David McNamara: Pause - Pose - Punchline

Gatekeeper Interview

2010-12-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

The Stool Pigeon has just uploaded my interview with slasher electro duo Gatekeeper onto their site.

You can check it out HERE.

The Stool Pigeon issue 29

2010-11-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of The Stool Pigeon is out now and features interviews with Lemmy from Motorhead, Dave Mustaine from Megadeth and New York based electronic duo Gatekeeper.

You know you want it.

Teebs Interview on One Magazine

2010-10-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of One magazine (because it is all about blading) and was pretty happy when Justin (the editor) told me he liked one of my recent articles. It is an interview with Brainfeeder signing Teebs, who has a great debut album called Ardour.

You can read the interview HERE.

Hot Chip interview

2010-10-14T08:24:00.001-07:00

Thanks to my buddy Gin Trewhella at Exposure PR I got the chance to interview Joe Goddard from the much hyped electro pop ensemble that is Hot Chip. Talking with him was kind of like talking to an older relative: He was very calm, careful with his words and warm in a way that usually only occurs in the company of close friends or family.

I am not the biggest fan of Hot Chip, but Joe Goddard gets my vote every time.

You can read the interview HERE.

Huoratron - Corporate Occult

2010-09-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of really dirty techno. I don't mean that crap you hear on Ministry of Sound compilations, I mean dirty, bassy techno that makes you want to swing a baseball bat into a thousand windows. Phil Hebblethwaite, the editor of The Stool Pigeon, knows of my hedonistic tendencies and pointed me in the direction of Huoratron.

The Icelandic producer decribes himself as live electronic grindcore and he is not fucking kidding. This is some brutal techno that combines elements of Mr. Oizo at his nastiest (Positif) and Vitalic (before he got all electro on us).

The video for his recent single, Corporate Occult, was directed by Cedric Blaisbois and features some rather extreme scenes of sex and violence that makes The Prodigy's Smack My Bitch Up promo look a little tame. Watch this and you will think long and hard about having a one night stand with that pretty young lady you met on the dancefloor.

"CORPORATE OCCULT" Huoratron Music Video from Cédric BLAISBOIS on Vimeo.

The Stool Pigeon Issue 28 is out now

2010-09-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

This is the first issue of The Stool Pigeon that I have worked on and it was awesome. Phil Hebblethwaite is a fun guy to hang around with and the rest of the team are on the top of their game.

This issue features interviews with drag pioneers Salem, hip hop legend Ice Cube and N*E*R*D. The indie hipsters are not going to be happy. Oh well...

Andreya Triana interview

2010-09-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I got the pleasure of meeting the lovely Andreya Triana, a Brighton based singer songwriter that has just released her debut album, Lost Where I Belong, on Ninja Tune.

You may recognise Andreya's voice as she provided the sultry vocals on Flying Lotus' Tea Leaf Dancers. She also collaborated with Bonobo on a beautiful song called The Keeper.

Her debut album is an amazing example of contemporary neo soul that easily matches anything by Jill Scott or Erykah Badu.

Check it out, you won't regret it.

You can read the interview HERE.

Drums of Death - Generation Hexed

2010-09-01T16:22:00.000-07:00

Colin Bailey a.k.a. Drums of Death has been antagonising crowds across the globe for the last two years with his frantic electronic live shows, sharing the stage with Peaches and Hot Chip on US tours. He even co –wrote the title track for Peaches’ latest album, I Feel Cream. With the release of his debut album, Generation Hexed, the voodoo face paint wearing villain looks set to reach an even wider audience.

The London based Scotsman opens proceedings with Karaoke, an ambient fusion of harmonised vocals and minimalist keyboards that slowly builds with the assistance of delicate synths until the track simply disperses into the twisted electro funk of follow up track Science and Reason. This is when the album really kicks into gear. A stomping electro beat is driven by Bailey’s haunting baritone vocals as he chants: “You put the magic into me.” Science and Reason is a nostalgic ode to the 90s dance music that inspired it. There is even a cow bell thrown in for good measure and, strangely enough, it works.

Acid house and golden era rave music is then fused together on the album’s highlight Won’t Be Long. Hedonistic tumbling pianos provide the tension before the track explodes into the kind of anthem that dominated warehouses a couple of decades ago. This track easily matches anything on The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die album in terms of its ability to induce dance floor hysteria. Lonely Days keeps the party going as Bailey demands, “Give it out, ‘til there’s none of you left” over a menacing bassline, quickstep beat and pounding keys.

Just as it seems that Generation Hexed is rapidly becoming a floor filler album, the menacing intergalactic instrumental Creak breaks up things nicely with space invader style samples and a Daft Punk inspired beat.

Twisted love song Everything all at Once, which depicts lovers deploying petrol bombs and terrorising the streets at night, proves that Bailey can comfortably execute a futuristic r ‘n’ b ballad. Modern Age is a nice off beat electro punk call to arms complete with splashing cymbals, lasers and all.

London Teeth opens with a camp emotronic intro that is not a million miles away from fellow Scotsman Hudson Mohawke, but then Bailey delivers a death blow by launching into atmospheric electro that could have been written by Hot Chip if they had just embarked on a senseless killing spree.

Generation Hexed delivers on the hype that Bailey created with his 2009 single Got Yr Thing. There is a diverse selection of treats on offer and proof that Bailey can comfortably create dark love songs and all out rave anthems. Now, when legions of followers go positively spastic at his energetic live shows, they will actually be able to sing along to more than one song. The only complaint is that, at forty one minutes long, the album doesn’t seem nearly long enough.

Skream - Outside the Box

2010-09-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

As the title suggests, Outside the Box is Skream’s (real name Oliver Jones) attempt to break free of the restrictions that come with being regarded as a dubstep artist, which is a pretty brave move considering he is one of the people responsible for pioneering the international phenomenon. The album includes a plethora of collaborations featuring La Roux, dBridge and instra:mental with varying degrees of success.

The first couple of tracks indicate that Skream’s adventurous spirit may be the death of this album, as opening track Perforated starts off promisingly enough with swirling samples that increase in tension but fail to go anywhere.

On 8 Bit Baby, Skream teams up with Murs and proves that collaborations don’t always bring out the best in the artists involved. The LA rapper provides uncharacteristically sloppy verses that essentially amount to how much better the duo are than everyone else. The rapper’s unimaginative bragging is so devoid of wit that it is almost laughable, and Skream’s monotonous beat and sample combination does not make for interesting listening either.

How Real is one of the album’s finest moments thanks to a glitchy two step rhythm that ascends in momentum only to abruptly dissolve into a twisted euphoric dance breakdown. Freckles’ heavily chopped, bionic vocals work in perfect harmony with Skream’s production.

The Croydon producer flexes his dubstep muscle on I Love the Way, with a reliable blend of nocturnal menace and sparse beats, but it is Wibbler that will satisfy fans of his early work. The wobbly bass and piercing snare drum explosions are certain to turn his live sets into a frenzy of violently jerking bodies.

It is rumoured that Skream is currently working with drum and bass legend Goldie, and this seems highly probable considering the satisfying breakbeats and powerful female vocals on Listenin’ to the Records on my Wall. This track sounds like it could have easily been written during Goldie’s Timeless era.

Metamorphosis and A Song for Lenny are both valiant attempts at emotive electronica but, although well executed, they simply sound like diluted versions of Moderat tracks.

This is a very adventurous record for a producer who is still in the early stages of his career. It is honourable that he is not simply trying to milk the success of previous hits Midnight Request Line and that mighty La Roux remix. The only problem is that sometimes his efforts are frustratingly misguided. Still, if you skip the first couple of tracks and you are on to a winner.

Fade Nation Green

2010-09-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

It took him long enough, but Lonnie Gallegos finally returns to our screens with the third installment of the Fade Nation series. This time there hints at some excellent skating from Rob Guerrero, Jeremy Soderburg and Anthony Williams, plus a plethora of other fine talent.

