Editors
Contributors
Contact
Chris Pernula Adam Sever
Joe Blum Ed Herbold Pat Milbery Sam McGuire Jimi Nguyen Paul Pernula Sheldon Sabatini Chris Yerks
P.O. Box 2076 Maple Grove, MN 55311 SwimmersEarMag@yahoo.com www.myspace.com/swimmersear
Memo: The Holy Grail of Skateboarding Skateboarders see everything differently than the average human being. The typical urban landscape may seem like nothing more than concrete and steel, but to a skater, we see an endless supply of ledges, stairs, handrails, and banks. Sometimes this constant spot search can feel like a disease, where everything and anything starts to remind you of skating. Ever sit in someone’s living room only to notice how their coffee table would be perfect for tailslides? Over the years, some of the more common obstacles may lose their appeal. How many different five-stairs do you need anyway? It is at moments like this when our imagination takes over and we search out for new and different skatespots. Sometimes creativity can be mistaken for desperation, like when you tell someone who doesn’t skate that you just found an awesome ditch and they just laugh in your face. Other times, you come across something totally unique and unexpected... My roommate Yanks found this nice little fullpipe down the street from our house. Once we swept most of the dirt out of the bottom, it turned into a pretty fun ride. I had never ridden a fullpipe before this one, so it was a challenge to get used to not having a flatbottom. We haven’t had any casualties or busts yet (knock on wood). It’s hidden from the view of passing cars, but it’s right alongside the train yard, so we’re always on the lookout for security and such. I’ve been watching a few of the old Bones Brigade videos lately, so it’s been hard to resist blurting out inane phrases like “Rippin’ style, homes!” while Yanks is skating in the pipe. It’s in a dirt lot surrounded by other smaller pipes and junk. Hopefully, the construction company that plopped it down there won’t need it in the near future. I’m trying to ride it as much as I can in case they do take it away and I arrive to find nothing but a vacant lot. -CP Yanks. Photo: Pernula
Bones SPF Wheels SPF stands for Skatepark Formula, which means these wheels are specifically designed for park riding. A lot of urethanes are not heat or abrasion resistant enough to resist flatspotting, which is why Bones came up with this special secret formula. It’s superhigh abrasive resistant, so they’re really hard to flatspot. And they last a lot longer, too. If you need a grippy wheel that’s perfect for slippery surfaces like smooth cement, masonite, or skatelite, then check these out.
Etnies Gear Don’t stop at just the shoes. Celebrate Etnies’ 20 year anniversary with the full get up. The jacket is solid black with a rugged workwear appearance, but with a classy patterned lining so you don’t look like a total dirtball. There’s the new “20” logo embroidered in black on the front to let people know you’re down. This jacket is perfect for fall skating or when all your hoodies are too filthy to wear. The hat has a flat top style mixed with a mesh back to allow for heat and stink to flow freely while skating in the summer heat. And the wallet is just a good way not to lose all your money, doofus.
Pssst, hey kid! Want a set of Bones SPF 54mm wheels and an Etnies wallet? Send an email to SwimmersEarMag@yahoo.com by 10/1/06 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen at random. And since about five people are reading this, your odds are pretty damn good. So get to it!!
Stale Smoke & Missed Notes If you’re a fan of Pick Your Poison, You Idiot, or just plain good writing, then pick up the latest issue of Whiskey Plus, a new music zine by Nate of Rivethead fame. Issue one is a quick sixteen pages, but it crams plenty of writing in a small amount of space. Inside, Nate takes a look at the sad state of Billboard chart-toppers, songs called “Fuck You”, and indecipherable Oasis lyrics. The highlight of this issue is the section on karaoke reviews. I’ve only done karaoke once, and it pretty much sucked seeing as how I don’t drink. Plus I screamed into the mic and the bouncer got pissed and gave me the evil eye for the rest of the evening.
“Warriors, come out to pla-ayy” Hopefully you were at the premiere and bought a copy of this months ago, but if not, here you go: Weekend Warriors is Benji Meyer’s latest and greatest project. Solid skating, slick filming and editing, and great tunes. And if the twenty minutes of bonus footage isn’t enough, the second disk contains ten years worth of skating, including the classics Midopoly and Anonymous, both slightly altered from their VHS versions. No slam section to the tune “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. (thank the lord) and no singing hick playing air guitar on Hennepin. Now I just need Hatebreeders, Joy & Pain, and Open Iris on DVD and I can get rid of all these tapes collecting dust.
Anthem Boy promo video These promo videos are getting pretty popular nowadays, it seems like every company has one to offer. This promo starts off with a nice super 8 film montage, which always look good, no matter what you film. Each rider has solid parts especially Chany Given, Thom Hornung and Chris Head. There is also a bonus section with Chany and Thom's plus other rider’s parts from other skate videos.
Great is more like it. A Bit of Good is Randy Labourne’s 6th zine. It features his signature zine design style with hand drawn characters overlapping photos of dead mice and architecture. Check out www.lookforwardtothepast.com for a preview of Randy's design work.
