bl!sss magazine | october 2014 | #86

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  • JOHN JOHN FLORENCE

    BLISSS_JJF_WETSUIT.indd 1 8/27/14 2:50 PM

  • JOHN JOHN FLORENCE

    BLISSS_JJF_WETSUIT.indd 1 8/27/14 2:50 PM

  • K E L S E Y B R O O K E S

    N A T U R E

    A R T

    O I L

    K A L A N I D A V I D

    I N D U S T R Y

    S C I E N C E

    W A T E R

    T H E B A L A N C E O F O P P O S I T E S

    R V C A . C O M

    K A L A N I D A V I DN O R T H S H O R E

    F E A T U R E D A R T I S T

    K E L S E Y B R O O K E S

    The RVCA Artist Network Program is an ongoing venture which aims to showcase the talent of accomplished as well as emerging artists who inspire our generation and push the boundaries of creativity; providing something of substance and culture.

  • K E L S E Y B R O O K E S

    N A T U R E

    A R T

    O I L

    K A L A N I D A V I D

    I N D U S T R Y

    S C I E N C E

    W A T E R

    T H E B A L A N C E O F O P P O S I T E S

    R V C A . C O M

    K A L A N I D A V I DN O R T H S H O R E

    F E A T U R E D A R T I S T

    K E L S E Y B R O O K E S

    The RVCA Artist Network Program is an ongoing venture which aims to showcase the talent of accomplished as well as emerging artists who inspire our generation and push the boundaries of creativity; providing something of substance and culture.

  • VANSSURF.COM 2014, Vans Inc. photo: Acosta

  • VANSSURF.COM 2014, Vans Inc. photo: Acosta

  • D e r r i c k D i s n e y

    C r e a t o r s & I n n o v a t o r s

    V I S S L A . C O M

    B U R N E R L S T E E

    VSLA_BLISS_DISNEY_OCT14.indd 2 9/3/14 1:02 PM

  • D e r r i c k D i s n e y

    C r e a t o r s & I n n o v a t o r s

    V I S S L A . C O M

    B U R N E R L S T E E

    VSLA_BLISS_DISNEY_OCT14.indd 2 9/3/14 1:02 PM

  • MAGAZINE: BlisssISSUE: OCT 2014 JOB NUMBER: CONS-0164_Print Ads

    SPECS:20 x 12.625" Live Area21 x 13.625" Trim21.5 x 14.125" Bleed

    CONTACT:BRIAN [email protected]

  • MAGAZINE: BlisssISSUE: OCT 2014 JOB NUMBER: CONS-0164_Print Ads

    SPECS:20 x 12.625" Live Area21 x 13.625" Trim21.5 x 14.125" Bleed

    CONTACT:BRIAN [email protected]

  • Youth Curated is a constantly evolv-ing creative platform giving artists, designers, photographers, mixed media practicioners, and our surf / skate contributors a place to explore the possibilities of genre bending col-laborations and ideas. With no censor-ship, we allow our friends total free-dom to do what it is that they love in the purest form possible.

    CaliforniaNewport Beach @6480 @6480

    wwwOURCASTEcom

    Want to participate? Email: [email protected]

    wwwJESSEDRAXLERcom

    GRAPHIC DESIGNER PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGN SURF SKATE MIXED MEDIA MOTO

    jesseDRAXLER

    damienTRAN

    SHOWN

    jesseDRAXLER

    tylerSPANGLER

    1 2 3

    wwwDAMIENTRANcom

    wwwJESSEDRAXLERcom

    wwwTYLERSPANGLERcom

    1

    2

    3

    Shop Limited Product From Jesse AtourCaste.com

  • Youth Curated is a constantly evolv-ing creative platform giving artists, designers, photographers, mixed media practicioners, and our surf / skate contributors a place to explore the possibilities of genre bending col-laborations and ideas. With no censor-ship, we allow our friends total free-dom to do what it is that they love in the purest form possible.

    CaliforniaNewport Beach @6480 @6480

    wwwOURCASTEcom

    Want to participate? Email: [email protected]

    wwwJESSEDRAXLERcom

    GRAPHIC DESIGNER PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGN SURF SKATE MIXED MEDIA MOTO

    jesseDRAXLER

    damienTRAN

    SHOWN

    jesseDRAXLER

    tylerSPANGLER

    1 2 3

    wwwDAMIENTRANcom

    wwwJESSEDRAXLERcom

    wwwTYLERSPANGLERcom

    1

    2

    3

    Shop Limited Product From Jesse AtourCaste.com

  • RANDOMS // 28PRODUCT REVIEW // 34KELSEY BROOKES // 36LUCY GLENDINNING // 38ERICA ROSE LEVINE // 40INSTAGRAM // 42TATIANA SUAREZ & KAMEA HADAR // 44SUPER TASTE //46COCO NOGALES // 48THE YOUTH CURATED // 50HURLEY PRO // 52BILLY DROWNE // 56I LOVE MARIE // 60THE ART OF ROA // 66FASHION // 72RILEY NICKERSON // 80DONT CARE TRANSGENDER BENDER // 84STOKESME BOWL-A-RAMA // 862014 VOLCOM UNSOUND PRO // 88KING TUFF // 90CD REVIEWS // 92GROMS // 98

    Artist: ROA

    22

  • T H E B A L A N C E O F O P P O S I T E S

    R V C A . C O M

    N I N A L O N G

    A R T I S T

    F O R E I G N

    L A N D

    M A H I N A A L E X A N DE R

    M U S E

    D O M E S T I C

    WA T E R

  • -XIX-

    -XIX-

    Eze

    kielus

    a.co

    m

    E

    Z

  • -XIX-

    -XIX-

    Ezekielusa.com

    EZEKIELUSA.COM

  • Disclaimer: Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on a monthly basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to Blisss right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressedinthismagazinereecttheopinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Blisss Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter which mayreectnegativelyontheintegrityof the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior written consent from the publisher.

    If your favorite shop isnt receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact [email protected]

    OCTOBER 2014

    EDITOR-IN-CHIEFnick [email protected]

    EDITORjoey [email protected]

    CREATIVE DIRECTORmark paul deren : [email protected]

    ASSISTANT EDITORspencer [email protected]

    EDITOR AT LARGEliz rice [email protected]

    SNOW EDITORjon [email protected]

    MUSIC EDITORmax [email protected]

    [email protected]

    CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSJason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson, Derek Bahn, Tom Cozad, Robbie Crawford, Ryan Donahue, Joe Foster, Sean Sullivan

    CONTRIBUTORSWillie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom

    Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend,

    Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland,

    Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge,

    Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon, JP Olson

    BL!SSS Magazine

    413 31st Street

    Newport Beach, CA 92663

    www.blisssmag.com

    R A E N . C O M

    ARTIST: ROA

    masthead

  • By now youve probably heard about the accident our very good friend and industry legend Brandon Lillard has gotten himself into. It was a freak base-jumping accident that sent him to the hospital with severe injuries and head trauma. Now, his medical bills are piling up, and of course, as bad luck would have it, his insurance company is hanging him out to dry with all of the expenses because a parachute was involved. Anyways, Brandon is a one-of-a-kind individual who is always looking out and caring for friends and anyone he comes in contact with, and right now its time we all return the favor. Head on over to gofundme.com/ele2go and give whatever you can to help Lillard get back up on hisfeet.Hesgotalongroadtorecoveryaheadofhim,soletslessenthenancialburden as much as we can!

    Heres a new book to check out thats perfect for kids and adults alike. Aloha toZenTheArtofSurngandLiving on Earth by Fern Levack is a global surf voyage into some of the most recognizable surf destinations in the world. The book is the perfect way to teach your little ones their ABCs while entertaining yourself in the process. Theres plenty of history and heritage packed inside, and the cartoon caricatures will make you smile while instantly attracting you to the adventure. Whether youre looking for a new coffee table book or something to read to your kids at bedtime, we strongly suggest checking out Aloha to Zen. Head by your local bookstore or visit alohatozen.com.au to grab a copy today.

    We come across a lot of GoPro accessories, but few can withstand the wear and tear of action sports on a consistent basis. One new brand that was founded by our friend Ken Achenbach called Pro Standard is providing us with high-quality,user-friendlyGoPromountsbuiltspecicallywiththeneedsofsurfers,skateboarders and snowboarders in mind. Ken sent us Pro Standards newest Grill Mount that allows you to hold your GoPro in your teeth. That might sound sketchy, but with the Grill Mounts custom-molded tooth grip you can easily breathe while at the same time ensuring a securely locked, comfortable grip. The GrillMountcanalsobeconvenientlyheldbetweenyourngerswhileswimming,can fold up into your pocket and is extremely light. Make sure to ask for the Pro Standard Grill Mount in your local boarding stores or log onto prostandard.com to get one today.

    28

    Dragon puts out nothing but the absolute best in optical products, and with snow season just around the corner we were excited to see a new goggle emerging out of Dragons Advanced Projects X collection in the all-new Advanced Projects X2 snow goggle. Designed around their patented Frameless Lens Technology, the X2 features new, game-changing technology that makes swapping lenses faster, easier and more secure than ever before. The key behind the design is their Swiftlock Lens Tech a pair of integrated levers in the goggle frame that allow for instant on-and-off lens deployment. Conditions change rapidly, and you should be able to adapt just as quickly with plenty of ease in doing so. Check out the APX2 goggle at your local retailer or grab one online at dragonalliance.com.