If Lonnie is behind the controls you know the angles are going to be crisp and the soundtrack is going to be banging.

Now, hurry up and release the damn thing!

Bits and Bobs

2010-08-31T08:26:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a week long holiday in Barcelona, so I have not been particularly productive recently. However, in the last week The Skinny have published a little preview that I managed to throw together before I left.

Amelia's Magazine also published my review of The Like's latest album, Release Me.

More to follow shortly, honest!

For a Good Cause

2010-08-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

Adam Johnson, the man behind the amazing KFC film series, is currently touring across America with some of the best rollerbladers in the world on a massive filming project. He has Alex Broskow, Chris Haffey, John Bolino and many more amazing athletes all cramped into a van as they travel from state to state gathering clips.

Obviously, such a project is not cheap and Adam's independent mission is already running out of money. He has come up with the ingenious idea of offering fans of his films the chance to donate towards the project or pre-order copies of the DVD so that they may continue to travel and gather footage.

I think this is an excellent idea as Adam has always made great films, so you are pretty much guaranteed that you are doing your part to help create something brilliant. For that Adam, you get £10 of my hard earned cash.

If you would like to donate, go HERE.

Flying with the Pigeons

2010-08-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

For the past few weeks I have been working with The Stool Pigeon in a bid to help the publication pass an ABC assessment and increase readership across the UK. What is the ABC you ask? Well, let me tell you.

The ABC is an independent organisation that verifies and reports on media performance. If a magazine applies to the ABC to be audited, it can legally prove circulation figures. This is really important for publications like The Stool Pigeon, as it is a free music newspaper and relies solely on advertising revenue in order to survive.

Once the assessment is complete and the figures have been released, The Stool Pigeon can confidently approach bigger companies in an attempt to sell more advertising.

Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. We now have to contact every place that stocks the paper and get their full details including postcode, telephone number, contact name and position. Then we have to go through all of this data and state how many copies we send to each place. The Stool Pigeon currently has over 600 stockists across the UK. Ouch!

Things to do before you die...

2010-08-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of experimental hip hop production then you must attend a Brainfeeder night before your limited time on this earth comes to an end. Last night, armed with a particularly good friend, I went to the label's latest event in London and witnessed some amazing sets from Kode 9 and the mighty Flying Lotus.

I wasn't very familiar with the other acts on the bill but I was very impressed with the Lorn set. He is the latest signing to Fly Lo's Brainfeeder label and although he encompasses similar elements to Gaslamp Killer and other artists on the roster, his creations have a more industrial, aggressive feel that makes for some very dancefloor friendly music.

The next time they are performing in a city near you, make sure you pencil them into your schedule.

Summer Bliss

2010-08-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

More skate edits should look and sound like this...

CTV - A trip to Switzerland from ConferenceTV on Vimeo.

Rob G: Still Got It

2010-07-21T15:35:00.001-07:00

Rob Guerrero has been representing rollerblading in its finest form for over a decade and he still maintains an elegant style combined with creative, technical tricks. He was recently in Europe filming for the Rollerblade Solo Collective online video series and below is the finished edit.

Let's hope Rob keeps going strong. We need more people like him promoting our sport.

Rob G in Europe from Solo Collective on Vimeo.

Toddla T Y'all

2010-07-21T02:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I interviewed Sheffield born electronic artist Toddla T as he is currently travelling the country to perform at the Rizla Stage at various festivals including Rockness and Lovebox.

Toddla was a lively, pleasant character with alot to say about the music he loves and the scene he came up in.

You can check out the interview in the latest print edition of The Skinny or you can simply read it HERE.

Rant: Passports

2010-07-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

I am currently back in Glasgow visiting the mrs and getting my passport renewed. I went to the post office yesterday as they have a service where they help you complete your passport application to ensure it doesn't get delayed/ rejected. I arranged my appointment for today, filled out the application last night and got my new passport photos taken.

I get up early this morning for my appointment with all of my necessary documents and get the underground into town. Upon arriving at the desk, the assistant takes one look at my old passport, one look at my new photograph and says, "Oh, this doesn't look anything like your old photo."

Well, funny that, considering the last photo was taken over a decade ago when I had a full head of hair was yet to embrace the full extent of puberty. If I did look the same, that would be pretty weird!

The assistant then informed me that I will have to get someone to countersign my passport and photographs to verify that it is actually me. Then, she has the cheek to charge me £8 for the service.

What service?!?!? You basically told me I have done it wrong and must book another appointment. I fail to see how that is particularly helpful! Surely I could have been told WHEN I BOOKED MY APPOINTMENT that I would need someone to countersign my passport application (even though in the guide book it states that you only need a countersignature if you are under 16 or it is your first passport).

Nothing is ever simple.

Back on Be-mag!

2010-06-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have had anything published on Be-mag because I have been so busy working at Huck and writing for other magazines. I recently decided to get involved with the amazing rollerblading publication once again and hooked up with one of UK rollerblading's hardest working members, Matty Dearden, to let the world know about the amazing things he is doing for our sport.

Matty has been arranging corporate sponsorship of rolling events all over the place and even got a skate event shown on international television earlier this year. That is no easy task considering mainstream culture has little or no respect for skaters.

Check it out HERE.

Far - At Night We Live (review)

2010-06-11T03:12:00.000-07:00

I recently reviewed the new Far album, At Night We Live, for Amelia'a Magazine. Jonah Matranga and friends are back after a 12 year hiatus and it feels like they never left. The album is equal parts everything I loved from previous release Water and Solutions combined with influences from their other projects New End Original and Gratitude.

To read the review, go HERE.

Booka Shade interview

2010-06-11T03:07:00.000-07:00

The new issue of The Skinny has just been published and features an interview with techno pioneers Booka Shade. They talk about their chart topping record label, Get Physical, and their great new album.

To read the interview go HERE.

Huck#021 out now!

2010-06-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Huck is out now and features a massive Deftones interview to celebrate the release of their latest album, Diamond Eyes.

There is also an interview with Sacramento post hardcore pioneers Far, written by yours truly!

To get your copy, go HERE.

Check out the amazing new Deftones video for Rocket Skates!

Pet Hates: Word Wasters

2010-06-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Why do people feel the need to ask questions only to answer them in the following sentence? I was on my way to the shop a couple of days ago when I became trapped behind two women talking and one of them just kept doing it!

"Do you know what he does? He is a..."
"Do you know what she said? She said..."
"Do you know what I think? I think..."

Arg! Shut the hell up! If you don't want me to provide an answer, don't ask me a question in the first place. It is just a waste of time. Cut out all the crap, get to the point in half the time and then you will only have wasted 5 minutes of my life instead of 10.

Another conversational flaw that really grates on my nerves is when people make noises when they are thinking of something to say:

"What did you think of the film?"
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I thought..."

Why do some people hum when they cannot think of an answer? Not only is it annoying and pointless but it makes the offending individual look (and sound) like they have learning difficulties.

If you can't think of anything to say, take a moment and forumalate a thought in your head... in silence! Then when you are ready to respond, speak in an eloquent and informative manner instead of filling my head with an awful buzzing sound, you complete moron!

As you can probably tell, I often run short on patience.

Dominic Sagona is back!

2010-05-17T13:33:00.001-07:00

That's right, the master of silky smooth, technical skating is back after a long hiatus due to injury. I have been a huge fan of Dominic's skating ever since I first saw him rolling around in Roces Fifth Elements in the early Videogroove days. Dom is so stylish that even when he falls it looks good. Want proof? Watch any of the Esco Zoo Media videos and you will see that his bails have a certain elegance to them. I am glad he is back to full strength and rollerbladers all over the world should be proud that we have someone making our sport look so damn good.

CTV Presents - Sagona is back! from ConferenceTV on Vimeo.

Huck issue #20 out now

2010-05-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Issue 20 of Huck Magazine is out now. It features interviews with Ed Templeton, Rodney Mullen and Julian Casablancas from The Strokes.

Buy it HERE.

