Skinnie Magazine Issue 112 by Skinnie Magazine

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CONTENTS|JUNE 2011

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FEATURES

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KNOW THY NEIGHBOR

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TOUR OF DUTY

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THE OG OF THE SEA

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EARNING A SECOND CHANCE

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DRIFT OR DAI

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COMPUTER NERD

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DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME

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DANCING IN THE DESERT

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DIRTY ON THE DANCEFLOOR

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CUTE, CUDDLY COLLABORATORS

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ACROSS THE POND

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BRUSHFIRE AT THE BEACH

Socialists Are Making A Power Play Turn a vacation into something memorable Taylor Knox Walks On Water Cage Vs. Cons Creator Michael Lynch Talks Change All Eyes Are On Tokyo’s Finest Who Is Pretty Damned Hot – Skinnie Girl Jeramee Lopez Steve-O’s Story is So Bad, It’s Good Coachella 2011 Was Fucking Nuts Dirty Vegas Makes You Move

Teddybears Are Fucking Genius!!!!

Artic Monkeys Return – A Little Older, A Little Wiser Bikini Fashion That Is Blazin’!

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EDITOR’S LETTER|SOCK LOVE June 2011 J ISSUE #112

The keepin’ it real edition

real edition

10184 Sixth St. Suite A Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. 91730 Ph. 909-476-0270 Fax 909-476-5931 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PUBLISHERS Jimmy Clinton and George Giordano ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Growing up in North Long Beach, I was maybe one of three Mexican kids surrounded by black kids. It wasn’t a big deal, we all became friends, but in an effort to fit in, I learned how it was important to keep it real. We used to play basketball in front of my friend Thomas Jordan III’s house. Across the street, the older guys hung out, smoked a little herb, and watched the Jr. High kids ball. Occasionally they would join in and we would have a great pick up game. Today, Big Jerry decided he was gonna play.

EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief Ramon Gonzales Jasen T. Davis, Alex Mendoza, Eric Bonholtzer, Katie Evans, Kristie Bertucci, Patrick Douglas, Lacy Ottenson, Elysia McMahan, Ben Marazzi, MM Zonoozy, Katie Evans, James Gobee, Contributing Writers

For editorial submissions, email editorial@skinniemagazine.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ART & DESIGN Art department

Morgan Desmond, Meloki Morgan Carrol

Client Service Representative

Jerry was well over 6 feet, pretty hefty, but had a good heart. Always looked after us young bucks and would every now and again, give us a smoke or two so we felt like grown folks. On that day though, Jerry, knocked me out. It’s very well known that among black guys, calling each other “nigga” is very commonplace. During that pick up game, we ran 4 on 4 and it was competitive. “Shoot it nigga!” “D-up nigga, D up!” I was terrible from the perimeter, but I managed to have a hot hand that day. Towards the end of the game, I had a wide-open shot from the corner. Swish.

PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Vincent, Alan Rivera, Sean Myers, Joanna Miriam, Dave Gatson, Karen Curley, Harmony Gerber, Edison Graff, Amanda Davies, Angela Jugon, Timothy Sheppard, Erik Faiivae, Christian Sosa, Tammy Rapp, Todd Scheuerell Contributing Photographers

Sales & Marketing Marketing Director

Jason Zahler David Pham Christopher Pena, Kevin Whetstine, Ashley Biering Denise Moraga, Stephanie Tula and Julius Lopez

Advertising

Business Development

For all sales inquiries email sales@skinniemagazine.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Administrative Kevin Whetstine House Of Designs Morgan Desmond Contributing Staff Angela Jugon Raquel Lopez, Cynthia De Los Santos and Ryan Mercer Promotion Director

“Yeah nigga!” The next thing I know, I am trying to stand up. “I’m sorry little homie but that word ain’t for you to use. If I didn’t do it, some other nigga would’ve ran up on you and done way worse,” Jerry explained as he helped me up. He punched me once. That’s all it took. It was an embarrassing lesson, but a front is easy to spot. We all wanna fit in, but forcing a circle into a square doesn’t work. In this issue, Steve-O gives an honest account of his desire to be accepted, the pitfalls that came with it, and how he learned to be comfortable in his own skin. It took a lot more than a sucker punch for him to get there, and he is a damn strong dude because of it.

Webmaster

online editor

FASHION Michelle Ngo Heather Choi and Christina Pham

Fashion Director Fashion Coordinators

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBERS If the post office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within two years. LEGAL DISCLAIMER The content in this magazine is for entertainment and intended for mature audiences only. Advertisers are responsible for their ads placed in the magazine. Skinnie Magazine is not responsible for any actions taken by their readers. We may occasionally use images placed in public domain. Sometimes, it is not possible to identify and/or contact the copyright holder, if you claim ownership of something we’ve published, we will gladly make a proper acknowledgement. Skinnie Magazine does not share opinions and/ or views stated by the writers and or photographers. Some of the content published may be of a mature nature; we do not, in any way, condone underage drinking or any other illegal activity. All submissions become property of Skinnie Magazine, be it text, photos, art, etc. Skinnie Entertainment Magazine All Rights Reserved. 2011

Read up, enjoy, and remember KEEP. IT. REAL.

Ramon Gonzales Cover Photo by Michael Vincent

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ACCOUTREMENTS 2 1 3

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Sanuk ‘Shore Leave’

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Camacho Signature Blends Executive Traveler

Wanna go fast and slice with the best of ‘em – you need a proper board. This Boardworks design falls between the standard shortboard and the fish to maximize surface area for a real ride. The elevated tail gives this board the kind of maneuverability most just fall, short of. Pun intended. Available only in red, one design and colorway nailed it.

Inspired from a vintage advertisement, the design team at Kate Spade teamed with NYC bicycle boutique Adeline Adeline to craft a limited edition bike with the woman riding in heels in mind. Only available in the signature Spade green, it would be hard to think of a bicycle as an accessory, but ladies you can’t go wrong with this timeless look. Go for a ride.

Known mainly for their dedication to beach inspired footwear and sandals, Sanuk’s signature comfort and easy-going style translates well in all lines of their gear. Available in this Latte and a the ‘scurvy green’ colorway, Sanuk has figured out the balancing act between classy, casual, and comfortable, making it all come together in a very good looking way.

Summertime in Southern California not only means the beach, daytime drinking, and plenty of sunshine, but gorgeous ladies in big, bitchy sunglasses. HOT. One of the most proven names in merging style and shades remains Von Zipper. One of their latest designs ripe for the summer season, the ‘Runaway’ is both casual and glamorous – effortlessly. Perfect accessory.

Just in time for Father’s Day, Camacho gives you the perfect reason to skip the stupid tie this year. Packed nicely with 20 cigars of some of Camacho’s UltraPremium Blends (4 of each Diploma, Liberty 2007, CLE, Corojo 10th Anniversary, and Triple Maduro), the traveler doubles as a stylish bag after the goodies have been distributed. Only 5,000 were produced – get on it.

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Actress Manlin Akerman

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Rendering

The Rhetoric

A Look into The National Socialist Movement

Words By Cristina Fucaloro

In Claremont, a Los Angeles suburb, the National Socialist Movement (NSM) held a rally March 19th protesting against illegal immigration and asserted its “Reclaim the Southwest” campaign. Though the protesters at the rally called the NSM Nazis, the NSM does not define itself as Neo-Nazis, but an organization that has pride for its white race and strives to protect all white people. Many people disagree with the NSM’s views, depicting it as a racist hate group. Jeff Hall, the regional director of the NSM stated in an interview on ABC that the organization is “not about hate. It’s about us identifying with our own culture. I identify with my culture. I’m proud to be white. You know, you see T-shirts, brown pride, Hispanic pride, black pride, but if you see a white male wearing a white pride T-shirt, then it’s offensive.” The statement Jeff Hall makes brings about a lot of questions concerning pride and honoring one’s heritage. Why is white pride considered a racist view? The “white man” has and is depicted as the one who has oppressed and still oppresses. Though slavery is long behind us, the stigmatism is still very apparent. Therefore, many people view white pride as racist due to its historical references. How much pride for one’s heritage is considered too much? Is it racist to have pride in your heritage and in the color of your skin? It is questions such as these that stir up the continuous debate about racism.

Robert Brannen and Clifford Herrington founded the NSM in 1974 and since then it has become one of the largest organizations in the U.S. Though the NSM has gained huge support, it also has become a focus of controversy due to its views of immigration and its dedication to “defending the rights of white people everywhere, preservation of our European culture and heritage, strengthening family values, economic self-sufficiency, and reform of illegal immigration policies, immediate withdrawal of our national military from an illegal Middle Eastern occupation and promotion of white separation” (NSM website). Jeff Schoep, director/commander of the NSM, offers an in-depth look into the organization’s views and the current political issues that surrounds illegal immigration. Can you explain in detail your Reclaim the Southwest Campaign? JS: The Reclaim the Southwest Campaign is an ongoing offensive the NSM has launched to stem the tide of illegal immigration. It is a multi-pronged approach that includes marches and rallies, but also patrols that we have spearheaded in both Arizona and California. There are many pictures, videos, and various news reports about our actions on the border. Our patrols have also made some gruesome discoverys (sic) of corpses in the desert. Another part of the Reclaim the Southwest Campaign was to run a Candidate for Office and lay the groundwork for future candidates. We managed 28% of the vote with Regional Director Jeff Hall running as an open National Socialist Candidate for Office in the Inland Empire over the last election. We spent very little money and did very little campaigning yet still took about 1/3 of the vote, even after local newspapers ran stories calling Hall a Nazi. Therefore we are confident that had we done more campaigning our vote totals would have been even better, as I mentioned the groundwork is being paved for more candidates in the future. What are your main concerns for the future of this country? JS: One of our biggest concerns is seeing our Nation turn into a Third World Slum. Already our educational system is falling behind, the Government is being mismanaged, and the greed of a small minority is creating suffering for the American working class, and middle class family. I can say with great faith that we are doing all that we can in the NSM to stem the tide, and drive home our America First Policies. President Obama has been called a Socialist by many conservatives. Does your organization feel any connection? JS: The National Socialist Movement is neither left nor right wing, we take the best of the left and the best of the right and combine them into our own Political doctrine which better resembles National Socialism. It is true, many people do view Obama as a Socialist, but that type of Socialist is quite different than National Socialism, he is what many consider a left wing Socialist, which borders more closely to Communism than National Socialism. We are not comparable to the Obama Administration. The only time I have heard Obama’s Socialism compared to us is usually by really under-educated people who do not understand Politics or Political doctrine. Just as I am quite sure Obama would not want to be compared to National Socialists, we do not wish to be compared with him or his policies either.

