Autumn coming

Looking forward to the Autumn when the air gets crisp... crowds abandon the beach… the late tropical storms, and the coming nor' easter's …. The "Jack-Booted Peace Frog" shaped by Palo Tung at Batfish - Santa Cruz is doing me great in a wide range of conditions. It flies in the slop, and takes off like a rocket when it gets head high and over. I am sold on the FCS V2 quad setup, but am looking forward to trying out some thruster combos when the winter hits. I may be lucky enough to be getting a new board designed off of the Batato shape in the Fall….Perhaps my first twin since back in the 20th century!

The Jackbooted Peace Frog- Rockaway Beach

The Jackbooted Peace Frog- Rockaway Beach

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Irving Berlin

Jason P. Grisell sings and plays a summer afternoon version of the Irving Berlin song "The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On)" Music by Irving Berlin, Lyrics by Beda Loehner. 1927 My thoughts go back to a heavenly dance A moment of bliss we spent Our hearts were filled with a song of romance As into the night we went And sang to our hearts' content The song is ended But the melody lingers on You and the song are gone But the melody lingers on The night was splendid And the melody seemed to say "summer will pass away Take your happiness while you may" There 'neath the light of the moon We sang a love song that ended too soon The moon descended And I found with the break of dawn You and the song had gone But the melody lingers on There 'neath the light of the moon We sang a love song that ended too soon The moon descended And I found with the break of dawn You and the song had gone But the melody lingers on Take your happiness while you may

For the last year or two I have been going back into the deep waters of song that were the popular music landscape of the early twentieth century and thereabouts. I spent this afternoon playing and recording this song by Irving Berlin, The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On). I came across this song through the interpretation of Whispering Jack Smith.  This version is the most spare and atmospheric of the many versions I have heard. It captures the melancholia and existential weight of many of the songs from that era which are often cloaked in orchestration and arrangement. Incidentally, Whispering Jack Smith got a job as a "song plugger" for Irving Berlin Music Publishing in 1918 after his service in World War One. His throat was damaged in a poison gas attack and gave him his unique vocal approach which was understated and intimate by the standard of the time where singers would belt out their songs. His rise into the public eye dovetailed with the advent of microphone technology in live vocal performance, allowing for the whispering romantic style.

 

Jay Adams

Jay Adams in a iconic picture defined something that many aimed for in some way that was hard to define because it asked you to find your own way and express it to the fullest. Style.

We skate hard because of that guy. I tried things way beyond my ability. I'd amp soooo hard and hurt myself. Dry docked on jetties, off-the-hip ollie-to hang-up to broken ribs, feet dangling from tendons, concussions, and countless swellbows. I had no other choice cause the alternative didn't feel right. Injuries hurt way less than succumbing to fear. It took me over 4 decades to realize that this is also a metaphor for how to live life……110%

- Huey Kedric Pritchard

Jay Adams

Jay Adams

Shogo Kubo

Shogo Kubo

Whiffed Out at BAM Cinefemafest 2014

Last night was a great evening with Whiffed Out playing before The Foxy Merkins at BAM Cinemafest 2014. Whiffed Out is a sweaty summertime comedy that tells the tale of an anxiety ridden New Yorker who is tormented by a mysterious abandoned bicycle. Written and directed by Jason Giampietro, and produced by Magic Square Films.

Michael Malachick, Keith Nimetz, Al Marz in Whiffed Out.

Michael Malachick, Keith Nimetz, Al Marz in Whiffed Out.

Michael Park in Whiffed Out

Michael Park in Whiffed Out

Baltimore

I spent about eighteen  hours this week in Baltimore for the Maryland Film Festival 2014. We are proud to have screened two shorts,  Whiffed Out and I Will Paint Your Spirit .  Jay was able to do the whole festival and take in lots of the program. Waiting to hear the highlights when he gets back to New York. I was able to hit Sip and Bite and pick up a nice pair of wingtips at Value Village. Before the screening of I Will Paint Your Spirit, myself, Christian Joy, and Mike Swift went to visit Edgar Allan Poe's grave site. When we arrived the sky became grey and ominous and within seconds turned into an ecstatic downpour. This seems to be a theme for me when I visit Baltimore... exceptional rains and moody atmosphere. When we drove out of town to get to the freeway we saw the gothic looking gates of the Baltimore Cemetery. I had seen them a couple of trips previous during one of the most torrential downpours I have ever been in. When I turned to look at them, lightning struck right behind the gates. It was straight out of a Hammer horror film. It was a fast trip and very fun Baltimore. Thank you Maryland Film Festival!

Edgar Allan Poe's grave in Baltimore

Edgar Allan Poe's grave in Baltimore

Baltimore Cemetery Gates

Baltimore Cemetery Gates