Chevreuil “Capoeira” This is the biggest piece of horseshit I have heard in quite some time. If you’re out at a bar or a party, and someone even utters the name Chevreuil, punch them in the face for me. What’s worse than a couple of French guys trying to play a touch guitar and magnetic drums? Recording it, mass producing it, then calling it “music.” It basically sounds like someone set a couple of toddlers down in front of some instuments and let them go wild. (Sickroom) Rainer Maria “Catastrophie Keeps Us Together” With so many female lead bands popping up lately, it’s getting harder to define a style between each. Rainer Maria is one that really stands out amongst the rest. Caithlin De Marrais’ lyrics and vocals paralelled with an amazingly talented rock back beat flows with every song on this 11-track album. If it means anything to the reader, ever since I put this album on I haven’t been able to pull myself away from it. (Grunion) -CY Hit the Lights “This is a Stickup... Don’t Make it a Murder” I’m surprised that people are still making this kind of music. I wasn’t a fan of New Found Glory when they were popular, so I doubt I’d be into a group trying to sound like them years after the fad has passed. It’s that super poppy crap with whiny vocals we’ve all heard a million times. You might be into this if you’re a fifteen year old girl, and your idea of “rocking out” is jumping up and down on your bed while
kicking off all the stuffed animals. Maybe mom will drive us to the mall on Saturday so we can go to Cinnabun and then puke in the bathroom together! (Triple Crown) The Adored “A New Language” Heavily influenced by The Buzzcocks, The Adored play poppy, quirky dance tunes. Their debut full length is fourteen upbeat songs perfect for when you’re driving in your Jetta on the way to Starbucks, you tool. Normally, if a band is as poppy
Persona Projector) play progressive hardcore music with tortured vocals. The lyrics are Shakesperean at times, with lines like “In crescendo, my plea, to that which broke my faith.” This particular album was recorded and produced by Chris Common of These Arms Are Snakes. (Failed Experiment) The Cardinal Sin “Hurry Up & Wait” This is the Sin’s first full length, a follow-up to last year’s Oil & Water EP and their split 7” with Small Towns Burn a Little Slower. Of all of the former bands that this group is comprised of, the sound is most similar to Cadillac Blindside, mostly due to the vocal stylings of James Russell. The disk itself is enhanced, with some acoustic tracks and videos for your viewing pleasure. (Grey Flight)
The Cardinal Sin
as this, the chorus of one or two tracks will get stuck in my head, but for some reason nothing really stood out on this album. (V2) Red & Gold “Your Napoleon” This is five songs clocking in at barely thirteen minutes with male and female vocals. They’re screaming at the top of their lungs for the most part, but there are a couple of instances where they have to take it easy on the vocal chords and merely sing. If you’re into spazztic, high energy rock, then check this out. (Lujo) The Coma Recovery “Drown That Holy End in Wine” Albuquerque, New Mexico’s The Coma Recovery (formerly known as
Eric Bachman “To the Races” You may know Eric Bachman from such bands as Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers. He has saved his best work to release under his given name. “To the Races” shows just how great a songwriter he is. Each track is well written and could easily be the soundtrack to an epic movie. The opener “Man O’ War” is a beautiful tune with angelic backing vocals by Miranda Brown. Devotchka’s Tom Hagerman lends his haunting violen to a couple of tracks and if that doesn’t do it for you, then the harmonica riffs on “Carrboro Women” certainly will. (Saddle Creek)
Say Hi to Your Mom “ Impeccable Blahs” “Impeccable Blahs” is the first Say Hi album to feature a backing band to Eric Eblogen’s usual solo outings. The backing band features tourmates from the Ferocious Mopes tour Chris Egan III and Jeff Sheinkopf. Each song in “Impeccable Blahs” is about vampires from the upbeat opener “These Fangs” to the mid tempo “She Just Happens to Date the Prince of Darkness”. Although the quirky lyrics and song titles are similar to Say Hi’s previous albums, you will notice a stark contrast in the sound and length of the songs. “Blahs” has two tracks over the 5 minute mark and others over the 4 minute mark. The sound of the songs has a more grown up, impersonal feel, but are altogether better written. (Euphobia) The North Atlantic “Wires in the Walls” From the opening handclaps on “The Lotus Eater” to the howling woah woah woahs on the epic closer “Ministry of Helicopters”, “Wires in the Walls” is an unrelenting journey through post punk and noise rock soundscapes. This is a re-issue of their 2003 limited run album by the same name. Even though the songs are nearly 5 years old, they still contain an urgency like they were written moments before hearing them. (We Put Out Records) Snowden “Anti-Anti” Some parts of Snowden shake and groove like the Dismemberment Plan. Other parts dip and float like something I can’t think of. Title Track “Anti-Anti” is probably the stand out while “Black Eyes” comes
in a close second. If you go to www.snowden.info, you can download their EP for free. (Jade Tree) Young Widows “Settle Down City” When Steve Sindoni departed ways with the rest of his bandmates in Louiseville, KY’s Breather Resist, the remaining members decided to forge on as Breather Resist vowing not to play any material they had previously recorded with Sindoni or replace him with a new singer. With a armful of songs recorded for what was to be the new BR album, Evan Patterson, Nick Thienman and Geoff Paton decided that these songs didn’t fit the Breather Resist formula and Young Widows was born. “Settle Down City” is moody post punk with dark grooves, but remains the catchiest and most accessible material recorded by these three. (Jade Tree) Cursive “Happy Hollow” I’m sure when Cursive fans first listen to “Happy Hollow” they’ll think that Cursive was replaced by a ska core band. “Happy Hollow” is a huge departure from their previous album “The Ugly Organ”. Where “The Ugly Organ” was a depressing ride through one man’s mangled soul, “Happy Hollow” is far more upbeat and sunny. The themes displayed this time around, religion and evolution, homosexuality, and patriotism, but done in such a way that is catchy and adventurous. A bit of advice though, look at “Happy Hollow” and “The Ugly Organ” as two separate works. Listen to “Happy Hollow” a few times and then you’ll start to get it. Then thank Cursive for bringing back ska elements to the mainstream. (Saddle Creek)
Heather Duby “S/T” Add Erin Tate of Minus the Bear playing drums on the new Heather Duby album and you’ve got a lot of math. Overall a good album with beautiful compositions with samples and loops. (Sonic Boom) Joan of Arc “The Intelligent Design of” What do you get a Joan of Arc fan that has all the out of print CDs and 7 inches and rare foreign b-sides? You get them all of them on one disc. “The Intelligent Design of...” features 19 songs that most JOA fans already have, all the good ones and the bad ones. (Polyvinyl Records) Joan of Arc “Eventually, All at Once” Never one to be pigeon holed to one sound Tim Kinsella is back, guitar in hand, to release the most musically straight forward Joan of Arc album yet. Recorded at his mom’s house, while brother Mike’s old bedroom doubled as a live studio, Tim’s old room was designated a control room. It was recorded in five days. Tim was there all five days and each day another musician friend would stop by to lay down their parts. In all, Mike and Nate Kinsella, Bobby Burg, Todd Mattei, Cale Parks, Ben Vida and Sam Zurick all stopped by. After all was recorded, what remained was nine lyrically comprehensible casual folk songs and one cover of Robert Wyatt’s “Free Will and Testament”. (Polyvinyl Records)
