September 28, 2008, 10:32 pm : NYSFF – Follow Up to New York Surf Film Festival
Filed Under: Events, News, SurfingDiscussion: C[0]mments
I’m just back from the New York Surf Film Festival, and my lasting impressions from this event is that the crew knew what to do, they planned it well, and they pulled it off in impressive form. More complete coverage coming soon. For now, get a look into Out There, by Teton Gravity Research for the Surfrider Foundation. It aimed to make the point of seriously looking at the threats to our ocean and shoreline environment and the urgency to think and take action. Surfers of talent and stature speak out and plead the cause, and provide strong to amazing footage throughout.
Take a good look at the overhead footage of Teahupoo at about 3:20. That’s a fresh, powerful look of that compressive barrel.
September 26, 2008, 1:32 pm : PLAYLIST October 08 Digital Magazine Now Available
Filed Under: Band Reviews, Music, Upcoming ShowsDiscussion: C[0]mments
In case you live in Maryland, Virginia or DC and you haven’t figured it out by now, PLAYLIST is THE source for what is going on in the local live music scene. Every venue, every show. Get out of the house and get your aural groove on! Go here and enter your info on the right hand side of the page to receive PLAYLIST by email every month. That’s right, it’s digital, so no dead trees. Plus, you’ll be laughing at how easy it is staying tuned in to our local scene. Every city needs a PLAYLIST Magazine.
Download the October issue here, featuring my piece on Willy Porter.
September 23, 2008, 9:08 pm : Now THAT’S an East Coast Swell
Filed Under: Events, News, SurfingDiscussion: C[1]mments
In case you’re one of those surfers that never checks the forecasts and swell models, instead favoring the over-the-dune surprise of what you see is what you surf (and why do that in this day and age?), or if you’re lucky enough to be able to sit up, peer out your bedroom window and realize that its six to eight foot and perfect before the pillow is cold, check this out…
(whewwhaddarunonsentence)
The East Coast is due for what can be considered a “serious swell event,” as the slick forecasting sites would say. This is just one shot from this upcoming Thursday. This swell, which has already been showing its face, will grow immensely toward Thursday and hang around right through the weekend. That orange blob? That’s 20-25 foot seas, and that swell direction is pointed right at the Mid Atlantic. But…wind forecasts look like the party smasher. Let’s hope it turns offshore somewhere.
Oh, and I’ll add this even though somebody will surely call me out for mentioning a secret spot. Fisherman’s Island; get there if you can. If you can stash your car somewhere below the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, dodge law enforcement and sharks, pointbreak perfection is yours!
September 19, 2008, 10:01 am : One Week Until New York Surf Film Festival!
Filed Under: Events, News, SurfingDiscussion: C[0]mments
It’s hard to believe that the New York Surf Film Festival is nearly upon us. It seems like just days ago Tyler Bruer and Co. were feverishly preparing this first edition in what promises to be a great, surfy event for NYC. If you haven’t checked out the event website click on the banner below to see the surf films that will be on tap. This first year’s film list is impressive, revealing local and international productions alike.
A highlight of the festival is sure to be Bustin Down The Door, the acclaimed story of the rangy group of Aussies that literally established professional surfing from nothing.
If you’re going to be in NYC September 26-28th, hustle down to Tribeca Cinemas to take in some fresh stoke.
September 16, 2008, 12:34 pm : Interview with Street Dogs Lead Man, Mike McColgan
Filed Under: Band Reviews, Genres and Styles, Interviews, Music, UncategorizedDiscussion: C[0]mments
McColgan is the original lead singer for Dropkick Murphys. Street Dogs, a project he began after feeling the love of music pulling him back in from a stint as a Boston firefighter have developed their own name and following. I caught up with him to find out more about Mike and Street Dogs – Ed.
JS: Street Dogs have been hard at it since 2002. Describe what the ride has been like and how you have come to be where you are now as a band.
MM: On the journey that has seen four releases, numerous US tours, European tours and a tour of Japan we have gone way beyond our humble expectations of just having a good time and this band just being part time! Words cannot express how rewarding and amazing our ride has been and it continues with our newest release State Of Grace.
JS: Tell me about the members that make up Street Dogs, why does each stand out in their own way?
MM: John our bass player is the chronic analyst and worrier. He is also an amazing songwriter and bass player (even though he doesn’t know it!). Marcus our lead guitar player is laid back on the exterior, but super intense on the interior. He has a lot of drive and song ambition that just continues to grow. Plus he is a ripping guitar player. Tobe is our minister of mayhem and a good guitar player as well. Paul our drummer is our far-out guy. He loves Dungeons and Dragons type stuff but when it comes to drums he is awe inspiring to us all. I am just an unabashed dreamer with a heart too big and a drive that doesn’t know when to quit! Blessed with the ability to yelp pretty good as well (no pun intended).
JS: How have you found being frontman for Street Dogs compares to your days with the early Dropkick Murphys?
MM: I feel like Street Dogs is a new time and a new band and I am so happy being a part of it. I couldn’t be happier.
JS: What was the spark that lit into you making you want to get back into music after your hiatus to tackle the dream of being a Boston fire fighter?
MM: My drive in life is ambitious and obviously interchangeable! Both occupations are different and require different motivations and preparations but my interior drive definitely helped fuel the desire to pursue both for sure.
JS: You’re inextricably linked to the Boston punk scene. How does it feel to be influential in such a regarded place?
MM: I don’t know if we are influential. I don’t get to make that call. Only people who listen to our music and other musicians within the scene make that call. Never would I be so pompous as to say yes we are influential within the Boston punk scene.
JS: Does Boston punk perfectly label what Street Dogs are about or do you guys want to transcend that tag?
MM: We are a punk influenced rock n roll group that plays and says whatever we want when we want. We exercise the right to play punk, rock or folk or whatever we want to play. Did we get our start in the city of Boston? Of course we did. Do we love and respect that city now and forever? Yes. Being labeled anything or thrown into a category? That is not what we want. We want to be free to play whatever we want and we will….
JS: What are the biggest influences on Street Dogs, your sound and your approach to writing music?
MM: There are too many big influences to list them all but a couple come to mind. Some of them are Bob Marley, The Clash, Billy Bragg, Stiff Little Fingers, U2, Thin Lizzy, etc etc. I could go on for days with this…We write music as a collaboration not by committee. All band members have input. Get in the practice space, turn on, play and see what happens. No big mystery there.
JS: Give me the reason you love what you do in five words or less.
MM: Our fans are the reason.