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Do you feel that your organization is stigmatized as a Neo-Nazi group? Do you claim yourselves to be Neo-Nazis? JS: We do not call ourselves Neo-Nazis, the word Nazi itself is an old buzzword the American media came up with to shorten up National Socialism back in the 1930’s. We reffer (sic) to ourselves as National Socialists. Are we stigmatized as an Organization, yes I would say that we are all too often stigmatized or stereotyped, especially by the mass media, and their allies. Quite often when the media runs stories on us, we are sometimes reffered (sic) to as a hate group, or racists. The truth of the matter is we are a Political group and White Civil Rights Organization, however it can be a double-edged sword in some ways. When we are stigmatized in the press, people are often drawn to read about our message or whatever issue it is we are tackling at the time, because it is interesting, and we are taking on some very important issues that most Americans agree with, so no matter how much hate is directed at us, our good works and efforts often overshadow whatever buzzwords or stigmatism is thrown our way. However one looks at it, we intend to come out on top of any issue we take on. Do you feel that if you weren’t stigmatized as a Neo-Nazi organization, you would have more support? JS:This is a question I am asked quite often from the press, and sometimes from just everyday Americans. The answer is no. There are many groups out there that have attempted to soft peddle the message of National Socialism, and even White Civil Rights, some groups that have even gone so far as to denounce National Socialism, and try to distance themselves from our symbols, and try what they feel is a more mainstream American Political approach. None of these groups have had any more success than we have, in fact most of them have remained much smaller and far less active than the National Socialist Movement, and even when we have openly run candidates for office we seem to do better as openly NSM, so we know our support base in America is quite strong. The biggest problem is, when the NSM, or any other Pro-White groups or even individuals come openly come out in support of White people, they are instantly branded as Racists, hatemongers,(sic) or other such buzzwords meant to demonize the messenger.These hateful words are losing

their sting since they have been thrown at any White person bold enough to even speak up on behalf of our people, therefore our enemies are rendering themselves ineffective in many ways. There is still alot (sic) of fear of the central Government coming from the American public, therefore even now in 2011 many of them will not join us in the streets, but they will vote for us or support us covertly. If we changed our name and symbols tomorrow, and said we have dumped National Socialism, we would still be branded a hate group or Nazis by the same people who oppose us today, so there is no sense in running or hiding from who we are, in fact we get more respect for being bold, courageous, and honest in our stance rather than watering down who we are… What is your opinion about the current economic condition? What do you consider to be an ideal America, regarding education, economy, social issues, etc.? JS: I will summarize it in short terms. The current situation our economy is completely unacceptable. Several key issues need to be shored up in order to restore our economy. Across the boards in all things we need an America First Policy, even to the point of being isolationist until the economy is back in full swing. This means slamming the door on all illegal immigration, and deporting the illegals (sic) that are here within our Nation, an aggressive stance that will enable law enforcement to do their job in picking them up and deporting them back to their Nations of origin.We also need to bring the troops home from Overseas.Wasteful, imperialistic wars in which the U.S. is playing the Worlds Policeman is unacceptable and brings the hatred of the U.S. and terrorism to our shores. Wasteful foreign aid packages such as supplying the welfare State of israel (sic) with unlimited U.S. taxpayers dollars needs to be halted immediately, not just to israel (sic) either, but ALL FOREIGN AID, with the only exception being strictly humanitarian type of aid for Nations and people in need. We also need to repeal the programs that have sent hundreds of thousands of American jobs overseas, and driven U.S. based companies out of business. There are so many other smaller things that need reform, but the major things I mentioned is something almost every American from all backgrounds can get behind and it would do wonders to restore America to its former glory.

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A Different Take

tourism

A Souvenir From Nicaragua That Lasts Forever By Victor Carrillo

Most of us live a good lifestyle that allows us to take vacations from time to time. Some of us decide to travel to Mexico and relax at its beach resorts and explore its rich history. Others decide to be more adventurous and head to Costa Rica for eco-tourism and outdoor recreation. Well there is a new type of tourism emerging and Nicaragua in Central America is leading the way. It is called Humanitarian tourism or put more simply a volunteer vacation. I decided to explore this and signed up with a non-profit group based in Los Angeles called SYRV. SYRV is committed to developing and sustaining programs that provide meaningful contribution and social responsibility supporting human rights, education and social development initiatives. That is a big statement so they came up with the simple tagline, “Make Good Happen” and that is exactly what they do. Monique Evans founded the nonprofit in 2009 and has been taking down groups of volunteers every few months since then. My group traveled to Nicaragua this March and I was joined with people from New York, Seattle, Nevada, Hawaii, the UK and Canada. 14 people in total that included an community driven architect, a school teacher from Compton, a world renown pro-surfer and myself to name a few. My mission was simple, get to Nicaragua, assess the situation, and find out how I can help out. Day 1 / The Road to Jiquilillo We arrived in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua in the morning and met up with the rest of our group. Each member of the group brought a bag of donations with them. Donations would be used during our various stops along the trip and consisted of everything from coloring books, clothing, to Ukuleles.We loaded our

bags on a flatbed truck, jumped in a van and drove 4 hours to Jiqulillio. Located on the Pacific side of the country, Jiqulillio is a remote beach village with a population of 5,000. We quickly realized we were in paradise as the sound of the surf throbbed, hammocks swaying the wind, and the locals that greeted us. I guess I should explain at this point what a volunteer vacation is; the concept is simple in that you will spend part of your time volunteering and helping the local community and the other part of your time enjoying your vacation. The enjoyment part of this vacation consisted of Yoga on the beach, boat rides to great surf spots and relaxing in the Central American sun. Day 2 / Water Purifiers and Surfing Our first day of volunteer work was quickly upon us.The most important need for the villages in Nicaragua is clean water. Over the past few months the travelers on this trip raised money through friends and family to buy water purifiers. During day one we visited two schools, Los Zorros and Padre Ramos and delivered them new water purification systems that would last them 2 years. It was amazing to see all the happy kids in their uniforms learning outdoors only covered by a palapa roof. Ironically, hope seemed rampant despite difficult living conditions. After decades of civil war, political turmoil and countless natural disasters, the Nicaraguans, while in dire need of help, remain positive. Along with donating water purifiers to the schools we were also able to raise enough money to donate one per household for 65 families. Keep in mind some of these households have up to 16 people in them so these 65 purifiers were going to help hundreds of people.

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Day 3 / Beach clean-up and Orphanage visit We gathered our group and headed over to Jiquilillo Elementary school. We prepared a presentation to teach the kindergarten through sixth grade kids about the importance of maintaining a clean beach. Cameron (the school teacher from Compton) also happened to be bilingual so he and I taught the class. The kids were well behaved and were ready to answer questions, it also helped that we were giving out sunglasses for correct answers. After the class we broke into teams and hit the beach to do some real clean-up.The kids were amazing and had fun while they picked up 15 hefty bags full of trash. After a stop at the estuary for lunch, we jumped in the back of a flatbed truck and drove to the local orphanage. It was a new building and well maintained, around 20 kids mostly girls lived there and they were all smiles when we arrived. We spent the rest of the afternoon coloring with them and teaching them how to play a Ukulele. Day 4 / The Dumpyard in Chinandega We headed to the nearest big town which was Chinandega. Here we would be put to the test and emotions would run high. You see for some reason the Nicaraguan government seems to think it’s a good idea to put people that need a place to live next to the landfill, or dumpyard as they call them. We drove on the back of the flatbed truck with bags of donations in hand. When we arrived there was a line of around 65 kids with bowls in their hands. It was our job to feed them the one free meal they get every 2 days and hand out clothing donations. So we began our job and some team members were feeding the kids a stew of leftover chicken parts while the others were handing out clothes. The line kept getting longer and longer and then the inevitable happened, we ran out of food. I will spare you the details but it was tough to leave knowing that they needed so much more.

to the more popular tourist areas we got to meet some amazing people from all around the world. The hostel we stayed in was ran by John from Berkley, California and his wife Pili from San Sebastian, Spain. This was the first time that SYRV was visiting Gigante and the first time any group was bringing water purifiers to the village. Our host Mateo hailed from Encinitas but has lived in Gigante for 3 years. He married a local girl and well, he’s there to stay. He helped us organize the 35 families we gave the water purifiers too. The second part of the day included basic English lessons with the kids at the local school and a beach clean up to end the day. All of the foreigners that live there are learning Spanish from the locals and in return teaching them English. The hope is that more tourists will come and allow for more jobs other than being a fisherman or housewife. Day 6 / The Long journey Back Home It was hard to leave knowing that so much still needs to be done. But I have seen with my own eyes how much hope there is for the people of Nicaragua. I met so many amazing people from all around the world that are willing to do whatever it takes to make a difference. The beach villages of Nicaragua are truly paradise, almost as if you are going back to more simple times. Mosquito nets and flatbed trucks serving as Taxis aside, tourism with a purpose is not only an opportunity to make a small difference, but to capture a glimpse at a completely different perspective of the world as we normally consume it. The fulfillment is met with a sense of urgency to find more ways to continue helping. There is no souvenir or keepsake that is longer-lasting or more rewarding. Skip the travel agent next time – opt to Make Good Happen. For more information or to donate please visit: www.syrv.org

Day 5 / Playa Gigante and English Lessons Our third and my final destination was Playa Gigante - located to the north, it is known for being a small fishing village with great surf breaks. As we got closer

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Special thanks to my friends at Rogue Status, Billabong, our host Monique Evans and all the people I met along the way.

