58 bear - sunday in the park • 62 the triple crown • 66 surfer awards • 68 eddie opening ceremony • 70 reviews • 73 groms • 76
artist • pryce lee
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Editor-in-Chief nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com
Editor joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com
Creative DirectoR mark paul deren : madsteez madsteez@madsteez.com
assistant editor delon isaacs delon@blisssmag.com
EDITOR AT LARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com
SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com
MUSIC EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com
advertising ads@blisssmag.com
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, Delon Isaacs
contributors Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon, JP Olson, Bruce Beach
BL!SSS Magazine
JANUARY 2017
413 31 Street st
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.
Artist • Pryce Lee If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com
CINCH LT JAY NELSON’S INSTAGRAM
Just as we were about to ship this issue off to the printer we got a special sneak-peek at what the boys and girls at DVS have been up to for 2017. The latest addition to their growing modern lifestyle segment is a little beaut that goes by the name of Cinch LT. Pushing advancements in comfort technology and features, the Cinch combines form and function in a sleek, progressive silhouette. Key features include vaporcell elite insole, compression sock top, molded stabilizer and a vaporcell flex sole. This might sound like a bunch overfluffed tech terms, but the entire DVS skate team have been lucky enough to test these in the streets and are claiming it the best shoe ever!
This freakin’ guy holds the Instagram handle @Jay. Jay Nelson beat every single person named Jayson or Jay that has ever existed in the social media world and reigns as the supreme of the simplest handle we’ve ever seen. And if that’s not mindboggling enough, he’s also a master of the woods, or woodcrafts, or woodmanship, or whatever it is. Seriously, check out Jay’s Instagram and art. You’re going to be blown away by his projects and skills.
805 RETRO COOLER If you’re on the move traveling around somewhere with beer, don’t noob it – keep it nice, keep it protected, and most importantly keep it icy cold. 805 not only offers an outstanding beer, but we just scoured the merch section on their website and ordered ourselves their durable 805 Retro Cooler, with attached metal bottle opener. This comes in handy all the time because we are sissies and can’t open up bottles with our teeth. Respect your canned and bottled goods by investing in this cooler.
ZEKE LAU MAKES IT IN TO 2017 WORLD TOUR OF SURFING
RAGERAGERAGE “No corpo shit…” Rage – a grip company developed by a group of hardworking, irresponsible surf lords – is here to play. Pretty cool to see a group of young surf youths start their own business in which they control the say and the design of their own products that they’re actually proud to use and represent. The star cast of Rage boys include: Creed McTaggart, Noa Deane, Ellis Ericson, Beau Foster and surf filmer extraordinaire Toby Cregan. The product launches the middle of this month, so keep hitting the refresh button on rageragerage. com for your surf accessory needs.
That’s right, it’s official: Ezekiel Lau will now get his chance to surf against the world’s best competitive surfers on the 2017 WSL Tour. For Zeke, it’s been a dream he’s had ever since he was a little kid, and for the rest of the CT competitors it means a new name to fear in the lineup. We also want to give a shout out to local boy Kanoa Igarashi for a hell of a start to his career, and an even greater finish to last year with his performance at Pipeline because that had a huge impact on helping Zeke get on tour. Good on yah boys, and good luck with the new year.
ORGANIC COFFEE AT BANZAI BOWLS We guess the news about Banzai Bowls selling coffee now has been the cat’s meow for quite some time, but we just found out and we’ve been organically tweaking out over it ever since. For the time being, Banzai Bowls is offering a free cup of coffee with the purchase of every smoothie and bowl, which is the sickest combo, and it’s the best possible way to start your semi-dreadful day! Trade that gut bomb of a ham-and-cheese croissant and that watery donut shop coffee for Banzai Bowls, where you ingest delicious vitamins and organic goodness.
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MASON HO WINS A.I. BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
WINE WEDNESDAY AT BEAR FLAG FISH CO
Mason Ho has single handedly won the hearts of everyone in the surfing world, and he just recently won the 2016 Surfer Award for the “A.I. Breakthrough Performance.” We couldn’t think of anyone else who has been more deserving of the award. Mason is without a doubt the most genuinely nice, pure-hearted human who demolishes every aspect of surfing with an erratic, unpredictable and playful style. If you don’t believe that, you really need to revisit Mason’s Web series License to Chill, which also won the Surfer Award for “Best Surf Series.” Congrats Mason, you’re the goddamn man!
Up until a month ago we never liked Wednesdays – hated everything about it. We could spell Wednesday wrong a thousand times and not give a flying fart. But that has all changed now, thanks to Bear Flag’s Wine Wednesday. Finally, there is a day of relaxation and release where you can enjoy half-off prices of tasteful wines while you feast upon fresh fish and amazing sushi. Step up your game, be a baller, and attend Bear Flag’s Wine Wednesday.
GOOD WORTH ACCESSORIES We’re complete suckers for tasteful knickknacks here at the magazine, as they fulfill our weird mouse-pushing lives. If you have low self-esteem and compensate by buying hundreds of things you kinda don’t need but just gotta fucking have, check Good Worth & Co.’s range of hard and soft goods. They’ve got a plethora of angsty lighter holders, pins, key things, patches and even pipes – respect.
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There’s nothing more frustrating than wearing the wrongs socks, and I mean nothing. Certain brands and companies make lousy socks; socks that are just the wrong cuts, that get all swampy and sweaty in your shoes where it feels like you’re endlessly walking around in mud puddles. You will never feel like this in Merge4 Socks. Merge4 is the brainchild of four long-term movers and shakers in the action sports world who have lifetimes of brand building experience and who have created this new brand backed by huge names like Steve Caballero, Weeman, Mofo, Ed Colver and more. Head over to merge4.com to learn more on how you can protect and pimp-out your feet.
This should have been a hands-down, unanimous decision. From Real’s Surveillance Tapes to Volcom’s Holy Stokes, and who can freakin’ forget Vans No Other Way, Kyle Walker has etched his name into skateboarding’s hall of fame by winning the Thrasher Magazine “Skater of the Year” title. Congrats K Walks, you’re an absolute psycho. Way to put Oklahoma City on the map!
HUMBLEMAKER COFFEE COMPANY There’s a new cold brew in town and they go by the name of Humblemaker Coffee Company of California. Owned by longtime friends Bryan Marseilles and Chris Smith, they were kind enough to drop off a case of their freshest batch for sampling. Cold brew is the new “it” drink for all coffee connoisseurs, and we gotta say this stuff is downright delicious. But it’s not just about the coffee, as they’ve started the initiative Ten for Autism – a movement to encourage forprofit businesses to donate up to 10% of their net profits to enable children with autism the opportunity to experience surfing, music and the great outdoors. Now that’s a good drink for a great cause, so get yours today and join the movement!
