Shellac at the Echoplex!

I can remember back in 92 when me and a few of my friends after having been big fans of Big Black and Rapeman, had heard that Steve Albini was doing a new band.  Didn't know the name of the band, but we did know that it was probably going to kick some serious ass!  In 93 when the first 7 inch arrived at the record store, I can remember asking the dude if he could hold a copy for me cuz I knew that they were probably going to be hard to get at the time.  I can remember getting the 7 inch manilla sleeve with the word Shellac lacquered over the front and the stamp "The Rude Gesture:A Pictorial History" stamped below.  I knew by just looking at the 7 inch that I would like it.  There seemed to be an overall aesthetic to the band that went into every detail of what they were doing.  When I got home and listened to the record, I was right, they kicked some serious ass!  Not only was the artwork engaging and original, but the sound was as well.  From great overall tones of all the instruments to Albini's delivery on vocals.  I had found a band that I was dying to see live.  And since I read most interviews and articles about the band at the time, I knew that Steve Albini seemed to not care much for Los Angeles.  So I guess It would be a while before I saw them play live.  I was right, it wasn't until around 97 or 98 that I would have to trek up to San Francisco to the Great American Music Hall for an afternoon matinee show.  Waiting for the band to start seemed like it took forever, with Bob Weston's bass line leading the way as they opened their set.  After the show, me and my friends new it was worth the wait and we had just witnessed something rad and unique.  Since then I've been fortunate enough to see them play finally in LA at the Knitting Factory around 2002 or 03 then in Chicago in 2006 for Touch n Go's 25th Anniversary and then back in LA at the Echoplex just about a week ago.  Well its been 14 years and 4 LP's later since I opened that first 7 inch and Shellac still kicks some serious ass!  The Travis Bean Guitars, weird guitar and bass heads/cabinet, and Todd Trainers ruling drumming.  Shellac have achieved what most bands probably never will.  They've been able to make the music they want to make and stay in control of how their music gets out and where they want to play shows.  If you're reading this and have never heard of the band despite the 14 years they've been around its probably because the band has made it so their way.  If you want to find out about Shellac and see a show your going to have to make an effort to find them.   For those of us who've been witness to the radness that is Shellac, you already know what most music fans are missing out on.   I hope Shellac keeps putting their music out and touring when they can.  Because no one is going to play the songs they've written they way they play them.        

The shadow of Steve Albini looming over that customized super rad guitar head that is a signature of the bands live performance.  The originality of this band even goes into the detail of how Steve attaches the guitar to himself.

Todd Trainer, one of the best rock drummers out there that you probably won't see in drummer mags like Modern Drummer or some Hot Licks Video.  Todd also does a solo project called "Brick Layer Cake" that is a departure from Shellac but still engaging musically if you've got the ears to check it out.  

One of the best Bass tones I've heard on record and live is Bob Weston.  One of my all time favorite records is a band Bob joined in their later history " Volcano Suns".  "Career in Rock" is a gem of a record to this day, with some of the coolest songs that were never heard on the radio.

Lance Mountain Art/Skate Demo!

When I think of skateboarding in the context of what it is to be a skateboarder and the history of the sport.  There are a few names that come to mind, but one that always seems to represent the fun and creative side of the sport is legendary pro skater Lance Mountain.  From the days of the original Bones Brigade to being owner of The Firm, and now still at the professional level with Flip and Nike.  Lance has been through several of the ups and downs of the skateboard industry.  Recently ran into Lance at a skate demo in Costa Mesa.  Where Lance was demoing his art while the younger groms were proving themselves on the street course.  Having recently come off of a leg injury, Lance is currently busy filming his part for an upcoming Flip video.  Lance has also been doing art  as early as I can remember me getting my first skateboard.  Before skateboarding professionals could transition to lucrative careers in fine art.  Lance's generation were just doing their own graphics for their boards and ads, along with guys like Neil Blender, John Lucero and Mark Gonzales.  As a kid it inspired me to try new creative outlets other than skateboarding like drawing, painting, music and photography.  Still committed to the skateboarding lifestyle and still shredding over kids twice as young.  Lance represents a level of commitment that I can only hope I still have as the years pass.    

Lance doing some realtime freejazz art demo.

I hit Lance up about doing some skate pix and some video of him skating for a future blog.  So be on lookout for a future blog with some skate footy.