Chaz Sands Invitational 2010

2010-05-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

The Chaz Sands Invitational 2010 took place earlier this month at Rampworx in Liverpool. This is one of the best rollerblading contests in Europe and each year the event raises the bar for the sport as some of the world's finest athletes compete for the all important prize money.

This year was no exception as CJ Wellsmore, Chaz Sands and Soichiro Kanashima took first, second and third place respectively with some of the most technical tricks and biggest stunts you are likely to see in any contest this year.

The video below, by Simon Mulvaney, shows exactly how high the standard was that day and makes me proud to be a rollerblader.

Chaz Sands Invitational 2010 from Rampworx Skatepark on Vimeo.

Mr. Fogg interview

2010-05-01T04:54:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I met a very polite and charming young man who is currently creating music under the name Mr. Fogg. I stumbled across his album, Moving Parts, on the suggestion of a music PR friend of mine. I am usually quite skeptical whenever he sends me a CD because they can range from tolerable to downright audio torture.

However, this is one album that I am very glad I was coaxed into hearing. It impressed me so much that I decided to interview him for Amelia's Magazine. I found that, in addition to being a great multi-instrumentalist and talented song writer, Mr. Fogg is also a very friendly guy.

You can read the interview HERE.

Mr fogg - Moving Parts from RadarMusicVideos on Vimeo.

Only famous on the internet...

2010-04-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

The lovely folks at Amelia's Magazine have created a writer's profile for me. You can view it HERE!

How nice!

Street Artist Billy O'Neill commercial

2010-03-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of guerilla marketing and Street Artist have done a pretty good job promoting the new Billy O'Neill pro wheel. The advert alone is visually impressive but when you see the antics that went into getting the photo it makes the whole concept even more enjoyable.

BTS Billy O'Neill St.Ar. Advertisement from Street Artist Urethane on Vimeo.

BTS Billy O'Neill St.Ar. Advertisement Part 2 from Street Artist Urethane on Vimeo.

We Have Band interview

2010-03-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Amelia's recently published an interview I completed with London-based electro pop trio We Have Band. I found Thomas, Darren and Dede to be extremely polite, funny characters who don't pretend to be rock stars or provide obtuse answers in an attempt to seem mysterious. It made for a bloody nice change! Their debut album, WHB, is well worth checking out.

You can read the interview here.

Back on Amelia's

2010-03-28T12:32:00.001-07:00

I just got another couple of articles published on the Amelia's site, the first of which is a review of the latest Fabric mix by Get Physical owner DJ T. This guy has been holding it down on the international house music scene for over a decade, owns one of the most influential clubs in Europe and started Germany's premier techno magazine.

To find out more, read the damn review!

Goldie interview on Huck

2010-03-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

Huck Magazine is currently acting as a media partner for Soul Heaven's Kicks N Canvas exhibition. This is a group art show featuring a lot of internationally respected artists including drum and bass pioneer Goldie.

I spoke with the revered DJ, label owner and graffiti artist about his involvement in the project and found that he is a very approachable, funny guy. Essentially, he is the complete opposite of the persona he portrays in music videos and films!

You can read the interview HERE.

Noiya Clothing interview

2010-03-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

SLAMMJAMM XI NOIYA www.noiyaclothing.co.uk from Slamm Jamm on Vimeo.

Slamm Jamm recently released another video interview that I completed at last year's event. Noiya are a relatively new company but their designs are pretty good and they are supporting UK rollerblading by holding an annual event called the Noiya Jam in Sheffield.

Support these guys and they will continue to support UK rollerblading.

PMKFA interview

2010-03-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was invited to the new DC Shoes x Sixpack France collaboration launch. The collection consisted of two pairs of shoes, a T-Shirt and a New Era cap, all designed by Swedish artist PMKFA.

I got the chance to speak with the talented designer and found out that in addition to designing products for other companies, he also has his own T-Shirt company called It's Our Thing and their stuff is pretty good!

Check out the interview HERE.

Huck#019 out now!

2010-03-09T05:08:00.000-08:00

Make sure you get a copy of the latest HUCK because I wrote one of the cover stories!

That was a little shameless, wasn't it?

Vine St

2010-03-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

Vine St Preview from Dom West on Vimeo.

Dom West has a new video coming out called Vine St and it features full sections on Rian Arnold, Richie Eisler, Tien Nugen and CJ Wellsmore. If this video is even half as good as the CJ Wellsmore edit that he produced last year then it is going to be brilliant.

It is shot solely in Sydney and features people that have stayed at the infamous Vine St apartment at one time or another.

Dom West is pretty much spot on when it comes to camera angles and his editing is always smooth as hell. Make sure you buy this so he will keep making skate flicks!

Quoted

2010-03-04T13:32:00.001-08:00

In the not too distant past I wrote a feature about the Agents of Change, a graffiti collective that came up with the incredible idea to tranform an abandoned UK village into a large scale work of art by decorating the derelict buildings with an assortment of beautiful, colourful designs.

Well, I stumbled upon this promo for their latest show in London and for some strange reason they have decided to quote me!

"This truly is one of the most original art projects you are likely to see."
- David McNamara. Huck Magazine.

This made me laugh like hell. Firstly, because I am no authority on street art at all. Also, it's not as if anyone is going to read that and think: "Oh, look! David McNamara said it was good, so it must be amazing. We better check that out!"

I must admit, it was pretty cool seeing my name used in that context.

Usually it is hastily written in the men's toilets alongside the words "... is a prick."

Check out the latest Agents of Change project HERE.

Spank Rock interview

2010-02-16T15:55:00.000-08:00

I recently interviewed MC Spank Rock, a rapper from the controversial group of the same name. It was obvious that he was pretty hungover and unable to answer some of my questions fully, which was a bit of a disappointment.

However, I mentioned that I had recently spoken with his friend Amanda Blank and he then opened up to me a bit and we had a laugh about him going at it a bit to hard the night before.

Spank Rock make some pretty original dance floor rap that will either offend or inspire. Rest assured, it will provoke a reaction either way.

You can read the interview HERE.

Puerto Muerto - Drumming for Pistols (review)

2010-02-16T15:50:00.000-08:00

Amelia's recently published my first piece of writing to appear in the publication. It is an album review of husband and wife folk rock duo Puerto Muerto. I must admit, when I first listened to the album I didn't like it very much. However, as I am well aware that I am a judgemental bastard, I decided to give them a shot and I listened to Drumming for Pistols a few times more. There are some incredible, sincere and moving songs on there that will impress anyone who loves good songwriting and storytelling abilities.

Check out the review HERE.

Glassjaw are back... sort of.

2010-02-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

Seminal post hardcore band Glassjaw are back in action. They recently completed a short UK tour and, although the reviews were mixed, it is exciting to know that one of my favourite bands are active again.

Glassjaw haven't released an album since Worship and Tribute in 2002. That is a LONG time to wait for a band that you love to bring out some new material. There have been a ridiculous amount of rumours and postponed release dates for their as-yet-untitled follow up album but they are playing new songs at their shows which is a promising sign.

The only problem is they still haven't committed to a release date or album title so who knows when they will get round to bringing something new out.

Oh well, it's a good thing their limited back catalogue is so bloody brilliant.

For now, enjoy the incredible video for Tip Your Bartender.

Now writing for Amelia's Magazine

2010-02-16T15:35:00.001-08:00

I was recently asked to write for the music section of British fashion journal Amelia's Magazine and I couldn't be happier. My old flatmate was a fashion student, so I regularly found Amelia's lying around the house and quite often found myself reading it from cover to cover. I vividly remember reading an amazing article about electronic pop trio Blonde Redhead, so it makes me proud that I am contributing my own writing to that very same section.

You can check out Amelia's Magazine HERE.

That was uncomfortable...

2010-02-05T08:19:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Grammy's took place earlier this week and I watched a large chunk of the ceremony before getting bored and switching to something else. There was nothing out of the ordinary to report: The acts who were expected to win won and the live performances were generally quite stale (with the exception of Dave Matthew's Band and an almost interesting performance featuring Eminem and the soon-to-be incarcerated Lil' Wayne).