Bound Stems "Appreciation Night" Just like in their previous ep, Bound Stems is back with awkward time changes and interesting sounds making up the 14 track CD. You could listen to this album ten times and you'll still be noticing sounds that you hadn't heard before. (Flameshovel)
Page France "Hello, Dear Wind" Each song on "Hello, Dear Wind" is a single word. "Chariot" "Jesus" and "Trampoline" to name a few. Page France has the charm and instrumentation of Death Cab For Cutie without all the production. Each song is unique and is easy on the ears. (Suicide Squeeze)
Thom Yorke "The Eraser" Fans of Radiohead will certainly enjoy this. It sounds like any Radiohead album, just more computerized bleeps and blips and Thom's signature crooning. (Xl Recordings)
Now its Overhead "Dark Light Daybreak" Like the previous Now it's Overhead album, "Dark Light Daybreak" offers nothing new to the music world. The song "Walls" sounds like a tune from labelmates "Criteria." Overall the disc is not bad, just uninspiring. (Saddle Creek)
Mew "And the Glass Handed Kites" These rockers are Danish. Not like in a sweet tasty breakfast treat, but like from Denmark. Their sound is of native Denmark Yeti Lobsters dancing on the skulls of clams, in other words lots of overlapping vocals and spacy, atmospheric rock. Rise Against "The Sufferer & The Witness" This album is quite good. Lots of solid punk songs. Easy to listen to, it's not that watered down pop shit like Taking Back Sunday. These guys can actually play. There are plenty of catchy hooks and melodies to keep you interested throughout. (Geffen) Rosewood Thieves "From the Decker House" The Rosewood Thieves sound like a cross between the Beatles/Kinks and the Comas. Interesting arrangements with organs and fuzzy vocals. It's worth a listen. (V2)
Lola Ray “Liars” These dudes have opened for such acts as Sum 41, Good Charlotte, and The Killers. If any of those bands give you a total boner, then you might like this album. Personally, I can’t get behind anything with cheesy lyrics. “Your body’s a hotel, I’ll stay for the night.” If you’re into music with deep, meaningful lyrics such as this, then go out and pick this up. (DC Flag) Jet Lag Gemini “Business” Other than Dan the drummer, the members of this band hale from other parts of the globe. Vlad and Matei are brothers from Romania, and Misha is from Russia. You’re probably thinking, “Wow, they must play some exotic music.” Well you’re wrong. They play poppy rock like every other American band out there. I’m gonna let it slide since three of them are teenagers and the oldest is 20. Things can only get better with age and experience, right? (Doghouse)
Suicide Squeeze Records “Slaying Since 1996” This is a double disk release commemorating ten years of music on Seattle’s Suicide Squeeze Records. All together, there are 34 tracks, eight of which are out of print and thirteen that are previously unreleased. Some of the more notable acts on this comp include Modest Mouse, Elliott Smith, Les Savy Fav, Iron and Wine, Minus the Bear, Pedro the Lion, Of Montreal, and These Arms Are Snakes. Celebrity “Mining For Twilight” Celebrity plays radio-friendly alternative rock. This is some of the most watered down music I have ever heard. If you’re going to be in a “rock” band, don’t you want to rock?? Scream, throw something, kick the bass player in the face, anything. It feels like they spent too much time and energy trying to fit in and find an image. I don’t care about your haircuts, guys. (Doghouse) Drag the River “It’s Crazy” This is Drag the River’s fourth studio album. It began in 1996 with Chad Price of All and Jon Snodgrass of Armchair Martian, and has evolved into a hard working team of country musicians. If you like country music (and I know you secretly do) then check these guys out. (Suburban Home) Panda and Angel “s/t” The music on this 6-song album is nice. Mellow music that includes samples and keyboards. Nothing too overproduced though. The female vocals are alright. Nothing to get too excited about. (Jade Tree)
Interview with shop owners Don Bergeson & Paul White
When and how did the store come about? Don: Paul actually came up with the idea and had the location picked out almost four years ago. Every time we went snowboarding I’d harass him about it, like “When are you gonna do this?” Then about two years ago in December we actually started working on the business plan and put it together. We finalized it in March 2005. Was it hard to find a location? Paul: To find a good location was tough. Don: That’s why we’re out here in the sticks. You weren’t planning on having it this far out? Don: No, I think we were just because we knew the city was kinda filled up. I think the guys at Familia, with Fobia being gone, picked the right time and put it in the right spot. But when we looked at it, Fobia was there, Cal Surf was killing it. It would have been tough to be in the city. What was the motivation behind opening the store? Paul: So many stores have been done, but done the wrong way. Just seeing the way people do things and how you can do them better, and being able to do your own thing. Don: Yeah, to actually have some interest in the industry besides just trying to have a shop to make money. Paul: And to be from skateboarding and all of a sudden be able to do it. I worked at a store for twelve years, and there were so
many things I wanted to do but couldn’t. Where did people in Forest Lake go for boards before this store opened? Don: The House or Zumiez. We get so many parents in here that thank us for having something so they don’t have to drive thirty minutes to a mall. Do you have any plans to expand in the future? Don: It’s always an option in my book. I think with this one, we need to get to the point where we feel comfortable. It’s our life. This is what we do. What has been the response to the shop so far? Don: We’ve had a phenomenal response. You have your lurkers, but the cool part is we know them by name now. You have skate, snow, and wake teams. Are you guys putting together a team video? Don: Yeah, our snowboard shop teaser just came out. The video will be released in the fall. And we will film this year for skate. What are your thoughts on mall stores like PacSun and Zumiez? Paul: They’re good and they’re bad. They’re good because they
get people interested who normally wouldn’t be. But they’re buying at a level that us as specialty retail stores can’t, so they’re offering bigger discounts which is hurting us. But I think they help get people into the lifestyle side of it. Working here you see all the trends. Do you think skateboarding will ever go back underground, or is the market and demand too big? Paul: I think it’s gonna stay mainstream for a little while yet. But with the patterns the way they have been, it should. I’m sure it will go back underground again. Who knows. Time will tell.
