Holy shit I love oscar mike! This issue is all about love, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. It’s the festival season and love is in the air. Last issue we introduced you to a bunch of classy Adelaide characters who have been stumbling around the globe only to discover that little ol Adelaide isn’t so bad after all. In this issue we’ve focused more on skating and music and tried to back off on the overseas travel tales; it was making too many people jealous. We hope this issue will inspire you to swipe your credit cards and jump around to some of the amazing live music our country is blessed with. Be warned, there is a risk that from reading this you’ll find yourself at the bottom of a skate ramp looking towards the heavens, muttering the words “f*cking Oscar Mike!” Remember, you can follow us on facebook, just search for [OM] OSCAR MIKE, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. If you like what you see and want more from Oscar Mike ‘like’ us on facey :) Lots of love - Oscar Mike
bleeding knees photo-watto
4+26 s k a t e
8G i 14g a 20r m t u s i c
32s 30- U 36s L R 42n O F S o V t w E o r y
+ FALLS FESTIVAL 11-12 + I spent this past NYE road tripping east along the great ocean road with a group of my best mates to feast our foolish souls on the pleasures that the Falls Festival and its surrounding area have to offer each summer. It’s fair to say that we had high expectations as most of us were not falls virgins and knew what chaos and fun awaited us in the picturesque sheep fields situated a short hop and skip from Lorne VIC. We were not disappointed; the 9 day trip was chockers with laughs, beers, sunshine, surf and love. We bounced our sweat covered bodies in the blinding sun to the likes of Grouplove, the Naked & Famous, Kimbra, Alpine, the Grates, the Kooks, Metronomy, PNAU, Crystal Castles, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Arctic Monkeys, Fleet Foxes, the Jezabels and many more. It was your typical road trip and I think one of the highlights for me was stumbling across the craft tent in the fenced off area affectionately known as ‘the Village’. We heard rumours of an area in the Village where you could create crazy, awesome animal masks! So the next day we dragged our throbbing heads and sticky armpits from sauna like tents and swaggered down the hill, tripping over tent pegs and high fiving our way to the shady oasis that is the Village. We were met by a small hairy but extremely cheery fellow covered in Egyptian makeup who informed us that the pile of cardboard and numerous hot glue guns behind him were free for us to devour. This was met with wild hoots and cheeky, toothy smiles and we then descended on the colourful trash heaps. An hour later, covered in swelling blisters (from the bastard hot glue guns) we emerged from the tent sporting huge falcon heads, sprawling
penguin love photo-watto
+ FALLS FESTIVAL 11-12 + wings and even a nostril flaring crocodile mask. We were now appropriately attired for what would be one of the best nights of our lives. We soured through tent city, attracting laughs, cheers and beer bongs as we raced back to show off our beautiful creations to the remaining members of our motley crew of surf bums and our new friends from Sydney. The costumes were a huge success; we pranced our way into the natural amphitheatre and danced our little avian arses off to the head nodding sounds of Grouplove. The costumes didn’t last long as every man and woman around me was eager to flap their arms and jump up, down and around in a bird costume. The costumes and encouragement we received for being creative and having a laugh is probably the part of Falls Festival that I enjoy most. I never saw my costume again after Grouplove but it didn’t faze me since it had provided so many people with smiles and weird, colourful memories of a great day in the sun. I didn’t see one fight during the Falls Festival and only witnessed huge smiles and friendliness where ever I roamed during the 3days that I spent at the festival. This could have been a result of the huge quantities of euphoric drugs which are consumed by most falls punters but I’d like to think that it was because it’s a time of year when everyone just wants to have fun and let go. After spending my NYE at Falls Festival for the 3rd time I have no regrets and I can’t wait to get back for a 4th time.