    DRAGON APX2 GOGGLE

    GRILL MOUNT

    HELP LILLARD RECOVERALOHA TO ZEN

    randoms

    NOA DEANE X DBLANCNoa Deane has been on a tear for the past year, give or take, blowing all of our mindswithhishigh-yingaerials,overallstyle,aswellasotheroutrageouslyentertaining on-land antics. Thats why it comes as no surprise that the fashion revolutionaries at DBlanc wouldsnatchuptheon-reDeaneandaddhimtotheir roster. DBlancs motto is Chaos Meets Culture, and Noa pretty much epitomizes this with his approach towards life, making the union between the two a perfect match in our eyes. For more on Noa, DBlanc and the best Italian-made eyewear out there, visit dblanc.com.

  • Mission Belt Co. has been making the best no-hole leather belts that weve ever sported, and theyve just come out with a new collaboration that helps celebrate nearly 65 college sports teams. Now, maybe you went to college, maybe youdidntnish,andmaybeyou could give two shits about college altogether. Whatever the case, these belts are hard to resist. The 40mm licensed Mission Belts are made of genuine leather and come in select color combos for each team so fans can sport a variety of looks game after game. The belts are unisex and can be sported by men, women and children who want to rock their team colors. And dont forget, Mission Belt Co. donates one dollar from everybeltsoldtoghtingglobal hunger and poverty through micro lending. Check for these NCAA belts at your local retailer or via missionbelt.com.

    Over the course of this summer weve been gifted with some of the most consistently warm water temps that Southern California has seen in years. But all good things come to an end, and before we know it cold water will be creeping in and well be reaching for the warmest wetsuits out there. Hurley has gone above and beyond the call of duty this season with their new Phantom Wetsuits. The suits are equipped with Thermo Light technologythatreectsyourbody heat to keep you warmer, longer. And not to worry, even with this high-tech addition Phantom Wetsuitsarelighterandmoreexiblethan ever before, with plenty of color combos and the perfect thickness of suit for wherever you are. Make sure to get yours at your local shop, or check out hurley.com for more info.

    30

    Theres nothing more annoying than running out of power with your GoPro right in the middle of a session. Luckily for us, the folks at Brunton have come out with the All Day high-capacity power supply for GoPro Hero 3+ thatll give you four times the battery life. All you have to do is remove the existing case back on your GoPro, snap on the All Day, and before you know it youll be ready for an entire day of usage. Plus, the All Day has chords and outlets that can charge your smart phones simultaneously. The All Day is shockproof, drop-proof and weatherproof but not waterproof, so please dont try to submerge this puppy. Make sure to look for this smart, easy-to-use charger at your local retailer or visit brunton.com today.

    BRUNTON BATTERY

    NCAA MISSION BELTS

    PHANTOM WETSUIT

    Kelly Slater wouldnt just break up with Quiksilver without having something clever up his sleeve. Of course, now we all know that the mystery card he was holding goes by the name of Outerknown. Outerknown is a clothing brand thats led by designer John Moore and aligns itself with style, sustainability and travel. Under the Kering Group umbrella, Kelly and John will be working to bring us a brand that breeds positivity, and seeks to focus just as much on where and how its products are made as much as what the end products themselves look like. Look for more news and info on outerknown.com or follow them on Instagram at @outerknown.

    OUTERKNOWN

    randoms

    BUCK STRIKES BACKMountain High is kicking off the snow season right with their Buck Strikes Back rail jam. The resort is trucking in 40 tons of snow for this early season shred session thatll be an exciting event for spectators and competitors alike. Aside from the rail jam therell be plenty of other activities for guests to partake in, as theyll be able to stroll through the vendor village, buy or sell equipment in the giant ski and snowboard swap, chow down on chili from the annual Chili Cook-off, and see the premiere of Mountain Highs new short lm,Montage. The Buck Strikes Back is going down on October 4th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit mthigh.com for all of your season-pass needs, and may the forest be with you!

  • L I R A 2 0 1 4 H O L I D A Y C O L L E C T I O NW W W . L I R A C L O T H I N G . C O M

  • Coming straight out of Sunset Beach, CA the folks at Sunset Skateboard Co. are showing us all that you dont have to stop skating when the sun goes down. Hell, even if theres little to no light, Sunset Skateboards can be the perfect mode of transportation before you head out the door. The trick comes in the wheels that light up every time theyre spun, giving you visibility as well as making yourself visible to others in the dark. They sent us a little car package full of their best cruisers, equipped with a wide range of illuminating wheels to choose from. These boards are perfect for kids, students skating to class and cruising around town in the evening hours. Check them out at sunsetskateboards.com and get your bioluminescence on!

    Want to see top female skaters destroying pool coping and blasting McTwists on the vert ramp? Come to the Encinitas YMCA on November 8 to check out Exposure, the biggest womens skateboarding event in the world. At this free, family-friendly event, you can even brush up on your own skills at the XS Helmets Skate Clinic or chill at the Sambazon Yoga Clinic. Top pro skaters will hook you up with autographs, while the vendor village is all about shopping, games and food. Exposure is the not-to-be-missed event that donates proceeds to Carols House, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Check out www.exposureskate.org for more information.

    32

    EXPOSURE: A WOMENS SKATEBOARD EVENT

    SUNSET SKATEBOARD CO.

    randoms

    BOHNAM

    Heres something from the folks at Nixon that supports a great cause. Theyve just released their latest little big deal, The Small Time Teller in pink sunray. The pink colorway marks the support and collaboration between Nixon and B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer), with a percentage of the sales of this watchtobenetthe foundations educational outreach and prevention programs. Through grassroots events and the Survivorship Fund, B4BC is able to further its mission of promoting early detection and a healthy, active lifestyle as the best means of breast cancer prevention. The Nixon X B4BC Small Time Teller in pink sunray will feature a custom-engraved caseback notating the collaboration and goes on salethisOctoberatallnerretailers or at Nixon.com.

    SMALL TIME TELLER

    It saddens our heart when someones life ends before it should, and especially so when its someone who has touched their community in such a profound way. Brad Sherwood is one such person, passionate beyond belief and so kindhearted its hard to imagine hes no longer with us. His legacy lives on in his beautiful daughter Keely Sherwood, and a memorial for Brad was held this past month at one of his most-frequented jetties, 32nd Street, in Newport Beach. Whether in the water or on his bike, Bradwouldbetherstguytogiveyou the shirt off his back or lend a helping hand. We know youre in a better place Brad. You may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

    RIPSHERWOOD

    In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar, Hurley and Fender are putting on a show this month that combines art, music and charity into a unique cultural event. Hurley headquarters will be showcasing 20 guitars painted on by 20 different artists, each displaying their own distinctive tributes to the Fender Stratocaster. The event will be going down on Friday, October 24th from 6-10 p.m. at Hurley Headquarters with an online auction starting on October 22nd and going until November 1st via givingworks.ebay.com. All proceeds will go toward Waves For Water in helping to bring clean drinking water to people around the world. Itll be a great night with plenty to enjoy, so make sure to be there!

    STRAT 60 YEARS OF STRATOCASTER

    Photo: Dan Sparagna

  • 34

    1. VISSLA, Forster Ranch Jacket - $99.95, vissla.com // 2. Roark, Elmo - $32, roark.com // 3. RVCA, Lampoon - $66, rvca.com // 4. Globe, Goodstock Jacket - $69.95, globe.tv // 5. Hurley, 84 Slim Fit - $70, hurley.com // 6. Volcom, Nova Solver S-Gene - $69.95, volcom.com // 7. The House of Marley, Lively Up Leather Messenger - $149.99, thehouseofmarley.com // 8. Imperial Motion, Dart Denim Jacket - $89.95, imperialmotion.com // 9. Alpinestars, Stava - $49.95, alpinestars.com // 10. Vans, Mirada - $65, vans.com // 11. ourCaste, The Over Dyed Indigo Horrace - $158, ourCaste.com // 12. Ezekiel, Falkon Jogger - $67, ezekielusa.com

  • We caught up with past BL!SSS cover artist Kelsey Brookes to ask him a couple questions about his installation in La Jolla for The Murals of La Jolla Project. Side note: I must include that we adore Kelsey! I was lucky to get to know him/call him a friend while working for PM Tenore (RVCA) and Casey Holland in my RVCA days. (When talking about El Jefe, Kelsey and RVCA, you have to mention Casey, too.) Kelsey Brookes is an anomaly. A scientist turned artist charming, kind, when bearded looks like Jesus, and so incredibly talented it really doesnt get better than that. Well, Ive said too much. Lets get on to the interview. If you get a chance, go check out this larger-than-life installation located at 7835 Ivanhoe in La Jolla.

    How did you get involved

    in The Murals of La Jolla Project? I have been showing at a gallery located in La Jolla called Quint Contemporary Artforthepastveyears.I think its through that platform and my connection to MCASD that the committee became aware of my work and offered up the space.

    How long do you think it will be up for, and what is its next location? Im optimistic in thinking that it will make it to the four-year mark before it really starts to fade and new art is put up in its place. Next location is a mystery.

    Have you ever painted a mural directly onto a wall? No, not yet. Im hoping to one day when the right situation presents itself. A painting that size would take 6 to 7 months of

    painting on location. That really limits the number of available locations and patrons available for something like this.

    Does this piece have a name? If yes, what and why? One Pointed Attention, its homage to my meditation practice and is my attempt at bringing meditation normally a purely mental subjective procession into the physical objective world. I put my brush to the canvas and focus on that interaction; any time my mind wanders from that connection I bring it back. Its hard work.

    Where can people check out more of your work? Instagram: @kelseybrookes // Web: www.kelseybrookes.com // Quint Contemporary Art (La Jolla, CA).

    36

    Interview: Liz Rice McCray :: Photo: Roy Porello

    I put my brush to the canvas and focus on that interaction; any time my mind wanders from that connection I bring it back.