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interview • christina atkinson George Boorujy is an artist who lives and works in Brooklyn. His work explores the human relationship to nature and our perception of that relationship. We caught up with him to find out a bit more about his own perception of nature and his art. The beauty of your artwork is in the details. Would you call yourself a perfectionist? I never think of myself as a perfectionist. There is a lot of detail, and an aim to represent my subjects truthfully and completely. So there will be random clumps of dirt on fur, out-of-order feathers, ticks in ears. Maybe I strive for “perfectly imperfect”? The majority of your subjects are from nature. What draws you to that or why do you feel it is important to replicate birds and animals with such exquisite detail? Everything is Nature or breaks down to Nature. We are Nature. So even though I’m making such detailed images, I’m trying to distill down to the elemental of what is on this planet. I put in all that detail because I want the viewer to really examine the image and slow down in their processing of it. We process photography so quickly these days, but we still may slow down when we recognize that an image is handmade. In that slowing down there can be new insight. I want the images to be meditative and the detail can help with that. I always want them to be compositionally striking from a distance and engaging when viewed close up. All of these animals are familiar, but I want to re-present them in an unfamiliar way so the viewer examines his/her relationship to them and our place in nature as animals ourselves. Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process? The ideas come into my head fairly formed, like stills from a movie. They then change in the process from getting them out of my head on to the paper. I look at a ton of photos but there would never be a photo I could work from directly unless I went full Audubon and killed my subjects and mounted them in the poses I want. So more often than not I make little sculptures of the pieces and then draw from that, using photo reference for fine details and textures and colors. We checked out your website, www.nypelagic. com, and it’s very interesting… Could you tell our readers a little bit about it and what it is you are doing through that project? New York Pelagic is a project where I put original drawings of pelagic (open ocean) birds into bottles along with a questionnaire and toss them into New York City waterways. The aim was to highlight and examine our connection to the ocean and the impact of marine plastic pollution on wildlife. I was also interested in exploring the idea of value – specifically the value of artwork and the value we place on the disposability of plastics versus the value we place on our health and the health of the environment. One bottle went from Staten all the way to France in a little over two and a half years at sea.
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If you could change one thing about the perception of art by the majority of people what would it be? I think I would like people to feel that art is for everyone. Original artwork is expensive to own, but galleries are free to attend, and I wish they were more welcoming spaces for the community so that everyone would feel as though they can engage with contemporary art and the broader conversation therein. I can’t stand art with an attitude of “if you don’t get it, you’re just not smart enough.” More often than not in those cases the artist isn’t communicating their ideas effectively. The work doesn’t need to be didactic, but a veil of “too cool for you” is often just masking a bunch of BS. How would you like to be remembered? For being really, really, ridiculously good looking. I’ll put aside the cheesy, “as a good father, son, brother and friend” and assume this is in the context of the work. I don’t have an explicit environmental message in most of my work (barring New York Pelagic). The aim is to have people think and examine and come to their own conclusions. But at the moment I’m focusing on Florida and its history and wildlife and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being a witness to something that we will soon lose. I jokingly refer to it as the Florida Farewell Tour, but only half jokingly… Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? Well, after ending the last question on a quite apocalyptic note, I’d like for people to look around them and care about and get in touch with the natural world. And don’t invest in Florida real estate that is less than 18 feet above current sea level. georgeboorujy.com @georgeboorujy
TRADITION MEETS PROGRESSION +
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interview • liz rice mccray Hi Andrea, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Will you describe where you are right now? This way everyone reading along can imagine the setting. I’m in my kitchen/office in a tiny studio apartment in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, and I have my computer open to somewhere between hundreds to thousands of browser tabs ranging from my Enneagram results (I’m a 4), a variety of petitions and meal delivery subscriptions, the Wikipedia page for physiognomy and various other articles that I’m definitely going to read… at some point. This is how I psych myself up to go to my studio to paint; it’s a very involved process. Haha, I can relate. Now that we have this visual of you, will you please introduce yourself to our reader, a little synopsis if you will? I am a painter living in Los Angeles, CA. I’m originally from the Midwest, but I’ve spent the past six years in LA practicing the phrase, “I am a painter” in front of the mirror until it finally came true. I paint mainly figurative work, a lot of portraits. I had my first solo show “Little Joy” this year at New Image Art. We saw your show “Little Joy” at New Image and really enjoyed it. One element of your paintings that affected me greatly was your recurring themes influenced from everyday life, contemporary society and real people. Will you tell us about your portraits, the subjects and their backdrops? I painted portraits of my friends who were all twenty-somethings and living on the east side of Los Angeles. They all seemed to be bound by this shared existential anxiety: about being artists themselves, trying to create some meaning in life, confronting an acute sense of mortality through this almost perverse obsession Los Angeles has
with youth. I painted them in their homes and at iconic neighborhood spots. It felt like an anthropological exercise more than anything. Most of them were in these incredibly vulnerable spaces: bedrooms, bathrooms, etc., and you get the sense that they built these little universes for themselves and all of the objects that surrounded them served to reinforce their identities as if to say, “I exist, I’m here.” I wanted to study and preserve these moments through the paintings. Was your childhood ambition to be in an artist? How did you get into art? My parents have a catalog of home videos and I’m almost always making something, playing an instrument or dancing so they definitely started me off in a creative direction. They also saved what seems to be every drawing and notebook from my childhood so there is written evidence that I did always want to be an artist. The desire to create was always there, but it remained mostly dormant while I spent my early twenties traveling and figuring out how to be a person. I only started painting seriously when I was 25 and I feel like I’m just now hitting my stride and it feels very exciting. I got my first real studio space this year which has been so helpful in creating the time and space to paint. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist? When you’re in a place like LA, you’re exposed to so much art and it can be inspiring but it can also start to make you question what the point of it all is. Art as
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a lifestyle can tend to feel self-indulgent at times, and especially in the current political climate, you wonder what your role is as an artist. What do you want to say? Do you want to create art designed to provoke, to transcend, to challenge? Does it matter? I spend a lot of time thinking about all of this and I don’t have an answer for it yet. I oscillate between empathy and apathy depending on where I’m at on the spectrum of horrible-things-read-on-the-internet-2016. Good answer. Do you do any commissioned portraits? I have done one commissioned portrait, but it really depends on the person. I prefer for my artwork to remain separate from the design work I do to pay the bills. I like the purity and freedom of painting whatever I want, without it feeling like a job. Do you have any upcoming projects? I’m currently in experimental mode; I never went to art school so I am taking some time to freely explore different styles and ideas right now. In terms of life goals, I have this vision of buying a property in the desert in the not too distant future to channel my inner Georgia O’Keeffe, so I’ve been practicing “I live in Joshua Tree” in the mirror until it comes true. Anyone want to go in on a house with me? Let’s discuss. Where can people check out your art? My website is www.andreanakhla.com or on Instagram, @andreantoinette. I also recently did an art and short story collaboration with my best friend Nada Alic, which you can see at www.thisisfutureyou.com.
