Category: Preview

Shouts to the Manny fellow, we slayed a few in Germany with him last summer.

Axion Footwear presents Manny Santiago from Mike Cherman on Vimeo.

Flip video madness has begun with Geoff Rowley on the cover of both Thrasher and the Skateboard Mag (TSM’s cover has to be seen to be believed). Also in that issue is England’s Ben Raemers with a New Jack full of the best stuff he’s ever had in a mag. Good work young fellow.
Our favourite boutique brand, Listen Skateboards, is shipping again after a short distribution hiatus. For the latin flavour alone these guys are worth hanging with-
drop them a line and some love.

Over to Northern Ireland and Belfast has not only a new shop in Snap skateboards (upstairs at Apache), but also work has begun on Ulster’s first decent concrete park in Belfast, plans here

…park due for completion January 2010

Staying with new concrete and Shoreham –by- sea, once site of a rickety old midi ramp frequented by Neil Fry and Flip lifer Luke Mc Kirdy is edging nearer to completion of its new concrete park, click here for an update.

And to round things off this Friday, Skateboarder have this great little video from Etnies new look squad in Spain. Sunshine and skating. As it should be:

More skateboarding videos on SkateboarderMag.com

Manchester Orchestra are one of the bands I’ve heard a lot about but never seemed to give a chance, so when I received their new record “Mean Everything to Nothing” it was a perfect time to give them a try. This album is their second official release and after listening I can see why they have gained such notoriety.

The first song The Only One is a chirpy upbeat track that sets an instant tone for the album, serving as a really good opener. While this C.D’s spinning in my laptop I’m wondering why I ever overlooked this band. The next song Shake it Out may not be as upbeat as the first track however it still has the same feel to it, giving the album consistency, which is lacking so much in bands these days.

Singer Andy Hull’s voice has a certain honesty too it, the kind of honesty you hear when you listen to a Bright Eyes record, this gives the album a whole new level of personality and depth. Even with lyrics such as “I’ve got friends in all the right places,” it still sounds tortured. One thing that makes me even more excited about this record is when I hear a piano playing; something I think fits perfectly with genuine emo/indie music.

Manchester Orchestra have really impressed me with this record, and I’d dare to say it shines out through the dim glow of the emo music scene of today, even outshining Brand New’s latest release. When I say emo I don’t mean the kind of kids with black nail varnish and fringes you see running around on Hollyoaks, I mean the kind that came out of the mid west in the 90’s, so don’t be offended if you love Manchester Orchestra and don’t think they sound like My Chemical Romance.

Mean Everything to Nothing is the kind of record that people will really take to the heart and treasure; I would compare it to the likes of Desaparecidos, Brand New, early Biffy Clyro (so it’s no surprise that they’re supporting them on tour next month) and Cursive, but if you are a fan of anything that came out of the 90’s you’ll find some attraction in this band!

If I haven’t convinced you yet I really think you should give this album a try, as I’m regretting not giving this band a try earlier than I did, so go check it out, give it a listen and try to dislike it.

Jonathan Teggert

As far as tough guy hardcore goes Death Before Dishonor have been on the front line for a few years, and their new album Better Ways to Die is definitely a step up from their original sound. These Bridge 9 big guns have been touring extensively for years and hopefully this album could be the one that sets them out from the crowd.

The first track Peace and Quiet starts off with a full on face melting solo, something you rarely hear in hardcore in general, so I’m already a bit pleased this isn’t just generic crap. Okay so most of the album is pretty standard, fast vocals, breakdowns, beatdowns, gang vocals etc etc. But some parts of it really stand out; in the track Remember there’s a bit with some harmonious “ooooooh’s” behind the fast singing, which is really daring for a hardcore band to do!

I can’t really be mad at DBD for not being too daring, because if they were too outlandish they’d instantly be condemned by the hardcore scene, but the fact that they’re trying to do something even a little different is really admirable.