  • www.freestyleusa.com/then-one

    THE INTENSITY OF NEW YORK CITY BALANCED BY THE FREEDOM OF THE SEAIntroducing a new collaboration between Freestyle and Then One, a leading graphic artist

    from the streets of New York. Welcome to the intersection of city and surf.

    LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

  • For me art inspires perspective and accountability through enhancing self-awareness and perception of humanity within our cultural historical context. This, to me, seems vital to the self-awareness of society and in particular with growing contrasts.

    I want the observer to become conscious of him or herself, as perceived in comparison to the object. This is why I am drawn to usingthegureandtheuse of craft as tools. To present a situation where the artwork draws the viewer into an intimate and personal reaction with the sculpture or installation, to instigate their own reaction and perception of themselves in the relevance of the sculpture.

    My work is derived in the studio and is usually made in series. These are developed around an

    idea, which starts as a poem or short statement. These ideas and thoughts are usually derived and inspired by philosophical questions, medical information, psychological studies, with imagined projections into potential futures. These pieces are explored through a domestic and often classical sculpturally approach to the manipulationofthegureasobject.

    A series I am currently developing is: Will we be able to resist it? This istherstinaseriesofworks exploring how we will manage our ability to replace and choose our genetic makeup. Will we be able to resist improving ourselves? To save a person from disease is one thing thats obviously wonderful, but will we be able to resist improving the well? Will this become a commodity, the gap between the rich and

    poor, becoming more than just money? Will the rich be buying genetic enhancement for their offspring, making new meanings to the privileges of wealth?

    I like to look at these possible futures and explore how they could develop. What alterations we might nddesirableandhowthese children might look. A natural reaction seems that it is a bad thing, to improve the well, but is it? Has evolution put us in charge?

    The poem for this series follows:

    FEATHER CHILDWill we be able to resist it?The endless opportunityto better our futures,to improve the human race,and quench our instinctiveappetites for more. Will we be able to resist it?Once we have cured the sick,

    to improve the well.What fun well havemakingusefulmodicationsimprovements and special vocations. Will we be able to resist it?A decoration applied witha gene, not a needle.To breathe under waterWouldnt that be useful,ortoywhocouldresistthat.To be special we all want it,once we are no longer child. Will we be able to resist it?Is evolution ours now?Will it be like most,money will buy the prize?You will need to besomething like a Rothschildtobeabletoy.Or to glow in the darka Geldof or a Stark.Is it all about to change,are we to be in charge?

    Make sure to check out more of Lucy Glendinnings works at www.lucyglendinning.com.

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    Words: Lucy Glendinning

  • CAM RICHARDS // LAST LAUGH CHAOS MEETS CULTURE DBLANC.COM

    cam_bliss_ad_oct.indd 1 9/11/14 9:37 AM

  • Will you please introduce yourself to our readers? My name is Erica Rose Levine. I am an artist working primarily in colored pencils.

    Can you share a little bit about your creative process? It varies from drawing to drawing, but it usually starts with me taking photos of an inspiring subject and then playing around with the photo. Next, I decide what I want the subject to be wearing or adorned with and do a bunch of sketches on the photos. Finally, when Ihaveguredoutexactlywhat I want to draw I use colored pencils and make it happen.

    Do you use live models for your subjects or mainly your imagination? I always use models. I prefer to work from photos that I take of people that inspire me.

    The drawings remind me of goddesses or queens. Will you tell me about the inspiration behind your subjects? Do you always draw women?I am interested in the idea of drawing realistic-looking portraits with women who are adorned to some sort of an extreme, whether it be a huge chunky earring or a moss dress. I like to push it with one super element in each drawing. I feel like it makes the drawing stronger and its fun to accessorize. I like to use jewelry to harden up the look of the subject though, as opposed to jewelry which some women use to soften their look (in real life). I have always been more impressed with women that are really strong and hard and think that that is way more beautiful and interesting than soft and subtle.

    In my last show Empress at Thinkspace this past June, I photographed friends and one girl that worked in the supermarket and had fun sort of turning them into more powerful seeming creatures that demand respect. It is always fun to photograph someone who is very shy and almost feels uncomfortable having their picture taken and haveanalpiecewhereshelooks like a super badass chick. In the future I really want to make my adornments more outlandish and really push it with what I can decorate each woman with. And yes, I usually draw women but maybe that will change in the future.

    Who is your favorite jeweler and fashion designer?

    I am currently obsessing over Sandra Backlund but also love Alexander McQueen and Mara Hoffman.

    Is there a time period in history that is particularly inspiring to you? Im taking a short break from the 80s and really diggin the 70s lately.

    How do you balance the challenges of motherhood with your career as an artist? Is there a time of day when you are the most motivated to create? It is so hard, especially in the summer. During the school year it is a little easier because my son is in school so I have some time, but lately I have been working at night and on the weekends when everyone else is out having fun.

    Do you do any commissioned work? In theory I do but I keep passing up jobs because Im too busy. Hopefully in the futureIwillbeabletotinsome commissions.

    Where can our readers check out more of your work? My work is on ericaroselevine.com and I have some drawings available on the Thinkspace Gallery website at thinkspacegallery.com. I will also be doing some shows with them in the next few months.

    40

    Interview: Liz Rice McCray

  • 42

  • 44

    This issue our mural of the month was picked by our very own Madsteez. It is a collaborative piece by two artists, Tatiana Suarez and Kamea Hadar. We were excited to catch up with them and ask a couple questions about the mural/collaboration just days after they completed painting.

    How did this mural/collaboration come about?I have been working a lot with PVS (Polynesian Voyaging Society) and their two canoes Hokulea and Hikianalia before they left this May on Malama Honua, a three-year voyage around the world using only non-instrumental navigation. Olukai is one of the sponsors of Malama Honua and has been helping out with many of my projects including a mural I did of Master Mau, the original navigator of Hokulea (we put out a video entitled Talk of the Sea). We were talking about doing another mural and they asked if I wanted to collaborate with any artists, and if so, who. I mentioned Tati and thought that it would be great to do the mural in her home town of Miami as Hokulea and Hikianalia will be arriving in Miami sometime in the next year or two. Her and I both have very diverse backgrounds, her being Brazilian and El Salvadorian, and my parents being Japanese/Korean and Israeli, and both live in places with a lot of mixing of culture. I thought that would make for an interesting collaborationanditdenitelydid.

    Where is this piece located? Do you know how long the mural will be on display in this location?The piece is located in Little Haiti and the owner intends to keep the mural up permanently.

    Does the mural have a name? If so, what is it and why?We titled the piece Malama Honua after the world wide voyage currently taking place. The mission of the voyage is to explore and

    spread learning in sustainability, culture, voyaging and the ocean.

    We are into eyes and this mural really has us looking at your different stylized eyes. Both of you are known for your signature eyes, so to see you paint a collaborative piece incorporating your different styles is pretty cool. Will you give us some insight about the mural and its representations, game plan on mapping out the wall, and the planning/prep for this piece? Collaboration is one of the biggest ideals that we have in POW! WOW! I have always loved to collaborate with other artists, and being one of the heads of POW! WOW! has allowed me to work with so many different artists from around the globe. Many of my collaborations were with artists whose work is a lot more graphic so that our contributions to the piece were complimentary but easily distinguishable, like in the series that I have been working on all year with Defer entitled Paradise Lost. In other cases, like the mural I did with Rone in 2013, we went to the other extreme and tried to create a piece where there was no start and end to each of our styles and the viewer could not see who painted what.

    In this case our two styles are obviously different but still similar enough (in that we both paint portraits and wanted to incorporate femaleguresandfemaleeyes)thatit posed a challenge. We wanted to combine two goddesses: the Hawaiian goddess of the moon Hina, who is said to guide Polynesian sailors and the canoes Hokulea and Hikianalia; and the Brazilian goddess of the sea Iemanja, the patron saint ofshermen.Ialwayswanttoblowupmyguresandhavejusttheface,oreyesandlipslltheentirewall while Tati likes to zoom out a bitandpaintmoreofherguresbusts.Wekepttryingtogureoutacompromiseonasinglegure

    that combined our two themes, but in the end we found a creative way to separate the two and still have them be complimentary to each other. Some people see my eyes as adifferentgurecompletely,andothers see them as a zoomed-in versionofTatisgure.Inthiswaythe piece works well in comparing, contrasting and paralleling the two ancient goddesses. The mural also includes images ofowersandjewels,whichweregiven as offerings to Iemanja. In the mural she is seen adorned with white roses and sea grape leaves. Her hair, wild and blue, representing the ocean. Behind Iemanja, Hina wears a red hibiscus, which is a species of Hibiscus that has only recently been introduced to the islands. Although the yellow Hibiscus istheofcialstateower,theredvarietyisaniconicowerandfound in much of modern Hawaiian imagery.Iliketheowerbecauseitrepresents a more modern Hawaii that is a hybrid of tradition and contemporary culture that has been introduced, and is beautiful regardless. Also incorporated into the mural are the stars and moon. The Hawaiian goddess Hina was said to have lived in the moon, and with the help of the stars help to guide sailors through the night. Next to the moon is the constellation Iwi Kuamoo (which translates to the backbone of the lizard), which is the constellation that includes the North Star and the sister stars Hokulea and Hikianalia, which break the horizon and rise together and are where the two canoes get their names. Iwi Kuamoo is the constellation that sits above the Hawaiian Islands, and it will help to guide the two canoes home after their trip around the world.

