Let's Take a Journey Shall We?

The Feelies

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I don't think I've ever heard a song by this band before today. KEXP played a track while I was driving and I was drawn to the extended breakdown that was somewhere between Devo and Bo Diddley and featured a mix of surf music and tribal rawness. Upon a little research on the web, I found out who it was, and the song I heard was "Crazy Rhythms" from the album of the same name. Here's the full recording. 

Enjoy. I know I am.

Philm ... at 11

So good to see Dave Lombardo moving on after breaking up with Slayer and making some really good music. He was the lifeline of Slayer and was not given his share of their profits at all. I don't blame him from getting the hell out from under Tom and Kerry's grip - those two have become Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of what once was a great band... 

Goosebumps this one gives me.

Can You Dig It?

The Warriors had an enormous impact on me when I was growing up. So much so I would fantasize about moving to NY and joining a gang. I once called a random number in NY just to speak to someone from The City. I thought everyone from there was in a gang. 

Quotes from the film can still be heard today, as everyone knows, "Warriors ... come out to playeyay." From the first time I watched The Warriors to the countless other times I've spent with the film, it never goes out of style. 

Do you hear me boppers? Good, real good.

Tres Años Después

It's been three years ago, as of today, that my wife and I said our vows. Though it's been a roller coaster ride since then - we bought a house, we've learned about the commitment it takes to be married, etc. - life has been good. 

We used a song by this band for our first dance together as a couple and I was rifling through some old footage today when I found this gem from 2003. Like My Morning Jacket, we've made some changes, matured, and grown together. Here's to another three. 

Weener

Oh how I love this band. I recently read a story about Dean Ween "borrowing" Carlos Santana's guitar to record the solo for "Transdermal Celebration" off of 2003's "quebec" album. It makes sense now that I think of it. Whether imitating or originating, Ween always did things their own way. 

One of the best live shows I've had the pleasure of seeing was Ween at Portland's Crystal Ballroom in 2003. It was one of those shows where it seemed incomprehensible to miss a second of. In fact, I was asked to go to the bar and grab a beer at one point during the set. I turned it down to remain firmly planted, or in that case, bouncing (the Crystal Ballroom is notorious for its bouncy flooring) along with the band and the audience. The following video was recorded that same year and brings it all back home. All hail the Boognish.

RIP Ezra Caldwell

Though I never met Ezra, I started following his journey with cancer a while ago. He was incredibly positive through it all and I hope he is in a better place, riding endless miles of singletrack and smiling from ear to ear. 

http://www.teachingcancertocry.com

Red Balls and Monster Synergy

The Red Bull Rampage gets crazier every year. There are guys pushing the boundaries that most of us can, or can't, only dream about. Take for instance the following run.

Balls to the Wall, man. 

Friday Afternoon Jams - Look Into the Light

This a great example of simplicity that sounds intricate. Huge guitar sound by The Blank Tapes here.

WHORES.

I know, right? Not a real family friendly name but this recent discovery has me grinning ear to ear. Whores. is a heavy three-piece outfit that isn't exactly doing anything groundbreaking, but they sure sound and look like they are having a good time. And that, is what music should do to those playing and listening to it. 

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Things That Suck and Things That Don't

This pretty much says it all. I much prefer smaller non-sanctioned races to events that add on extra expenses so they can make it official and so I can then tally my points at the end of the season to calculate where I stand in the race for mediocrity. 

On another note, not much tickles my fancy more than "discovering" new music, especially when the music I discover has actually been around since about the time I was born. In this case it's the band Hawkwind. Their catalog is extensive but the early '70s saw them at their best. Lemmy was in the band for a few years before forming the now legendary Motorhead , named after a song from Hawkwind. Monster Magnet was heavily influenced by them too, and after listening to songs like the following, it's obvious where Dave Wyndorf found his passion for swirling effects and surreal imaging. My obsession with space continues.... 

Tommy Dugan - No F#@ks Will Be Given

I came across the following video today and was completely floored. Big. Smooth. Brakeless. I have to wonder about the sanity of this kid, as he pushes some serious boundaries in this clip. 

Tommy Dugan: Empire - Bad Idea from CollateralBMX on Vimeo.

At least he wears a helmet. Sometimes. 

Silly Speeders in Philly

Though I didn't get to make it to this year's showdown in the city of brotherly love, it was well documented.  For that I am thankful. 

This collection from A.E. Landes Photography sums it up well.

There still may be hope for civilization after all. 