Something that did make my jaw drop with disbelief was the appalling Michael Jackson tribute. Five singers got on stage to perform a rendition of Earth Song complete with backing vocals by MJ himself and a tacky 3D video. At first I was greatly amused because looking at the singers I noticed that not ONE of them was a Jackson. Now, unless I am mistaken, aren't ALL of the Jackson siblings singers by trade? Surely it would not have been too much effort to get Janet, Tito of even LaToya up there to belt out a few tunes? After all, it is their fucking brother they are commemorating!

Instead, they got Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson to sing. Okay, I will let you away with Smokey Robinson because he is a soul legend and Jennifer Hudson gets a pass because she also makes incredible music (and I have a bit of a crush on her). But what the hell was Celine Dion doing up there? The fugly Canadian crooner could not be further removed from the music of Michael Jackson. Usher could have got away with it if he hadn't dropped to his knees and gyrated on the stage floor like a lap dancing midget and I don't have a clue who Carrie Underwood even is! In short, something that could have been quite special was reduced to an uncomfortable joke that made a mockery of the King of Pop more than it celebrated him.

At least I got a good chuckle out of it.

Shlohmo (the future of bedroom production)

2010-02-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

I got put onto this guy by someone at my work and I was instantly impressed. He does not play any musical instruments and relies solely on production packages to make his sounds. Plus, I am not entirely sure the results he comes up with are entirely intentional. Still, this guy produces material that sounds similar to Flying Lotus, Samiyam and Gaslamp Killer for all the right reasons.

Shlohmo is only 21 but the San Francisco based bedroom producer is going places - fast!

For now, check out the video for his amazing song Hot Boxing the Cockpit.

Pollyn interview on The Skinny

2010-02-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

Pollyn "Still Love" from Pollyn on Vimeo.

I interviewed Los Angeles based electronic outfit Pollyn a couple of months ago after seeing the amazing music video for Still Love. Anyone who likes Morcheeba or any form of smooth electronic stylings with sexy female vocals is going to go spastic for these guys.

Plus, their debut album only has one rubbish song (although you are going to have to listen to it yourself to find out which one I am talking about).

Check out the interview HERE.

Nee Naw! Here come the Ambulances

2010-01-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

I was recently asked to do an interview with down tempo indie newcomers Ambulances. After listening to their debut album, I was pleasantly surprised by their Dandy Warhols/ Beta Band stylings and their warm boy/ girl harmonies.

Check out the interview HERE and be on the look out for an Ambulances show near you. They might be a bunch of pendantic piss take merchants but their music is pretty damn good.

Dorian Concept

2010-01-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

I am a VERY big fan of Austrian electronic artist Dorian Concept. His real name is Oliver and he is a self-taught musical prodigy. As a child, Oliver taught himself to play piano and as he got older, he got hooked on keyboards and the rest is history. He takes influence from the jazz of John Coltrane and Baltimore club music.

Just look at what he can do with a couple of keyboards and a laptop. It actually sounds like he is playing turntables with a drum machine.

Amazing.

Slamm Jamm interview with Jake Eley

2010-01-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

Here is the second interview I conducted at the 2009 Slamm Jamm, featuring Loco Skates owner and ex K2 pro skater, Jakey Eley. Jake was one of the most recognisable athletes in UK rollerblading before he decided to help stabilise the rollerblading industry in the UK by setting up one of the only skater-owned shops in the country.

Support LOCO SKATES.

SLAMMJAMM XI JAKE ELEY www.locoskates.com from Slamm Jamm on Vimeo.

Look mum, I'm on the internet!

2010-01-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I got invited to work at Slamm Jamm XII, hang out with some of the best rollerbladers in the world and drink my weight in alcohol. In return, all I had to do was write some updates for the website and interview a few people. One of my interviewees was UK Skate owner Steve Bass. I am pretty sure there are more to follow...

SLAMMJAMM XI : STEVE BASS www.ukskate.com from Slamm Jamm on Vimeo.

The Raveonettes interview on The List

2009-12-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

I have been a bit silent on the updates recently and now I am blogging twice in one day. What is that all about? Well, I have been pretty busy working two jobs and interviewing all the bands that I can man-handle in my free time.

I got the chance to speak with one half of Swedish indie stars The Raveonettes about their new album and upcoming UK tour. Their music is pretty romantic but their song titles leave a lot to be desired.

Last Dance is an amazing song though.

Check out the interview HERE.

Four Tet Interview on The Skinny

2009-12-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to get the chance to interview endearing electronic prodigy Keiran Hebden a.k.a. Four Tet recently. He was a really chill guy who was pretty funny when it came to discussing the way his music is perceived in the media. His new album is pretty damn sweet too.

You can read the full interview HERE.

Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happiness

2009-12-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

I am loving this guy right now. Ever since I heard his collaboration with Crookers I have been hooked. When I found out he did Make Her Say with a backing track by remix golden child A-Trak the deal was sealed. These videos are amazing.

Enjoy.

Pursuit of Happiness

Make Her Say

Day and Night

Nic Dawson Kelly Interview (The List)

2009-11-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

I am not going to lie and say that I particularly like Kelly's music. His voice grates on me a little and I think he looks a little too similar to Blake Fielder Civil in some of his press photos. However, a friend of mine works for the company that handles his PR and he asked me to get him some coverage in Scotland ahead of his appearance in Edinburgh.

This the first interview I have had published by The List so it is pretty exciting to be writing for a new publication. Let's hope I don't piss them off!

You can check out the interview HERE.

Anyone who knows me...

2009-11-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

.. knows that I like tattoos. From time to time I will browse websites and see what other people across the world are getting and I recently stumbled upon this idiot. This guy actually got a tattoo of a woman on his leg and then got flesh implants so that she now has 3d boobs. What a tool. The joke is on him. The first time he walks into a table and smacks those stupid bumps against the edge he is going to scream like a newborn baby. That's what you get for being a moron.

We Were Promised Jetpacks Interview

2009-11-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

Last week I got the chance to interview We Were Promised Jetpacks before their sold out show at The Borderline in London. The guys have had a great year so far with a critically acclaimed debut album and successful U.S. tour under their belts.

It is a bit of a shame that the interview is in a simple question and answer format because I don't feel that this gives a particularly accurate representation of the group. They are a nice bunch of guys who were relaxed enough to joke around and tell me a few stories from the road.

I wish you all the success in the future.

To read the interview click HERE.

Thanks to Tilly at FatCat Records for hooking it up.

Jeremy Soderburg

2009-11-13T10:39:00.001-08:00

This guy has got some serious skills.

Check it out.

jeremy soderburg 09 from jeremy soderburg on Vimeo.

13thWitness

2009-11-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

13thWitness is a journalist and video editor for an online streetwear/ culture magazine that I only discovered recently but I love his work. He has a really nice editing style that I always appreciate due to my years spent watching skate video. Below are two of my favourite videos made by the New York local.

The NYC HandBallers from 13thWitness™ on Vimeo.

I have heard of handball before but I have never seen it portrayed in such a fashionable way. The breakbeat jazz soundtrack over the slick glimpses of the players in action really does make the sport look appealing. Companies should get this guy to make their brand promos. He can make pretty much anything look cool.

Escape From Tomorrow (A Day In the Life With Nigel Sylvester) from 13thWitness™ on Vimeo.

This next video follows a day in the life of freestyle BMX rider Nigel Sylvester and the 13thWitness signature style is at work again. Brief shots to maintain your interest and another great breakbeat jazz score that just fits perfectly with the footage. I have no interest in BMXing whatsoever but this edit had my undivided attention for the duration.

Camera Obscura Interview on Huck Magazine

2009-11-12T12:48:00.000-08:00

I recently got the chance to interview one of my favourite bands, Camera Obscura, before their show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. Lead singer Traceyanne Campbell has not had the most pleasant relationship with music press over the years and I thought the interview was doomed when the first thing she said to me was: "I am thinking of not doing these (interviews) any more."