    What was the most complicated part about the execution of this mural?Like most murals the hardest partwasguringoutthelogisticsbeforehand. Tati worked really hard

    scoutingwallsbeforeIewupand we weighed out the pros and cons of location, building owners, access, etc. Then, she organized the lifts to be delivered and when they would be picked up, and even had a professional prime the wall. WhenIewinwehadtobuyallthesupplies and then had major issues with the sun casting hard shadows from the texture of the concrete on the wall, which along with the extreme heat made it almost impossible to paint midday. Its all of the organization that takes the most work and gets complicated; the actual painting of the mural is the fun part and the icing on the cake.

    How was it collaborating on this mural, and have you worked with each other before? Do you think you will collaborate again?It was so great collaborating on this mural! We have never worked together before but I would love to work with Tati again. One huge part of any collaboration is getting along on a personal level, and Tati and I are not just work associates but also friends. I stayed with Tati and her husband David the whole week and we share the same taste for music and zombie movies. They took me in like family. If the work environment is not a good one the work will show. I see walls where artists just split it down the middle and stick to a side and call that a collaboration. For it to be a successful collaboration the art should interact both physically and in subject matter. The two artists should talk, plan and be comfortable with going over each other and relinquishing some creative control to their partner. Plus, you have to spend so much time together while working that its more fun if its someone you can talk to and share a beer with at the end of the day.

    Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to seeing more of both of your works.

    Interview: Liz Rice McCray

  • BLISS_SR_itunes_SINGLE.indd 1 9/23/14 5:11 PM

  • There are few in the photography world as well rounded as Hurleys Derek Bahn. And when you give him a subject like Sydney A Maler to shoot, magical things are bound to happen. Its hard to believe that Sydney is a self-proclaimed beach bum, a skilled trainer of horses and a girl fascinated with the psychology of mass marketing. Butthenagain,Iguesswewouldntbeabletondallofthatoutbyjuststaringatthisbreathtakingphotoofher anyways. So, sit back and enjoy the magic that D-Bahn and Sydney, two ever so talented individuals, have brought to us for the month of October.

    Photography: Derek Bahn :: @dbahnphotos // Model: Sydney A Maler :: @sydneyamaler

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    Denim Hurley: hurley.com

  • Words: Spencer Pirdy Photos: Edwin Morales

    Carlos Nogales, more commonly known as Coco Nogales, is a man who has single handedly mastered the deadliest beach break on earth. For decades now hes consistently paddled into 20-foot plus waves, with no channel for refuge mind you, at his beloved stretch of shore located in Puerto Escondido. With such poise, strength and knowledge of the ocean one would think he was raised right on the beach at Zicatela and reared in its thunderous shore break.ButCocosrststagesoflifetook place far from the tropical tubes and lush green mountains of Puerto.

    Coco was born within the landlocked constraints of Aguascalientes, Mexico,wherehelivedfortherstveyearsofhislife,andafterwhichhis parents made the move south to Mexico City. At age 10 Coco had a fallout with his family and ran away from home. For months he lived on the streets of Mexico City selling chicle and washing car windows, and he would then sleep in bus stations at night. Soon after he moved to the

    more welcoming climate of Acapulco and began living with friends and singing to tourists to make money. One afternoon he overheard a guy talking to his friend about a magical paradise called Puerto Escondido. This sparked Cocos interest, and as Coco was forcefully roughed-up and pressured by the local law enforcement to rat out his friends, he made a spur-of-the-moment decision one that would alter his life forever and he dropped everything and bought a bus ticket to Puerto Escondido.

    Upon arrival, Coco could sense he was where he was meant to be. WhenIrststeppedoffthebusonto Puerto ground, I knew I was going to be here for the rest of my life, he said. I walked down to Zicatela and sat there watching these huge waves break. I remember saying to myself, Wow, one day Im going to be out there. Coco met up with the legendary Ramirez family, and with the help of Juan, Roger, Miguel and the rest of the clan he foundworkandbegansurng.Cocowould work hard in the mornings, and in the afternoons would get

    offandgosurng,themajorityofthe time by himself, striving for greatness. Soon, Coco was packing tubes and battling through the football-eld-sizedripcurrentsinhispursuit of giant barrels.

    So, how did Carlos Nogales get the nickname Coco? Well, it all started as a little joke between close friends. David Salinas started calling me Coco because my hair used to be super blonde from the sun and it was really dry, like a dry coconut, Coco says. Nowadays, the name Coco is known throughout the surf world, a name synonymous with big-wavesurng.IfyouweretofollowCoco on any given swell at home or abroad at places like Teahupoo, Mavericks, Todos or Hawaii youd mostlikelyndhimthefocusof a barrage of cameramen and journalists, documenting his every move. Hes a true star, one who was never handed anything and has had to work his way to the top. For most, itd be easier to forget the harder days and the trials and tribulations; however, for Coco the journey of how he got to where he is today is always at the forefront

    of his mind. Today he uses his hero status for the good of enriching todays underprivileged youth in Mexico. On Cocos right forearm the letters A-H-A-V-A are tattooed. The word AHAVA is Hebrew from the Old and New Testament meaning love and water. Its under this name that Coco has started a foundation that creates projects to positively inuenceandmotivatekidsthroughout Mexico. He trains them, gives them gear and boards as well as overall direction in life. Its Cocos little known story, one thats seen him scrape by from the streets of Mexico City to come out on the other side as a top professional in the surngworldthatuseshisfametogenuinely impact and motivate those he comes in contact with, young and old. Looking to the future, Coco shows no signs of slowing down and talks of bigger plans than ever. His strenuous training regime and strict diet feed his never-ending hunger to ride the largest waves on earth. My focus is to get the bomb, the biggest wave I can, because I love surngbigwaves,hesays.Bewarepurple blobs, Carlos Coco Nogales is coming for you.

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  • Briggs Ogloff

    Hector Santamaria

    Damien Tran

    Damien Tran

    Drew Martin

    Jesse Draxler

    Tyler Spangler

    Theres so much talent out there I often wonder how much goes unnoticed. Maybe its that the talented individual doesnt have the outlet to share their creation, or if just someone else collaborated on what they do best with him or her, the result would be downright amazing. Step in the ourCaste crew and their latest lovechild The Youth Curated. TYC is a constantly evolving platform calling to all artists, designers, photographers, craftsmen, mixed-media practitioners and surf/skate contributors to explore the possibilities of genre-bending collaborations and ideas. With no censorship, it allows total freedom to do what it is that they love in its purest form. It encourages the interaction between creative individuals, which results in unlikely bonds and collaborations with outcomes that far exceed the sum of its parts. It is synergy unseen with results unexpected. There are no limitations, no guidelines and no one telling you, It wont work. Its all about

    relationships, likeminded people with very different ideas. Its free, its easy and its beautiful.

    The Youth Curated is already in action, and the ball is already rolling. The group is growing; the creations are happening. It consists of the hungry ones, the paycheck-to-paycheck type, the for the love of it type, the ones that inspire the rest, and the super-talented, unexpected type. The list is growing but a few you might wanna keep an eye on are: Jesse Draxler, Drew Martin, Chris Leidy, Tyler Spangler, Brooks Sterling, Christian Pardini, Clifford Lidell, Briggs Ogloff, Hector Santamaria, Austin Calvello, Colby Edwards, Damien Tran and Max Stewart. The resulting content is eye pleasing, inspiring and worth a good, hard look. Check it all out at ourCaste.com/the-youth-curated, and/or submit yourself at [email protected].

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  • Briggs Ogloff

    Briggs Ogloff

    Damien Tran

    Damien Tran

    Damien Tran

    Drew Martin

    Hector Santamaria

    Jesse Draxler

    Tyler Spangler

    Tyler Spangler

  • On the heels of one of the most consistent months of summertime surf in Southern California in decades, the Hurley Pro at Trestles came into town with surf fans and World Tour competitors still beaming from all of the magic that went down in Tahiti. With a healthy forecast that included a solid dose of southern hemisphere swell, minor juice from the tropics and even northwest swell, Lowers was wide open for business as soon as the waiting period began.

    This years contest was unique in many ways: therewereafewheavyupsets,analthatseemed to signify a changing of the guard

    intheWorldTourhierarchy,andthesurngon display was an eclectic mix of progressive airs, rail turns and power hacks. Arguably, the surfer of the event was John John Florence who administered all of the aforementioned maneuvers with precision and cat-like ability, somehow keeping himself glued to his board through impossible situations. John was able to seek revenge against Kelly from Tahiti by way ofaone-pointwinintheirseminalshowdown.The goofy-footer of the event was Ace Buchan. Ace took out world number one Gabriel Medina by sticking to a vertical backhand approach that was straight up deadly. Of course, Medina and fellow countryman Filipe Toledo threw

    Jordy SmithPhoto: ASP/Kirstin Scholtz

    Jordy SmithPhoto: Derek Bahn

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  • John John FlorencePhoto: Derek Bahn

    John John FlorencePhoto: Kenworthy

  • down a couple of unforgettably massive airs, but overall itwasaboutndingthelongright-handcobblestonewallswith wide-open canvases for drawing big, raw wraps. Jordy Smith may be new to the San Clemente hood as aresident,buthesbeensurngLowerslongenoughtoknow how to excite the judges. He did so by sticking to his railandactivelyignoringhisreliableairgame.Inthenal,Jordywentlargeonhisrstwavewitha9.33.Somesayitwas over scored, but its hard to ignore the fact that Jordy surfed the wave in question extremely well. It then came

    downtothenalminutewithJordywaitinginanticipationto see if hed gotten a big enough score to oust John. And hedid,thenalwasover.JohnJohnwasvisiblybummed.Jordy was visibly elated and will most likely add some stylishfurnishingtohisnewhomeviahisrstplacespoils.Allinall,wehadanexcitingweekofsurngatthe2014Hurley Pro once again. Now, off to Europe with Gabriel MedinastillsittinginrstandKellytrailingby6500pointswith three events remaining.