Anderson Collection at Stanford University words • jason linetzky Nick Cave’s (b. 1959) work blurs boundaries, challenging convention and inviting fresh contemplation of visual culture and performance. His celebrated Soundsuits, featured at the Anderson Collection, unlock new possibilities for self-exploration and the examination of collective cultural identity. Complex and multivalent, these body-sized sculptures are built from an eclectic array of found materials, textiles, and influences. Like patchwork quilts, whose humble, well-worn fabric scraps are resonant with the layered histories of those who once wore them, the Soundsuits call forth a network of associations: from the world of George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic to the Native American, West African, Caribbean, and Mardi Gras traditions that so inspire Cave. His Soundsuits hum, vibrate, and emote – despite their inanimate state. They inhabit our space as much as we do theirs. They beckon us. Cave’s Soundsuits and video works invite us to travel across the usual borders between sculpture, costume, and dance; the traditional and the fashionable; and the tangible and the ephemeral. It may not come as a surprise that Cave has long seen himself as a collector. During his youth in Missouri and throughout his student years at the Kansas City Art Institute and Cranbrook Academy of Art he was drawn to objects. This interest, which today extends to his current role as a professor and Chair of the Fashion Design Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, is not wholly unique; consciously or not, we all collect. Young children often search for seashells at the beach, pick flowers in the park, or fill their pockets with shiny and craggy stones. They make choices, and value is assigned. Generally, each object possesses a singular meaning, but when viewed collectively or after the passage of time, the meanings associated with objects tend to change and oftentimes grow. This transformation is something Cave is deeply mindful of, and it helps explain why he is attracted to the discarded, “dismissed,” and forgotten objects he gathers at flea markets, antique shops, and yard sales. He sees power in castoffs – in the potential of what they were, are, and can become – and he harnesses it by thoughtfully recombining his found objects and granting them new life. In an almost magical way, these Soundsuits can offer the remarkable opportunity to envision ourselves, and one another, anew. Cave’s first Soundsuit (1992) was built in reaction to the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers and the riots that followed the officers’ acquittal in 1992. The materials he used, fallen and “discarded” twigs, were collected while Cave was walking through Grant Park in Chicago, thinking about that horrific incident and its aftermath. As an African American man, Cave was concerned about his well-being and later reflected, “I started thinking about the role of identity, being racially profiled, feeling devalued, less than, dismissed.” Back in his studio, troubled by questions around the safety and security of his own body, Cave began cutting the collected twigs into short lengths, drilling holes in each and sewing them into a life- size figure. The sculpture that emerged was a “second skin,” a form of armor, or perhaps a talisman that could ward off harm. Though it was not built as a wearable object, Cave donned his creation. Within it he found sanctuary, a new identity, and was surprised and inspired by the sound the twigs made when he moved. And so he named this sculpture, and those like it that followed, Soundsuits. Today, Cave’s video work and community-based performances demonstrate and animate his Soundsuits’ potential to engage their environment, make noise, and liberate those who encounter them. “My work relates to empowering people,” states Cave, and his performances have been said to serve as catalysts for transformation, of the individuals who wear the suits and of the audience, who experiences their movements and sounds. It’s this type of community-based cultural production and social engagement for which Cave is reaching. If the Soundsuits conceal their wearers’ race, gender, and age, and affect their wearers and viewers in distinct ways, all are free to respond individually, to act without judgment. Cave’s practice celebrates community and encourages us to look past perceived differences, within ourselves and others, to arrive at a place where all are valued and have agency. It is profoundly true that the Soundsuits could be you, or me, or us.
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photos • james prinz photography • courtesy of the artist and jack shainman gallery, new york
Fine art photographer Susanna Majuri is known for images where water is a key element. Majuri graduated in 2007 with a Master of Arts from the University of Art and Design Helsinki, majoring in photography. She is currently completing her doctoral studies on photographic fiction at the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki. Majuri’s works have been included in numerous international exhibitions since 2005, and she has had solo exhibitions at the Finnish Museum of Photography, Finland (2010), Museum of Photography, Charleroi, Belgium (2011), and Musée des BeauxArts de Caen, France (2014), among others. Majuri’s works are included in several major public and private collections both in Finland and abroad. “Water is fiction. Certain kinds of eyes, dark waters and rocks and a glimmer, and a promise of something. I follow them when something invites me. I photograph strangers, they invoke my desire, and I ask them to come. I borrow
moments from their lives. I hold that spellbound fiction as eternal and true. Mysteries will become your secrets. I want to take you into your dreams. Here, in the images, my protagonists sing with tunes of joy and yearning. Water paints with me, it merges the people and the landscapes together. Water is fiction. You can recognize these photographed places in your imagination. Feelings can be revealed and hidden. If you simulate an emotion, it is like a permission to feel. It is possible to tell about the unspoken through images. Once I wanted to write down every water I knew. When I was a child, my father took me to the water, lakes, ponds and rivers. We were smiling while looking for the treasures.” - Susanna Majuri
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It’s been a while, man. What have you been up to? Where have you been? Are you still holding it down in Bali? Where art thou Damea Dorsey? I’ve been in Indonesia, mainly Bali, but traveling all over Indo whenever I get the chance. I’ve noticed from trolling Instagram that you’ve made the switch to shooting Sony. I’m sure that wasn’t an option as a system to shoot with back in the day. Is there anything you like better shooting with new Sony cameras? The Sony mirrorless bodies are a lot smaller and lighter, which is a bonus. It took some time getting used to the different interface and the more delicate bodies, but the image quality is equal to Canon so I’m happy with the results. Have you been traveling much? Is there any real reason to leave Bali? Do you find yourself being able to shoot all sorts of people without leaving where you live/ stay? Bali gets pretty crowded these days but there are a few less crowded spots if you know where to go. There’s a lot of really good surf here in Indonesia; you just need to get out there and have a look around. If someone comes to town and hits me up I’m always down to try to get a few good shots. Someone’s always coming to Bali.
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interview • delon isaacs
Do you prefer getting in the water or shooting from land? What photos are you usually happier with, or is it always different? For me, nothing beats getting in the water. That isn’t always the best shot opportunity, so I still try to stay open to what the situation calls for, but yeah, the water is where I’d rather be. I’m a fish at heart.