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The

salty swell Taylor Knox Is Forever Going Strong

By Elysia McMahan

Only a surfer knows the feeling that comes with the freedom of being out on the ocean, of being suspended in time. Vast, mysterious and powerful – waves are, in essence, energy passing through the water until it breaks and diffuses. Any surfer would tell you that being that close to such an immense force is incredibly humbling. It can also be spiritual to be next to that much raw power and energy. Before you even reach her open arms you can taste the perfume being carried through the air - lightly salted and moist. Surfers are some of the most committed people. They fall down a lot. Then they turn around, paddle themselves back out and do it all over again. Welcome to the liquid playground.

An injury T.K. had to endure as a teenager christened him with instant grit and forced him to overcome defeat and push the limits in regards to what he was truly capable of, despite people telling him that what he wanted to accomplish was impossible,. “Yeah, it definitely made me a stronger person. I don’t know what direction I would’ve gone because in high school there are so many distractions that I could’ve been sucked up into. Partying or something like that. After my injury I had a lot of determination because everyone said I couldn’t do it.” In the face of adversity, you come to realize that to live any other way than that which brings you clarity is completely insane.

Veteran surfer, Taylor Knox’s, journey all started out with a love for the ocean. Having been brought up in beautiful Carlsbad, California – how could this rail-to-rail rider not have pursued such a calling? Before he could get his hands on a board of his own, he found himself borrowing any he could just to get out on the water and follow his passion. Knox has persistently challenged the odds against him and aside from consistently competing among the world’s top 45; he has one of the most extensive careers in professional surfing history.

Since Knox’s days of starting out on a board Timmy Curren’s uncle handed down to him, (one with orange rails and a sticker that said Jesus) surfing has truly become a real sport, which he says, “Is something that our group (Kelly, Rob, Dorian, Ross, and Pat) really wanted to change in the eyes of the general public.” Changes to the industry of surfing, both positive and negative, have been so great and Knox, having been out in the water for so long, has stood witness. “The level of surfing has gotten so much better over the years and people are really pushing it. It’s great to

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see sponsors investing in the kids on training and coaching, but I also think it’s become too commonplace. Kids are dropping out of school so early. You miss a lot of good time in high school and you learn on a social level as well,” explains Knox. Most recently, Knox has signed on to Reef as their newest addition to the footwear team, where he will be representing their performance based line of sandals. Reef and Knox’s relationship began back in 1998, when he notoriously took on a 52-foot mammoth at Todos Santos.This ride won him the Reef Big-Wave World Championship and a $50,000 prize at the K2 Big-Wave World Championships. So far, Knox’s experience with Reef has been gratifying. “Reef is an amazing company. A lot of what makes a great sponsor is chemistry and it feels good to be there.” As far as tackling more 52-foot waves any time soon, he’s not inclined to be chasing it like the Long’s or Dorian but is still looking into getting back out at Todos in the near future. The release of his training video “Surf Exercises”, where he teamed up with his longtime trainer, Paul Hiniker, has showcased the strict routines that have made him deserving of being one the most able-bodied surfers on the ASP World Tour. You can also expect to catch a glimpse of Knox in an up and coming film with Rip Curl. “The movie is going to be sick. We scored a lot of good waves and surfed several new ones that have never been found! Expect a lot of great barrels and the kids flying in the air.” When this California native is not busy roaming the globe, he prefers being carried by the waves at J-bay or Trestles, the two places that have never failed to set up great advanced surfing and set the proper mood for carving. Knox is currently working on a new small wave board, which is scheduled to come out this summer - called the “Dagger”. “I’m super pumped on it. I rode it this morning in Carlsbad in small waves and it was flying! It has 80’s rails with a flat deck, a modern rocker and a deep V bottom. I want to get these new boards out to the public so they can see how good they are!” This surfing pioneer has never lost sight of chasing his vision and has never found it hard to stay on track, even with all of the outside influences that come along with competing in the professional world. Now that he has been inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame next to the rest of the greats, there doesn’t’ seem to be anything that can stifle his ambitions. Knox doesn’t believe in letting someone else take away his dream, which should be the mindset of anyone looking to achieve something great in this life. Most surfers have mentioned that it’s not necessarily their skill of surfing that tends to hold them back, but rather their mental approach. In that sense, often times fear comes into play. Fear is exactly the opposite reaction you want to have when dropping in on a wave. You want your mind agile and clear, so that you can always observe and react to a situation spontaneously. This sport truly is a state of mind and as Knox so simply puts it, “When your mind is clouded, then so is your surfing.” With the understanding that meditation frees the mind and allows our bodies to heal, as well as generate positive energy, this practice without a doubt, strengthens one’s ability and Taylor is well-acquainted with its methods. “Well, I wouldn’t be here today without it. I started working with Ron Rathbun ten years ago and learned a simple but deep understanding of my own mind, which has helped me on every level of my life. The body follows the mind. It’s true. I’ve had to learn the hard way a few times.” Traveling the world in search of the perfect wave or that remarkable win comes with its challenges. Being away from his kids for an extended period of time and the roller coaster of emotions from competition are just a couple amongst the myriad of walls this professional athlete has learned to cope with. A day in the life of T.K. is one of tranquility, even if what he has worked to achieve has not come easy. “An ideal day is surfing in the morning with a couple of friends (not a 100!) then training with Paul and having lunch with Ann-Marie. Then picking up the kids from school and playing with them for the afternoon.” This year marked his 17th year on the ASP World Championship Tour at the Quiksilver Pro, which began February 26th on the Gold Coast of Australia and although it may have not generated the results he had anticipated, he believes that the best surfing he has ever done is still yet to come. So when will we be seeing that world championship title? “Well, first I need to get a few things worked out and even though it looks bad on paper, I’m closer than I might even realize. At this point, I just want to surf up to my potential. One day at a time is how I’m approaching it.” With the proper goals in mind, he lives in the present moment – determined to win a major contest and finish the year out strong. With legends such as Curran, Occy, Richards, Potter, Slater, Mick, and Dane as his inspirations and contemporaries, Knox continues pushing the limits. The rest of the world disappears when you’re out on a wave. Surfing is for life. “The perfect wave has already been surfed and is still out there to be found.”

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The ROAD

TO REDEMption Cage Vs. Cons Gives A Fair Shake

By Ramon Gonzales

The rivalry stretches back so far it is almost innate. As kids, the divide is simple - good guys versus bad guys. A game of cops and robbers ranks up there with Tag or Duck Duck Goose in terms of childhood staples. The dynamic is a simple one, but timeless nonetheless. For Michael Lynch, it’s a concept that became all too familiar in real life. From robbery to selling drugs, “Solo” as he is more commonly referred to, had begun a steady run of prison stints starting at just 16. The story goes that Lynch’s entrepreneurial spirit was cultivated while behind bars. Becoming the facilitator of contraband in the joint served as a unique education that would prove invaluable. Lynch formulated what would be his leap into legitimate business upon his release. Becoming the notorious purveyor of the bare-knuckle DVD series Felony Fights, Lynch turned that simple dynamic into a crafty marketing angle. The premise of the fight series, although controversial, remained just as compelling. The fights were real. Two convicts, one camera, no ring, no real rules. The footage, captured with a digital handheld, seemed to add to the taboo nature of the contest. Picked up by prominent retailers, including Best Buy, Lynch had capitalized on his jailhouse knowledge and turned it into dollar signs. Lynch had figured out early on that combat sports, however dicey, almost always seem to be more of a draw when the all the elements, including the contestants are real. “The message that that Felony Fights was putting out there wasn’t something I wanted. Initially, the whole concept was about putting the guns down and picking your hands up. Unfortunately, the brand started becoming more and more about violence. That wasn’t what I wanted,” explains Lynch. However controversial, the series had resonated with a growing contingent of people intrigued by cons swinging for the fences. It was scary to watch, but almost impossible to look away from. Despite the growing success, the stigma would prove too much for Lynch. “I started thinking about the message I wanted to leave to the world and stopped Felony Fights for a few years. What it came down to really was, I gave my life to God.” Changing his life’s direction and becoming heavily committed to working with at risk youth, Michael Lynch never let go of his business savvy, just refocused it. “I had always wanted to do this project were you had a con and cop fighting. It’s the ultimate rivalry.” Assembling a team of producers and promoters that included fellow Felony Fight founder Danny Laughlin, Lynch launched Cage Vs. Cons. “We really wanted to show that you can be from all walks of life. You can be an ex-con, you can be a cop, but at the end of the day, in the cage, you are the same guy.” The evolution from Felony Fights to Cage Vs. Cons for Lynch is one of discipline and appreciation for the sport. “A lot of people dismiss convicts as scumbags, they will never amount to nothing. The fact is, to be a cage fighter requires the kind of commitment and focus most people will never have.” Compelling in nature, the rivalry of felons against law