avian party photos-kat
TOP LEFT: Tom having a ball at bleeding knees club
bottom left: josh and simo, lords of tent city
TOP right: 12 apostles
bottom right: whacking day
TOP LEFT: josh throwing buckets
bottom right: simo having a crack
right: camera club in port campbell
art Jack ferguson
Oscar Mike likes Jack Ferguson. Come to think of it, I’d say that everyone who has ever met Jack takes a liking to the guy. He’s a creative, cheerful character who most days you’ll find either skating, surfing, drawing or just hanging out with his mates and girlfriend laughing his head off. We sent him a few questions which he kindly answered and he sent us some his new and old art work. Check out some of his art here, ENJOY!
jack and a door
Jack ferguson
art What would be your ideal working day man, where would you work and what would you get up to? You know what, I actually have no idea what I would get up to on my ideal day at work. Apart from doing art and stuff, at the moment I am pursuing a career in Product Design, I have only just graduated uni and have a lot ahead of me before I can be successful, but this is what really interests me, and what I want to do. Furniture and home wares are where it’s at. As far as a day in the life of being a designer goes, apart from the actual Ideation, drawing, prototyping and fun stuff there is a lot of annoying stuff that comes with it as well but I don’t really want to think about that too much haha. So I guess my ideal working day is to be surrounded by a team of fun people, just getting creative and making cool things. For now though, even though it may not be a ‘job’ I treat every day as a working day. I am just trying to personally progress creatively, whether it be product design, art, skating, surfing, talking to people, travelling, eating food…. Its all in the name of progress. Over the many years I’ve know you you’ve gotten into all sorts of stuff; surfing, skating, skiing, art, music, why do you feel like you have to create? Yeah its weird, I’m not sure why but if I’m ever not being productive I sort of feel like I am wasting time. What I
Jack ferguson
art mean by ‘being productive’ is something good is resulting from what I am doing. For example the surfing, skating, snowboarding, even though I’m not real good, the lifestyle and epic times that are had doing it are what comes from doing it, so in a way it is being productive but not in a physical sense. And obviously with design and art its just cool when you can create something and other people can froth as well. You’ve been with your girl for a while, does she encourage you to be creative and does she enjoy your company more when you’re getting stoked over a barrel you had that day or a drawing you’ve just done? Haha Ali is great she definitely encourages me, and froths over everything I do even if its complete shit. I heard triple j presenters the other day talking about how artists’ work is only good when their depressed and their life is going down the drain, do you think this view has any truth or do you think you can be happy and still produce good work? I’ve never really been too depressed so I’m not sure yet! but if somebody is depressed they probably have a lot of time on their hands, and time is what you need to create good work. That’s what my problem is, I’m too impatient and I rush things and constantly try to find ways of making things happen quicker. So maybe there is some truth to it… Speaking of happiness I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sad dude, do you ever have a down day and if so what gets you through it? I’ve had my down days, but theres no use being sad when you can just say fuck it and be happy again. I don’t really care about much either, that helps too. But if I
Jack ferguson
art am sad it doesn’t last very long, I’m always pretty happy when I’m around other happy people. Other sad people is what makes me sad. Ok this is has been a bit deep so let’s lighten it up a bit. If you could bone any dude in the world who would it be and why… not saying that you’re gay but if you were? Its funny how out of all the questions, this is the one ive put the most thought into hahaha. Im going to say Jonathan Ive, if you don’t know who he is, he is the lead designer at Apple and he’s pretty much reason why Iphones and Macbooks and shit are so good. Hes a pretty big dude he would definitely take control. Ahahha shiiiiit, im going to regret saying that. If Andy Warhol was like “man lets go on a trip somewhere?” where you you want to go with him and why? hahahahahah uuuuummm Antarctica. But he probly wouldn’t agree. He was such a weird dude, maybe I would let him decide. What were your picks for the hottest 100 last year and where did you spend Australia day? Black Lips – Modern Art Crystal fighters – At Home The Drums – How it ended
Little Dragon – Little Man Likke Li – I follow Rivers Mr Little Jeans – Suburbs Neon Indian – Polish Girl San Cisco – Awkward Snakadaktal – Air The Strokes – Under Cover of Darkness Lots of chilling by the pool, we had a bit of a shindig at my girlfriend’s house, which was fun. I know you’re pretty into Land Rovers, have you ever had any crazy experiences in that car or on road trips in general? I fucking hate land rovers now hey. I had one for about 5 months…biggest piece of expensive crap. Everything kept breaking and the parts are so fucking expensive. I sold it to a dude for the same amount I bought it for even though the guy who serviced it said there was around 5 grand worth of work that needed to be done, the poor dude bought it off me thinking it was perfect haha bad karma coming my way for sure. Since then I got a Subaru and its so good I can thrash it and it never breaks! Not too many interesting stories from the land rover, but I do remember a particular night I drove to the bay with you, your bro, and like 8 other people crammed in the back, that was pretty funny. On a recent trip to hotham we left Adelaide at 8 pm and ran out of petrol at 2 am at some seedy little town and had to wait until the petrol station opened. Sleeping in a car with 4 people isn’t the best of fun, especially when you know you still have to drive another 8 hours or so. Lucky the petrol station opened at 4 am so we got back on the road and still got some snowboard time once we got there.