Do you ever swim without a helmet? Any close calls with while shooting in the water? I’ve been surfing, swimming, and playing in the ocean my whole life, and the idea of wearing a helmet never crossed my mind. There’s only ever been a few times out at Pipe that I probably could have used one. If I was going to do what some of these guys are doing now, like taking off behind your bro at a slabbing reef break, then I would definitely consider using a helmet. How has the surf photography game changed for you? You’ve been in this line of work for quite some time now, I’m sure you would have a pretty strong opinion on the challenges with being a longtime photographer existing in a new, all-digital, social media age. For me, specifically the photography game has changed a lot. The dream job of shooting surfing for a living died for me when Transworld Surf had to close its doors. I had it good and I’m so thankful for that time of my life. I truly was “Living the Dream.” Times have changed and you have to change with them.
I truly was “Living the Dream.� Times have changed and you have to change with them. kayu vianna
bronson meidy
"I didn’t like the idea of my passion being a point of stress”
There are so many more guys out there with good cameras, water housings, etcetera, and that means more photos floating around and a less opportunity to get paid. It’s a lot harder to make good money so I started shooting other things like weddings, fashion, product, etc. Unfortunately, I just don’t have a passion for those things enough to properly pursue them. My passion is for being near the ocean. I didn’t like the idea of my passion being a point of stress so I started a few other businesses to keep shooting fun. I opened Dorsey’s Barber Shop inside Deus in Bali and I’m pretty happy with the way that has been going. It’s freed up time for me to enjoy shooting again as well as me getting to go surfing more.
harrison roach
Do you have a favorite all-time photo you’ve shot? I have favorite photos but that changes all the time. I like different photos for different reasons and it’s way too hard for me to like just one or have an all-time favorite, at least not for very long. Who are five of your favorite surfers that you’ve had the opportunity to shoot during your career? There’s the obvious guys I’ve been lucky enough to shoot and travel with, like John Florence, Dane Reynolds, Kelly Slater, Bruce and Andy Irons, Josh Kerr, etc. Shooting with guys like these is as exciting as surf photography gets. It doesn’t matter if it’s two or 10-foot, something amazing could happen at any moment.
mitch coleborn
Do you think you’ll always continue to shoot photos? Have you explored any other fields of work that you’re in love with? Whether it’s surfing or everyday life I’m sure I’ll always be shooting the things I love. I have two kids and I’ve been shooting them since they were born. That is for sure the most rewarding and fun photos for me to shoot. Going on a surf trip with good friends and getting a few good photos is really rewarding as well. Can’t beat sharing a good photo after a fun day of hanging with friends and family. Any books or shows in the work for Damea Dorsey? The only books I’ve made were for my kids, so no plans for anything extravagant at this time. If I do do something interesting I’ll be sure to reach out so you can come by for a beer and check things out.
marlon gerber
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For those who aren’t familiar with your work, could you describe how you see yourself as an artist in a few words? A conceptual, political, social, re-animator. You devote your art practice to strong narratives that are reflected through your exhibitions - often referencing specific instances of violence attributed to local areas as seen in Single Shot, Fish in a Barrel and Ceasefire. Is this applicable in a global context? Yes, absolutely… Ceasefire, for example, was making reference to the Syrian conflict. The word “ceasefire” was and is used so frequently that I felt its meaning became clouded, i.e.: did it mean “stop firing” or “keep firing”? This could easily be said for many other parts of the world unfortunately. I have to imagine all of those things have strongly informed you as a person and how you relate to the world. Are there other social or political conversations you hope to evoke through your art, and what kind of dialogue are you hoping to have with the public? Issues and thought-provoking conversations crop up everywhere. The other thing to bear in mind is that a series like Single Shot (where a bullet pierces the glass and each work is representing an actual incident) will always be with us. Conceptually, I like that it’s never going away. In reality, I wish this were not the case.
interview • joseph ian henrikson from anonymous gallery
You have always applied and paid close attention to not only the formal qualities of your work but also the materials that you use. The materials do vary, but in general I’ve always felt that they should be consistent with the narrative of the work, i.e.: I don’t believe a cheap-ass frame is appropriate when referring to a single-shot incident. What draws you to those materials and what was the initial inspiration behind your signature use of shattered glass? I’ve always thought glass looks so much better when it’s broken. Broken glass always poses the questions “how?” and “why?” Weren’t the best places you played in as a kid the ones with broken windows? Did this have any influence on you setting up your base and art practice in Birmingham, which has been described to me as the Detroit of the UK? Not intentionally but I guess it did. It does have a lot of similarities – a flagging car industry, abandoned buildings, etcetera. I’ve got family in both cities so maybe it’s in the blood. That, and my love of urban decay. Do you see your contributions and work there as part of your artistic practice? Again, it has not been intentional in any way, just a total organic process. When I came to the area where my studio/home is now, it was typical of any other area of industrial inner cities worldwide during the global recession, devoid of people but full of buildings that were assets of the past and now eyesores of the present. Reanimating these with the community that was left behind has been an amazing, fulfilling experience for me. Your studio (The Compound) is amazing. I’ve never been to anywhere like it. Thanks. Yeah, it’s turned into some sort of creative hub for art, film, photography, etc. It was meant to be somewhere I slept and made stuff. I had no idea that it would hit a nerve with people worldwide. I’ve got to ask you about Steven Spielberg. Ha ha yes, I got to eat porridge with him for a week. Super nice guy, but not just him, all the people that filmed here that week. It was inspiring to have them here, especially when you think that only a few years ago the police wouldn’t have come down this street. Could what you are doing be compared to other artists like Theaster Gates or even Gordon Matta-Clark? Maybe. What Theaster is doing has similarities for sure. The re-animation side of what I do (Javelin Block) is currently focusing on an affordable space initiative for artists and start-ups within the creative field. Although my approach to urban design is based around people’s commitment to an area or city rather than a technical discipline. As far as Gordon Matta-Clarke is concerned, he was a oneoff – genius. Plus, you can’t cut through our buildings, as they’re made of three-feet-thick brick not plywood and drywall.
What are some of your consistent influences? Cities, urban decay, people, birds, and Guinness. What projects are you currently working on? A large public art project in the UK. How can readers get to know you better? At www.prycelee.com or on Instagram, @prycelee.
f.s feeble • Southbury, CT
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Let’s get the basics out of the way: let everyone know your name and where you’re from. Julian Lewis from Newtown, Connecticut. I know you lived down in Florida for a couple of years; did you like it better down there or up in New England? I enjoy my time in New England better ‘cause it’s where I grew up. I wasn’t too fond of Florida but if I never lived there I wouldn’t be where I am now. What’s your favorite city to skate in New England? I would say Boston. It’s a very relaxed place, in my opinion. Lynch Skatepark is tight too.