enforcement might seem like the biggest draw, but there is an even deeper seeded message. Ringing apparent throughout the not only the event, the real storyline is one of redemption. For Lynch, the success of this event means added resources for his foundation in one hundred percent of the proceeds go to his continued work with at-risk youth, a far stretch for a man who had been in and out of jail since the age of 16. But the notion of redemption might best be highlighted in the under card bout between firefighter Lateff Williams and former Pelican Bay inmate, Ralph “The Pelican Bay Bomber” Aáu. Lynch explains, “Lateff was shot multiple times in a carjacking. His opponent Ralph Aáu comes from Pelican Bay, the hardest penitentiary in the state of California. He went to the pen for carjacking. Aáu is not the same guy that went into prison and Lateff sees that. In fact, Aáu’s coaches are a pastor and a cop. There is no animosity there. The competition allows these guys to view each other as contemporaries. It fuels them to get better, stronger, faster and become more disciplined men in the process.” The storyline goes beyond the conventional good guy versus bad guy archetype. The stigma of pitting law enforcement against former convicts isn’t something Lynch has glanced over. The naysayers exist, but aren’t heavily considered. “Screw ‘em. The people that are knocking us will see how phenomenal our fighters are. They are highly trained and really, at the end of the day we want to show that things aren’t always what they seem. We want people to understand that you can transform your life. Anyone, no matter where they are in life can make a change for the better.” The tireless work of Lynch, Laughlin and their team of promoters and event producers will culminate May 21 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The full day event is composed of three different, yet complementary elements featuring a fully sanctioned MMA card, a tattoo exhibition, and a world-class concert featuring legendary names in hip-hop. (Too $hort, E-40, Tha Dogg Pound) Augmented by the celebrity factor of names like Danny Trejo and Tiny “Zeus” Lister assuming the hosting duties, the necessary spectacle to make this a draw is firmly in tact. The substance to ensure its longevity though is what Lynch really strives for.When asked to draw the parallels from his former Felony Fighters to his now Cage Vs. Cons concept, Lynch laughed and remarked, “We grew up…this is about going further than the surface and showing that people aren’t exactly what you think they are.” One thing is for certain, come late May, the cage door will be the great equalizer and while only one can emerge victorious, the platform to compete is part of the reward. www.CageVsCons.com SKINNIEMAGAZINE.COM •

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drift

OR DAI!

All Eyes Are On Tokyo’s DaiJiro Yoshihara

From what he says, Dai’s first Corolla Levin (Toyota) was merely a way to facilitate a hobby. Back in 96’, Dai was whipping around Japanese mountain turns in an 85’ Corolla purely for the adrenaline rush, From bicycles to motorcycles, Yoshihara is quick to admit that his flirtation with going fast runs deep. As natural progression would have it, ultimately more horsepower would get added to the equation. Like most natural talents, while he imagined turning his passion into his career, he likely would’ve done it for free for the rest of his life. As luck would have it, the surging popularity of Drifting in motorsports, afforded Dai a unique opportunity to go legit. In becoming a professional drift driver, it would also mean that Dai would have to come to a foreign country, disregard the conventional wishes of family to get a white-collar gig, and drop his name into a then unknown group of athletes in a sport that had yet to gain traction in the States. Luckily for the sport of Drifting, Dai answered the call. Your very first official Drift competition was here in the United States? What kind of pressure did you feel knowing that not only was this your first competition, but it was in a country you had never been to before? Yes it is true. That was my first competition but I didn’t really have pressure because I didn’t have anything to lose. Also I wasn’t really expecting to become a pro driver or anything back then. More than anything, I was struggling with my first experience of left hand drive drifting at that time.

By Ramon Gonzales

Obviously you had to be competition ready coming from Japan. What was it like exploring Drifting in Japan AND having to work a day job as well? Was your family supportive? Did you ever think about not pursuing Drifting? When I was drifting in Japan. I’ve never competed or thought to become a professional. I purely enjoyed it as a hobby. But I always wanted to come to the U.S and do something out here. So when I got the chance to compete in the U.S, I was very excited and wanted to do well. Also, my family wasn’t really supportive about it at all.They just wanted me to get a stable job and get married soon instead. You started out on a motorcycle. Ever give any thought to doing any motocross stuff here in the US? Well, I always wanted to try motocross stuff but I know it’s dangerous so I’ve never tried, since I can’t get injured for Drifting. There is a lot speculation that you will win this season’s Drift series. Do you feel any pressure knowing people are looking at you to win the whole thing this year? Yes, I do. But I personally want to win more than that, so the pressure from other people doesn’t affect my performance as much as the pressure I put on myself.

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Coming from Japan, what is drifting like there? Do you feel drifting in the United States is better, worse, and why?

have more meaning considering what you went through and what is happening in Japan right now?

It’s been awhile since I drifted in Japan. And, to be honest, I don’t really follow the Japanese drift scene as much so I don’t know much about it. Overall, drifting in the U.S seems better than Japan. I think we have a lot more sponsors, followers, and the best drivers from around the world compete in Formula Drift. As for the driving level, I think there is a larger amount of good drivers in Japan since drifting has been in Japan much longer than the U.S, but I think their top drivers and Formula D’s top drivers’ level of skill is pretty close now.

Yes. I have more things to do such as charity work at the events and it keeps me motivated. www.rfjp.org is the relief organization that I started with proceeds going to support Japan. Donations are welcome and shirts and decals are available to purchase on the site.

Speaking of which, you just got back from competition in Abu Dhabi in March and Malaysia a few months before that. What was it like to compete out there and really what was the reaction of the fans out there in comparison to here in the United States? It was a great experience. Drifting is still very new to them especially in the Middle East. So people went crazy!! It felt like back in 2003-2004 in the U.S. when drifting first really was recognized, but our driving skills are much better now than back then so I think we were able to put on a great show. The fans seemed to have loved it as they have never seen this level of drifting before. You were in Japan during the earthquake. How heavy is your heart right now and is it difficult to focus on racing with everything else that has got to be on your mind? I’m deeply concerned about the situation in Japan. There are so many people who lost their homes and don’t even have enough food to eat over there. But I still have the same life and still am able to compete in Formula D here in the U.S. It makes me feel more appreciative about my opportunities. So I don’t want to waste my chance for those people. I have to focus more now than ever this season. You maintain a blog and have even started a relief organization for Japan through your blogsite. Does each race, event, trip now

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You are easily one of the sport’s best known personalities. What do you think is different about Drifting among the popular motor sports? Do you feel like it will surpass other motorsports in popularity? Thank you! Well, I think biggest difference between drifting and the other motorsports is that drifting has entertainment elements�� and takes style as a factor�� . It�� ’�� s a �� judged sport�� . It could be a good thing or bad thing. Maybe pure motorsports fans don�� ’�� t like that. But if you consider �� drifting similar to an action sport rather �� than a�� pure �� motorsport, then�� you may appreciate and enjoy it more�� . So it depends on how they �� promote�� it, I think it can surpass other motorsports for entertainment.�� Do you have to be a little crazy to be a drift driver? You mentioned how you have always been an adrenaline junkie. Does it fulfill the need? I don�� ’�� t think you have to be. I�� ’�� m not crazy�� …�� or at least �� I�� don�� ’�� t think so! I think anyone can love this feeling once you are�� able to control drifting. �� Anyone�� can be an adrenaline junkie! And �� drifting definitely fulfills that need…

Dai wishes to thank - “all my friends, family, and sponsors that made this possible including the Formula Drift series, Falken Tires, Discount Tire, KW Suspension, and of course, my crew that keep my car competitive.” www.daiyoshihara.com

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revenge of thE

Computer Nerds Meet Skinnie Girl Jeramee Lopez - Spicing Up The Office

Model by night, I.T. department by day tough to balance? It’s not tough to balance at all. Modeling is fun for me so I don’t consider it work. I actually took the last year off from modeling to develop a passion of mine, event planning. What do you think of when you are in front of the camera? I picture a mirror in front of me. I try to position myself in the most flattering poses and angles while keeping a sweet, yet sexy, attitude. What are some of the things that make you feel sexy? Surprisingly, Cardio makes me feel so sexy. Even though I may be a little sweaty, I feel healthy and energetic afterward. You have probably heard some shitty pick-up lines. Wanna share the worst one? “I can buy you a ring.” While I shake my head, I can buy my own ring thank you. 3 things you FUCKING hate! Laziness, Lack of ambition, Carelessness 3 things you can’t live without. My amazing sisters, my loving friends my supportive boyfriend Aside from the I.T. department, what else is on the horizon for you? As mentioned earlier, I started an event planning company called “You’re Welcome Events.” We specialize in wedding, holiday, and corporate parties. Event planning is a passion of mine. I feel I have the right amount of class, style, and creativity for this industry. I’d love to be considered for your next event: www.YoureWelcomeEvents.com Photographer: Jeff Farsai Hair: Alika Shaeffer Makeup: Debra Johnson Styling: Jenilee Lovie Centerfold photo credit: Stripe bikini by Fresh Peaches Vertical photo credit: Blue bikini by L Space

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Look back

and laugh

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Steve Glover

Comedians, even among entertainers, remain a pretty rare breed. An almost outcast subset within a community, the commonality that is often echoed among their unspoken fraternity is a healthy correlation with both the heavy and hilarious in the spectrum of life. It could be argued that the good comedians are those that have figured out how to connect the two. A translator of sort, there is a firm sentiment among many comedians rooted in the notion that good comedy, almost always comes from some kind of dark place. “I always joke about it in my comedy that my intervention with Knoxville was actually my fourth one because I hallucinated the first three,” Steve quips. “I really think that few people realize that I am dead serious when I say that.” Better known for jeopardizing his body and having an indescribable tolerance for both pain and gross shit, Steve-O is no stranger to laughs, but now he is earning ‘em in a different way. Going from the silver screen as an integral part of the Jackass franchise, Steve-O has remained entrenched in his “Entirely Too Much

