I only just saw this film the other day which is some considerable time since its initial release. With such tardiness, some might think my opinion would be prejudiced due to everyone else’s personal views being aired. However, I watched The Lords of Dogtown with an unbiased eye because any mainstream media hype around skateboarding tends to make me run in the opposite direction faster than Kris Markovich from his next sponsor.
So, basically this is what you get when you want to make a film out of an amazing documentary that introduced to the pioneers of skateboarding as we know it today. Honestly, the people behind this have done a good job. The characters (Stacy Peralta, Jay Adams and Tony Alva) are all credible, and to think that the actors playing them had to learn how to skate 1970’s equipment in order to perform the stunts is pretty inspiring. The continuity of fashion, location and music from the era is also kept up to speed which is nice to see considering a few of the pools that got shredded by the Z-Boys don’t exist anymore.
The only things I had doubts about when I watched this film were the skater groupies. Whether it’s something in the water – even though the birth of modern skating arose from a Californian drought – or a simple spin from the Hollywood side of things for the viewer to stay focused, the chicks are hot! As a skater who spends a lot of the time in the streets, the next time I see a parade of tanned bodies in Indian attire and pristine smiles will probably be when they put speed bumps on mini ramps… Anyway, that aside because Hollywood had to create some emotional thread, the only other thing that made me cringe with The Lords of Dogtown were the real skaters acting. I spotted big Tony Hawk, Don Nguyen and Chad Fernandez (There might be others..?), but not one of them had more than two lines which in consequence were delivered with about as much integrity as Krusty the Clown. Stick to what you’re good at guys: Skating!
Anyway, overall this film is obviously aimed at the mainstream, but of all films that have tried to use Skateboarding as a theme, this one actually pulls it off and can be deemed viewable. I think this is partly thanks to Stacy Peralta’s initial Dogtown and the Z-Boys documentary, and more importantly the Z-Boys themselves. Without them, where would we be now???
For more info on this movie, visit www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/lordsofdogtown. This DVD is out now alongside the box set that includes the Z-Boys Documentary and bonus footage…
Ralph Lloyd-Davis
11/01/2006
Rodders and Co. are always pushing for the progression of skateboarding and it’s material, so here are the brand new (and nowhere else for that matter!) Epoxy Resin decks. Basically The lab technicians at Almost have understood that skateboards are starting to take a serious battering nowadays, so the goods need to be tough, but not bulky. By replacing regular resins with this new Epoxy coating, the boards are stronger and lighter. Plus, you get the new 8 and 9 ply construction to boot for that little bit extra whilst still maintaining enough flex to forgive your sloppy skating!
Anyway, much like the weight, you get used to it, plus it works to a slight advantage in my case because a 7.75 board with size 10.5 feet requires a bit more space to move around upon. There’s nothing worse for a Bigfoot like me to feel like his feet are stuck in a bowl! A couple of extra specifics I noted was the paint job that slides pretty much straight away- no flakey ripple crap here, and the board took a couple of direct hits to the nose without indenting or chipping away.
When DJ Vadim and Yarah Bravo took to the stage, with the aptly named Bongo Pete, the Jazz Café wasn’t even half full. This was a shame because, despite the lack of Blu Rum 13, the opening act were really very good. Vadim has always been able to bring out a multitude of different beats and tonight was no different, going from soulful smoothness to big band bounce.
Up next was the show stealer, Mike Relm. I’d seen the diminutive DJ supporting another Quannam group, Lifesavas, 2 years ago and he took my breath away. But if he was good then, he was absolutely incredible now. Setting himself up with a video screen to the side of the stage and numerous turntables, he started the party off with various mash ups, which brought the noise levels increasingly higher.
Much the crowd’s delight, it turned out that Mike Relm was on the decks for Lyrics Born’s set too, and as LB came bounding down the stairs, hand raised in the air asking for noise, Relm dropped the first beat and the headline set was underway.