She argued with a few of the things I said throughout our discussion but on the whole I found her to by quite pleasant - if a little defensive.

After the interview was over, Traceyanne and Carey were nice enough to help me get out of the maze that is the backstage area of the Empire and they were quite chatty in the process.

To read the interview click HERE.

Here is the video for their latest single The Sweetest Thing.

'The Carter' documentary

2009-11-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

I just saw the trailer for the Lil' Wayne documentary The Carter and I must admit, I am actually really looking forward to seeing this film. I am not a very Lil' Wayne fan. In fact, I can count on one hand the amount of songs I actually like but I read an interview with him in Rolling Stone recently and he is one fascinating guy.

He completely cuts himself off from society, is addicted to cough syrup and apparently has a guy who rolls joints for him so that he can smoke weed all day. How he gets anything done is an absolute mystery to me. But that's what makes him even more fascinating. He has a work ethic like no other artist in the world. He has made 100s of tracks in the little time that he has been in the entertainment industry and apparently records new ones every day.

The day his album went platinum everyone else was drinking champagne and celebrating while he was in the tour bus recording. By the time they went back to the bus he had already made four new songs. He is like a bloody machine.

I can't figure out if he is just trying to make as much money as possible or if he is afraid that if he takes a rest he will lose his momentum and run out of fresh ideas. The man is an enigma.

Oh well, the trailer looks promising - if slightly worrying at the same time.

Amanda Blank interview

2009-11-03T11:10:00.001-08:00

I recently inteviewed Philadelphia rapper Amanda Blank for Huck Magazine. She was possibly one of the funniest and most charismatic artists I have had the pleasure of speaking with... and her debut album I LOVE YOU is bloody brilliant.

Check out the interview HERE.

Get Physical label profile

2009-11-03T11:03:00.001-08:00

The Skinny have just uploaded an article I recently wrote about Berlin electronic label Get Physical. It may not be the most interesting of features but what can I say? Can't win 'em all!

Check out the article HERE.

Chillin' with Amanda Blank

2009-11-01T05:35:00.000-08:00

On Friday I was lucky enough to meet up with Amanda Blank before her show at Proud in Camden. We were only scheduled to do an interview for 15 mins but ended up chatting and joking around for almost an hour. She is one very sweet lady with a great sense of humour. Check out here interview on HUCK shortly...

And don't forget to watch this AMAZING video.

Modeselektor Interview on Huck Magazine

2009-10-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

The interviews just keep coming...

Last week I got to speak with Gernot from German techno duo Modeselektor. He seemed like a nice guy and even though some of his answers were pretty short, he also came out with some pretty funny responses. Check out the interview HERE.

James Pants Interview on Huck Magazine

2009-10-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

I recently got the chance to interview Stones Throw Records' resident oddball James Pants. James makes some weird and wonderful music and I soon discovered that his personality is just as colourful.

Check out the interview HERE and make sure you get a copy of his new album Seven Seals. It is REALLY good.

Slamm Jamm XII

2009-10-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Well, Slamm Jamm XII was a lot of fun. I watched some incredible skating from Sam Tuffnell, Joe Atkinson and Romain Godenaire and did a little bit of skating myself.

It was nice that little Joe won the Richard Taylor Scholarship because he has an incredible amount of talent and he is a really cool little dude. Well done Joe.

As always, the afterparty was carnage. I ended up with anti-vandal paint all over my hands and missed my bus back to London. Bloody typical. Oh well, it was worth it.

See you all there next year!

Thanks to Matty D for this dodgy photo.

The boss (Dave Bell) and I relaxing after a hard day's work.

Oh, you might see some video clips of me soon...

Now writing for Huck Magazine

2009-10-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

It has been an exciting month for this baldy adventurer. I have been working on some interviews for The Skinny, got invited to write for The List and tomorrow I will be starting work as an intern for Huck Magazine.

For those of you not acquainted with the publication, Huck Magazine is a pop culture magazine that focuses on music, skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. Although I come from a rollerblading background, the principles are generally the same: The main focus is the icons of the relative sports that display progressive attributes and inspire the minds of their young followers. I have always been a fan of surfing and skateboarding so this will be a chance to learn more about cultures that share many similarities with rollerblading. I will also get the chance to feature artists that I think are pushing the boundaries of contemporary music.

I am a little nervous, which is natural with any new job, but I am very excited about working with like minded people and researching some fascinating topics. Bring it on.

If you would like to read the current issue of Huck Magazine online, click HERE

The latest issue features interviews with Mos Def and skateboarding poster boy Ryan Sheckler.

Nola Darling - The spirit of Salt N Pepa reborn!

2009-09-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

"That Nola D" by Nola Darling *Boom Boom Pow Remix" from Nola Darling on Vimeo.

I discovered this video by accident and I fell in love. The song is a parody of a weak as hell Black Eyed Peas effort but don't let that put you off because these ladies have great singing voices and lyrics that simply bubble with wit.

Upon visiting their Myspace I discovered that Nola Darling consists of Alex and Jaq, two New York Univeristy graduates who possess the sass of 90's hip hop legends Salt N Pepa but display much greater lyrical prowess. Fuck Beyonce's watered down rubbish about marriage. Step to Me should be every single woman's anthem.

These ladies deserve a record deal for their charisma alone.

Visit Nola Darling HERE

Now writing for The List

2009-09-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

I have just been asked to write for The List, Scotland's highest selling listings publication, so I am justifiably sporting a grin that could scare a playground full of children.

In the next few weeks I will begin writing for the Exposure section, which features up and coming artists that will be playing live shows in Scotland. My brain is already beginning to ache at the idea of who I want to promote.

For now, check out their site at www.list.co.uk

Rant: Fun on the underground

2009-09-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

London could be one of the most miserable, selfish cities I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing. Before you judge this harsh criticism, let me explain.

I have lived in various cities including Aberdeen, Glasgow and Seoul in addition to visiting many places including Sydney, New York and Barcelona. Not one of these cities comes close to having a population that is so rife with dour faced bastards with no manners.

It seems that once people move to this city they lose the words please, thank you and excuse me from their vocabulary. I understand that many of the people who live in London are not in fact from London so it must be something about the city that transforms people into hostile mutants.

The prime example of this is the London Underground. At rush our people push, shove and curse out fellow passengers as they rush to get to and from work. I could understand if it was only in the morning when people are trying to get to work and may be running late but it even happens at night where people should be relieved because their working day is over. Clearly not.

No one stands up to let the elderly or pregnant sit down. No one helps people who are clearly struggling with their bags up staircases that must have been designed as some kind of practical joke.

At this point I must mention: The Mayor of London must despise disabled people because I have yet to see an elevator in an underground station and at least one station on my daily journey will have an escalator that is out of service. If you are disabled and you live in London, you might as well give up hope of ever going anywhere. If you are relying on public transport, your crippled arse is not going anywhere. Fact.

This brings me to the point of my little rant. The other week I was on my way to work in Kensal Green. In order to reach my destination I must get the black line down to Elephant and Castle then transfer onto the brown line for the rest of my journey.

As the train pulled into Elephant and Castle, I looked around and observed the carriage was mostly empty. It was before eight in the morning after all and most people don’t make the dash to work for another five to ten minutes.

The train slowed to a halt and I rose from my seat with a couple of other commuters. We stood at the door, waiting to get off while trying to force our eyelids open. On the opposite side of the doors, there were about five people standing at the door waiting to get on.

Manners, social etiquette and downright common sense would have you believe that it is easier to let the passengers on the train disembark before trying to get on but this is something completely lost on people living in London. Everyone becomes so obsessed with getting to their destination that all other thoughts, however logical, seem to evaporate in the warm, musky air of the underground tunnels.

The warning beeps, the doors open and I find that I am standing face to face with a young woman in her mid twenties who cannot be taller than 5ft 6”. Now, I am about 5ft 11” so I am looking down at this borderline midget who is standing in my path and thinking, “Surely she is going to move and let me past.”