Words By Ramon Gonzales Photos by Michael Vincent

Information” Tour. Taking to the stage and performing a potent mix of bar tricks and stunts of course, Steve-O has also joined the elite few and established himself as a bonafide standup comedian - No easy feat. Armed with an endless cache of outrageous stories the likes few other people on the planet could ever tell from experien,0ce, his ability to find the humor in the less romantic aspects of life is outshined only by the kind of appreciation he exudes in being able to tell his story. Coinciding with a stretch of standup dates that extends throughout the remaining calendar year, June 7th will mark the day that Steve-O adds author to his list of credits with the release of Professional Idiot: A Memoir. An extension of his comedy of sorts, the book chronicles the life of a guy who always yearned for the spotlight. At times poignant to down right pathetic, the kind of transparency on the page is much the same you get in a conversation with Steve-O. He pulls no punches. One thing is for certain, Steve-O was definitely born like this. “It’s kind of a cliché for someone to write a book and talk about how therapeutic

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Photographer Michael Vincent michaelvincent.com Director of Operations Tal-B Make-Up Ruby Polanco rubymakeupacademy.com Hair stylist Brenda Orduno Stylist Jenilee Lopez Wardrobe Provided by Suit look Shirt and Slacks by Howe Nike Sneakers from The Attic www.attic2zoo.com Ambassador Watch by Meister Casual Lifestyle look Denim by LX Shoes by Zoo York Prodigy Watch by Meister Lyndel Sunglasses by Mosley Tribe Belt by Black Scale Tank by Local Celebrity Stylist Jenilee Lopez jenileelopez@gmail.com Hair Brenda Orduno Makeup Ruby Polanco

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it was, but really there is no way around it… Maybe I had been feeling resentful about stuff but in going through that process I realized I had no business feeling the way I did. I put a lot of things to bed, “ explains Steve-O. Before the films, the scrotum stapling, the Wildboyz episodes where he and Pontius would swim with sharks, and even before his two left feet debuted on Dancing With The Stars, there was still a Steve-O, and while he hadn’t become a household name just yet, he was convinced it was only a matter of time. So convinced in fact, he actually began writing his memoirs long before any fame was ever in the equation. It was a start to his story Steve-O had to laugh about, (pointing to the first chapter in the book) “So I was in jail in Orlando and I decided I was gonna start writing my story. The first thing I wrote was, ‘They call me Steve-O. (Laughs) I’m thinking about switching back to Steve Glover because now I’ve kind of begun a career and I don’t know if I want a nickname when I become famous.’ (Laughs again) I mean, it fucking ridiculous, but it seemed like a funny place to start.” The ironic beginning would prove thematic throughout SteveO’s charge into fame. Having already become a bit of a local legend for skating pools, jumping off buildings and going to so far as to bust his front teeth all in the name of impressing a girl, how could a guy like that NOT become famous? Being that the book starts with Steve-O in jail, there is a resoundingly dark comedic tone that resonates throughout. It’s funny, even though the subject matter typically is pretty far from funny. Since 2008, Steve-O has been clean and sober. For a guy who has been fueled by chasing the spotlight, it’s an accomplishment he doesn’t climb on a soapbox about, opting celebrate it quietly. However, in the preceding years before his decision to get clean and his knock down, drag out intervention with his Jackass cast mates, Steve-O became hugely famous for being the guy who did everything extreme. At the height of his fame, it was expected that Steve-O would be nothing less than fucked up. “Back when I was touring around with Dunlap (former manager), my show would consist of me coming out onstage, breaking beer cans over my head, chugging large amounts of tequila from huge liquor bottles, I mean, I would promote each show by saying ‘I will be drunk AND on drugs or your money back’. It was a total shit show but it was also successful because of that.” It’s that same candor that rings apparent throughout every page of the book, and every stage Steve-O steps on. It’s a talent to be able to poke fun of yourself, one that Steve embraces wholeheartedly. “I get that it’s hilarious. It certainly took me while to see the humor in all of it and get to a point where I can look back and laugh, but I don’t think people should feel bad about laughing at ridiculous shit.” Aside from what Steve-O refers to as his “circling the drain,” the book is more than the clichéd autobiography of a celebrity that bounced back from addiction. During the photo shoot for this feature, Steve-O was asked to recreate the timeless shot made famous by Red Hot Chili Peppers years ago. He was asked to wear only a sock over his junk for the cover image. Steve-O replied, “hell yeah,” without a single moment of hesitation. While our photographer was checking his lights, Steve-O walked around the studio, bareassed, eating fruit, bouncing a basketball off of his head, and showing people video of a stunt he had done just weeks

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before involving the same outfit (sock only), a front flip, and his head on fire for the folks at the Google offices. I remembered thinking, “Fuck, I wish I could be as confident as this dude.” I would think about this later after reading Steve’s book. In the book Steve-O discusses his first real girlfriend Tracie. Already in the thick of his relationship with drugs and alcohol, he and Tracie didn’t make it. She decided to leave him. Steve-O’s solution was to grab his video camera and do the craziest shit possible. His thinking: “either she will think how cool I am, or she will take care of me if I get hurt.” While the book is loaded with countless instances of over-the-top-isms, this one offered unique insight to Steve Glover that is universal. “I think Pontius said it best in the book. He said if you are living your life for the camera and for the people watching, are you really even living your life at all? I mean I will make a living doing crazy shit for a long as I can. There is no question. But there is gonna come a time when I have to acknowledge that, that shit has run its course.” Introducing himself to the world as the guy who would do anything for attention set the kind of precedent that forced Steve-O to turn his life into a game of “Can You Top This.” Getting a laugh meant reaffirming who he wanted to be, everyone’s favorite guy. There wasn’t any real thought about the future, until he almost didn’t have one. “I would say now more than ever I need to have that separation of Steve from Steve-O. But I’m conflicted about that. It’s hard to inflate Steve, without deflating Steve-O…I wanna be a big shot, but I have to be okay with the fact that I might not be.”

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It takes a certain kind of person to be able to laugh at their self. Both in his book and every night Steve climbs onstage, he exercises that skill more than most people ever could imagine. Translating the heavy parts of life including his addiction, his need for attention, and all the trouble he ran into along the way, into something he, along with the viewing public can find humor in, speaks volumes about Steve Glover’s ability to be funny.We all knew Steve-O was hilarious. He was the guy that did a naked backflip onstage at a Wu-Tang concert. He was the guy who pitched a reality TV show where he and Clay Aiken would live in a “bumfuck” state and try to organize a county fair. He was the guy walked on stilts, spit fire, jumped in poo, and pierced his butt cheeks together. Steve Glover however, is the guy that can admit, “I’m not quite the caricature that I once was,” and still make people laugh. Steve Glover is the guy that can find some comfort in “watering his plants and chilling with his dogs” only to hit a stage later that same night in front of an enthusiastic, sold out crowd and slay. Steve Glover is the guy that can look back at a time in his life when shit had hit the fan, only to find something funny to point out. Steve-O always wanted to be a big shot, it took Steve Glover to show him that he already was.

Professional Idiot: A Memoir drops June 7th and the “Entirely Too Much Information” Tour rolls on – visit www.SteveO.com for dates and details

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CoachellA,

A LOVE STORY

Better Than The Typical Recap Words by M.M. Zonoozy Photos by Torey Mundkowsky

We met on the first day of Coachella. It was your average wayfarer boy meets sun-kissed beach babe. She was wearing hot-pink shorts, and so was I. For us, it was a total duh.

Both of us had come to Indio for the same reason: Coachella Music and Arts Festival – a 3-day buzz band binge. Along with another 75,000 or so wrist-banded hipsters, we were off to the desert to see Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, and Kanye West et al.

Soon enough, we were under the sweaty embrace of the Sahara Tent. Now, as Coachellites quickly pick up, the Sahara Tent is more than a stage, an incredible light show, and a non-stop shake-your-shit dance party. Sahara is a way of life. If you’re down with glowsticks, pool noodles, and dirty electro beats, then you’re Sahara. We were both, very much so, Sahara.

Now, I can’t remember exactly how our first meeting went down, but I’m sure that I said something so suave that she couldn’t resist my charm. Wait, now I remember – that is exactly what happened…

But as A-Trak was scratching on his usual electro-hip hop hybrid set, I tried to keep my award-winning dance moves under wraps. This was no time to show off; I had just met this girl, and didn’t want to intimidate. She, on the other hand, was dancing carefree with her hips, and her long limbs.

As luck would have it, we both were heading to see our boy A-Trak. So, we took a stroll together through the glowing, pulsating mirage that is Coachella. We passed mist tents, enormous art installations, and a giant Ferris wheel that we promised to ride together.

We hung out as progressive Dutchman, Afrojack, followed up the Canuck with an explosive playlist. An Usher and Paul McCartney appearance later, and we were headed over to the main, or Coachella, stage. En route, we passed the Outdoor Stage, where Brandon Flowers was putting on an unexpectedly engaging, Killers-

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less performance.We kicked it for a minute, and jumped to the main stage for The Black Keys. The Keys, typically a stellar live set, had a tough time translating their small-venue sound to the festival-sized stage. Afterwards, I was looking to see Kings of Leon, but she wasn’t feeling it. So, she beamed me a perfect smile, turned, and casually left. And maybe she made the right call – but I’d never let her know. It may be odd to fault a band for being polished, but for a group that prides themselves on their rock ‘n’ roll douchebaggery, why not get a little rowdier than the rehearsal? Still, ending their set with a “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” double-header was sing-along heaven. After some text tag, the girl and I finally met up again near the main stage. She kept dropping hints about riding the Ferris Wheel, but it was getting too late – The Chemical Brothers were on in 5, and I wasn’t about to miss that big beat electronica fire.

the girl of my dreams on deck. Once I met up with her, the best looking girl at Coachella, we opted to start our day with some campsite tomfoolery. The Coachella campground is a wonder in itself. Expanded to include car camping a couple years back, it has become an incredibly popular option for those looking to experience the more Woodstock-esque experience. Festival organizers have even set up disco roller rinks, AM yoga sessions, and new-fangled swing sets galore to keep the sleepless entertained. A beer and a grill later, and into the festival to see Glasser’s electrocapella we went. We stuck around the Gobi Tent to watch Yelle’s high-energy jams as well. After, I asked if she’d be down to get folksy with Mumford and his children. “You would like Mumford and Sons,” she teased. Who doesn’t? She poked fun, but came with. A Little Lion Man later, and we were moving up in the mix to catch Animal Collective. With three interactive cubes hanging above the stage, the Collective put on a better light show than concert.