    Adrian BuchanPhoto: Kenworthy

    Kelly SlaterPhoto: Kenworthy

  • Gabriel MedinaPhoto: Kenworthy

    Joel ParkinsonPhoto: Kenworthy

    Felipe ToledoPhoto: Derek Bahn

    Mick FanningPhoto: Kenworthy

    Jordy & John JohnPhoto: Derek Bahn

    Kolohe AndinoPhoto: Derek Bahn

  • Photos & Interview: Karim Ghonem

    So whats up, Billy? Where are you right now? Right now working Solstice. Just watched Fred Gall blow up a TV for an intro to a part, haha. How old are you? Im 18 years old. You seem to work a lot for an 18-year-old. You work every day as an electrician too, dont you? Well by trade terms Im an apprentice, so I help the electrician. But yes, I do work that every day as well. Whats up with all those work hours? Shouldnt you be out skating all day? Haha I guess I should be. But its not like I have no time to skate. I

    like being able to pay for whatever it is I may need with my own money, you know? And I want to escape the winter this year, and that isnt cheap. Soinveyears,doyouseeyourself in Massachusetts or out west skating or being an electrician? Whats the ideal setup inveyears? The ideal setup would be being able to skate all the time, wherever Im at. Im planning on going out west this September and stay as long as I possibly can. A bunch of my friends have already, or are going to relocate out there, and I wanna drive there too. Im gonna try to make skateboarding work out, but if not, being an electrician isnt a bad fallback plan. Skating will always be a part of me though.

    Id say you sound like a pretty responsible young man, except I heardyoujustgotredfromyourlast apprenticeship. You burnt the house down or something? Hahaha, no I didnt burn anything down. It was a pretty dumb reason, at least I think. I worked with a guy who was a pretty big dickhead; he never talked, never smiled, and really had no emotion. I worked with him for months and honestly never had a conversation with him. But I took tape off a photocell that turned on a rowoflightstooearly,andheippedout on me. Then, his brother-in-law, who happened to be the boss, texted meandredmethatnight. That kinda thing wouldnt happen if you skated instead of working you know... just saying.

    Youredenitelyright. So you skate for Shetlers brand All I Need. I know you guys both live in Taunton and skate together a bunch. Who else do you skate with? Id say I skate with my friends Nick Barthe, Ryan Adelman and Ben Reid the most. Nick is from Taunton as well, so Ive known him since I was like 13/14.RyansowbroforAllINeed and lives a town away from me, and Ben works with me at Skaters Edge. And Ive known Ben since about 13 as well all great dudes. Ben and I alsoshtogetherquitealottoo.

    Ialwaysliketheideaofshing,its never as much fun as I imagine when I go though. Do you wake up atthecrackofdawntosh?

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  • Varial Heel

    Pole Jam

  • Back 50-50

    Back Smith

    B.S Nose Pick

  • Back 50-50

    B.S Nose Pick

    F.S Bluntslide Transfer

    Oh yeah. Going that early is the best. Going that early can make for the best days. Its sick though, the spot I really like you have to walk a little ways into the woods so just being outside doing something I enjoy while catching a sunrise is pretty awesome. A lot of connections could be made to skatingfromshing,ascrazyasthat may sound. Yeah, accept for the whole waking up at 5:30 a.m. thing very un-skater like of you. That and the hard work, Billy... not sure if you have what it takes. You skate with Westgate ever? Dude, watching Westgate in person is unreal! Its been real rad skating with him more lately, like going out with Shetler and him, he has so much fun and skates the gnarliest spots and roots you on as well with whatever youre trying. Yeah, dudes kind of a big deal, not sure if you know that. If you had to choose which super power would you want: Westgates super-human pop or Shetlers sheer willpower and determination. Oh jeez, thats a tough one. Im gonna go with Shetlers willpower and determination. Hes got to be

    one of the hardest working dudes in skateboarding. All I need is a perfect example of how relentless he is, and that he basically taught himself how to run a business. Westgates pop is a close second though. Very PC of you. Speaking of Shetler, I know youve been traveling with him a bit. Got any good Shetler stories? I got one with Shetler and Ramsey (AIN team manager). So we were skating one day in Boston, we were driving down a pretty narrow road and a section of the road for some reason was just taken up byabigockofpigeons.Ramseywasdrivingandsawthebigockand thought it would be funny to speed up and see them all scatter andyaway,likeabunchofwhitedoves. But these were pigeons. Soheoorsitandatthesametime screams, PIGEONS! And allbutonedecidedtoyaway,so we ran it over. And dude it was seriously the loudest pop Ive heard. It was like a pigeon balloon popping. Also, while all that was happening a mother and her young son passing by on the sidewalk watched the whole thing happen. So Ramsey felt like shit after that and Shetler was like, Dude it had

    to happen, now pigeons will know not to stand in front of cars, it wasthesacricialpigeon.Ramseyresponded with, It was a pigeon, Christ! Nice that kid is probably still dealing with that. Was that the same trip you put your weed in the hotel room safe then forgot the code in the morning? Hahaha oh man, that was in New York. Yup, two joints locked in the safe at the Sun Hotel in NY. I didnt forget the code, just for the record. You make up your own code when you get the room and then that was the safes code. I set it and it opened then for some reason I thought that would be a good place to put them. We left to get food, came back and it wouldnt open. Ramsey thinks its a scam the hotel pulls. Thats what Im thinking. Good to know though is it getting close to your bedtime, Billy? Not yet, but I am tired though. Ill wrap this up. Earlier today I was asking around to see if anyone had any dirt on you. Jay V. (Solstice Skateshop owner) said no, but he said your sister was kind of hot. Then Shetler

    said she looks just like you, which meansHahaha dude, all my friends say that shit to me. Duuuude, your sisters so hot! Is she? Well Jay V thinks so. Ok youre in a car and your traveling at 80 mph, how long will it take you to travel 80 miles? One hour. Right?

    One hour is right. I was just checking. Youd be surprised how many people cant answer that. Last question, Billy: Whats your favorite word? Thats gotta be the hardest question ever. Theres too many to choose from. Thank Yous? Thank you to BL!SSS and Ortiz for lining this up; you, Karim, for doing the interview and being down to shoot all the time; Shetler for everything, the list would be too long; Jay V and Solstice for the being the best; Dave and Carol at Skaters Edge; my parents and also, Dan McGrath and Peter Howard for being the best dudes outandalwaysbeingdowntolm.

  • One of Newports many scenic views interrupted by the raw power and beauty of Marie.

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  • Back when I was a young, impressionable lad, I used to have post-surf lunches at TK Burgers on 21st street in Newport Beach. Now, TK is a neestablishmentwithplentytopeakyourinterest:theprettygalsthat take your order, the delicious burgers and fries but what I really loved about my TK visits were all of the amazing local surf photos that covered the walls. Id gaze at them in disbelief. Theres the Balboa Pier scraper photo, the perfect towering teepee at Wedge photo, and my personal favorites the photos of giant masses of water rearing up out of the submarine canyon at the Newport Point, glistening in the early morning light. I, just as many of my friends in my age range, would drool over these iconic photos, and up until August 27, 2014, I still only half believed that these photos were truly taken in my hometown. They were artifacts that seemed to be mythical, and they made me constantly wonder if Id ever see such a day of days in Newport Beach.

    When Hurricane Marie formed there was a lot of hype. We enjoyed a few days of overhead tropical storm surf the weekend before that made me think the oncoming hurricane swell might be a dud. But Marie was different. She walked the walk; a slow enough, strong enough walk that could send us a dose of surf worth waiting a lifetime for. On Tuesday afternoon I paddled out at 17th Street to a rising swell. ThroughoutmyinfantileyearsofsurnginNewportBeachIvesurfedThe Point on certain tropical swells that have given me tastes of what all the photos Ive seen and stories Ive heard have eluded to as far as the potential the spot holds. And on that evening, where the swell was forecasted to build, I felt power and saw size that Id never before seen inmysurnglifetimeatthisparticularplace.ThatnightIreadiedthebiggest boards I had, boards I never imagined Id be waxing up and preparing for a session in Newport waters. I tried to force myself to

    Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Tom Cozad

  • Bobby Okvist

    Jake Kirschenbaum

    Dusty Payne

    Kolohe Andino

    Mike Estrada

    Clay Crandal

    Troy Eckert

    Pat Millin

    Morgan Craig

  • sleep, but it was no use as the anticipation had too much adrenaline running through my bloodstream. That morning I stood on the beach at dark and could feel the sand shaking and the mist from the pounding of the waves showering my face. It was a feeling that mimicked Hawaii, Puerto Escondido or Ocean Beach. Paddling out at dark next to the Newport Pier on an 86 gun is a surreal feeling for someonewhosgrownupsurngthearea.Thisisthatday,Isaidtomyself, referring to the TK Point photographs in my head. The water was moving like Id never felt before and what I thought would be a relatively quick paddle out turned into a 30-minute struggle. In the lineup was a telltale sign of knowing youre in the right spot if youre looking for dangerously big waves Evan Slater was sitting with a calm look on his face, taking in the towering aqua masses that jacked up out of the submarine canyon. Today is that day, I thought.