HANDRAILS With the Luck of St. Patrick Pat Milbery
Words: Pat Milbery
Photos: Ed Herbold
The following dialogue consists of snowboarder Pat Milbery and photographer Ed Herbold. Pat, Ed, Mike Casanova and Brian Redniss are traveling from Colorado to Minnesota for a special mission... 5:55 AM March the 17th 2006, AKA the celebrated holiday of St. Patrick. [EH] Hey man, good morning! Dude are you stoked or what? [PM] What, hold up, what time is it? [EH] Time to be at the Denver Airport (DIA), our flight leaves in one hour and 15 minutes!!!! Why, where the hell are you? Are you just getting up? [PM] Oh my GOD? FUCK!!!!!!!!!!! I just woke up, my alarm sucks, and it didn’t go off!!!! I hate my cell phone!!! [EH] Word, well…Ummm? [PM] Oh man, what should I do? DIA is 40 minutes away? There is no way I will make this in time, plus the TSA security at the DIA airport takes forever!! [EH] Dude. Steal a car! [PM] Um, I am an urban badass, but not that much of a badass. And even if so, I better not push the luck of St. Patrick too far. Damn!!!! Please help me St. Patrick! Please…. [EH, MC, BR] They all start brainstorming; the other three members of the crew are already at the airport trying to see how they can help, but all thinking…. There is no way he is going to make it…Damn, what can we do? [EH] Call a cab ASAP! [PM] Right, right. Ok, I’m going to do my best here, and I’ll call you in a few! [EH] Make it happen man!! [PM] Word. (6:00 AM) So I call a cab. The cab company tells me, there can be a cab at my apartment in five minutes! No way, awesome! Thanks, I will be waiting in the street! (6:05 AM) The Yellow Cab arrives with an overly friendly driver. He greets me and asked for my destination. I quickly explain my situation to him, he responds with… [CABBIE] WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM, A SUPERHERO CAB DRIVER? All right, I hope you are a close friend of St Patrick’s! [PM] Well, not exactly, but I am a believer although! We do have the same name if that helps at all. [CABBIE] LET’S GO! (6:11 AM) So, we have 59 minutes left to make my Minnesota destination! Oh man. The cabbie rules, he is driving ridiculously fast on the traffic free toll roads. Meanwhile, I am dreaming about all the handrails, urban shredding and the fresh nine inches of snow in the Minnesota streets. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention MN just got blasted with a foot plus of fresh snow a day before we arrived! Oh yum!
Mike Casanova
(6:42 AM) So, we arrive at DIA, $95 dollars later, 28 minutes left to catch my flight and more anticipation than ever to get home to snowy Minnesota! I thank the cabbie, give him a high five, a generous tip and a hug goodbye. I begin my full on sprint to the United check-in counter. [PM] Hello, anyone, I need to catch this flight! Can you please help? (7:08 AM) St. Patrick’s ALIVE! I made it, barely! I mean, it was freaking hilarious, I jumped on the plane at 7:08 AM, two minutes before scheduled departure time of 7:10 AM. And FYI, the flight was not delayed… Now my committed belief in the luck of St. Patrick reigns supreme! It pays to be Irish! Meanwhile, photographer/friend Ed Herbold sure had his fair share of laughs, watching me sprint through the DIA airport like a track star, hurdling benches, sweating profusely militia style, and basically taking
out anyone in my path that need be! Ed just peacefully documented the saga as it unfolded. (9:55 AM, CENTRAL TIME) So, MN greeted us with beautiful blue skies, 10 inches of snow, blonde haired babes, smiles, the traditional niceness and best of all, papa Misery patiently awaiting our arrival. Off we go, we as a group of friends with a connection far greater than snowboarding. Although snowboarding is our foundation, Ed, Nova and myself have all battled and prevailed through two devastating deaths in the last 2-year period. The first, Josh Malay, the great Minnesota-raised turned Colorado snowboard rock-star, himself. The second, my mother Judy Milbery, a mother to most of my friends in one way or the other! As friends, the three of us have stuck together, and taught each other how to respect each other’s lives. First stop, my mother’s grave. We congregated there for a blessing, as well as to pay our respect to her beautiful life! RIP Judy Milbery!
Matt Seifert
From that moment on, there seemed to be magic in the air! For the next four days, we cruised the Twin Cities streets, scoping new jib spots, sessioning previous zones and developing a whole new perspective of Minnesota goodness! Oh yeah, don’t let me forget about the drinking Guinness’ part with good friend Dave Thorson! Love you, kid! We also quickly linked our mission up with Mr. Minnesota Outdoorsman himself, Matt Seifert! Matt was ready for the action. He actually took a 3-day break from his scheduled fishing adventures just for the mission! Damn, now that’s sacrifice. The numerous highlights of our 4-day trip consisted of: -Mike Casanova destroying anything he rode. He technically put most shredders to shame with a variety of trick-to-trick combos on down rails. I cannot give out too much info, though. Check out his video parts coming out this fall! Yeah Nova, next time wake up before 2 in the afternoon maybe, huh? -Some quality family time that cannot be replaced with anything in the entire world! -Not a single BUST by either a Minneapolis or St. Paul police officer! -Only one encounter with a security guard. No ticket! -Tasty Guinness’ made for an amazing St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the bars of St. Paul! -Matt Seifert keeping the whole crew motivated! Charging 30 plus stair handrails with his stylish backside lipslides! He is completely fearless! Getting Eer Done!!! Thanks for the drop-in ramp Seif! -Thanks to Papa Milbery, Jill Milbery and Martha for the delicious group dinners they cooked up for us! My Dad is an amazing person; he deserves the most respect of pretty much anyone I know. Thanks for the shelter too! -Me, myself and I rode as hard as I could! I was so stoked to be traveling back home with good friends, and to be with MN friends and family! I landed some tricks including a 50/50 down a kink rail at the Capitol building, with the highest bust rate in the entire Twin Cities Metropolitan! I guess I landed a pretty huge bomb drop off the Washington Avenue bridge too… Well, to call this a rap, thanks go out to the Cabbie, who made my trip possible! St. Patrick of course! The Milbery family! Martha. Dave Thorson. The guiding blessing of Judy Milbery. Guinness beer. Mother Nature for the beautiful weather. And to Ed Herbold, and Brian Redniss, who captured the action moment by moment. Oh yeah, we went swimming in the Mississippi the last day we were there and I have had a crazy case of swimmer’s ear ever since! Damn. Thanks for the opportunity to share a few words!