And thank goodness that I didn’t. Chemical Tom put on an out-of-this-world spectacle of a performance. Go YouTube it, because that’s all that you’re getting from me. Later, as the show ended, I cruised to some rowdy Ace Hotel after-party, and she ignored my texts all night. Whatever. Coachella, day two, is perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, a heaven-sent lineup, and

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It didn’t’ take us long to move over to Empire of the Sun, who was hosting the most talked about performance of the day. The band was adorned in Cirque du Soleil worthy costumes, as sensual sea creatures interpreted some sort of alien narrative on stage. We caught our boogie to an awesome “Walking on a Dream” performance before returning to home base – Sahara. Now, if I had tried to restrict my superhuman foxtrot before, it was time to let go. One-third of the Swedish House Mafia, Steve Angello, was simply killing it.

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Following an epic “Show Me Love” build up, we peaced over to the main stage for Arcade Fire. The Fire outdid themselves, and dropped about a million glowing orbs from above the stage. During the set, we took a break to chill in the back of the crowd. We sat, held hands, and she mentioned riding the Ferris wheel again. We looked back, but it had already powered down for the night. “Tomorrow,” I promised. Later, as the show ended, I cruised to a Palm Springs house party, and she ignored my texts all night. Whatever. We met up again on the third and final day of Coachella, and headed to the beer tent to start our day nutritiously. Although I’m confident that no one beyond the eight other tall tees on the main stage can name more than one of his songs, there was Wiz Khalifa. I’m not really down, but she wanted to hear “Black and Yellow,” so I obviously chose to stick around. A handful of Heinekens later, and we ran off to Jack Beats. After dominating a quick dance session, we snaked through the crowd, hand-in-hand, to the front of Nas and Damien Marley. It’s always a bit disheartening seeing Jay-Z’s former competition degraded to a gimmicky duo act. Still, we agreed that the One Mic/In the Air Tonight blend was the most irie thing we’d seen in a while. After a hangout session back at the campsite, we were up to our old ways again, and found ourselves at Sahara for Duck Sauce. The DJ duo pulled the largest crowd we had seen at Sahara yet – testament to the power of a breakout single. With a huge rubber duckie on stage, and Armand Van Helden and A-Trak on the tables, Duck Sauce put on a surprisingly mediocre show. They dropped their new “Big Bad Wolf” single, but once we had heard Barbara, we were already ready to peep Ratatat. On the way, I couldn’t help but let that Ferris wheel catch my eye. I couldn’t miss that opportunity, but damn those Coachella set time organizers. There was Chromeo, The Strokes, Bloody Beetroots, and Kanye – all still looming in our near future. I figured we’d sneak in the Ferris wheel at some point later on. What we caught of Ratatat was solid, as always, as was Chromeo’s dance party. The Strokes rocked the main stage, the Bloody Beetroots terrified me at Sahara, and then there was Kanye West… Yeezy taught me nothing. I know everyone is going to say he killed it, but we gave him about 45-minutes before leaving. Half that time was spent waiting for the rumored surprise special guest. Turns out the dude from Bon Ivar is all we get – no Cudi, Katy, or Daft. So, we went walking. Comfortable with the handholding at this point, I couldn’t have been happier wandering the neon Coachella fantasyland with this babe. She thought I would dig The Presets, so we went to see them, and I did. I thought she’d dig Axwell, so we went to see him, and she did. It was all so perfect, but it was all also coming to an end. I found myself walking her back to the car before I knew it. Finally, her wearing my hoody, and with her friends spying from the car, she leaned in and gave me my first Coachella kiss. I’m not even sure if I said goodbye. When I opened my eyes, she was already stepping into the car. All of a sudden, she was gone. And later, as the festival ended, I cruised back home, and she sent me a text: “Ferris wheel – next year?”

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Dirty vegas

No Parking on The Dance Floor Words by Kristie Bertucci

It’s been six years since Dirty Vegas has graced us with anything musically and now the electronic trio is back and ready to take their place in the current dance scene with their upcoming release Electric Love. Making their way into the hearts of dance lovers and pop fans with their unforgettable “Days Go By” single that become a global phenomenon after appearing in a Mitsubishi commercial (which also won a Grammy for “Best Dance Recording” in 2003), Dirty Vegas is pumped to be making music again. After a split in 2005, Steve Smith, Ben Harris and Paul Harris went their separate ways for a bit. Steve did a bit of film composition and tried the solo release rout,e only to find himself stuck in the repetitive cycle of industry politics again—but still longed to make music with Dirty Vegas once more. Ben took a break from music entirely and slowly made his way back, writing pop stuff. Realizing his dislike of writing for other people, while falling in love with house and electronic music again, he, too, wanted to reunite and return to the roots of where Dirty Vegas first began. Paul decided to take become a DJ again and was the only one that kept his foot within the dance scene. Even though the group wanted time of from each other and music in general, it just couldn’t escape them. “Even though we went off to do our own things, we still were in contact,” Steve says, who does vocals, percussion, guitars and DJs for the group. “Then in 2008, I mentioned to the guys if we should get in the studio and work on something and they happily agreed. We did one song and it went well and thought lets do some more. So, it was a natural progression for us—from talking about music to actually getting in and doing it again. From the first minute we got back into the studio, everything just felt right.” “We have great synergy when we make music together,” Ben adds. “After our first hour in the studio it felt like only a week since being apart even though it was years.” Starting out recording in London, the first track they came out with was “Pressure” from their upcoming album, which they tested in the London club scene. After getting a lot of support from dance DJs, the guys knew it was time to finally drop an LP and went right to work.The result, a quite different album from Dirty Vegas’ first two, but one that perfectly reflects where the three of them are at this moment of time in their lives. After having fallen in love with dance music again, they naturally kept their electronic roots, but changed it up a bit to include new influences made up of today’s big names in the electro/dance scene. “In the end, we weren’t trying to make a specific type of music based on today’s standards of dance music,” Steve explains about where he thinks the group’s place is in the dance world today. “Obviously we are fans of other artists out there, but we never really try to position ourselves anywhere in terms of being compared to others. If our songs are on the radio, our names on a lineup for a festival, then we are more than happy. First and foremost, the music always has to be interesting for us because if we’re bored in the studio, then it’s not going to work anywhere else. We basically music for us and just hope everyone else enjoys it—whether it’s concert or club mix, a remix, or an acoustic version of a track, it has to excite us. We know we make electronic music, but then again, we add different elements to it so that can make it hard to classify.” Experimenting with new techniques to make Electric Love, Dirty Vegas actually did some of the recording/music brainstorming using the latest technological advancements. “Steve was living in Boston while Ben and I were in London, so we started off emailing our ideas and then did the Skype thing when we started to come up with actual music samples,” Paul describes. “It actually has some massive advantages. Before, we’d all be in the studio together, throwing out our ideas and we

would be nice to each other. But over the Internet, we were definitely more vocal about exactly what we each liked and didn’t. That helped move along the entire process a lot quicker than before. By the time we were all together in London, we had figured out the exact sound that we wanted.” Even though they were musically on track and all feeling the same groove, Dirty Vegas actually scrapped an entire album halfway through the process before finding producer Simon Duffy, who helped the guys refine their sound. Taking into consideration a wide range of influences from past and present like Miike Snow, Phoenix, the guys incorporated a semi-indie sound into their electro-based core. Another interesting recording feature for the guys was the chance to play live shows while still perfecting Electric Love, which allowed them to get new tracks from producers and try them out in front of a crowd. “That gave us access to the latest music that people are connecting to on the dance floor on a Saturday night gig, so Monday morning when were back in the studio, we knew what would work or wouldn’t,” Steve comments. “It allowed us to push our musical boundaries in terms of what was hot in electronic music, so that we weren’t totally sticking to one particular sound. We knew what would sound good if it were tweaked a bit and what was totally off limits We made close to 40 songs of what we felt like we wanted to make.” Naming the album after one of the first big single because they thought it not only sounded cool, but because it reflected their newfound love for electronic music, Dirty Vegas feels fans will love their new stuff because of its relatable lyrical content. Written in “true Dirty Vegas format,” Ben adds that Electric Love is a great record to chill to while at home or one of those albums you can play from beginning ’till end while out having a great time with friends. Epic guitars and pounding synths spread throughout the album makes this release at home anywhere from the biggest sound-systems in Ibiza to a rocking house party in any rural suburb. According to Ben, if you like electronic music and great lyrics then you’ll think it’s a great record. And, because dance music isn’t complete without remixes, Dirty Vegas has some big names remixing “Electric Love,” such as Eli Escobar, Runaway, Dirty Vegas’ own Paul Harris, Alex Teper, DJ Fame and Cassette Club. Each one brings a different take to the single, but all provide some musical fun! For the guys, Paul Harris’ remix is their favorite thus far. Already getting great reviews, Dirty Vegas’ new release will find it’s way into the hearts of fans, both new and old, just as their “Days Go By” did. Already taking to the road to promote the album, the guys mentioned that the best live show they’ve done since they’ve been reunited was Glastonbury 2010. “We had just finished the record and hadn’t done a massive show like this in a while,” Steve starts. “When we went to our tent, it wasn’t super busy and thought it was actually going to be empty during our show. After our first song, the tent was full! It was a great ‘welcomed back’ show for us.” The rest of 2011 holds “planes, trains and automobiles,” explains Paul. “Oh, and swimming pools and good restaurants,” Steve blurts out. “Always love good food in your belly while on tour! Performing our music live is what we pride ourselves on, so we look forward to touring for Electric Love!” But even though fans can get their Dirty Vegas musical fix they’ve waited so long for, they’ll be glad to hear that the guys have already started thinking about their next album. “We’re constantly getting ideas and playing around with sounds,” Paul states. “Dirty Vegas is back and we’re here to make good music again…inspiration hits us at all times and that’s when the magic happens.”