I step off the train onto the platform and the other passengers get off and walk past. The commuters waiting on the platform then walk past me as there is a sizable gap in to my right.

The whole time, this fucking moron just stands there and stares up at me as if to say, “Are you going to move or what?”

What this nameless young woman didn’t realise is that I have a tendency to antagonise people and I don’t believe in walking away from confrontations when the other person is clearly in the wrong. Most people will refer to this as “being an arsehole.” I know that most of my friends certainly do when mentioning my ability to wind up whoever I please. Once I have decided you have fucked up, you better believe I am going to make you suffer.

We must have only been standing there for a matter of seconds but it felt like much longer. As the train warning beep signalled, the woman’s eyes darted back and forth between me and the doorway. She could easily just step to the side and walk past me but for some reason she was just unwilling to compromise, as this would prove that she was in the wrong.

The doors closed and the train began to pull away. She looked at me with an expression of pure hatred and this tickled me. Whenever anyone is being aggressive of malicious for reasons beyond my understanding, I cannot help but find it amusing. So I responded to her facial “fuck you” with the most embellished smug bastard grin that I could muster and began to walk towards the exit.

As I made my way along the platform, I heard the woman call after me in her thick cockney accent, “You baldy bastard.”

I turned around, smiled again, and responded, “I may be a baldy bastard, but you just missed your train.”

An important lesson can be learned here. Good manners and social etiquette will make for a much more pleasant existence. Otherwise, you might just run into a dick like me one day and I will not let you away with it.

Check out Kingdom Magazine

2009-09-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

Kingdom Magazine is the only UK rollerblading publication left standing after the demise of DNA and UK rolling bible UNITY.

I have been in contact with Joe Coyne for a couple of years now. I randomly email him with weird, shit and downright odd ideas that I have for rollerblading events and articles and I can rely on Joe to pretty much tell me straight what he thinks. I think the other reason I like Joe so much is that, like me, he is also a tattoo covered freak with a receeding hairline. We gotta stick together!

Last week I emailed Joe to ask if he would be interested in running some musician interviews that I have written and desperately need a home. Joe kindly offered to put them up on the Kingdom Magazine website, which you can view HERE.

They have just posted an interview I completed with techno kingpin Jay Haze.

Enjoy.

Speech Debelle- Boom!

2009-09-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

London has a habit of producing outstanding artists and Speech Debelle is the latest representative to follow in the footsteps of internationally recongised hip hop heads Dizzee Rascal and Lady Sovereign. Her debut album on Ninja Tune won this year's Mercury Prize and it looks like her career is set to kick off, big time.

More importantly, she has an interesting story to tell and she actually seems quite grounded. There is no hip hop bravado bullshit, no posing, no gesturing. Just one woman who has experienced the good and bad in life and chosen to document it through music.

I am currently stalking Coda Agency for an interview with her so let's hope it happens. I rarely get to interview an artist that actually excites me and this is one lady I have a lot of questions for.

Mayer Hawthorne Kids

2009-09-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

That's right. It took almost a year but the lazy fucker has finally released his debut album A STRANGE ARRANGEMENT. The interview is a little out of date now because I wrote the bloody thing about six months ago. Enjoy.

HERE

Yes please...

2009-08-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

Amanda Blank will be appearing at the Hoxton Bar and Grill tomorrow night in London. I randomly stumbled upon her music like a £50 note on a dirty club floor. Cha ching!

She is sleazy, provocative and says all the dirty words young men (and women) love to hear. The result, a Phildalephia style hip hop/pop/smut fusion with just the right amount of attitude and in the music video for her current single she looks like a little bit of a bunny boiler. Always a bonus.

I mean, come on! Are you trying to tell me "I'd like you better if we slept together" is not a great line in a song? Exactly.

Check out the video and don't miss out on her other material. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Amanda Blank - Might Like You Better

MSTRKRFT are back...

2009-08-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

... so lock up your daughters, hide your alcohol and do not leave car keys lying around because this pair are trouble.

Here is the video for their latest single, Heartbreaker, featuring John Legend:

This is not the best song on the album by a long shot. Sleazy party anthems 1000 Cigarettes and It Ain't Love outweigh this song pretty heavily but come on, they need at least one commercial hit to sell some records!

Regardless, if you witness the material live in a dirty, sweaty club you are guaranteed a good night. The only thing you need to worry about is finding someone drunk enough to let you grind them.

New album, Fist of God, out now.

It's about time...

2009-06-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

C. J. Wellsmore has been around for a bloody long time and there has always been a lot of hype surrounding his name because he is widely considered part of the new wave of Australian skaters to take over from the greats such as Tim Ward, Tom Fry and Josh Clarke. Along with Rian Arnold, this guy has been praised for helping take skating to a whole new level. However, there have never been any lengthy video sections to back all the stories, until now.

Here is the evidence...

CJ Wellsmore from Dom West on Vimeo.

I think you will agree, he is the future.

Cooly G: A Woman of Many Talents

2009-06-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of interviewing Cooly G ahead of her appearance at Ballers Social Club last week thanks to founder Joe Coghill. She is a sexy lady and has some skills on the decks but dear lord is the woman tight lipped. I must have interviewed her for over an hour and I couldn't even get her real name out of her. Talk about protective!

Read the full interview HERE.

The Balky Mule

2009-06-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of the Balky Mule before I interviewed him for The Skinny and I wasn't completely sold on his album. It is quite charming acoustic pop with little dashes of electronic samples but it just isn't my kind of thing. However, when I interviewed him I was pleasantly surprised by his interesting personality. The guy has a very amusing sense of humour and has quite an arsenal of interesting stories at his disposal.

Read the interview HERE

Brett Dasovic Interview online

2009-06-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

Interviewing Brett Dasovic made me realise why I fell in love with rollerblading all those years ago. He is one of the biggest skate geeks I have ever encountered. When we were passing questions back and forth for the article he kept dropping little bits of skate trivia into the conversation. "Did you know that Derek and Mike French once lived about five minutes away from my house but I never skated with them?" Priceless.

Read the article HERE

I love it when people geek out about skating as much as I do because it is people like that who are going to keep our sport going. People with passion who care about what we have created so much that they will do anything to keep it alive.

Our sport needs more people like Brett

Here is one of Brett's nice sections for your viewing pleasure.

2009-05-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

CTV - In For The Kill Tour day 6 & 7 from ConferenceTV on Vimeo.

Billy O'Neil got hit by a car last year while skating in Spain. He hasn't been back on skates long but dear lord he is killing it. Here is some new footage of Billy back in Spain to prove that Barcelona will not defeat him twice. Jeff Dalnas came along for the ride and murdered some deadly drop rails. They are currently at the Chaz Invite in Liverpool and making their presence known.

Billy has picked up the unfortunate habit of referring to all women as "sluts". I think he may have picked this up from one of his English counterparts. We went out last night and Billy chatted up pretty much anything in a skirt and excitedly talked about how much easier it is to pull women in the UK compared to back home in New York. Billy is the kind of character you really need to meet to fully understand the sheer extend of his charisma and MAMMOTH personality.

I think the after party is going to be messy tonight...

Chaz Sands Invitational 2009

2009-05-30T10:38:00.001-07:00

So, I am currently in Liverpool for the Chaz Sands Invitational at Rampworx Skatepark. I have been on the web update duties so visit Be-mag to read about the chaos that has taken place so far and the photographic evidence to prove it. So far I have witnessed pro skaters throwing bin bags at passing taxis, skate company owners street wrestling and female pro skaters groping random pretty girls outside night clubs. Good times!

Visit www.be-mag.com for all the action.

I will post all of the photos once I arrive back on home turf.

Until then, don't do anything I wouldn't do...

Wait. Scratch that. There is nothing I won't do.

This is old but...

2009-05-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

... I don't care. Thunderheist recently played at The Glasgow School of Art and they are the shit. MC Isis spits some explicit content over downright dirty electro and house cuts. This is music for people with smutty minds.