Are you looking to go anywhere else to skate or stay in New England? I want to skate New Hampshire. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the skate scene there. I’m currently living at your house (I appreciate the fuck out of it) but the long-term goal is to make it out to California, possibly Huntington Beach. I have a place there whenever I’m ready to go. What companies are you riding for now? I ride for Birdhouse, Eswic, Bronson, Independent, MOB, OJ, New Balance, Glassy and 2nd Nature Skateshop. You just put out a gnarly part on OJ Wheels. Are you currently working on anything else? I’m trying to film a little part for Transworld, but I recently had to pay my dues with an ankle injury. Hopefully I can start filming as soon as it warms up. What was the most difficult part of getting that OJ part finished? Working with a sprained ankle for sure. I only needed a couple more clips when I sprained it but the deadline was close so I tried to tough it out.
So the big question: A lot of people know you as the kid who 50’d the 24-stair rail in the snow. Can we expect another one of those this year? If my ankle heals up quick and I find a good rail, fuck it! Haha. Are there any skaters that inspire you? I’ve been getting some inspiration by Reynolds lately, but who isn’t inspired by him? I’m trying to eat a little healthier, like turning to plantbased protein called Vega in fruit smoothies. But not being able to skate and consuming all that protein has caused some stomachaches, haha. But I’m for sure watching what I consume now; I want to be able to skate for a very long time. What’s the strangest thing that has happened while you’ve been out filming? Just random dudes that rap who ask us if we’re “making movies” and ask if we would film a music video with them. Bunch of characters out there.
interview & photos • ricky aponte
f.s blunt
ollie
f.s 5-0 • Waterbury, CT
Any last words or shout-outs? Expectations are high, be weary of that. But also be weary to not stress on it. Don’t force yourself to reach those expectations, enjoy what you’re doing and remember why you’re doing it, because anything can happen if you want it bad. In this case, skate for fun. Let it make you happy. It seems like everyone is stressed nowadays. This is your life, your only one, so make it a good one. Shout-out to my family and friends. I appreciate all of them, even if I don’t say it verbally. I would like to thank BL!SSS Mag to take the time to put me in the magazine. f.s 5050 • Umass, Amherst
words • delon isaacs RVCALOHA is the annual family tradition for the talented bunch of skaters, surfers, artists, and other affiliates whom all fly and support the same VA flag. Taking place on the same seven-mile stretch of Oahu every year, the North Shore is the perfect arena for these diverse individuals to express their vast creative outlets. This was my fourth year participating in the RVCALOHA communion, and every year I go it feels like I’m being shipped off to paradise to attend a high school reunion. The whole North Shore
gets a blatant reputation for being pretty surf heavy, which makes complete sense given all the commotion with the Triple Crown and the presence of all the surf companies and their networks of global surf dogs. There’s a lot of “shakas” and “yews” thrown around, which isn’t a bad thing (it’s actually pretty positive), or even a thing to complain about, but it’s just something you pick up on really, really quick. The fascinating thing about working with RVCA is the fact that they send off so many different components of their brand to join together in this great big tropical communion.
Tyler Newton
Malakai
Bruce Irons
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OTW Porch
Alex Knost & Ellis Ericson
Greyson Fletcher Herbie Fletcher
Bert Krak
Axis
Brian Mackenzie
Colin Moran
Davey Cathels
ANP Artists Shane Borland
Wave Warriors Ford Archbold
NS Lifeguard Kyle
Kevin Spanky Long Parker Cohn
There’s a great deal of respect that all the RVCA advocates have for one another, and that goes both ways for how everyone supports each other at the same time. Skaters will go and root for their brand mates during surf competitions. Surfers will head over to the skate park to drink beer and to hoot the skaters on while they try to stack a couple of clips. And both the groups can eventually be found at the art houses trying to get their boards painted on, or even to try and hustle a tattoo off of VA Advocate Bert Krak. It’s a really amazing thing being able to interact and photograph 50+ advocates who are all there together on this small stretch of land on this one big/little island. For a real look at RVCALOHA make sure you visit their website and check out their video series that covers the entire six-week season, and a shoutout to all the filmers Etienne Aurelius, Blaine Suque and Brandon Jensen for making those things happen. Also a big shout-out to Zak Noyle, John Bradford, Mark Oblow and Brian Clifford for all the imagery seen here and paired with the videos. Strom
Makua Rothman
words • greg escalante
The East Coast produced its own brand of humor magazines from the 1960s all the way to the ‘90s. While the jokes were often universal, it lacked a familiar tone with us on the West Coast and our surroundings and activities. SURFtoons and CARtoons, while not mad, were truly fantastic and often a comic view of a time between sunrises and sunsets that is iconic of the west, filled with hot rod machines and a lifestyle ruled by grace on ocean waves. Thanks to the faith and interest of this work by museum curator Britt Salvesen, along with the vision of Michael Govan, the few remaining and sometimes rescued cartoons art pieces were exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for six months.
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If you missed it there will be a gallery exhibit at La Luz De Jesus opening on January 6 and running through the end of the month. The exhibit will include vintage and new art by the CARtoons Alumni and tribute art by amazing contemporaries like Brian Viveros, Chet Zar and Tim Burton. As 2016 comes to a close when a year ago this exhibit was just mere conversation, dear reader, I can’t help but be sad by many of the year’s events. It was a brutal year, to say the least, in taking great talent from this plane, but it was the year of a longtime dream becoming a reality. I do not have words for facing the reality that Robert Williams, Rick Griffin, Nelson Dewey, Pete Millar, Monte Wolverton, Dave Deal, William Stout, Errol McCarthy and Dennis Ellrfson, and others, will be sharing walls in this great and respected institution with the likes of Matisse, Rivera and the rest of the art world.
In our continuing search for the presumed lost artwork we received an invitation from the Petersen Museum to perhaps look over some artwork they had discovered during their expansive and amazing remodel. The museum and facility has always had an impressive and unequal collection of cars. We were greeted by curator Mary Brisson, who patiently and with great care showed us some wonderful examples of magazine art that had been stored away for many years. Many of the pieces were from the publication of CARtoons. At one point she inquired if we had any interest in other non-automotive cartoons from other magazines. Knowing that Petersen published many different types of magazines we expected some coin collecting, maybe some gun magazine cartoons, or even scuba diving cartoons. When Mary brought out a stack of SURFtoons we felt the euphoria fill our eyes and brains we must’ve just about jumped out of our socks with elation looking through these original drawings. We felt the pieces deserved another look, so here they are presented in their raw and unaltered form.
shane dorian
How did the whole photography thing start for you? Did it stem off of just being on trips and traveling? When you get in the water do you ever experience weird internal battles where you wish you were surfing rather than shooting photos, or vice versa? I really got into shooting photos a few years ago when my buddy gave me a waterproof case for my phone and I went for an evening swim. Ever since then I was hooked – it’s really addicting! I just seem to have a whole new appreciation for a lot of the everyday things that I have seen all my life. Sometimes I feel like I wish I was surfing instead of shooting photos, but at the same time I will be in the water surfing and paddle over a perfect wave watching one of my friends get barreled or do a huge air and wish I had my camera. After all the years of just surfing and trying to get the shot it really is cool to see the action and capture these special moments. I really have been enjoying just being in the water, whether it is surfing, swimming or whatever. According to my mom, who is an artist, photography runs in our family but has skipped a couple generations. My great, great grandfather received the Heinz award for inventing the first actual blueprint. It was actually called “vandyking.” I thought that was pretty cool.