TOP SHOP TEAM SKATEBOARD COMPETITION & TRADESHOW 2006
Top Shop ‘06 went as smoothly as can be. Perfect weather all weekend made the outdoor tradeshow an enjoyable experience. From being on the other side of the table, we learned that little kids are only interested in free stickers and candy. The thought of taking a free magazine and actually reading it made some of them visibly uneasy. I can’t tell you how many people asked why the mag is called Swimmer’s Ear. Go back in time and ask me when I was 17 and maybe I’ll think of something. All in all, we had a great time hanging out and pretending to be part of the industry. Thanks to everyone at 3rd Lair for putting together such a fun event.
1st - CALSURF - $850.00 - Minneapolis, MN 2nd - 3RD LAIR - $500.00 - Golden Valley, MN 3rd - SPIRIT SKATE SHOP - $250.00 - Spokane, WA 4th - FAMILIA - $125.00 - Highland, MN 5th - BLANK SKATE SUPPLY - $100.00 - Natrona, PA 6th - 4 SEASONS - MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee, WI 7th - OLLIE AND COMPANY - Blaine, MN 8th - CHARMCITY - Baltimore, MD 9th - WESTSIDE SKATESHOP - Tarpon Springs, FL 10th - SKY HIGH - Milwaukee, WI 11th - MODERN SKATE & SURF - Grand Rapids, MI 12th - MB BOARDSHOP/ WARP - Chicago, IL 13th - STOKED SKATE SHOP - Kingwood, TX 14th - THE HUT - Wayzata, MN 15th - BAD BOYZ TOYZ - Chicago, IL 16th - TALENT SKATEPARK & SHOP - Burlington, VT 17th - PRECISION SKATESHOP - Lincoln, NE 18th - ZOMBIE BOARDSHOP - Burnsville, MN 19th - DAMAGE - Duluth, MN 20th - NEXT GENERATION - Omaha, NE 21st - RQ BOARDSHOP - Naperville, IL 22nd - KRUSH SKATEPARK - Chicago, IL 23rd - THE FULL KIT - Iowa City, IA 24th - UNDERLOUD - Eau Claire, WI 25th - SAVVY SKATESHOP - Bismark, ND 26th - FA SKATES - Arlington, IL 27th - BOARDWORX - Delafield, WI 28th - DWELLERS - Wausau, WI 29th - TWELFTH STONE - Woodbury, MN 30th - THE FL PROJECT - Forest Lake, MN 31st - MIDWEST SKATESHOP - Rochester, MN 32nd - DARK SIDE - Broken Arrow, OK 33rd - THE WORKS SKATE SUPPLY - Mankato, MN 34th - FREESTYLE OF DULUTH - Duluth, MN 35th - YOUTH SHELTER SUPPLY - St Cloud, MN 36th - BIG HAPPYS PARK/VILLAGE SHOP - Cleveland, OH 37th - TINY SKATESHOP - Louisville, KY 38th - TEAM LIMBO - Brainard, MN 39th - FACTION/REVOLUTION - Alexandria, MN 40th - KILLROY'S - Hastings, MN SPECIAL AWARDS Best Shop Name: Stoked Skate Shop Youngest Team Manager: Michael Schroeder, 11, Midwest SkateShop Best Style: Zach Funk Worst Slam: Davis Torgerson Skateboard Trivia Champs: Jason Rothmeyer and John Muldoon Farthest Traveled: Westside Skateshop, 1600 miles Best Trick in a Run: Marques DeVaughn, bigflip wallride - $50.00 Best Run of the Day: Jamiel Nowparvar - $200.00 BEST TRICK 1. Davis Torgerson, Nollie Heel 5-0 - $550.00 2. Marshal Heath, Kickflip 5-0 Shove-it - $100.00 3. Marissa Del Santo, FS Lipslide to 50-50 - $50.00
Hey Jack, I need to borrow this
Interview with Evan Nagan Musically, how is this band different than Nehemiah? Musically this band is different because in Nehemiah, Aaron Nelson was the main writer, while now we have Steve Henningsgard writing a majority of the songs with the addition of a new guitar player named Adam Shaleen and bass player Nate Ruedy. We feel that we can write openly and for ourselves now that we are a new band. There are definitely elements from Nehemiah still around, but we want to experiment with some different styles as you will hear on the 4 song demo that will be available soon. Were there certain elements of Nehemiah that you wanted to avoid in this new project? I think a little bit of the "metalcore" label that was attached to Nehemiah is what we want to stay away from. Even though we play with metalcore bands and most of our fans will probably be from that specific scene, we would rather not be tagged with that label. We have yet to come to a specific sound right now as we are still experimenting with writing songs. We just want to be open musically, while still being awesome. What has been inspiring your songwriting lately? That is a damn good question son. We are slow songwriters because we can’t stand writing bad songs, but the new Cult of Luna record is definitely inspiring all of us. Our influences range from bands like Muse to Fiona Apple or Dragonforce to Cult of Luna. We all get inspiried by talented musicians. Especially Brand New Shoes. Evan, is it okay if I call you Evanrest? Yes! I think that is better than Evanmiah. Wait I just said it outloud and it sounds pretty awkward. The Twin Cities hardcore/metal scene has changed quite a bit in the past few years. What are some of the big changes you've noticed, and what has remained the same? Well, I think the biggest change was when shows at the Fireball stopped. I think that was a huge turning point in the "scene." Even though I am not really
invovled much in it anymore, other than playing or going to see my friends play. We lost a sweet venue and I think a lot of kids just moved on. This kind of music and the scene has a lot of kids coming and going to shows. There are a lot of younger kids now and I think that is awesome. Ever since the new Toybox opened up, more local shows are happening and kids can go to more shows. There are definitely still some awesome locals bands too. Any plans to climb Mount Everest with all of your equipment and play a show at the peak? Heck yea. Actually we were thinking of flying out to Nepal in our jet with some friends for the weekend to jam out. If you wanna come with I think we have some room in the back. Don’t listen to all those wusses who claim that climbing the mountain is near impossible. It’s pretty damn easy. What keeps you making music? That is a really good question. I have asked myself that more than once. I just love performing and playing metal and being in a band with good dudes. Writing and creating something you are proud of and that kids get into is the best thing ever. Making a career out of it is a whole different story.