The promo is HERE.

Here is the video for their wonderfully sleazy single JERK IT.

This video is pretty damn good too...

Hell yeah!

2009-05-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for this for months! The official video for the incredible Mayer Hawthorne single Just Ain't Gonna Work Out. I am still is amazement at two things. One: He plays every damn instrument. Two: He is NOT a middle age overweight black man! When the album drops this summer people are going to lose their minds.

Enjoy.

Edited tae fuck...

2009-05-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I recently interviewed Guru of hip hop legends Gangstarr. The music editor at The Skinny said he had made a few alterations to the final draft which I was fine with, until I read the bloody thing. He had changed a few aspects that I felt was slightly pointless considering the amendments resulted in the article being rife with grammar and spelling errors. Fortunately, he chose to take that mess offline but the revised edition is not much better.

My title was STILL GOING STRONG but he thought it sounded much better to write GURU: STILL GOT THE SKILLS.

Really? Is there any difference?

To read the article/ spell and grammar check click HERE

Not impressed.

Ballers Social Club

2009-05-02T04:44:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of Ballers Social Club for two reasons: One- they always have amazing acts playing (Hudson Mohawke anyone?). Two- the night is partly organised by my friend Joe who was once a vital part of the Aberdeen skate scene. In May they are going to have a special Flask Records showcase with the glorious Loops Haunt. It's on a Thursday but I don't care because I am dragging my ass down to The Ivy to dance away to some good home grown messed up techno. Come along and get involved.

Click the HERE to read the preview.

Another one for good measure...

2009-04-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

That's right, ANOTHER one. Yup, another bloody preview for another bloody club night. The central belt of Scotland is positively bursting with amazing night time adventure options. This time, Grammy award winning DJ Vadim is gracing Edinburgh with his presence.

Check out the preview HERE

Subculture Turns 15

2009-04-22T11:34:00.001-07:00

That's right folks, one of the longest running weekly club nights in the UK turns 15 in May so they have decided to celebrate with an ENTIRE MONTH of parties. There is dual cause for celebration as the Sub Club has been named the 14th best club in the ENTIRE WORLD by DJ Mag. Damn straight, Glasgow knows how to party.

For full details of the month of festivities, click HERE.

P.O.S. Interview

2009-04-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Stefon Alexander a.k.a. Pissed Off Stef has just released an incredible new album Never Better. I got the chance to interview him ahead of the album's UK release.

To read the full interview click HERE

Lady Sovereign Interview

2009-04-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I was lucky enough to speak with the the most innovative female rapper in the world, Lady Sovereign. She may have a repuation for being a cheeky bitch but the woman I spoke to was very easy going and pretty damn funny.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

... and here is the amazing video for "I Got You Dancing" from her latest album Jigsaw.

Previews...

2009-04-18T04:31:00.000-07:00

I am on a preview mission at the moment for the fine folks at The Skinny. In the past two weeks I have researched and covered at least four different nights around Scotland. Some of them look pretty damn good too. Here are two of them:

Balkanarama

Inner City Acid

Get yourself down to either of these amazing nights.

Now on The Skinny

2009-04-04T09:30:00.001-07:00

A couple of months ago I joined the fine folks at The Skinny, the ultimate entertainment publication in Scotland. These guys have been infiltrating every cool bar, club, gig and music festival for years so I am very proud to be welcomed into their crew.

Here is a link to my first feature, a review of Fake Blood at the Sub Club.

HERE

Upcoming features will include full length interviews with Lady Sovereign, P.O.S. and Mayer Hawthorne.

You've been warned.

Getting Faded with Lonnie Gallegos

2009-03-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Below is an interview I did with Lonnie Gallegos a couple of months ago before the release of his new video Fade Nation. It was supposed to be on Be-mag but for some reason it never made it up on the site. Enjoy...

Getting Faded with Lonnie Gallegos

This month, Lonnie Gallegos and Brandon Negrete released their second film Too Faded. Their first venture, Fade Nation was a shining example of what can be achieved when two talented individuals work together to create something special. You could easily recognise the characteristics that both directors have brought from their previous releases but there was something more. It was obvious that their styles complimented each other perfectly.

Now that their second film has been officially released, I thought it was time I caught up with Lonnie to find out how his life has changed since we last spoke and what it is like making the adjustment to working with another person on a film. As always, Lonnie was more than happy to give us an insight into his life and offer a few hints of what we can expect in the future.

It’s been a couple of years since I spoke with Lonnie. The last time we were in touch was to discuss his clothing company, Black Fabric, and the release of the team video, A Staggering Artwork of Heartbreaking Genius. I was curious to know how life has changed since those days and if Black Fabric was something that he was still pursuing. In Lonnie’s opinion, things are pretty much the same.

“Not much has changed. I’ve moved to downtown Los Angeles with Kevin Gillan and Lee Martin. Other than that I’ve just been working the graphic design day job, making shirts and filming. I moved from Orange County to L.A. and that’s about it. I still have the same job and the same friends.”

Lonnie is still making clothes under the Black Fabric label but he readily admits that it is not something he is taking very seriously at the moment. This is hardly surprising considering he is already balancing the responsibilities of working a full time job and producing some of the most visually stunning videos in rollerblading. When asked if there are any plans to release another range of items, he simply said:

“Yeah, I already have some but it’s kind of like, you come to my house and see something you like and I’ll sell it to you. I’ve been planning a website forever. I swear BlackFabric.com will be up soon. You’ll see”

Once we got that out of the way, I thought it was time to find out why Lonnie decided to team but with Brandon Negrete and how their working relationship was going so far. Lonnie asserted that it was simply a natural progression from working in such close proximity to one another for so long.

“We lived close together and were always filming the same people. Plus, we usually tend to agree on a lot of different fronts. It was something that kind of naturally worked out. Instead of being all like, “Hey, look, we’re the new VG!!” about it, we decided to work our way up to that point.”

When two people work together on something they feel so passionately about there are endless opportunities for conflict. I was interested to know how Lonnie was finding working with Brandon and if they were having any trouble agreeing on certain aspects of making a film together.

“At the beginning, there was really no telling how far the Fade Nation idea would actually go. I think neither of us knew if we could put up with the other for very long, but so far so good. Plans for a 3 and a 4 have already been arranged.”

When asked how Too Faded would be different from the first Gallegos/ Negrete collaboration, Lonnie was keen to emphasise that their main goal is to progress and build upon their previous work with every new project. This is something that the pair find challenging as the success of their last effort has caused people to request that they keep producing something similar.

“We always look to improve and do something different every time around. I notice a lot of people requesting the same sections with the same style and vibe over and over. But we’re trying to push things and make them different. This video has one of the most mixed groups of skaters I’ve ever seen. From JC, to Montre Livingston, to Enanoh, to Ben Schwab, to the Russians who always send us fresh clips. It’s a beautiful mess.”

Thanks to Lonnie’s insightful responses it is now clear that the world can expect more Fade Nation releases in the future and we will even see a rebirth of Black Fabric. However, there was still one very important question that had to be answered.

“Lonnie, what’s your favourite skate video?”
.
”Mine is The Adventures of Mr.Mooseknuckle for every reason. It had cool
thugged out rap music, people doing big stunts. It introduced the balanced backslides, fishbrains, topacids, unitys, the lurch switchup (royale to ao topsoul), and the TJ Webber section is still my favorite of all time. When I asked Negrete he said Road to Nowhere.”

Mayer Hawthorne

2009-03-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

I will be interviewing Mayer Hawthorne on Monday just before he goes onstage at The Deaf Institute in Manchester as part of the Stones Throw european tour. He is the latest signing to Stones Throw records and is already being praised by the likes of Mark Ronson and Radio 1 legend Gilles Peterson. Expect big things when the album drops in the summer.

For now, here is an endearing little video of his first single which comes in RED HEART-SHAPED vinyl called Just Ain't Gonna Work Out. Enjoy...