    A few waves, a board switch, a leash break and a long swim later, I was in the midst of the hometown session of my life. Of course, when the majority of the best professional tube hounds in the world show up at your home spot theres not much more to do, other than getting in the mix or sitting back and relishing their hard-charging, top-level approaches. Koa Smith and Koa Rothman both had two of the heavier lefts I witnessed in the session. Smiths was a supersonic high-line into the belly of a beast; Rothmans, a surgical knife job that saw him traveling through the abyss of a massive keg. Bobby Okvist found his gems, as he always does. Rob Machado pulled into a giant foamy one and navigated out of it with the skill of a master. Rusty Long, Timmy Reyes, Mason Ho, Jordy Smith, Mike Estrada, Pat Millin, Pat and Chad Towersey, Troy Eckert and Clay Crandal got theirs. But then there were the other guys. Guys Id never seen or heard of before that blew my mind. A fellow who I believe goes by the name of Taj Tucker was packing humongous beasts. He and many others put on a ridiculously radical show. Around 9 a.m. that morning the biggest set of the day broke on all of our heads. Leashes broke in the dozens, people were gasping for breaths. Ryan Seelbach said he almost had two two-wave hold downs, many were swept through the pier and Rusty, the only one out the back far enough, suffered a hellacious wipeout in an attempt to take off on what he called the biggest wave hed ever seen in Southern California. Shit was happening, and shit was getting real. Jamie OBrien showed up after board-transferring his way down the peninsula to pull into one of the longest Point barrels on record, and Oliver Kurtz put the sorrows of a sketchy late drop wipeout away by pulling into and getting spat out of the wave of the day.

    Koa Rothman enjoying Newport Beachs very accurate Pipe impersonation

    Koa Rothman

    The crowd soaking it up

  • Rob Machado

    Sebastian Zietz

    Koa Smith taking a supersonic line

    John Cunningham

    Jamie OBrien

    Tyler Gunter

  • By10:30a.m.,afterghtingtheshorebreaktogetoutfortheumpteenthtime,Isatandwaitedforonenalwavetoendmysession on. You know, that perfect stand-up spitter that lets you out with ease. I paddled for a good one, stacked it, didnt penetrate and got sucked up and over the falls, pounded to oblivion. As I came to the surface I saw stars, and took three more on the head before I was pushed to the beach. When I hit the sand the thought did cross my mind that maybe I should give it another go. But severely dehydrated and completely depleted ofanyounceofenergy,Ithrewupthewhiteag.Youwin,Marie. You crazy bitch, you win. For all historical purposes, the TK photos are spot-on accurate. That stuff really does go down in this town. Not every year, not every decade, and not even every 25 years, but on August 27, 2014 it happened. The Balboa Pier scraped, the Wedge had giant teepees and the Newport Point showed why its the 8th wonder of the California surf world. Now, someone please take a photo from that day and hang it on the wall in TK, mark the date and let some impressionable little blonde-haired surf grom daydream of when itll happen again.

    John Cunningham

    Jamie OBrien

    Tyler Gunter

    Oliver Kurtz on what many called the wave of the day

    Timmy Reyes

    Underground hero, Taj TuckerPoint perfectio

  • Interview: Liz Rice McCray

    Will you please introduce yourself to our readers.I am ROA: a mural painter and installation artist. My art pictures animals; I am fascinated by the behavior of animals in this ever-changing world and the evolving (estranging) relationship of humans withanimals.ThepastveyearsItraveledaroundto paint murals and explore the diversity of the animal kingdom. I consider it as my personal study, which results in public murals.

    Can you tell us a bit about your childhood?I was been born and brought up in Ghent, Belgium. Most of my youth we lived in small almshouses of a used to be Carmelite cloister, located in a 12th century historic neighborhood, called Friars Hole. Nowadays its a touristic district in town; but in the eighties the area was not revalued yet and it attracted artists, students, and other low-income families. Today it is one of

    Ghents most stylish neighborhoods, but when I lived there it was a decayed maze of little winding cobblestone streets, and century-old decaying little houses. As a kid it was a Goonies-life; I loved to explore and to wander around in the cloister that was not restored yet, and we wouldndthemostweirdhistoriccuriositiesand artifacts. Today in my installations, I includeobjectsfromlittlepersonalpath-ndingexplorations through my travels, just like I collected as a kid the stuff that I found; I

    have always been a collector and enjoy the story behind the object that reminds me also a bit to my personal little history of exploring. Growing up in thisenvironmentdenitelynourishedmyinterestin neglected sites and complexes; before painting murals abroad I painted mostly in abandoned factories around the city. I considered them as a sort of oasis where the painted animals appeared to be in sync with the surroundings; estranged and adapted to an industrial recent history. A history that in those remote places has been left behind where nature slowly takes back: weeds growing over

    the bricks and through the cracks of the walls, pigeons living under the roof, rodents running around.

    Its hard to keep up with you, as you are all over the place. Where do you call home? How much time do you actually spend there?Home is Belgium, the country I had been born and where I grew up. The past years I have been traveling continuously, although I dont spend much time over there; it is still the country I spend most of my life at. Because its a very small country, many artists, musicians and actors are living abroad. Just to picture it Paris is a three-hour drive, Amsterdam too, London one hour with Eurostar You end up easily abroad if you are from Belgium. Personally, I think its good to get to know what life is outside the borders!

    Where is your favorite place to travel so far, and why?

    This question has been asked to me several times and I

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  • cant tell the answer. I really mean it, I think that every place has its own unique experience made by the people and its environment. Because of my fascination in nature in general I love to visit everything under the equator because of the varied diversityoffaunaandora,buteveryplacealsoabove the equator has its own spirit. Africa made a captivating impression on me throughout my past travels and continues to fascinate me on various ways. Anyway, originating from a rainy country I can tell you I like sun, and I dont like routine. I enjoy to be in places where you dont know what to expect; places with different views, traditions, architecture, animals, landscapes it helps me to be inspired in life in general and to put myself and the reality I grew up with into perspective.

    Whataresomeofyourconsistentinuences?The currently nomadic experience, the nature and culture of places, my peers, animals life!

    The animals and creatures you paint seem to change from location to location. Are the animals normally indigenous to the location you are painting? How did this come about? I prefer to paint mostly the native animals of the region.

    Its dawned on me that people lot of times are a bit ignorant for the local fauna, and people can be all about exotic animals but totally no nothing about the indigenous species.

  • When I paint an animal mural, I am presenting an idea. I enlarge the biologic proportions of reptiles, insects, mammals, etc., to create a sort of metaphorical, microscopic view on a specicanimal.Sometimestheideaof the presenting animal is connected to history (colonization, globalization, industrialization) and how it has affected the animal conditions. In other circumstances the idea is just a tribute of the indigenous animal. The location and context will always determinate the idea together with the situation and the given wall shape.

    Australias unique creatures are a major draw for visitors while New York Citys animal representatives are not so much of a draw. Do you favor painting the traditionally lovable creatures of your travels, or the traditionally un-savory creatures of the cityscape? No preferences, but the two just offer me different ideas. In NYC little rodents adapted to the city life; they represent a sort of abundance of concentration and food consumption. For me, its amazing to see how certain animals adapted themselves throughout the past century. In the cities animals lost territory, but because of people,

  • animalsndnewwaysto adapt in our cities. Sometimes its very sad; bears come out the forest to eat out of the garbage bin because its an easy bite, and they become a threat for the community and become shot. People pushed the borders of nature in a drastic manner. Itsatragedy;rsthumantook the territory from the animals on large scale, and now they are considered in many situations as a problem for us. The way people value animals all over the world is often very different: Kangaroos are appreciated by most people as an adorable animal but some Australians consider them as a pest and then they also end up in dog food. In the Western world we have lots of cows we cultivate as meat, without grazing in a meadow; on contrary, in India, the cow is a holy animal and free. These culturaldynamicsIndveryinteresting.

    Tell me about your dead animals?People consider them easily

    dead, while sometimes they are just sleeping. We tend to see in white and black, in good and bad, in life and death. Although I believe there are many states in between an awakening from sleeping. But I also paint dead animals as a part of life, the transitory of life. Sometimes its as natural scenery; on other occasions to point out atrocities towards animals, i.e.: the rhino killings. I am interested in the whole circle of life, and also how out of the decay of a dead animal and how a new beginning starts. When one animal deconstructs, hundreds of insects, new life, gets born. Nature recycles in a sublime way. Its interesting to see that physical matter never can be destroyed, but only reshaped!

    Some of your animals have environmental narratives. Would you call yourself an environmentalist? I would love to be an environmentalist, but I am afraid that my ecological footprint is currently growing

  • byying.Itrytoliveasmuchaspossiblein awareness but I should do better. But I might be a kind of visual environmental activist with representing in public the struggle of animals besides also their beauty and grandeur. Its on the people to interpret my murals, and when it induces environmental awareness, then I am very happy with that!

    Whats the biggest challenge you have faced in your career as an artist?The moral of the day! Travelling and organizing with so many people all over the world to engage in projects, murals, etc. It has been a great experience, but every time you start from scratch. Sometimes its easier to communicate if you dont even understand each others languagethenwithauentlytalkerwhotalks, talks but in circles. Its funny how trustworthy extra-linguistic language can be and how misleading perfect written emails can be. But the biggest challenge of operating in every situation also offered me the perspective of just dealing with every situation, get rid of expectations, and just create your day! Make it happen and try to make it all worth.

    What percentage of your time is devotedtoyourartwork?Whatllsthe rest of your time?I cant put it in percentages; its an ever-present passion that even is activated when I am not painting. It sounds very clich but I assume that a shoemaker on his closing day sitting in a bar also checks out the shoes of the people passing by. Mostpeoplewithaspecicinterestareconnected in daily life with their craft or art. At the moment Im living a kind of nomadic and this also speeds up time; travelling is also losing hours and just

    living every simply moment.