The opening bands were The Avalanche and Match. I didn’t get to see them, but they were highly praised by both headliners. I will be sure to keep an ear to the ground and check them out for next time!
The Starting Line mainlined with MxPx. This tour not only celebrated their new 2005 album, Based on a True Story, but they also recently parted ways with Geffen Records and signed with Virgin. This means that their albums will be easier to get hold for you and me! Rad! The 4-piece is often compared to MxPx, but I would say more influenced by MxPx, and sound more like 100 Reasons.
However, that was then, and this is now. A new year with new and exciting musical prospects awaits us, and already it’s looking to be a corker courtesy of our very own speed metal merchants Dragonforce and their stunning new album Inhuman Rampage. Having spent the past 3 years mesmerising audiences up and down the country – as well as several jaunts through Europe and a US debut at the legendary CBGB’s – the time has come for the London sextet to make their mark the world over. Boasting staggering dual guitars, swirling keyboard and larger than life vocal harmonies; they’re simply the type of band that comes along once in a decade. Grab your swords and prepare for battle.
Waving the flag further for our fare isles are Scotland’s Mendeed and their brutal Rising Records debut This War Will Last Forever. Don’t let the appearance fool you. These cheeky chappies may look like the type of young man Zac would love to take home to mummy, but armed with such sonic tongue lashings as The Black Death, the Glaswegians may prove to be one of the biggest success stories of the coming months. Pick up your copy from February 6th at all fine retail establishments.
Rarely equalled and almost never outdone, the coming weeks are shaping up to be equally electrifying courtesy of our friends from the great north Children of Bodom, accompanied by fresh offering ‘Are You Dead Yet?‘. The thrash-rock quintet may be regular chart toppers in their native Finland, but with fist-pumping stompers like current single ‘In Your Face‘ there can be no doubt that this is a band unaffected by such mainstream statistics. Dynamic, blistering and as heavy as your daddy’s ball sack; Children of Bodom are here to change your life. 
Following the somewhat lacking Reroute To Remain and the steaming pile of nu-metal crap that was Soundtrack To Your Escape, In Flames fans the world over had been praying that with the impending Come Clarity the Swedish five-piece would at last return to their death metal routes; placing themselves firmly at the top of the continents ever impressive pile once more. Unfortunately for those teenage angst-bags, this is not the case, but the result is never the less a mature and expertly prepared piece of contemporary music. With such ambitious efforts as the female-led (OMG11!!!one!1) Dead End there can be little doubt that the golden boys of Gothenburg are firmly back on track. Catch them on tour throughout the UK with thrash legends Sepultura in the coming months.
Before a certain Mr. Robb Flynn decided to permanently alter the face of 90’s metal with popular beat combo Machine Head, he spent his time in hi-top sneakers and scandalously tight trousers thrashing his way through the Bay Area scene with the legendary Vio-Lence. Focussing more on beating the living shit out of their instruments than the technical proficiency of their peers, the fruits of their labour undoubtedly came into fruition with 1989’s cult classic Eternal Nightmare. Featuring a bonus disc containing a full live set from the band’s 2001 L.A. re-union, it’s a purchase irrefutably worth a few of those hard earned pennies.
As we often do in these here parts, the best has most certainly been left for last, as we present to you the brilliant new album from the Devin Townsend Band in the form of Synchestra. While many will recognise the terrifying front man as the dark and sinister force behind shit-kicking maniacs Strapping Young Lad, the DTB sees Canada’s resident lunatic engaging more in creating classic, unpredictable prog-rock masterpieces than devastating cyber-metal soundscapes. A stunning and beautifully crafted piece of music – featuring guest spots from none other than guitar overlord Steve Vai – there are unlikely to be many contenders for Album of the Year even at this early stage. Quite simply; you need this album in your life. Prepare to be born again as of January 30th.