What do you see in the future for Everest? Do you have any goals you'd like to meet with this band? I can see more awesome in the future for Everest. Ha. We just want to keep writing songs the way we want, and keep playing as much as we can. Also, get the demo out so kids can actually know the 4 songs we have been playing live for the past three shows. The next step I think is to record a full length or to see if a label would be interested in releasing an album. I can forsee more singing as well. It’s okay, don’t be scared. How would you describe your 4-song CD that's coming out? I would describe it as awesome metal. I think that the music is something no one is doing locally or anywhere for that matter. I’m not saying that it’s the most amazing thing in the world, but I think it’s a little something different for kids to get into and we are excited as to where it’s going. If anyone liked Nehemiah, then they should be into Everest. That’s about it. Wanna go skating? Haha. Oh man Chris, I haven’t skated in forever. If I tried to kickflip I think my ankle would fall off. But I mean yeah let’s go tear up the Target Center stairs.
Photos: Pernula
One night at the bumlot...
The tv broke!
But he just wanted to skate.
And a demon popped out of it!
The End
How and when did Volume get started? Volume started in May 2005. We were just having fun and decided to make some boards for our friends. Next thing we knew shops were carrying our products. What are your goals as a company? Our goals are to continue to grow the company and support the riders that have helped us get to this point. We want to be one of the top brands in Minnesota and in the coming years a top brand in the Midwest. How many people work at Volume? Volume is owned and run by Tom and Scott. We also have a graphic designer who has been amazing to work with named Matt Kunes. Matt designed the Farm Animal series and is in process for our next series due out later this year. He is also doing a new line of t-shirts for us. Other than that, our wives and all our friends have really helped us out. Who is on your team? Our team has been something that has definitely evolved. We have a lot of people that have helped us out and have been a part of what’s been going on. There are way too many to name so here are just the ams... Ian Sherman Shane Golder Ryan Bayless Do you have plans for a team video? We are filming right now and will be all year long. We are amped to have David Fink do all our filming for us. As far as release date, we haven’t gotten that far, but it will be 2007. We will definitely let everyone know when we are getting close to finished. Look for full parts from Ian, Shane, Ryan B, Ryan Kyser and others, as well as extensive friends footage. Where are your decks made? A friend of ours manufactures them in California.
How is Volume different than other skate companies? Volume Skateboards is different in a lot of ways. We are focused on supporting core skaters and core skate shops. We sponsor as many contests as we can, try and hook deserving riders up and really support the skate scene. We are also grass roots when it comes to advertising. Our shops are spread out all over, so unless we are advertising in the national magazines, we can’t reach them all, so we hook up some kids in almost all of our shops. This gets the word out for us, gets kids hyped on us, and gets the shops into what we are doing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being based in Minnesota? Advantages: For eight months of the year there is no better place to live. The scene here is rad and kids here are pretty chill. They are open to new things and new brands. Plus our friends and family are here which is a big plus. Disadvantages: The skateboard industry is still primarily based in California. I guess that’s an advantage and a disadvantage. 3rd Lair has brought some national attention to Minnesota, which helps this area get recognized, but we are still quite a ways from the bulk of what’s going on. Also, the weather is definitely a downer sometimes. Do you see any major changes coming or occurring in the skateboard industry? Maybe this is a pipe dream, but I really hope that core skate kids start focusing on core skate brands. The malls are putting your favorite skate shops out of business, yet most kids still support the brands that sold to the malls in the first place. Do you have any plans to expand with wheels or other products? For now, decks and clothing are what we want to stick to. It’s possible down the road that we might look at some other things, but for now we will just stick to the basics. Where can Volume boards be found? In Minnesota you can find us at Zombie Board Shop, 3rd Lair, The FL Project, The Works, 12th Stone, Cal-Surf, The Hut, FOD, Youth Shelter, The Faction in Grand Rapids, and The Faction in Alexandria. Outside of Minnesota you can check our website products page. volumeskateboards.com
The Plastic Constellations kicked off 2006 with the release of Crusades, their debut on Frenchkiss Records and an excellent follow up to 2004’s Mazatlan. The sold out show featured an eclectic mix of opening acts, including Doomtree, STNNNG, and a hilarious set by the Hawaii Show. TPC finished the evening with confetti shooting volcanos, a balloon drop, and an amazing set with lots of songs off the new album. You want more?? Turn the page and read the interview!
interview with Jeff Allen
While making Crusades, did you feel any pressure to top Mazatlan? In a lot of ways, Crusades felt like a fresh start. A new label, a new direction for our band and our lives, a new audience. So Mazatlan wasn't totally fresh in our minds when we were writing and recording this record. Obviously though, you always want to outdo your last record and we consciously tried to make this one big and unique in scale, from the lyrics to the music to the artwork to the production. Hopefully people get that feeling when the listen to it. How did you guys get on Frenchkiss? We went on tour out East in the summer of 2004 to support Mazatlan, which had just come out. Our friends out there were close with the Frenchkiss guys and had them come out to the show in New York. We hung out and got to know them. Later that summer, Steve from FKR was on tour with the Hold Steady and we played
with them in Duluth. We hung out again and that kind of cemented the interest. It went from there. We are definitely pleased to be a part of that family. They've been nothing but great to us. What made you guys decide to put Crusades on Vinyl with MRRL? We've always been huge huge fans of vinyl. I can remember my 13th birthday when I got my first record player. My mom drove me and Aaron all over the city to all these obscure record stores that we had read about like Treehouse, Garage D'Or (R.I.P.), Cheapo. Records have a great warm analog sound and also have a unique physicality to them. They're fucking huge and real and you can hold them in your hand. Even if mp3s and digital music distribution become the wave of the future (which I think it will, and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing), there will always be a market and niche for vinyl for that reason.
Where do you get inspiration for your lyrics? Passion, not settling for the ordinary, struggle, friendship, dragons.
that we've totally fallen in love with. Locally, our favorite acts to play with are Doomtree, STNNNG, Shoe Shiners, and tons of others.
Do any of you have day jobs? Yeah, we all do. I've got an office job, Jordan is a mechanic, Matt is a chef for a catering company, Aaron makes beats for rappers and delivers 'za.
Favorite local venue? That's a tough one. I'll give it a tie between Triple Rock, Turf Club, the Entry, and Big V's. Ha. Sorry. Can't pick one over the other.