    How would you put into words your present?My present sounds philosophical. Whats present, past and future? They are deningourtime.Iassumemypresentisa collection of all the interests of my past combined with new experiences, that I nowadays integrate in my art, and I am actually fortunate to create my own life and work.

    Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us?On Halloween I will have an opening of new work in Rome at Dorothee Circus Gallery;myrstexhibitioninRome,whichis an historical unique place and makes it exciting to me. The two weeks before arriving in Rome I will be painting murals in the U.S., in Lexington and Las Vegas. I like to paint walls in the U.S.; there are many big walls available in mostly scenic settings as palm tress on the side, or a skyline. Again, another environment, another context, a new experience.

    Where can people check more of your artwork?IhaveaFlickraccount,www.ickr.com/photos/roagrafti.Itmostlytakessome weeks to update it, but its my personal page. Besides this, in the U.S. I painted murals in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Rochester, Richmond, Albany, Atlanta, Tucson, Navajo Nation and soon Lexington and Las Vegas. Always welcome!

    Special Thanks to Anne-Laure at fatcap.com for hooking us up with ROA.

  • Shirt Volcomvolcom.comPants Liraliraclothing.comBoots - Vintage

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    Denim Hurleyhurley.com

    Sunglasses Wonderlandwonderlandsun.com

  • Jacket RVCArvca.comTop Volcomvolcom.comSunglasses Wonderlandwonderlandsun.comHat Rag & Bonerag-bone.com

    Dress RVCArvca.com

  • L I R A 2 0 1 4 F A L L C O L L E C T I O NW W W . L I R A C L O T H I N G . C O M

  • For those who dont know Riley Nickerson, can you tell us a little about yourself and what you are up to at the moment?Well, Ive recently just turned 24. Im from the East Coast; I was born in Salem, Massachusetts. I really enjoy just having a good time. Im currently living in north Lake Tahoe at moment and have been just hanging with friends, my girlfriend and skating all the time.

    So youre another East Coast transplant talent? Why do you think it is that so much talent comes out of the East Coast when the conditions are not the most ideal for snowboarding?I think the conditions on the East Coast help build better riders because we dont have sunny days all the time and the snow isnt

    Age: 24Hometown: Tahoe Vista, CASponsors: 686, Celsius, Rome Snowboards, Gnarly, Von Zipper, Hobo Headwear

    that forgiving. I grew up riding in cold, cloudy, overcast conditions with a lot of ice. Dont get me wrong, it was still a lot of fun.

    When did you decide to make the move to Tahoe?I had been to Tahoe a few times growing up and when I was younger, and I always thought it was so sick because of how different it was than New England. And as I got older a lot of my friends from back home went to college out here and I met people over the years. So now its a good home base with a lot of friends around.

    You have been on the road all winter the last couple seasons and spending your summers as a digger at Mt. Hood. Is it true you stopped working there this summer?Yeah, Ive been on the road a shit ton over the last few winters, whether it be a month of driving aroundoryingfromplacetoplace.Andyeah,I didnt work at Windells this last summer for a few reasons. I spent three summers out there and had pretty much 36 months straight of snowboarding at least one time every month. So it was nice for me to take a break and work a normal job down in Tahoe and focus on other things like hanging with friends and skating and

    doing summer shit. I did go to Hood for 10 days this summer. We had a Keep the Change session at Windells.

    AreyougoingtobeontheroadlmingforKeep the Change again this season?Imdenitelygoingtobeontheroadalotthisnext season. Keep the Change might be going on a one-year hiatus this season. So I might be lmingwithanewprojectforthisyear,andImnot a 100 percent sure on what it will be yet but Illgureitoutsoon.686isalsogoingtoputoutanonlinemoviesoIllbelmingforthataswell.

    What would your dream team crew be if youcouldputtogetherveofyourfavoriteridersorfriendstolmwiththisyear?Last year was pretty much the dream crew. Rob BaldingandColtonFeldmanaretheKTClmersandtheyarethebesttolmwith.Andasfaras people to ride with Mark Wilson, Tommy Gesme, Derrek Lever, Jonas Michilot, Johnny Brady, Ian Hart, Ian Boll, the list could easily go on.

    Anyspecictripsorlocationsyouaretryingto make it to this year?Yeah, I honestly would like to just go to some

    Interview: Jon Francis :: Photos: Ben Birk

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  • new places with snow, whether it is inside of the US or in different countries. I really want to go back to Kansas City, I spent a few weeks there last winter and it was an awesome time.

    Fromyourpastcoupleseasonsoflmingexperience,canyougiveanywordsofwisdomtokidstryingtoworkwithalmcrewandputoutvideoparts?Yeah,honestlyjusthavefunwithit.Thebestpartoflmingisbeingoutwithyourfriends and doing stuff you want to do. You gotta keep it fun.

    Last questions, and possibly the most important: did the Internet kill the video part in your eyes? What do you think of all the online videos and the fact that actual movies are dying?

    IthinktheInternethasdenitelymadeitharderformoviestobemadebecauseeverything is getting so watered down. Ten years ago youd have to wait patiently to see pretty much any footage from the previous season. Now, you pretty much see it immediately after. Its cool to see everything and see all these new kids coming up, but at the same time its making it a lot harder for people to produce movies. No matter what though, even with the Internet fucking shit up and companies going withitandmakingtheseonlinelmsImstillgoingtobelmingforapartinavideo because I think that shit is sick. I started snowboarding because of movies like Love/Hate and Neoproto.

    Any last shout outs or thank yous you want to give?Yeah, I would like to thank all my friends, family, sponsors and girlfriend for supporting me! And Colton and Rob at KTC!

  • Sooooosummerconsistedofsurng,partying,surngpartyingand...surngand partying! And just when you thought that was all over, BANG! The boys at Dont Care threw the biggest, baddest and weirdest party of all time. I mean, Ive been to some parties, but Im claiming that this was the best! Theres nothing better than your best buds really wanting to express their inner most dark fantasies. Heres how it all went down.

    Every year TK from the Frog House lets us throw a good ol fashioned parking lot party for our friends and followers. We skipped last year and felt we had to out do ourselves this year. Well, Big Joe from Dont Care stepped up and claimedtherstannualTransgenderBender.WevedoneHalloweenpartiesinthe summer but this one was next level. TK gave us the OK and we put the vibes out.

    The night started off hot and tempting. The local crew had been shopping, shaving their legs and practicing their catwalk all week. Once the clock hit seven things began to get a little strange. I DJd, so I brought my normal 75 tracks and ended up not spinning one record. The music consisted of NOWs greatest hits, just to name a few: Spice Girls, Village People, Beyonc, Barbie Girl,Madonna,BoyGeorgeyougetthepicture.Thedanceoorwasnextlevel YMCA was the song of the night, and the beer showers got everyone wet and wild.

    Best dressed should have been rewarded to TK I think he wore his wifes panties! Kyle Robbins didnt come out of character all weekend, and I think every girl left with a guy, whatever that means. Special thanks to TK from the Frog House for keepin things real, and to the Dont Care crew for not caring and making sure everyone keeps ripping. Well see you next year at the #TransGenderBender!

    Words & Photos: Richie Oliveres // Elisa Ericson, Fordina Archbold & Delona Isaacs // Zachlyn Leonardo, Fordina, Skipina Bleckly & Kyla Robinson // Alexa Knost // Hostess TK showing tail // The Froghouse ladies // Two girls, one dude // Christiana Agular // Morgana Hill, Joanne Huebner & Wilemina Anderson // Seshwanna & her dude // Kyla, Giovanna Angelone & Lordena Mcparty

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    B A C K S I D E N O S E G R I N D

    @activerideshop | #activePro | @guymariano

    GUY MARIANO

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  • The inaugural StokesMe Bowl-A-Rama went down this past month to a packed house at the 55 Tavern + Bowl in Costa Mesa. Over 200 people from the industry showed up in force to throw some strikes, grind some alley food and raise some much needed dollars for the 12 surf-related SIMA Humanitarian Fundbeneciaries.Withmorethan$40,000raisedandtonsofthewhoswhoinattendance,sufcetosaytheeventwasamajorsuccess.

    Legendary surfer Martin Pottz Potter played emcee for the night as top bowling honors went to Team Pipeline to a Cure consisting of Jamie Mitchell, Kai Lenny and Green Day drummer Tr Cool. Runner-up was Team Agenda

    while Team Rip Curl took a very close third place and Team L*Space proudly accepted the Gutter Ball Award with the overall lowest score of the night. They may have had the lowest score but they were hands down the best looking bowling team that wed ever seen. Others in attendance worth mentioning were Freddy Patacchia, Travis Logie, Corey Lopez, Malia Manuel, Alex Knost, Dylan Graves, Pat and Dane Gudauskas, Stephanie Gilmore, Bianca Buitendag, and Courtney Conlogue. A great time was had by all but more importantly StokesMe, SIMA and dozens of other industry brands united together to bring much needed assistance to a great cause. To learn more on StokesMe and how you can get involved, click on over to www.stokesme.org.