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What’s the gear like? Have you solidly locked down all the equipment you need to shoot photographs, or are you constantly trying new cameras and mediums? I actually have a lot of gear all of a sudden. There are so many different lenses and cameras it is just crazy. I currently own three cameras: a Canon 1DX, 7D Mark2 and a 5DSR. Each one has a custom-made housing from CMT – they are really lightweight and solid. I am constantly learning more every day and getting tips from other photographers with more knowledge and experience. It really is cool to be able to shoot with multiple lenses and ports. It’s challenging to shoot over under but when you get a cool image it’s all worth it. I also have some water flash setups and other lenses, but it’s funny because I never thought I would be spending this much money on cameras instead of surfboards, haha!
Growing up as a surfer, who were your favorite surf photographers in the game? Has your respect for those guys grown now as you’ve transitioned from being on the opposite end of the camera? Being from Maui, Eric Aeder was the man... and he still is! When I first came to Oahu I was lucky enough to meet the late Craig Finemann. He was so cool to us. When we would come over he would take us to shoot a lot of secret spots it was just really special and we were all so lucky to have these memories. As I got older and spent more time here on the North Shore it was guys like Brian Bielmann, Flipper and Hank. There was a lot of these crazy water guys like Scott Aichner who were just tapped. I think swimming at pipeline/backdoor with a wide angle on a big day is still the scariest thing I have ever done. I definitely have a whole new respect for these guys and anyone swimming in the pit. There are really so many talented photographers that have inspired me, and I am very grateful for everyone that has ever taken the time to shoot photos of me over the years. What types of little things make up a good photograph for you? Has photography almost become a therapeutic hobby for you now? Shooting photos has definitely been an escape for me. Living here at the pipe house I am constantly surrounded by a lot of people. It’s like my little “me time” when you just go into your zone and just have fun with it. It’s probably the closest I get to actually meditating. If I end up getting a couple cool images from a session, cool, but I think it’s all about the meditation and just enjoying our time here. The images are just a bonus.
jackson bunch
gavin beschen
luke walsh
josh moniz
mason ho
Those photos from Pe’ahi are nuts! How exhilarating was it for you to be there and document that session? The Pe’ahi photos were definitely a rush. I was driving myself on the ski and didn’t have any reverse so it was very interesting. When you are looking into those huge open ocean slabs through the lens without someone driving it’s crazy – almost gotta keep both eyes open.
dusty payne
tai vandyke • photo • andrew christie
In what year can we expect to see an exclusive Tai VanDyke photo showing? I would love to put something together! I have been trying all kinds of different stuff with my prints, and it’s definitely one of my favorite things to do now. From taking the photos, printing them myself and mounting or making some kind of homemade art, it’s really rewarding. Especially after watching my mom do it my entire life with her art. Not sure when I will have enough stuff for an exclusive showing, but I am always stoked to make stuff and be a part of any kind of shows, so we will see.
photos • lee stockwell For more than a decade, Bear Mountain’s Sunday In The Park web series has been one of the most-watched in the action sports industry. Sunday In The Park has served as a weekly showcase for some of the most innovative and up-and-coming riders in the snowboard industry, helping to propel them to icon status while helping to launch the careers of a few behind the camera as well. The series has also served as a platform for Bear’s industrious Park Crew to put their unparalleled skills and creativity to work, as they continue to up the ante and help further the progression of the sport. It’s the reason why riders still travel to Bear looking to get in front of the camera for some hot laps, and they wake up on Sunday to see if they made the edit. A “typical” Sunday In The Park shoot at Bear is anything but – dropping into the park with other riders, over 150 features, and a film crew in tow can get a little dicey. The park setup has often been compared to a giant skate park, with endless lines, scattered transition, rails, and jumps you won’t find anywhere else. The Bear Mountain Park Crew takes pride in keeping things fresh, going out five nights a week on average during the season and changing up features to always keep the riders and viewers on their toes. We’re all waiting with anticipation to see what kind of physicsdefying setup they’ll conjure up next.
Scott Stevens Dylan Alito Oliver Dixon
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Jordan Small
Chris Bradshaw
Dylan Alito
Jordan Small
Dylan Alito
John Castro
Richie Conklin
Scott Vine
Scott Stevens
Joe Sexton
Dylan Alito
Zak Hale
Lenny Mazzotti
During its 10-plus years of existence, Sunday In The Park has set the bar high for other resorts and web series due in large part to its inspired combination of park riding technicians, unique features, and creative filming. What follows for the team is a late-night editing session that often bleeds into morning. It’s a daunting, thankless endeavor, but one that sees its rewards in the four minutes of footage that are good enough to make the final cut. The final seal of approval can be heard coming from the Bear’s video department early Sunday morning as the Park Crew watch the finished product with the volume all the way up, eagerly waiting to see their week of hard work destroyed by some of the industry’s finest riders. It’s a product of love as much as it is of labor, and the snowboarding industry as a whole is better for it.
john florence • photo • heff
words • spencer pirdy The Triple Crown of Surfing really is the most exciting part of the year for surf fans worldwide. There’s requalification on the line as well as qualification from the QS. There can be a World Title at stake, and just a close second to that is winning the Triple Crown and solidifying yourself as arguably the best surfer of the season on the North Shore. You really never know what you’re going to get wave-wise, but the odds are with you and you’re damn sure it’s going to be exciting. This year, minus a World Title, a massive amount was left to be decided heading into the Triple Crown. As Haleiwa kicked off you had surfers like Zeke Lau, Frederico Morais and more that were looking for results to bump into the top 10 on the QS and qualify for the World Tour. You also had the likes of Jack Freestone, Ryan Callinan and others looking to keep their spots.
jordy smith • photo • cestari
Haleiwa had solid surf for a couple of the days of the event. The move of the event went to San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto for a massive buzzer-beater frontside air that was a full Hail Mary. In the final it was all John John and Frederico sparring against one another. The Portuguese Prince put up a good fight, but Hawaii’s favorite son emerged victorious. On to Sunset, and it was absolutely on fire in the last two days of competition with classic west bowls offering up epic rides for everyone. The final saw Tanner Gudauskas, a newly qualified Frederico Morias, Torrey Meister and Jordy Smith battling for the win. Jordy ended up taking the final with his power carves.
michel bourez • cestari
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Pipe was a bit slow wave-wise for the whole event waiting period, unfortunately. There were some great Backdoor waves on the final day. A few highlights included Finn McGill winning the trials, Italo’s rodeo flip that only earned a 7.17 and Kanoa Igarashi making heats (all the way to the final) for his boy Zeke Lau. Kanoa had his best result of the year with a second, but Tahiti’s Michel Bourez ended up with the Billabong Pipe Masters Title. In review, John John won Haleiwa and the overall Triple Crown. Ethan Ewing got the Rookie of the Year award, Zeke qualified and Michel Bourez is a Pipe Master. Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, and we partied!