How was SXSW this year? Any memorable experiences or shows? SXSW was great, definitely one of the best experiences of all the touring we've done this year. Our showcase was really fun and went very well, a lot better than we expected. It was also a big family reunion with all sorts of friends from throughout the country reuniting in this big, hot, wet, booze-fueled get together. Very awesome.
Do you guys have any plans for the second half of 2006 as far as touring or recording? The rest of 2006 is gonna be busy. We're doing four more total weeks of touring this summer, across the whole country. Then we'll be heading to the UK in the fall and possibly Australia in the winter. There probably won't be any more recording until we start the next record in 2007.
Favorite bands to play with? The Hold Steady took us on the road for a few weeks this winter and we had a great time. They showed us the rules of the road. There's also this really great band from Kansas City on Desoto called The Life and Times
Have you had any confetti cannon misfires or injuries? Fortunately no. The balloon drop at the release show may have caused some facial bruising for people in the front row getting balloons bounced off their faces, but that's about it.
Photos: Pernula
180. Photo: Joe Blum
How did you get into skateboarding? Well, my mom bought me a board from Kay-Be Toys when I was in middle school and I just rolled around on it for a couple weeks. It took me so long to learn how to ollie. I was like the last kid on the block but that just pushed me to progress even more. Ever since I've been addicted. What was the first trick that you learned? Probably like a half cab or that ollie thing. Who or what influences your skating and style? My biggest influences are all my friends who I skate with everyday.
Their styles and trick selections just wear off on you the more you skate with them. I'm real stoked on the Minneapolis skate scene, just skating with no drama. It’s sick. What kind of music gets you in a skating mood? It really depends on my mood to start out with. If I'm chillin’ probably some reggae or Pink Floyd and if I'm trying to get hyped probably some cash money classics. Haha. Kinda weird. Danna Ross made me a mixed tape of him talking ‘bout pizza, that's chill too.
Where is your favorite place to skate? Downtown Minneapolis or St Paul. Going as fast as I possibly can. What has been the hardest thing you've learned on your board? Friggin' hardflips and inward heelflips but who needs to do those tricks anyways. Switch 360 flips give me a tough time too. Describe your dream skate trip. All my homies, in a luxury van, no destinations beside where the road takes us for like a month. What do you want to accomplish on your skateboard? I don't really have anything to accomplish but just to feel comfortable on my board everyday I go out. It’s the best feeling in the world when you just feel natural on the stick. You know what I mean. Hopefully someday I can just be able to wake up and skate without having to worry about work, but then again I think that is every skater’s dream. Do you have any hobbies as equally important as skating? Being late to work is something I'm pretty passionate about. It really upsets Dooner and my fellow co-workers. Haha. Just playing. Ummm... Skating and working pretty much take up all my time. Besides that, I just hang out with my girl Ashley and my homies. How was your experience filming for Weekend Warriors? How did you get hooked up with Benji? We met at the Gay 90's, he said he'd give me a part for a knob job and the rest is history. No, not really. I lived in this skate house with Jamiel, Mike
Guy, and a bunch of other heads for the first year up here. I was supposed to go to the U of M but dropped out after three days and just skated everyday. I went out skating with Benji a couple times and prolly like three months before the deadline he asked if I wanted a part. I was so stoked. He is really good at what he does. Were there any tricks you had planned to film for the video but never got done? Hell yeah. I broke my ankle the last weekend in October and had to go through physical therapy and everything. Worst time ever. I wanted to do some tricks down the triple set in St Paul and I wanted to try to get some lines downtown Minneapolis too. The time off my board really made me think about life and what I'm doing. Kinda sketched me out, but it has helped my love for skateboarding grow. Tell us about the huge rail at the end of your part. What's the story behind that? It was like a mile down the road from 3315 (skate house). Everyday we drove past it I joked about how I could do it. We got evicted from the house and after that it was unfinished business. It was haunting me, calling my name. Haha You're a pretty cool guy. Is it safe to say that if I hung out with you I'd get laid more often? Ummmm... I can’t promise you anything, it may just be that I'm easy. Haha Anyone you'd like to thank? Dooner and Scott at Cal, Bovee at Podium, Brian Nolte, Mcguinnis, Family, Jamiel, Mike, Hunkle, Ashley, Benji, Blum, and anyone else who has helped me out.
crooked. Photo: Joe Blum
nollie. sequence: Sam McGuire
SkGo at e Daboa y rdi ng by Jim iN gu ye n
85% of the skateboarding population quits skateboarding by the time they reach the age of 18. Skateboarding becomes less important as time is taken up with school, work, girls, drugs, etc. A lot of people give up because they can’t land tricks or they don't like feeling like a newbie. I surpassed the average age. I am 24 years old, married and work a full time job, and I still skate. On national go skateboarding day (June 21, 2006) I had a moment of pure bliss. As my anticipation grew on go skateboarding day, it became anti-climactic. People who I was supposed to go skateboarding with bailed, leaving me to go skateboarding on my own devices. I go skateboarding alone a lot because most of my friends my age stopped skateboarding. I decided not to go home and sit around. Plus I wanted to go skate even if it would be for an hour or so. I decided to go to an old skatespot, the Kmart loading docks in Brooklyn Center. This was the first spot I skated when I moved to Minnesota. Back in high school this was the mecca of skateboarding, and I met most of my closest friends there. So I skateboarded for like 30 minutes by myself, and then I started to call old buddies, hoping that by calling them all it would reunite all of us for a skateboarding reunion. No one answered, no one came. It was really lame. As I sat on the curb I started to think about all the great times I had skateboarding with my friends here. When I thought that all hope was lost a car pulled up. Two of my buddies Grant and Carl showed up out of nowhere. Funny thing is I didn't even call these guys. It is as if the universe beckoned them to meet up with me. These were the first people I ever even skated with in Minnesota. It's like everything came full circle. For the next hour we skated and caught up with what we've been doing the last few months. We skated like there was nothing else to do, other than enjoy the summer breeze and have fun. No worries. Now that go skateboarding day is officially over I return to my 9-5 job. With paying bills, doing chores around the house, and having no energy to enjoy skateboarding, it’s no wonder why 85% of the skateboarding population quits. Maybe it’s because they don't experience blissful skateboarding moments like this.