Ryan Adam’s latest offering harks back to his whiskey town roots. It’s a welcome return to his bluesy guitars, drawling vocals and alt country vibe which made 2000’sHeartbreaker so acclaimed. Produced by Ethan Jones tracks meander from the distressing overwrought love songs (The Sadness), to simple guitars (Starlite Diner) to the almost upbeat (Blue Sky Blue). Adams seems in touch with his own mortality and this poignant, emotional charged album from a talented songwriter.
Straddling the line between indie and pop punk California based We Are Scientistsare keeping it real with their debut EP. Singer Keith Murray has a seductively great voice, and coupled with intense guitars seemingly bursting out of every track, and sing-along chorus lines, they give it there all in every track ( Can’t Lose stands out) – and whilst this isn’t the greatest album ever recorded – it shows a hell of a lot of promise.
Don’t let the unbelievably twee name put you off. Somewhat deranged – sometimes slurred sometimes energetic – vocals courtesy of enigmatic frontman Alan Ounsworth are churned up with bouncing drums, jagged guitars and a retro pop vibe not unlike the Artic Monkeys. Pointless instrumentals are forgotten as the Brooklyn five piece toss and turn, shimmying through Self recorded and self released – it’s a scrappy album that is anything but forgettable.
TEAM’s second album comes blasting out at the listener with unabashed ferocity. Bass heavy, thumping beats recreate their powerful live act, and there’s more a little nod to 80’s/90’s hair metal – which is probably why this album is so intoxicating – it’s four guys really going for it. The Guilty Language Of Gossip stands out, and whilst the album’s not some high brow statement – it’s refreshing to have a band do away with the bullshit and just rock out.
The much anticipated second album from irish singer/songwriter Hayes is a somewhat more commercial offering than her Mercury nominated debut. The same melancholic undertones are mixed in with almost toe tapping beats, multi track guitars layered into beautiful melodies. Stand out tracks Happy Sad and Helen show Hayes, who struggled with writer’s block with this album, has much more to give.
Hailing from Tokyo, the legendary Guitar Wolf formed in the late 80’s, and ever since then the trio have played loud, fast, dirty punk rock n’ roll like it oughta be. With a terrifically raw production that many of today’s
2006 looks set to be the Year of the Dragonforce, as the multi-national, London-based quintet return with arguably their best effort to date. The band’s usual trademarks are present and correct: soaring vocals,
All you eyeliner-wearing, riff-plagiarising metalcore types can start quaking in your boots, because here comes the debut Some Girls album to put you all to shame. Featuring members of bands like Give Up The Ghost and The Locust, ‘Heaven’t Pregnant Teens’ was never gonna be easy listening; thirteen beautifully chaotic, frazzled blasts of hardcore noise that at first seem almost unlistenable, but will soon grow on you in their own sinister way.
Roll up a fat one, because it’s time for a dose of prime Scandinavian stoner rock. Yep, Dozer clearly love their Sabbath and Kyuss records, and aren’t afraid to let these influences show on their fourth album. Whiskey-soaked vocals, gigantic riffs and thunderous grooves are here in abundance – and as if that wasn’t enough, Troy Sanders of the almighty Mastodon pops up to lend vocals on ‘Until Man Exists No More’. Be sure to turn this one up loud.
The Wildhearts frontman finally returns after a troubled 2005, with his most personal and varied record to date. Taking in nineteen tracks over two CDs, the quality control occasionally dips, but anthemic efforts such as ‘Mother City’ and ‘The Man Who Cheated Death’ are amongst the best songs the flame-haired one has ever recorded. The ‘Ginger and the Sonic Circus’ live show also comes highly recommended.
A fairly new 2 piece that is slowly taking the world by storm. Their albums are always sold out, at gigs, Amazon, and most stores. So if you see one grab it! They have a BIG sound for 2 people. A voice as smooth as honey masks the dark, pretty fucked up lyrics. A heavy Rock-a-Billy base-line feel meets electro punk. Their truly bizarre stage presence exudes through this album. A purely addictive album, from an equally addictive band you will wish you could mainline.