PHOTO: ACOSTA
KYLE WALKER FRONT SIDE 50-50
A C T I V E R I D E S H O P. C O M
Cheeseburger & Mason Ho • Best Series
John Florence • #1 Men’s A.I. breakthrough performer award went to Mason Ho, seen here with the Irons clan
Ian Walsh • Best Documentary & Greg Long • Heavy Water Award
Albee Layer • Best Barrel
Joe Bard & Friends of Sunset • The Agent of Change Award
The Fletchers ; Greyson, Herbie & Nathan
words • spencer pirdy • photos •ellis This was a great night! The night where all of the best surfers in the world are slightly “dressed to impress” and their yearlong hard work is voted on by the public. Turtle Bay turns into the Oscars of surfing and it’s fun as hell. Big winners for the night included Greg Long, Albee Layer, John John Florence, and the man of the night – Mason Ho. Mason pretty much made the night for all of us. He first won the “Andy Irons Award” and gave a very respectful and charismatic speech praising Andy in true Mason form. Then, it was time for “Best Web Series” and I couldn’t help but to be rooting for Mason and Cheeseburger. Their series License to Chill is just too much fun to watch. Mason and Burger feed off of each other in and out of the water, and with the likes of Rory Pringle’s filming and Joe Alani’s editing it’s classic surfing reborn. When the award was announced and License to Chill won it was all out mayhem in the ballroom. Mason and Burger, a few drinks deep, were so damn good during the award acceptance. The two acknowledged the past and present legends of today, Mason gave a few of his lacking sponsors a reality check and the rest was just pure comedy. It’s history in the books, literally. And I don’t really think we should talk about the rest of the night here. It was an amazing Surfer Poll Awards, and we’ll see you next year!
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Carissa Moore • #1 Women’s
Movie of the Year • Let’s Be Frank
words • spencer pirdy photos • sloane (*unless noted) The Eddie Aikau Opening Ceremony is a special day on the North Shore, and for the whole surfing community in general. The best big-wave riders, plus the heaviest, most well respected surfers on the planet are in attendance. Waimea Valley glistens in the background for an afternoon of celebrating one of the greatest Hawaiian legends who ever graced the earth. After last year’s Eddie, the bar is set extremely high. John John and all of the other competitor’s performances last year was the stuff of legends. Eddie was definitely smiling down on all of them and everyone at the ceremony this year. One thing that’s striking about the Eddie ceremony is the circle that brings all of these big wave hell men together. South Africans, Australians, Americans, Brazilians, Hawaiians and more are all there, as cultures come together for Eddie. Tree-sized big-wave boards sit at the center, and it’s interesting to see the airbrushes, fin setups and dimensions of the boards that aid these gentlemen in paddling and riding the biggest waves of their lives. We flat out don’t know if the Eddie will run every year – we just don’t. What we do know is that if Eddie and Mother Nature agree, it will be a day where we’ll all stop what we’re doing and watch in awe. Here’s to hoping the Eddie does GO!
John Florence
Michael Ho, Kelly Slater & Kai Lenny
Reef Mcintosh, Carlos Burle, Kahea Hart, Kala Alexander & Jock Sutherland
Mason Ho & Jamie Sterling
Greg Long, Bruce Irons & Tyler Newton
photo • cestari
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interview • ej binns • photo • max ritter
For those who might not know, could you give the readers a little knowledge about your history, both musically and spiritually, that have lead to your first solo record? I grew up in San Diego going to shows and listening to music but didn’t really play in bands until I was in college. After hearing the Modern Lovers records I started the Muslims. I give credit to Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. It didn’t seem within reach until I heard his early records. They’re so simple but really sincere. After hearing those records I wanted to make the most honest and straightforward music possible, mostly because I was never a very good musician. I had to rely on sincerity and intensity to get anything across. I still do actually. After about a year the Muslims became The Soft Pack after a few lineup changes and a handful of “warnings” from actual Muslims via MySpace and email. We toured for about five years and it was a good thing, but we all wanted to move on to different things. How does your musical style differ on Where I’m Matt from the Soft Pack/Muslims days? What musical influences appear on this record that we haven’t heard come through in your past work? That being said, this album, Where I’m Matt isn’t much different from my previous records! Maybe it’s a bit looser. There are more electronic sounds because I don’t know any drummers. And sometimes I work with my friend Sebastian Denegri, who produces electronic music at his studio Mexikart. But this album is mostly rock or pop or whatever. I’ve been listening to a lot of Roxy Music for the last few years. Speaking of the album title, where are you Matt? You have been living and recording in Mexico, so could you tell us a little bit about that experience? What brought you south of the border? Where I’m at geographically is Ensenada, Baja California. I’ve been down here for about four or five years now. Being down here has been good for learning Spanish and getting a different perspective. There’s less pressure to make things orderly or easy to consume. It’s liberating. So, maybe that’s noticeable on Where I’m Matt. We have seen the ebb and flow in Baja’s music scene over the past decade. What’s “the scene” like down there currently? I don’t really go to shows much actually, but there is a good scene in TJ at the Moustache bar and other places. I live out in the mountains, record music in my house or hang out by the bay and eat clams. You enlisted a crew of comrades to fill out the album. Who plays on the record? This album is a mixed bag of stuff I recorded with different friends over the past few years in San Diego and Ensenada. Andrew Montoya and Jeremy Rojas [The Sess, Beaters, Ale Mania, Teach Me] helped out on a few of the songs at Andrew’s studio in San Diego called Electricalifornia. The other half was recorded in Ensenada - some stuff at my home and some at Mexikart with Sebastian Denegri, Kathia Rudametkin and David Martinez. Any plans to take the album on the road? Would shows be solo or would you take a band along with you? It can get lonely out there... I’ll be going on the road with a full band, most of the people who played on the record. I’m really excited about it. They’re some of the best musicians I know and great people. We’ll be doing a West Coast tour with Silver Shadows at the end of January and then hopefully a whole U.S. tour around mid 2017. Where can you pick this thing up and on what formats? Vinyl, cassette, digital? It will be out on vinyl on Volar Records or you can pick it up on CD or MP3 at my bandcamp and iTunes. volarrecords.bandcamp.com mattlamkin.bandcamp.com Thanks Matt! Matt Lamkin’s Where I’m Matt is available now via Volar Records!