Fake Blood at the Sub Club

2009-02-24T11:52:00.000-08:00

(I know the video is crap but "Mars" is incredible...)

Now, this has got me really excited. Fake Blood is a Techno/ House DJ hailing from London... WITH A TWIST. He doesn't have a record deal, yet tours the world playing some of the world's most infamous dance venues, his songs are remixed by the likes of Milo and Armand Van Helden and he has followers in their tens of thousands.

I tried to get an interview with him ahead of his show at Glasgow's Sub Club on Friday night. He was nice enough to reply to my email but advised that he "does not do interviews or publicity stunts." I then proceeded to contact his talent agent, Coda, who informed me that he has never done interviews as he "wishes to remain anonymous."

Well, this has only captured my interest further. An internationally renowned dance floor genius who does not wish to be known? That's intriguing.

I for one cannot wait to get covered in Fake Blood at the Sub Club on Friday 27th of February.

For more Fake Blood, check out www.myspace.com/welovefakeblood

The Truth II is coming...

2008-12-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

That's right folks, Austin Paz and the Kelso brothers have joined forces once more to create another installment of The Truth series. This time there will be full length profiles on Colin Kelso, Sean Kelso, Franco Cammayo, Austin Paz and.... Murda. There may also be one more but they are keeping that under wraps for now... Keep your eyes peeled!

Time to get faded once again!

2008-10-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

That's right folks, Lonnie Gallegos and Brandon Negrete have teamed up once again to create the sequel to Fade Nation under the quirky title of Too Faded. If their last effort is anything to go by, this should be incredible.

Halloween is coming!

2008-10-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

Every Halloween I tell myself, "I am gonna carve a pumpkin!" I just realised I am 25 years old and I have still not got round to doing it. So, this weekend, I got myself armed with a carving knife and a pumpkin carving kit and set to work. I didn't realised it would take over 45 minutes just to scrape all of the crap from inside the damn thing. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would take over an hour and a half to create the face. I would love to say it was worth the effort but LOOK AT IT!!! It's not exactly a work of art. Oh well, there's always next year...

Dan Leifeld isn't impressed...

2008-10-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

In response to my latest Be-mag article, Dan Leifeld found it appropriate to email me personally for a little bit of internet fisticuffs.

A little misinformed slice of your Say Word 3 attempt. Are you so overzealous with your new Be-mag publishing privilege that you regard it as your duty to send out attacks within our small industry? I'm sure things look different in Glasglow, but here in Saint Louis it just looks like post grom jealousy. A failure to amount to something substantial by a certain age, built up angst, and feeding into a personal vent. There is a difference between blogs, and Be-mag. And your Say Word 3 review didn't say a lot about the video, but it said worlds about you.

I always find it really funny when people get angry and decide to contact me personally just to say so. Don't they realised that by getting in touch they are simply flattering me by showing that something I have written has had an effect? It doesn't matter if its positive or negative. It worked. It provoked a reaction and made someone take action. Mr. Leifeld, I'm sorry if you dont like me or my views. Actually, I'm not. I don't care... but clearly you do.

Ps. It's spelled Glasgow. I've never been to "Glasglow."

Say Word 3 Review

2008-10-05T05:25:00.000-07:00

Check out the Say Word 3 review on Be-mag (www.be-mag.com) and buy this video!

DVD Review: Say Word 3

The people making skate videos these days need to seriously re-think their strategy. In recent years I have found that many videos tend to imitate their predecessors to the point where it appears as though you are simply viewing parodies of earlier creations. For years I have watched as many ‘filmmakers’ simply regurgitate Dave Paine’s Videogroove format and pass it off as their own. If they are not imitating Videogroove, they take a leaf out of Joe Navran’s recipe book to blend party footage into skating montages. And if all else fails, they fall back on the old favourite, the team video.

Thankfully, Say Word 3 does not fall into any of the afore-mentioned categories. The third instalment to Kenny Owens’ Say Word series is an endearing video to watch for many reasons. One if which is that it pays homage to the skate videos that came before it but does not go so far as to blatantly rip them off. For instance, there are snippets of martial arts films blended into some of the montages, which was pleasantly reminiscent of Hoax 4.

If you are a fan of good, clean editing to an interesting selection of hip hop, jazz and left field gems then this is the film with you. I was particularly impressed with The Mouldy Peaches These Burgers and Lil Wayne’s Phone Home. Kenny doesn’t waste time with intricate graphic animations to make his footage look better than it is because he doesn’t have to. The filming throughout the video maintains a high standard and showcases the tricks in their finest form.

This video is not revolutionary. However, it does contain an amazing amount of rarely seen spots across America and even features a France section. The main appeal of this video is that you will get not one, not two, but THREE Montre Livingston sections, each one even more impressive than the last. The talent that young man possesses could induce heart failure. You will also see a vast amount of great footage from Jon Jon Bolino, Will Gordon and Dre Powell. It was also a pleasant surprise to see quite a few clips of San Francisco’s Sean Keane as well. Where has he been hiding lately?

Nowadays it seems as though any kid with a digital camera thinks he is the next greatest action sports cinematographer and it is almost embarrassing to witness some of the new videos that are somehow manage to get distributed throughout our industry. This video sticks to some very simple rules: Clean editing to an absorbing soundtrack with some obscure footage thrown in for effect. Kenny Owens, well done, you have grasped the obvious concept of a skate video. You make skating look incredible.

Say Word 3 is almost an hour long, features over an hour of bonus footage and the entire Say Word 2. Three hours of skating in one film? That’s value for money.

If you have any sense, buy this film direct from Kenny Owens at: www.justsayword.blogspot.com

Advertising Genius!

2008-09-28T04:44:00.000-07:00

If you live in the UK, you may have seen this little advert from The Natural Confectionary Company. Now, the gimmick of the company is that all of their sweets are only made from natural colours and ingredients. But honestly, who gives a shit? I haven't tried them yet but I'm sure there is nothing groundbreaking about them. After all, I don't care if my food has artificial colours, preservatives, e numbers or anything else that may potentially kill me in later life. I just want something that tastes good!

However, the advertising campaign is bloody genius. Not only are they pretty damn funny to watch but think about how much money they must have cost to make! I mean, think about it: All you need to create one of these little comedy gems is a video camera, a packet of sweets and someone to do the voice over. The result? One hilarious conversation between an English toff and a complete nutter rambling on about trumpets. The other? A very familiar conversation where one person is always trying to upstage the other, except on this occassion it is two sweets. Priceless!

I could just imagine the advertising agency making their pitch to executives from The Natural Confectionary company.

"Okay guys, I know you gave us a budget of £20,000 to make the ad campaign. So what we did was, we took that money, spent £19,000 on strippers, drugs and binge drinking in some of London's best night spots. What you have before you is what we came up with using the leftover cash."

The agency who came up with this must be laughing their tits off. They created something with such cult status that you can hear people drunkenly mimmick the conversations in bars throughout the country. And they did it all using the most basic premise and ridiculously low budget.

A little message to the complete spastics that made those awful Cadbury adverts: Take note.

Franco Shade on Be-mag!

2008-09-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

Check out the new Franco Shade feature on www.be-mag.com created by yours truly. That's right, Joe took one look at my receeding hairline and knew he had to open his heart to someone who understood his pain. We took time out from swapping tips about comb-overs and head accessories to discuss the latest developments within the brand.

What comes up...

2008-09-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

...must come down. This little fall from a mere 12 stair handrail cost me 7 hours of surgery, four pins and an artificial elbow in my right arm. All of this occurred doing a trick I have been performing for over a decade! The most annoying part is, it didn't even bloody hurt that much. After I fell I asked a friend to take this photo because we were bored waiting on the ambulance and I thought it would be funny.

I thought I had simply dislocated my elbow. Little did I realise I had actually crushed my elbow and tore my tricep completely off the bone like a chicken breast. Yummy!

Good thing I know how to make a cast look good! I know what you're thinking. "Why is this guy writing all the time? He should be modelling." I'm afraid I may be a little 'camera shy.' Oh well...