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electric mess

The Instruments In The Man Downstairs’ Machinery By Kristie Bertucci

The cuddly cute Teddybears are back and bringing their electro-fused rock with them. It’s been five years since the Swedish rockers tantalized our musical senses with their last release, Soft Machine—and this summer they plan to give fans some long overdue Teddybears love with their upcoming release Devil’s Music (actually released in 2010, but barely hitting the States now, so it has a few re-worked jams and some new tunes).The first Stateside album single “Cardiac Arrest” with the dance/pop vocalist Robyn already proves that the band hasn’t lost their musical eclecticness, as they experiment more with pop and psychedelic dance rock. Whatever it is, Teddybears are showing us they’re hip to what’s new in the industry and are definitely putting their own spin on things! “We have always been odd man out when it comes to music scenes,” confesses Patrick Arve. “You might say our music reflects record crates of three guys in a band, which of course will make an eclectic musical mess. But somehow we manage to produce songs with some sort a red thread in our work.” Comprised of Patrick Arve (vocals, synths, percussion, keyboards and bass) along with brothers Joakim Åhlund and Klas Åhlund (both split duties on bass, guitar, backup vocals, percussion and programming), Teddybears are known for wearing huge teddy bear heads when they play live (think Deadmau5 and his massive headpiece) and became massive mainstream sensations thanks to prior hits like “Cobrastyle,” “Punkrocker” featuring legendary Iggy Pop and “Black Belt.” With nothing but “hard labor, hard liquor” and anything else that goes along with “hard,” Devil’s Music features a dozen new songs never released before Arve admits, as well as the “same old mumbo jumbo,” which should have hardcore Teddybears fans pretty stoked for the upcoming release. It’s also pays homage to music the guys love and find inspiration from, such as Kraftwerk, The Ramones, and Public Enemy. Oh, and did we mention all the amazing collaborations these guys have?! With a hodgepodge of inspirations, Devil’s Music also includes some pretty randomly cool guests. Other than Robyn, the album will include collaborations with The Flaming Lips, Cee-Lo Green, The B-52s, B.O.B and Eve…yes, Ruff Ryders’ First Lady! Turns out that Cee-Lo and the B-52s are on the same song called “Cho Cha!” That alone should tell you what type of album you’re in for. Well that and the album’s title! “Oh boy, we´re merely instruments in the Man downstairs machinery,” Arve answers when asked about the title. Adding that all the current collaborations were “wunderbar” and “impossible to rank,” he did mention that some awesomely cool future collabos for the group would include something with the likes of Danzig, Chuck D, Josh Homme, John Lydon, Supercat, Dizzy, just to mention a few. He even threw in Bob Marley as the ultimate collaboration in an alternate universal where the reggae icon was still alive. Who knows what might happen on a Teddybears’ album, and although they’re barely releasing this one, the guys are wasting no time to drop their next time. In fact, Arve let us in a lil’ secret: they’re actually almost done with the next album! “We’re, so you say, ahead of our time,” he laughs. And that they are. In fact, Teddybears first graced us with their presence as a grindcore act called Skull back in 1991. Instead of coming up with some hedonist, Satanist name that many in the Swedish or Norwegian black metal scene did, the guys decided to take a different route. “Bands in that scene had names like Evil Skullfuckers or Necrofluxicum and such, and we had to piss against the wind with a stupid name, like Teddybears STHLM. Eventually we skipped the ‘STHLM’ since we had Phil Spector’s blessing to use the name (he had a band in the ’50s by the name Teddybears).”

Their first two albums,You Are Teddybears in 1991 and I Can’t Believe It’s Teddybears STHLM in 1996, featured their hardcore punk music before they officially made the transition to their current sound with their third album Rock ’n’ Roll Highschool in 2000, which had more electronic elements to it and would be the first of several new-sounding Teddybears’ albums. Known to mix a variety of genres—pop, rock, hip-hop, electro, reggae, punk, dance and just about anything else you could possibly think of—Teddybears don’t even know what to call their own music “We dunno what our music is…unbearable, maybe?” Arve nonchalantly answers. “When we first started out, we were trying to enrich what bands like Bad Brains did. We played intense hardcore music and seasoned it with ingredients, such as reggae, Kraftwerk and DAF. We even had a turntable guy called 9 Tip trying to scratch in that HC chaos.Yeah, I think we really achieved the goal and pushed things forward both music wise and attitude wise. We were killing the competition since there was none. We had our own league back then.” Arve might say think they had their own “league back then,” but they’re still in their own league; he’s just being modest. Who else can bring in rock gods like Iggy Pop to create an iconic song like “Punkrocker” or pair up a female MC with funky ’80’s icons? Not many for sure! And for a band that’s been around for two decades and still be relevant says a hell of a lot about the guys and their music. “We are tending to get more and more civilized…more brain oriented than guitar rehearsing,” he jokingly says. But in the end, Teddybears are still young at heart and enjoy what they do. For Arve, it was the Sex Pistols that started his musical demise. “When Sex Pistols hit my ears for the first time, an serious interest in music was born. Since then, I’ve been involved in sound creation one way or another. I hold Pistols responsible for my miserable life deep down in the musical mud.” Here’s a huge thanks to them, too, because without their music, Arve might have never formed Teddybears. Having 20-plus years in the music business and experience in the scene, the guys have certainly evolved throughout the years. “We are actually getting more and more civilized now,” he laughs. “Now it’s more about being brain-oriented than merely guitar rehearsing.” Whatever you want to call it,Teddybears are at a musical height where they can successfully redefining boundaries to incorporate thought, fun, innocence, sex and, of course, dance. A combination that makes for intensely fun music no matter what genre you prefer, which is what you get on their new album. Arve’s favorite track on Devil’s Music seems to be “Cardiac Arrest,” because of its genre-free element. “The drum fills kill me,” he says. “A very dear friend of ours, Nino Keller, is responsible for that beat performance. It’s so amazing, you have to blast that track for sure!” But out of all of the group’s amazing jams, Arve’s top three are actually “Cobrastyle,” “Punkrocker” and “Ahead Of My Time.” “I guess it has to do with popularity amongst the Swedish audience. In Sweden, we are big like Michael Jackson.” That’s pretty big in musical standards because no one can ever be as big as the King of Pop, but the Teddybears are obviously killing it in their home country. Maybe, when Devil’s Music is released in the States, MJ’s legacy just might be rivaled by a trio of musicians who perform in evil-looking bear heads…or just hit No. 1 on the dance charts at least. With more albums and releases on the horizon, Teddybears seem like they’ll be going down in music history as a genre-crossing band that defied musical standards and didn’t give a shit about what anybody else thought about their music. Well that and “pure magic and pockets full of hard stuff,” says Arve. We’re digging pure magic and can’t wait to be dancing to the Devil’s Music!

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expectations

can suck it

Artic Monkeys Relish In The Unexpected

There was a time not too long ago when the Arctic Monkeys were the next great thing to come out of England. With a sound that infused the piss and vinegar attitude of traditional UK punk with simple, mainstream guitar riffs, the sky was the limit. Listening to the new Arctic Monkeys album, “Suck It And See,” you’d be hard pressed to find any remnants of the sound they exploded onto the scene with five years ago. Back then, Arctic Monkeys was simply four wide eyed musicians taking their music from their Sheffield, England, garage and giving it to the world. Now the ripe old age of 25, frontman Alex Turner admits he’s matured as a musician as he has a man and with that, the tunes have gotten more melodic and structured. Gone are the days of simple chords and catchy hooks, replaced by ambiance and thought out lyrics. “I suppose from the age of 17 to 25, everybody changes to some degree, don’t they,” Turner asked, rhetorically. “That’s no different for us, really, or for me. I suppose the type of music you want to make, you’re better informed before you’ve got a handle on your taste. You kind of ponder about the type of record you want to make or not and follow it through where in the past years you’re in a garage or room for three hours every week and you do everything a hundred miles an hour. There’s something good about that as well. I haven’t changed (other than) I wear

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By Patrick Douglas

the guitar a lot lower than I used to.” In 2006, the band did more than just break through to an eager audience with the debut, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.” It became the fastest selling debut album in the history of the UK, pushing 360,000 copies in the first week alone behind the single “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.” Somewhat raw and organic, the album was in the same vein as The Strokes and The Hives – ‘70s era party rock with slight punk undertones. However you want to label it, it struck a chord with audiences and they bought it en masse. Not wanting to get stale piggy-backing that success by recreating the same old sound, the band has evolved with each release, this being the fourth in five years. The constant output of music is just fine for Turner who doesn’t necessarily want to take a break and possibly get lax in the process. “I’ve got no basis for comparison,” said the musician in a thick British accent when asked about the consistent production. “This is the only way we’ve worked. Maybe we’ll take a break after this album because people keep talking about it. People are repeatedly baffled by the rate in which we’ve released records. It still feels like we’ve had plenty of time sitting around as well. I don’t know whether we’ll continue to do it like that or not.” Because it just came out in 2006, the debut album and subsequent frenzy that followed it is still fresh in people’s minds. A lot of bands and close friends have