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All dates w/Silver Shadows Fri 1/27 – SD, CA - Whistle Stop Bar Sat 1/28 – LA, CA - TBA Sun 1/29 – SF, CA - Hemlock Tavern Tue 1/31 – Eugene, OR - TBA Wed 2/1 – Olympia, WA - Obsidian Thu 2/2 – Seattle, WA - TBA Fri 2/3 – Portland, OR - High Water Mark Sat 2/4 – Sacramento, CA - the Red Museum Sun 2/5 – Santa Cruz, CA – TBA
reviews • delon isaacs & max ritter
Otis Redding Live at the Whiskey A Go Go Stax This is a very pivotal album, representing a time where Otis and his blazing 10piece band were giving the white rock ‘n’ rollers a run for their money on the Sunset Strip during the late ‘60s. Live at the Whiskey A Go Go is a compilation of 65 songs that spans almost 5 hours of live recorded music, an era where the sound was in its prime but was rarely recorded. If you owe someone a late Christmas present, this is definitely a no-brainer, seeing how it’s one of the greatest albums to have ever come out.
The Weeknd Starboy XO/Republic My eight-week-old son’s favorite artist so far. The baby crib is lit AF!
Pink Floyd The Early Years, 1967-72 Cre/ation Neil Young Peace Trail Reprise
I was so fuckin’ happy when this came out and was so immediately stoned when I decided to put it on for a listen. The Early Years, 1967-72, The Syd Barrett era, were the best of times, the cracked-out psychedelic of times. This was the album that told the remarkable story of Pink Floyd’s career up through the moment they became part of yesterday’s underground and today’s mainstream, the album that had to be made first, before they came out with Dark Side of the Moon. The Early Years were the completely experimental years, the “no direct path” years or “serious critical thinking” years – this album is very important.
Neil, I’m not mad at you for playing “Piece of Crap” for your encore when I saw you at The Fox Theatre a few months ago. You do you, man!
Landon McNamara A Dollar Short & A Minute Late A Dollar Short & A Minute Late is the debut album by 20-year-old surfer/model/musician Landon McNamara, who is sure to be one of Hawaii’s next top music artists. This album consists of songs with stories and important meanings behind them that are not molded by any standard or rules... “I do what I do,” she sings. They are songs to make you feel happy, to think about your life and to have a good time with. If you’re interested in checking out A Dollar Short & A Minute Late, the album is now available on iTunes or you can buy it directly from www.landon-mcnamara.com, but you probably already knew that.
Sheer Mag Compilation LP Wilsuns RC Shout-out to the genius that compiled all three Sheer Mag seven inches into one album. This is definitely my favorite band/ album of last year. Riff city!
Sun Ra Singles Strut This is honestly the best way you could kill three and a half hours out of your day. Singles is an in-depth compilation of all of Sun Ra’s single tracks offered in a masterful track listing. Sun Ra is a god and a cosmic jazzman that has recorded lifetimes and lifetimes of music, and is rumored to have thousands of extra unheard recordings hidden somewhere beneath our solar system. Sun Ra did amazing things for a lot of the music that still exist today, so check it out and get inspired.
Total Chaos: The Story of The Stooges (Book) Third Man Books No shirt, no worries! Iggy tells the story of The Stooges in his own words in a beautiful 300-page hardcover book. A must-have book for any Iggy/Stooges fan.
reviews • max ritter
Midnight Mass II The Packard, Long Beach, CA Saturday, December 10th, 2016 The Garden is seen here headlining Midnight Mass II at a warehouse space called The Packard last month in Long Beach. The bill also included the likes of The Spits, The Buttertones, Audacity, Feels, WALTER and many others. Midnight Mass is a growing DIY festival organized by Astro Lizard Records, Freak Style Booking, and the local music community. Thank you to all those involved for your hard work spreading the good rock ‘n’ roll gospel. Next year is going to be nuts. Can we knock down that break wall up there and really turn it up?
Dion Agius 12:53pm Encinitas, CA.
S p i n n i n g o ut with the n e w ‘ R o s a ’ graphics
W W W .S U P E R B R AN D E D . C O M
@SUPER_BRAND
L O O K L O O K
S L I C K S L I C K
DESIGNED FOR THE GENTLEMAN SURFER, BYRD HAIRDO PRODUCTS HARKEN BACK TO AN ERA WHEN GROOMING WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ONE’S DAILY ROUTINE. BYRD’S ORIGINAL FORMULAS ARE NOT DESIGNED IN A CUBICLE, THEY’RE TESTED AND REFINED WITHIN EARSHOT OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN - WHERE SUN, SALT AND SURF MAKE FOR SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST HAIR. DESIGNED FOR THE GENTLEMAN SURFER, BYRD HAIRDO PRODUCTS HARKEN BACK TO AN ERA WHEN GROOMING WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ONE’S DAILY ROUTINE. BYRD’S ORIGINAL FORMULAS ARE NOT DESIGNED IN A CUBICLE, THEY’RE TESTED AND REFINED WITHIN EARSHOT OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN - WHERE SUN, SALT AND SURF MAKE FOR SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST HAIR.
BYRD HAIRDO PRODUCTS MADE IN CALIFORNIA @BYRDHAIR | BYRDHAIR.COM BYRD HAIRDO PRODUCTS MADE IN CALIFORNIA @BYRDHAIR | BYRDHAIR.COM
Age: 11 Hometown: San Diego, CA Sponsors: Vans, Protec, Bones, Skeleton Key, Sun Diego, Creature, Independent Trucks & 187 Pads Favorite Skaters: Ben Raybourn, Sam Becket, Mike Frazier  photo• ortiz
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WE JUST PRINT THE SH&T / ERIK@AMPERLITHO.COM / 760.213.4008 / 910 17TH ST, COSTA MESA, CA 92627
knoxville XLS photo by @justinjayphoto ; action photo @tai_vandyke - mahalo our most comfortable sunglass, timeless style, highest quality, advanced performance with OHM+ Polar lens. hard work pays off. welcome to the tour Zeke. now the fun begins, WSL Championship Tour 2017. live free, buy independent from Electric... Style that Performs.