There’s nothing like watching it raw, especially when it’s Rune Glifberg ripping his local skatepark to pieces. Monkeyglove were there to capture a feeling you only get in full if you are standing right there on the coping.
Photo: ARTOPHOTO
Author: Zac
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OFF! live at The Haunt Brighton
OFF!
The Haunt,
Brighton
18/06/2012
This gig starts early, really early. We arrived just before 8pm, and opening (local) band Gnarwolves had already played. Yeah, that early! And then maybe 20 minutes later Trash Talk takes to the stage. My mate Tony confirms we last saw them in Brighton in 2008 (supporting Paint it Black) – jeez, time flies. One thing’s for sure, Trash Talk have been going hard at it in the meantime, with relentless touring and recording that has gained them a strong young fan base, which is evident tonight. From the opening brutish chords, band and front stage crowd go off. Ok, I’ll be honest; much of Trash Talk’s short, blunt, metallic hardcore doesn’t have that killer impact on me that it promises to, but they are still a captivating live act, amped on anger and loaded with surly attitude.
I managed to catch OFF! on their initial blaze thru the UK last summer, but the gig I went to in Portsmouth was in a huge room, far too big for the show, with a small crowd, stage barriers, lacking atmosphere – a situation not conducive to a good night you’d think. Wrong! OFF! were ace, and we drove home stoked on having witnessed a very great band. So, in the much tighter and more populated confines of The Haunt, they are gonna be really great, right? Right! If, like me, you’ve had the OFF! 7”s and recent album on steady rotation, then you pretty much know you are in for a salvo of fast, tight, belligerent hardcore heavily inspired by the music singer Keith Morris originally cut his chops on, way back in the midst of time, but is delivered in 2012 sounding fresh and totally revitalised. And that’s down to the 3 fellow band members he’s aligned with, all accomplished musicians in their own right, and totally on it in keeping up the intensity.
4 songs bursts are interjected by Keith’s thoughts and anecdotes, and it’s good to know he’s still questioning and refusing to accept what his Government tells him. In other words; Punk Rock. Memories of his long deceased buddy Jeffrey Lee Pierce still cast a shadow on Keith, who questioned whether The Gun Club ever played in Brighton. I can confirm they did, late ’82, or early ’83 at The New Regent in West Street, which is now just another shitty bar, but back then was a hot bed of activity. Ack… the stories I could tell. Meanwhile, back at The Haunt, and approx 50 minutes after they started, OFF! departs to rapturous applause from the crowd… and we gather outside in the fading light, and acknowledge we have just seen a very great band. Intense, in your face and on the road with a vengeance, go see them!
Pete Craven
Skateboarding and art have gone hand in hand since the apple fell from the tree and the wood was cut, so it was a pleasure to see that local Meanwhile ripper #CODEFC has been keeping busy outside of sessions at the local hole this month. His latest art show at the Curious Duke gallery on Whitecross Street was shown for a week featuring stencil art with Olympic themes and landscapes, the Olympians faces replaced with cameras in the way only #CODEFC knows best.
Enjoy this little montage from what went down and keep your eyes peeled for his trademark art on your travels.
This Saturday at 1pm, Bordesley Green skatepark in Birmingham will re-open with a jam. In Ideal’s own words: “It starts at 1pm so head up there and show the locals what skateboarding is about. The park has been cleaned up and painted and there will be a youth worker on site during daylight hours so at last this place can get some use. And the bonus is you won’t need to spend an hour sweeping the place out before you can get a skate.”
Parlour Skateshop have hooked up with Lakai Shoes this Thursday 21st June for a cruise across London to support Go Skateboarding Day. The street sesh will include hitting up 7 spots that start at Mile End and finish at Old Street kicking off at 4.30pm. The first 50 people will receive FREE Lakai tees. How can you miss this?
Yet again, Daewon Song returns with another video edit that will have the rewind button on lock, made up of more incredible skateboarding that takes in every form of nature on offer. In this new video part as the b-side to his ridiculous section in the new 5-Incher DVD from Almost, Daewon gets to work as usual, shredding rocks, trees and any curved or flat surface to conquer on his travels.
Yet again, Daewon Song is light years ahead of anyone else on a skateboard. Yet again, he takes our Edit of the Week spot hands down.
The upcoming Girl/Chocolate DVD title has been announced today and it’s called Pretty Sweet. Get hyped on what will be dropping in November this year!
Ramp City Skatepark will be celebrating 10 years of service this month. Join them for a Go Skateboarding Day event open to everyone this Thursday 21st June for a FREE evening session in Blackpool.
Old school Hip Hop heads will be delighted to know that two rappers with the names Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie will be hitting London’s Forum on 22nd June. Get a ticket.
The Black Label crew went up to Wade Speyer’s ranch to enjoy some of the country life and the “Raise Hell” annual barn bowl jaunt and a session at Ripon. Watch Tyler Mumma, Riley Stevens, Brandon Perelson, Peter Watkins, Javan Campello, Peter Raffin, Wade Speyer and many more.