fallen victim to sudden fame in rock and roll, but Turner insists the friendship shared between himself, bassist Nick O’Malley, guitarist Jamie Cook and drummer Matt Helders is the reason things have ended up so well. “One thing I think that helps bypass a lot of those pitfalls and traps that sometimes bands fall into or people get egos and all that is, we’ve all been friends for a long time, even when we were little kids, long before we were in a band together,” said Turner. “I think that sort of having that relationship helps keep everybody grounded and stops a lot of the nonsense.” The literally overnight eruption of popularity experienced by the band came out of nowhere. Arctic Monkeys went from playing in dive bars to arenas in the blink of an eye and Turner and his mates had to figure out how to deal with such a quick career launch while still maintaining strong creative output. “(It was) not at all what I expected. Everything about this band, to some degree, has been unexpected,” he said. “Like it was one thing after another. When we started playing together in our mom and dad’s garage in the early days of the group, our only ambition was to play a show in the pub where our mate’s band played. We never thought we’d do that in a way. Honestly, we did that and it was ‘What do we do now?’ and ‘It would be cool to record a few of these tunes we’ve been writing.’ Of course, when it all went mad, you don’t have a clear handle on things anymore the way you did before that.” Strange that in music, grungy guitar riffs and short, unrefined songs always seem to be labeled “immature,” once the band releases a more produced follow up. Taking nothing away from that iconic debut record, Turner realizes that as he’s grown, so has his tastes in not only other music, but his own. “I think the writing, that’s something I wanna get better at. That’s become a bit more of a focus for me, personally. Something as a craft,” he said. “I’ve realized it’s something you can practice and improve on. You can still hear a tune now that makes you go, ‘Fuck, I don’t know anything.’ There’s one tune called ‘The Beast In Me,’ by Nick Lowe. That was one of those moments where you’re like ‘I need to work on this a bit more. Hearing more music gives you a nudge to wanna get better.” Turner cited his experience in the studio with the group’s third album, “Humbug,”

as a game changer in his evolution as a musician. “That whole experience where we went out with Josh Homme (from Queens of the Stone Age) and the guy that engineered that record, Alain Johannes, both of them are terrific guitar players and being around them gives you a kick up the ass.” The collaboration with Homme on the previous record and his influence over the songwriting is very evident on some of the new tracks. The new single, “Brick By Brick,” off of “Suck It And See,” is heavily infused with QOTSA flavor and is more psychedelic than it is dirty garage. Despite the 180-degree turn from the original path, Turner is happy with the direction the band has taken. It’s a natural evolution, he says, and one that wasn’t planned but followed nonetheless. “We never sat down and considered what kind of album we were gonna make. Just what we were gonna get out of it. After (the debut) I sort of changed the approach to songwriting and took a little bit more time. I think of it as a craft and something I wanted to practice and be good at.” Turner credits his time in his other band, The Last Shadow Puppets, as a major influence in the band’s drastic change. “That kind of project really kid of opened the door for me as a songwriter. Writing songs in a more traditional way as well, like writing songs and chords and melody and lyrics,” he said. “Then applying to each song what’s required.” The Arctic Monkeys have been to the top of the mountain in terms of record sales and aren’t sweating about the collapse of the recording industry. As long as they keep seeing faces in the crowd on the road, there’s nothing to worry about. “It’s fuckin’ hard nowadays, especially in England ... for guitar music to get on the radio and get play and all that,” said Turner who went on to talk about the reactions the band gets from a typical crowd. “The last record … you played somewhere and you could just feel it.You can tell when the people are engaged. That last one in the U.S. especially.” “I’m not worried.”

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Pink Stripe Bikini by Fresh Peaches

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As good as it gets feel good hit of summer

Model Brittany Binger Fashion Director Michelle Ngo Photographer Will Taylor Assistant Brian Morris Stylist Jenilee Lopez Hair/Makeup Kimberly Ex

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Yellow Bikini by B Swim

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Teal Lace Bikini by Beach Bunny

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Sheer Top by B Store, Floral bottom by Beach Bunny

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Rainbow Bikini by B Swim

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SKINNIE Scene

Prince @ The Forum

INDEX LOS ANGELES

LAS VEGAS

ORANGE COUNTY

SAN DIEGO

INLAND EMPIRE

p.058 Weekly Club Listings

p.062 Weekly Club Listings

p.064 Weekly Club Listings

p.066 Weekly Club Listings

p.068 Weekly Club Listings

Calendar Club Pictures

p.065 I Am Music II Tour @ Honda Center

p.070 The Big 4 @ Empire Polo fields, Indio, Ca

To Receive Updates on Skinnie Scene Club Listings or To Submit Your Events, E-mail: Update@skinniemagazine.com to be Added to Our Weekly Skinnie E-blasts.

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SKINNIE SCENE Los angeleS

Photos Courtesy of Sean Myers, Jamie Barren, Karen Curley, Alan Rivera

LA CALENDAR

05.21 Cage Vs. Cons Hosted by Tommy “Tiny” Lister & Danny Trejo @ Los Angeles Sports Arena

Alice Cooper @ Revolver’s Golden Gods Awards

The Supper Club

Rob Zombie @ Revolver’s Golden Gods Awards

Prince @ The Forum

Game @ Highlands

JVC “Turn Me On” Shoot

Prince and Shiela E @ The Forum

I Love You @ Tru Supper Club

06.02 Artic Monkeys @ Hollywood Palladium 06.04 Bedouin Soundclash @ Saint Rocke 06.06 Adele @ Greek Theatre 06.07 Death Cab For Cutie @ El Rey 06.10 Deftones @ Hollywood Palladium

06.14 The Flaming Lips @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery 06.14 Motely Crue/Poison @ Hollywood Bowl 06.20 Britney Spears/Nicki Minaj @ Staples Center

06.22 My Morning Jacket @ Pantages Theatre 06.23 Mana @ Staples Center

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JVC “Turn Me On” Presser

Prince @ The Forum

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SKINNIE SCENE Las vegas

Photos Courtesy of David Becker/Wire Image, Alan Rivera, Issac Brekken

LV CALENDAR

06.01 Flosstradamus @ Ghost Bar

Wet Republic

The Only Kardashian That matters @ Wet Republic

Sippin’ On Tiger’s Blood @ Chateau

Carmen Electra @ Chateau

Cee-Lo Green Live @ Gallery

Como Nina Sky

Charlie Sheen @ Chateau Red Carpet

Cee-Lo Green, Vince Neil & Carrot Top @ Gallery

06.03 Steve Aoki @ Surrender 06.04 Cinderella @ Santa Fe Station 06.05 Steve Aoki @ Xs 06.06 Joey Cape @ Dive Bar 06.10 Paul McCartney @ MGM Grand Garden Arena

06.11 Cake @ Cosmopolitan 06.12 Deftones @ The Joint 06.16 Bruno Mars @ Pearl Concert Theater 06.17 Skrillex @ Crown Theater

06.18 Funeral Party @ House of Blues 06.24 Electric Daisy Carnival w/ Tiesto @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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SKINNIE SCENE orange county

Photos Courtesy of Alan Rivera, Erik Faiivae

OC CALENDAR 06.01 Eels @ Galaxy Theatre

Nicki Minaj @ Honda Center

8Eighty8

Sharkeez

8Eighty8

Sharkeez

Travis Barker Goes Hard @ The Honda Center

8Eighty8

Sharkeez

06.04 KROQ Weenie Roast w/ Rise Against, Lykke Li, The Strokes @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 06.09 Front Line Assembly @ Galaxy Theatre

06.10 - 06.12 Ink-N-Iron Tattoo, Music, and Car Culture Festival @ Queen Mary Events Park 06.12 Steve-O @ Brea Improv 06.17 U2/Lenny Kravitz @ Angel Stadium of Anaheim

06.18 Thao & Mirah @ Detroit Bar 06.24 Britney Spears & Nicki Minaj @ Honda Center 06.25 Wiz Khalifa @ Honda Center 06.29 Rihanna & Cee-Lo Green @ Honda Center

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orange county SKINNIE SCENE

I am music ii tour w/ little wayne, Nicki minaj, Travis barker and rick ross

@ honda center

Images by Erik Faiivae

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SKINNIE SCENE San diego

Photos Courtesy of Tim Sheppard, Jeremy Wassink & Bobby Reyes of EventVibe.com

SD CALENDAR 06.02 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ The Casbah 06.04 Dramarama @ Ramona Mainstage 06.08 Adele @ Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay

Always Hip @ Fluxx

Gartier Destroys House of Blues

House of Blues

Wolfgang Gartier @ House of Blues

Intervention @ The Hard Rock

Fluxx

Rage! @ Fluxx

House of Blues

Intervention @ The Hard Rock

Oakenfold @ Intervention

06.09 Black Lips @ The Casbah 06.10 X @ 4th & B 06.11 Bruno Mars/Janelle Monae @ Del Mar Fairgrounds 06.12 Young Widows @ Soda Bar 06.16 Matt & Kim @ House of Blues 06.17 Aiden @ SOMA

06.19 Diana Krall @ Open Sky Theater Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort 06.24 Taking Back Sunday @ House of Blues

06.25 The Queers @ The Shakedown Bar

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SKINNIE SCENE Inland empire

Photos Courtesy of Sean Myers, Alan Rivera, Erik Faiivae, John Pangilinan of ID Agency

IE CALENDAR

06.02 Artic Monkeys @ Fox Theater Pomona

Rock the Keys

Fusions

Guerilla Union Has Paid Dues

Miss Mt. High and John DeSantis of X1039

Mos Def @ Paid Dues

Digital Underground @ Paid Dues

Rock the Keys

Miss Mt. High

Murs @ Paid Dues

Fusions

06.03 Flogging Molly @ Fox Theater Pomona 06.09 Robert Plant @ San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino

06.11 Spring Gathering w/ Snoop Dogg @ National Orange Show 06.12 Farewell Continental @ The Wire 06.18 Dokken @ National Orange Show 06.19 Aiden @ Mango Tango 06.24 Skrillex @ Glass House

06.24 Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown @ Citizen’s Business Bank Arena 06.25 Cerebral Ballzy @ Glass House 06.26 Face To Face @ Glass House

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SKINNIE SCENE Inland empire

The big 4 @ Empire Polo fields, Indio, Ca Photos by Sean Myers

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