Jack ferguson
art
“
this is what our non existent staff are listening to in their non existent offices Well, so far 2012 is off to a good start, January and February have been busy months for music. With a few highly anticipated albums being released and a couple that didn't get much attention that sort of came out of nowhere. Here are a few that the Oscar Mike crew have been diggin'
”
Howler - America Give up
The Big Pink - Future This
This surf punk 5 piece came into focus late last year with their single Told You Once and it seemed like a few weeks later there album had been released. After Triple J had featured it and NME and many other websites butt fucked the shit out of it, I finally got my hands on it and I have to say its good! Full of catchy lazy surf tunes perfect for summer! If you haven't got into it yet, give it a few more spins, this one, if not an instant favourite, is definitely a "grower". NME, I've got dibs on sloppy seconds….
For me, The Big Pink's 2009 debut A Brief History Of love was pretty shit, it had two good singles and then the rest of the album was boring, I even listened to it again the other day just to confirm that thought. However their second effort is a big step forward, the album opens with Stay Gold followed by Hit The Ground (Superman). I’m always sceptical when the band puts there two big singles as the two first songs at the start of an album, it’s like that’s all they have to offer and the rest of the album will be a drag. This is not the case though; there are quite a few solid songs on this album. If you liked Dominos and Velvet from the first album, then you won't be disappointed by this one, its full of bangers like them…
”
this is what our non existent staff are listening to in their non existent offices
“
Chairlift – Something
Tribes - Baby
It's been a long while between drinks for the Brooklyn based pop duo since there 2008 album Does You Inspire You and it seems a lot has changed. While the funky baselines still remain the band has become a lot more synthy and quirky. Songs like the first single from the album Amanaemonesia borderline somewhere between being fucking annoying and fucking cool. Give it a listen and make your own mind up on this one.
These lads have been causing a stir in the UK since releasing an EP back in April last year and just recently dropped their debut album Baby. I’m yet to hear them on the radio over on our side of the globe though. Baby is full of brit-rock anthems for you boys 'n girls to get your flapping ears around, check out their first single Sappho and see what you think!
sequence photos - damo
surfer - josh photo - jack
Jack’s TOP SKATE/SNOW BOARDING FILMS Pony Tale Action Horse Films
This Is Skateboarding Emerica
That’s It, That’s All Brain Farm Productions
Sorry Flip
Don’t Panic By: Isenseven
Extremely Sorry Flip
Thanks Brain Think Thank
Follow Me Around MDP
Debacle Nike Sb
Fully Flared Lakai
skater - jack
photos - Sara jayne prince
skater - jack
photos - Sara jayne prince
Photos courtesy of Mitch
AUSTRIAN SKI FIELDS
Photos courtesy of Daz
shark bait
“
...love is just a lazy generalisation that we use for 100 different feelings and as many situations... Your happiness is just a chemical.
�
“
You’re stripped of all your worldly powers And staring at the opposite apartment block for hours, You say that each window is just a TV channel, And you’d surrender all your socalled friends for flowers.