A feel good album for those chilled or, hung-over days. An emo album, that separates itself from the rest by its clean sound. Another successful side project by Jonah, a vital voice in laying the brick work for the emo movement as a whole. The right amount of layered sound to give it depth, without over-complicating and washing out the sound completely!-which I find a common error for most emo bands. The lyrics are about day-to-day life, getting by and moving on. Positive enough for you not to want to slit your wrists after the first 5 tracks!~which is always a bonus. A balanced mix of fast and slow tempo songs. This album will easily hold your attention for the full generous 12 tracks.
Retro-rock from Sweden, donned by a few out-of-the-ordinary sounds. Strong guitar, strong baseline, keyboard under currents and …tambourines? Great harmonising. Good balance of female and male vocals. Love at first listen. Lyrics to melt your heart and, rhythm to get those feet moving without you realising. This band might not be the most popular, they may be new, but they have a formed unique sound. With only a few singles paving the way to this full length, they have done a splendid job. No track is the same, they are all different. A pure gem! 
Strangely enough this is one of their few albums which was not released by Nitro. Screaming haunting lyrics, with a raw energetic voice this album will stay with you long after you hear it. It is poetic, melodic and passionate. This band is deeply talented and this is one of their best albums. It is a cult classic that is pivotal in any collection. You can always go back to it, listen to it and love every moment. Every time I play this album, I’m 150% stoked I have it in my collection. If you had to choose 1 A.F.I album to take onto a desert island, then you can’t go wrong with this one. Also worth a mention are the bonus tracks you get on the UK edition! 
One hell of an album to make a comeback on! More rock than electro pop this time round. Depeche Mode have a trademark sound, which gets rustled up by fog horns and sirens. The album has a monochrome quality. Some tracks come across a little dancy, or industrial which they pull off without selling out. While some bands would sound disastrous trying to pull it off, Depeche Mode encompass it into their new sound flawlessly. Refreshingly different without losing the appeal we love them for. Their tour in April is bound to be a winner!
There’s somewhat of an unwritten rule in today’s heavy metal society: that rule being that unless you are in the presence of royalty (Slayer, basically) you simply do not attend a gig whilst adorning any form of merchandise related to one of the evening’s performing acts. The fact that London’s Astoria is tonight packed to the rafters with eager gig-goers sporting Children of Bodom t-shirts is therefore a grave statement of just where the Finnish quintet now stand in modern day metal’s elite rankings. 
As the lights go down and the extravagant car-shaped lighting rig that occupies the stage begins to rev up in preparation, it’s immediately clear as to why Children of Bodom are fast becoming one of metal’s leading lights. Greeting the hysterical crowd with a cluster of classic cuts including a pummelling rendition of Sixpounder and a jubilantly received Silent Night, Bodom Nightthe set is anchored and never sinks. Ten feet tall letters displaying the band’s familiar alias ‘COB’ flash at blinding levels, keyboardist Janne Warman casually sips a cold beer whilst his fingers glide effortlessly over the keys, and front man Alexi Laiho stands victoriously atop the neon bonnet before the familiar speed-metal antics of Needled 24/7 bring down the curtain on an evening of unforgettable and simply stunning theatrics.
Death is upon us! Like Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore and his troops, Nic Zorlac and the boys swoop down on us to the sounds of the Valkyries. Armed to the teeth with obscure combos, wallies, technical wizardry and raw power- these men shall travel the land far and wide and take no prisoners. A manual pad before dawn? A concrete pool in Goa? Or, a crumbling brick bank in the wilderness..? In the words of their leader: Skate what you want. Skate how you want. Be who you want. Don’t let the bastards grind you down!
If I had to review this book in just one sentence, I’d say simply this: It’s the best book I have ever read. However, clearly I shouldn’t just leave it there, I should go into detail about just how much I liked this book, and what an impact it had at the time it was first released and its subsequent re-birth when it was reprinted.