    Words: Joey Marshall :: Photos: Brent Hilleman // Team Rip Curl: Dylan Slater, Ryan Wist, Peter Osuna, Garret Licon & Paul Harvey // Team Pipeline to a Cure: Green Day drummer Tr Cool, Todd Elder, Jamie Mitchell, Judy Burlingham, Kai Lenny, Bob Burlingham & Jim Terrell // Team Vans: Mitch Abshere, Kevin Casillo, Bobby Gascon, Scott Sisamis (kneeling), Pat Gudauskas, Dylan Graves & Dane Gudauskas // Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) Executive Director Erika Seward, Courtney Conlogue, Blair Young (B4BC) & Liza Tagliati (B4BC) // Team Stance: Kendyl Yorba, Luke MacMaster, Erica Yary, Kurumi Yoshimoto & Nick Woolery // Freddy P is all smiles with his beautiful daughter // Martin Potter was the man on the mic // Woman of the event and of the night Miss Stephanie Gilmore // This is how a real man bowls, pizza in one hand and ball in the other Sir Dane Gudauskas // Hair master and strike master Dylan Graves

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  • New York breeds the clash of creativity between art, music and culture. The 2014 Volcom UnsOund Pro took every opportunity to bring some of the worlds best surfers to New York and unleash them 40 minutes from the concrete jungle in Long Beach, NY. The result? A week of surngattheworldsbestplayground.Its a no brainer, really. Days turned into nights and back into days, which eventually turned into a week of non-stop fun. Why wouldnt you want to go into Manhattan on a lay day with 30 of your best friends and competitors, put on your tourist hat and let loose? The crew hit the major landmarks by day, like the Empire State Building, Times Square and Brooklyn Park, and at night they hit up the Wu Tang and The Growlers. The boys not only lived it up in Long Beach, but they also left their mark on Manhattan with another Volcom Takeover. On Tuesday, 9/15, Volcoms Balaram Stack, Pat Schmidt and Daniel Terry talked with

    kidsfromStokedMentoringonsurngand the lifestyle. Afterward, the boys met up with friends and headed to go see Group Love in concert. Wednesday was an all-ages affair at UnsOund Surf with the Volcom Kick-Off Party, giving the kids and competitors a chance to am up for the days ahead during the BBQ and showing of Volcoms True To This. The competition was held Sept. 17th, 20th and 21st, with Hurricane Eduardo serving up waves. It was consistently waist- to chest-high throughout the days of competition. The eventbolsteredaeldofglobalsurfers,including some of the best surfers to come out of the East Coast. There was also a Stoked Mentoring session on Sat. 9/20 with Volcoms Alex Gray, Balaram Stack and Quincy Davis. UnsOundSurflauncheditsrstcompetitionin 1997 at Lincoln Blvd., with the antithesis tobringprogressivesurngtoLongIslandto boost the future crop of surfers. The

    event has grown from a local Northeast surf competition to one of the few East Coast WQSstops,anditwasthequalierforthetrials of the famed World Tour Event held in Long Beach in 2011. Over the years, the event has become known for showcasing some of the best surfers in the world, with the NYC Skyline just a mere 40-minute train ride away. Thenalsdaywaspacked,asthecontestamped up in the last day of competition. The Semi-Finals included East Coast heavyweights Asher Nolan and Ben Bourgeois, both of whom are no strangers to the winners podium. There was also the Balaram Stack Expression Session, which featured a free-surf format and a damnimpressiveeld,includingVolcomsveryownDanielTerry.ThenalsawKillianGarland and Michael Dunphy battle it out forrst,withGarlandtakinghomethewinalongwith$5,000andthecovetedVolcomUnsOund Surf Lady Liberty Trophy.

    Want to see more of the contest? Check out the following on Instagram:@volcom_east, @volcomsurf, @unsound_surf, #volcomunsoundpro. Also, huge thanks to the sponsors @dropglobal_nyc, @mammachia, @uppercutdeluxe, @spyoptic, @mizulife, @unsound_surf, @stokedorg @revdsurf

    RESULTSVolcom UnsOund Surf Results:1st$5,000-KillianGarland(CA)2nd$1,500MichaelDunphy(VA)3rd$750JeremyJohnston(FL)4th$500BalaramStack(NY) Expression Session:1st Rob Kelly (NJ)1st Cody Thompson (FL)

    Photos: @fullnelson_photo & @emilywinikerphotography//KillianGarlandrampingoutintorstplaceforthewin//VolcomsBalaramStack&PatSchmidtwithGrouplove//Balaram Stack right at home //NJs Rob Kelly with an air-reverse during the Balaram Expression Session // Quincy Davis, Balaram Stack & Alex Gray with kids from Stoked Mentoring ExpressionSessionpresentedbySpyOptics//PatSchmidt&BalaramStackattheGrouploveafterparty//KilGarfor//PackedhouseatLincolnBlvdduringtheweekendofthenals

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    Interview: Max Ritter :: Photo: Dan Monick

    King Tuff Helloooo.

    Kyle, do you really have four half-stacks in your room?Well of course! Where else would I put them?

    Oh yeah, duh. Well lets talk about the new album. What did you try to do differently making the record this time around?I didnt do anything different on purpose. I think this time we kind of just took our brains out and laid them on the table all bloody and just sat there with hammers and just pounded on them.

    Thisisthersttimeyouactually worked in the studio with your band mates Magic Jake and Big Old Gary. Ive always kind of wondered why those guys are called that.Well you know you cant ask why, man! It just is. The second you talked to them you would know why. I actually dont know myself. Thats just who they are.

    Did you spend a lot of time making this record?Making the record happened over quite a few months. It felt like ages. But then when I think about it, it seems like it happenedinaash.

    How does it work when you go into a studio to make an album and you dont have songs prepared? Is it frustrating trying to force them out? Do you experience writers block?Yeah, it can be very frustrating. Its kind of one of those things where it takes a while to get into

    theow.Youcantexpecttojustgo in there and magic happens the second you get in there. Usually, by the time youre in theowthealbumisdone.Andyoure like, Well I just got into theow,butnowthealbumsalready done. So that is always a little bit weird. You always get some of the best songs at the end and youre like, Well shit, I should probably just start over again now. That always happens to me.

    Some of the riffs on this album are pretty ripping. That opening riff on Black Moon Spell is pretty wicked. What goes into writing a good riff for you?Yeah, it takes a lot of sitting there with the guitar and just playing stuff you cant. Just sitting there and playing over and over. You might have to sit there for a day or two but eventually something will pop out at you. But, you know, there is nothing better than a good riff.

    So you released a track with the producer Harry Fraud. Hes a trap, hip-hop producer guy; I thought that was kind of an odd collaboration. How was that experience?It was amazing. I wasnt familiar with him before but then I checked out some of his stuff and I was into it. I met him in his studio in Time Square, which was insane. We just made that track in a day from nothing and it was crazy. I had never really worked with someone like that or even really worked in Pro Tools that way. That was a really cool experience. You know, there was

    a lot of blunts involved. (Laughs.) A lot of Italian food that guy is fucking hilarious and we just had a great time. I think the song came out pretty good. I really didnt know what to expect and I didnt know how it was going to come out but I was pretty psyched on the result.

    Ive seen a video of him working in the studio and its pretty interesting. He just layers tons of samples, copying and pasting for hours on end while getting high as fuck masterminding the build of these crazy songs.Yeah, hes just like a master architect. He knew exactly where things would go. I would just kind of be playing along to a drum sample and hed be like, THAT, do that. The second he would hear something he would know that is what we should use. It was cool to work with someone that had that kind of foresight.

    Youve made the album art for all you records, right?Yes. My brother did the last cover. I have always worked with my brother on the other two. I did most of it on this one. Thats what I do in the rest of my time. So yeah, that was actually a t-shirt design. I had to come up with an album cover really quickly so I just kind of had that so I just threw it together. The moreIthinkofitIthinkittreally well with it.

    Were there any special contributors on this album?Ummm, Satan.

    You play in the band Witch

    with J Mascis.Which band?

    Um, yeah, you play in a band Witch with J Mascis, right?Which one? JUST KIDDING. (Laughs.)

    Zing! I have a feeling youve done that beforeOh yeah, the Witch.

    How did you even hook up with J Mascis?Well, we started playing close to 10 years ago when I was still coming out of my teens. Hes from pretty close to where I am from in Vermont. I would see him come up to town. I worked in the record store when he would come in. We had a mutual friend and decided to start a band. It was a trip being in my early twenties and there is J in my parents basement playing drums. (Laughs.) Thats pretty weird. Yeah, we played some shows this summer. Its just kind of a thing we do every once in a while.

    Out of all your records how do you feel about this one? Would you say this is some of the best stuff youve done?For sure I think this is probably my best record. I like Was Dead a lot but that is a totally different thing because I made that by myself. For me, thats my best home recording. But this is my best studio album.

    Thanks, Kyle. Black Moon Spell by King Tuff is out now on Sub Pop Records. Produced by Bobby Harlow get it.

  • Parquet Courts/Future PunxLAMC #13Famous Class

    Cant go wrong with any of the releases in this ongoing seven-inch split series from NYs Famous Class Records. A chosen artist provides the sevens A-side while curating the B-side with an emerging artists of their choice. The releases celebrate the life and ideas of the citys late DIY concert promoter Ariel Panero.

    Julian Casablancas + The VoidzTyrannyCult Records

    There is an 11-minute opus on this record called Human Sadness that explains the meaning of life if you can successfully decipher it its a deceptive lyrical maze. Fail and you will endlessly spiral into a waste and meltdown into an ooze with a consistency similar to that of the oozeinthecultclassiclmTeenageMutant Ninja Turtles.

    The AbigailsTundraBurger Records

    After watching a few videos about Warren Thomas on the Internet I came to the realization showering really is overrated and cowboy music is way underrated.

    Ryan AdamsJacksonville EPPAX AM

    I started this damn country band cause punk rock was too hard to sing, once sang Ryan Adams in a band called Whiskeytown. For a guy who hates country music, writing it is still his best craft. Irony.

    Reviews: Max Ritter

    Hot Snakes

    September 18th, 2014Alexs Bar Long Beach, CA

    These old sweaty men destroyed this place! Too good watching two legendary drummers Jason Kourkounis and Mario Rubalcaba trade off on the skins.

    Live Review & Photo: Max Ritter

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