”
Darren Hanlon
falls kiss photos - watto
Getting loose in sa
10 pinkies over
THE PUB MEAL I walk into the back of the pub, my eyes sweeping the room for familiar faces. Then it hits me, “FUCK”, the word hisses out of my lips as I’m met with three sets of angry eyes. How the fuck have I ended up in this situation? Seated at the table in front of me is a colourful assortment of people. All but one of these people I’ve met before. To my left there’s a pair of girls… to my right there is another pair of girls. All four of them have now set their laser death rays on me. They are all waiting with painful anticipation for me to make my choice. There is no possible way to make a good decision. I desperately try to clear my head and weigh up the pros and cons of each option in the few precious moments I have before I have to act. There are only two seats left at the table; one at either end of the table directly opposite each pair of girls who only have one thing on their minds: KILL! I panic and stumble into the vacant chair to my left. “Hi…” I mumble, barely making eye contact with the psychopaths seated opposite me. “Hi, wha cha been up ta?” they slur. Shit, they’re drunk, this could be even worse that I had thought. The two drunk, she devils glaring at me had come awkwardly close to having sex with each other and me three nights earlier. The gorgeous girl at the other end of the table had admitted that she was in love with me a few months before. We hadn’t seen each other since the night she left my house in tears muttering, “I will never forgive you”. All three of these girls were friends and live in a coun-
try town in South Australia and all three of these girls were now seated at the same table as me. My heart was pounding, my throat was bone dry. I raised my pint glass with a sweaty, shaking hand and took a long gulp, looking deep into my glass. I continued avoiding eye contact with the increasingly drunk couple sitting only one meter from me and made small talk with the bloke sitting to my right. As I hounded the bloke and his girlfriend with questions I could see the heart broken beauty stealing glances at me in between laughing at the lame jokes the guy opposite her was making. How did it all go so wrong? She was fun, sexy and she would have done anything for me. Now she won’t even talk to me and would rather see me mauled by a shark than share a meal with me. It was only 3 months ago that we were sitting at this exact table stealing chips off each other’s plates and kissing each other lovingly. How did it all go so wrong? O… that’s right, I fucked it up by cheating on her. I wonder if she’ll even talk to me tonight or just continue sitting there, flicking her thick, sun tinted hair over her smooth, brown shoulders? “Are ya comin ta Karaoke tonite?” one of the drunks slured. “Na, I don’t think so hey” I counter, her stiff vodka stench snapping me back to the present. This is going to be the most gruelling night of my life. The night painfully dragged on until we all stood to leave. I wished my mates an awe-
some time in Europe and a safe trip when I spoted the beauty stop as she was leaving the pub and she spun to face us. My eyes lit up and my heart jumped into gear, is she waiting for me to walk out with her? My friends looked over to her, the goddess smiled. Her smile lit up the whole room, I heard birds tweet and the sun broke out from behind a cloud. My friends waved to her and she wished them a safe trip. She didn’t even look at me; she turned and strut out of the room, leaving the sight of her perfect, round arse the last part of her I would ever see. My heart shattered, my head dropped and my legs felt heavy. I gave my friends a quick hug and they skipped off to the car park, holding hands and teasing each other as lovers do. I was then standing in the middle of the deserted pub facing the two drunken freaks who I found myself in bed with only nights before. The smaller freak stumbled into me and started slurring some gibberish to which I nudged her away and replied “I’ve got to get home, early start tomorrow”. She then started abusing me, calling me “a fucking city cunt”. The other one just stared at me, half wanting me to kiss me half wanting to stab me with the nearby fork. All that came out of my mouth was “sorry”. I turned and bolted for the car park. The only thought I had was, “I’ve got to get the fuck out of this town.”
penong pub: photo Watto
good times with a shit camera
thanks to all the contributors to this issue, if you like to party join us feb 18th 2012 at Rhino Room for our launch party thanks to our mates at fourwords cheap drinks and quality times guarenteed