I’ll admit when I saw I was reviewing this band I wasn’t looking forward to listening to 30 minutes of the same old textbook hardcore bullshit, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the little perks DBD have thrown into the album, these little nuances might even get the band a few more fans from other scenes.

Looking at it from a hardcore point of view it is a good album and I’m sure the kids will dig it, the riffs are good, the bridges are moshable and the vocals are as pissed off as anything else. So if you’re already a fan of this band then this album will just confirm your feelings, but if you’re looking for something hardcore and want something a little different from the norm, this album is perfect for you.

Jonathan Teggert

Santa Cruz Skateboards UK rider Kris Vile gets fresh on the brickwork for Kevin Parrott’s lens.

Yep, it’s confirmed today. The address for the Crossfire Halloween Massacre in association with Etnies is at the old Ewer Street skatepark at Union Car Park, Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0NR.

This skatepark was a legendary spot back in the early 1990’s. Skate sessions and parties were held here frequently so we have decided to take people back there to session the place once and for all.

The first wave of confirmed mini ramp jam riders are:

Rodney Clarke
Conhuir Lynn
Simon Skipp
David Davies
Garry Woodward
Nicky Howells
Vaughan Baker
Rory Milanes
Dave Allen
Rob Mathieson
Gavin Coughlan
Jason Caines
Mike Sutcliffe
Darryl Dominguez
John Tanner
Aaron Sweeney

More will be released soon. Please spread the word and get your tickets from any of the outlets here: This will be one of the best nights out this year.

Talking Jive: Stanley
Hunched with an SLR: Trix
Shoving VXs where the sun don’t shine: Nick Richards

What are your first thoughts when you think of South Wales?

They copulate with sheep don’t they?
Oh, I heard there was a rift in time there.
They like Rugby, and dragons. Yeah they love their dragons; do they not acknowledge their non-existence?
I don’t know, but I fancy Charlotte Church a bit I suppose.

Well, aside from the myths, the stereotypes and a fictional dues ex machina that time lords take advantage of whenever the plot goes out of control, there is one thing that’s impossible to deny. That is of course, the area’s prolific nature when producing ludicrously talented skateboarders. So much so in fact, that this particular location is just a big fat slag with an impeccable taste for wood-pushers.

Matt Pritchard, Lee Dainton, Matt Davies and co. were amongst the first to help Cardiff’s blip on the radar swell up like a 20 car pile-up on the M4. Before it had the chance to be swept away, Scott Magil’s ‘Who?’ and Dykie’s Crayon Skateboards took aim with an M67 and blew the scene sky high. People had no choice but to pay attention. The unparalleled balls-out (often literally) approach to skating became a common motif in South Wales skating.

Following in the grubby footsteps is Nick Richards and the 10:30 Warriors, who are causing some serious business while filming for the hotly anticipated Hologram.

These boyos have been at the heart of the Cardiff and Newport skate scene for most of their lives, united by their passions for skating the shit out of everything and generally dicking about like Welsh scummers. At this rate Hologram is shaping to be the perfect combination between styled out gnar and unashamed scumbag antics. Isn’t this what skateboarding is all about?

We’ve had the pleasure of getting an exclusive insight at their recent filming trip to Barcelona. Check out some of the dirty and slutty shots from their trip here, and make sure you have a peep at the sickity sick 15 minute off-cut (just imagine what’s been kept!) edit that Nick has spliced together with his usual tender love and care. Click on the picture opposite to see the boys who have no shame whilst in Spain, but be warned, it’s almost certainly NSFW, but just as slick as it is sick. Hologram is expected to drop around Christmas time to stoke out your stocking.

Hold Tight South Wales.

Ryan Thomas floats this comfortable kickflip over that uncomfortable chair while Nick gets his head superglued to a tree. Caught and stuck like a good’un.

Rhys The Ox gives this spot the bluntside shove in treatment. Tighty whiteys were mandatory.

Gareth Leak with a front 5 to fakie on that spot that refuses to look anything other than breathtaking on camera. Holy Landscapes Batman!

HOLLERGRAM. Stay tuned.