Tony Conrad, Boardslide. Salt Lake City, Utah
Aaron Anderson stalls on a ship propeller along the shores of Lake Superior. Two Harbors, Minnesota.
Mike Roeder, 540 nose grab off a step up hip, Brighton Backcountry
Dan Brisse, switch 50-50, 180 out
Ezra Jacobson, Stalefish off of Gooseberry Falls.
Dan Brisse, switchstance frontside boardslide along the banks of the Mississippi River.
Dan Brisse gaps the truck to slide the side of the dumpster behind. Courtesy of Tom Kraemer Incorporated (TKI).
Interview by Chris “Yanks” Yerks Say your name and what you do in the band. I’m Ben, I play the drumset. I’m Ross. Guitar. I’m Drew, and I play bass. My name is Eric and I play the flute. Skin flute. E: And microphone. Who writes your lyrics for you? R: Bert Bacharach. E: The guys from Simple Plan. R: Christopher Reeves. I heard you guys played a show with Elvis Costello. Do you think you could get him to do an interview with me? R: He’s kind of an ass. He drinks a lot. More than Ben. Either way, we’re looking for good bands to be in the magazine. E: Yeah... we could probably hook you up with Slayer. All right, good enough. Question three: Jello shots, Jello pudding, or Jello Biafra? B: I’d like a crude mix of all three. E: I don’t eat gelatin. It’s made out of horse hooves, come on. So no Jello. E: I was kidding about the horse hooves. R: No he’s not. He’s a vegetarian. Well he’s a fucking pussy if he is then. R: We’re all gonna beat him up later. So is it Jello shots, Jello pudding, or Jello Biafra? B: I’m saying all three combined in a blender. E: There’s only one endorsed by Bill Cosby. B: Jello shots with whiskey in them. E: Jello pudding with whiskey in it. R: Jello Biafra with whiskey. R: All three with whiskey. That’s our final answer. If you guys could tour with any band throughout history, who would it be? E: Refused. R: The Stones. I’ve always been a fan of the Murder City Devils.
R: And Bruce Springstein with Max Weinberg. There ya go. This guy’s all right, dude. E: I don’t think so. If you haven’t already, what Dio song would you most want to cover? All: Who’s Dio? “Holy Diver...” R: Whichever one’s on Grand Theft Auto.
E: Asleep in the Abyss Part Two. No, I made that up. Um... these are pretty bad answers. You guys really suck at this. Minneapolis music scene: progress or decline? Subquestion, what’s the new “big thing” music-wise in Minneapolis? B: I’d say one at a time. Thanks. Okay, Minneapolis music scene, progress or decline? R: It goes in and out, I’d say. Fluxuates? R: Fluxuates like the capacitor on a time machine. E: I’d say the underground scene has progress, but the mainstream thing that’s playing at the big venues, at the Quest and First Avenue is fucking way on the way out. R: Weak. E: Then again, all except for Skywind and Black Flood Diesel. R: Twisted Sin, 13 Stab and Banehinge. But not really, retract that. E: Yeah, they suck. We’re putting it in there, and we’re naming names. R: I’ll fight anybody. Now to the subquestion, what’s the new big thing musicwise in Minneapolis? R: I notice a lot of bands trying to sound like At The Drive In.
B: I’d say actually smelling the bar is pretty new. Smelling the bar? B: Because of the smoking ban. R: The triple guitar assault bands, then we got the real rocking Southern leads, like Boston leads over ACDC Southern rock. Which I dig a lot. E: I think Nuscence Crew’s return is shifting the atmosphere of music on a worldwide spectrum. R: I’m gonna answer that question with a question. Whatever happened to rap metal? Next question, this is a big one right here. You just got paid $500 by an evil promoter, but the catch is you have to spend it in two hours, and it must be divided up between ten items, what do you buy? R: Whiskey. E: Ten different items to punch Bill Berry with. R: Three of those would on whiskey, brandy, and Mountain Dew I suppose. And seven things on... B: No, just ten different drinks and then we’ll go punch Bill Berry. Those are some spendy drinks. That’s like fifty bucks a drink. E: We don’t mess around. Who drinks wellpours anymore?
D: They fill up basins for us. Okay, Eric. We know you’re a fucking cheesehead, but where do the rest of the bandmates come from, and what other bands have they been in? E: Ben grew up in a small town called Duluth, Minnesota. Ross grew up in an even worse place called Des Moines Iowa. Drew grew up here, which is not that exciting. I will start the next part as well. My previous music experience was listening to bad stuff and playing worse stuff in Kickback We were the worst rap metal band you’ve ever heard in your whole life, and I in fact did rap. B: I was in a band called Paula Abdul’s Head. And we were kinda like a disco blues Johnny Carson impersonating music kinda thing. We had fun. R: I was in a rockin’ drudge band with a bunch of assholes. And we were all drunks. And it was fun. D: I was in a shitty pop punk band once. What’s coming up for you this summer? E: We’re actually going to record very, very soon. We’ll probably do a CD release show. B: I also plan on losing my pants. E: I’m gonna lose my virginity this summer. I’m going to summer camp to lose my virginity. We all know bands have groupies, but don’t you guys feel you’re taking advantage of them seeing as how you’re all so ugly?
R: You’ve been lied to. E: Us giving each other handjobs doesn’t really count as groupies. R: But we’re not gay, we’re in a band. D: It’s not gay if you’re on tour. E: Too Pure to Die. I was just gonna ask ten questions, but number eleven: can you loan me three dollars for a PBR? R: $3.50, Twenty five cent tip. E: No wait, we’re drinking whiskey. Fuck the PBR’s. This has been DMRE. You should all see them. E: And we want to fuck everyone. Anyone else just got anything random to say? B: My feet are getting smaller but my cock is getting bigger. E: Drew has a tattoo of bunny rabbits. R: What else would be funny to say? That’s funny in itself.
Interviewer’s Note: The views expressed in this interview are of DMRE and Yanks only. They do not reflect the views of the editors or contributors of this fine publication.
The End!
Joe Zimmerman. Photo: Paul Pernula
Coming Next Issue... We close out 2006 with the celebration of our 20th issue. Every copy will include a free slice of cake!
Pat Milbery
Photo: Ed Herbold