Dee Rang Oh

I feel so privileged to have lived in Durango, if only for a few short years. The friends I made there are some of my best, and the experiences they've shared with me have undoubtedly made me a better and stronger person. I have ridden and laughed with legends who are consistently busy living life to its fullest. Without hesitation I can say that my time spent in the Southwest riding its trails and roads are some of my fondest memories to date. Seeing this video made me a bit homesick. I hope to once again spend ample time exploring the Four Corners region and continuing the relationships gained while being there. Happy trails my friends.

DWP

Daniel Wakefield Pasley is another unique character who has been in and out of my life for about the past decade. He is a sobering, witty and funny fellow who seems to have a camera attached to his face at all times. He doesn't miss much. 

Courtesy of Velodramatic.com

On my 40th birthday I hooked up with a bunch of my Durango friends and a few of my Portland buddies to tackle a little tour around Beef Basin and through parts of Canyonlands National Park on fat bikes. What transpired from the trip was DWP shooting thousands of photos and carrying about 900 pounds of film in the process - I know this because we all took a turn at pushing his bike at some point. 

Some of the photos and an editorial piece ended up in Wend Magazine (RIP). Though the story was embellished dramatically for entertainment's sake, it made for a good read about what could be, and Damon Riehl even made the cover, which in itself is a story. 

From that trip I gained much, and even a favorite shot of myself that DWP took:

Daniel also runs the website Manuel for Speed where he chronicles pro racers in a way that only he can. The results are fantastic; the details in all of the stories are not what readers might expect, but if you know DWP, you'd presume nothing less. 

So if you ever come across a big white stocky blonde Norwegian with blue eyes who boasts an interminable boyish demeanor and most likely has a Hasselblad in his hands, go say hello. 

You won't regret it. 

Bizarrely Beautiful and Bristly

I can't exactly take credit for finding this gem, as Stevil beat me to it. Regardless, it's too good to not share with my throngs of followers (listen to the pin drop here). This is a delightful look at a hairy individual with really good taste in hobbies.


The Chop with Ed Oxley from Whitenosugar Productions on Vimeo.

I think the best part, however, is that I found out about the band Kadaver. More specifically, this gem of a song by yet more hairy individuals set in one of my favorite climates:

Rock thrives in the desert.

VeloDirt

I recently discovered VeloDirt via a story I am working on for Bicycle Paper about hunting by bike. It's from a group that lives in Portland, Ore., who put together some really cool bike adventures. I highly recommend checking it out.

Photo by yours truly. Somewhere in Utah.

UPDATE: At long last, here's the finished version of the hunting article as published in the winter issue of Bicycle Paper. Now get out there and pull the trigger.

Guilty Pleasures

While recently searching for something to add to date night for the wifey's birthday, I came across a show at Seattle's Paramount Theater. I know Erin's musical tastes pretty well and Empire of the Sun definitely have the dance beat formula she likes. At first glance I was thinking, "you've got to be joking, right?" They look like something from a B-rated Avatar on Broadway show. Lots of gold and other shiny bits, headdresses, makeup... Uber cheese sauce.

But then I gave them a listen. I couldn't help but like it. Part Prince, part MGMT, part Michael Jackson, and something I don't even know. So off we went last night to see them live.

I'll be damned, it was actually really good.

Live, they spare no expense in props and lighting and even have four dancers throughout the set who frequently change costumes.

I've been finding more information on Luke Steele and he was in a band called The Sleepy Jackson, which may be even better and definitely not so over-the-top. And I thought the only good music from Australia was AC/DC, INXS, and Midnight Oil...

Mekong Hella - The Band is Back Together

Jon Bailey is a unique individual with many talents. I had the privilege of becoming good friends with him while living in Durango, Colo., and we've remained as such for many years. We spent a lot of time riding bikes, creating art, and playing music in the "Blue House." He's one of those guys who can look at something that is broken and instantly come up with a plan and find the means to fix it, hence why he's a great bike mechanic who's putting together old donated bikes at Durango Cyclery under the moniker Recyclery. He also has an insane amount of talent as an artist.

On the bike, JB will go faster and ride more miles than most anyone, all while throwing in a trick or two in the most demanding technical sections. One of the first adventures I went on after we met was a little thing called the "Freedom Tour." A group of five of us including modern day legends Steve Fassbinder, Bob Gregorio, and Thad Ferrell, set off toward the open expanse of southeast Utah on roads less traveled. I had just recently met all of them and Bob suggested I join in a few days prior.



On the first day of that tour I came to the realization that I was way out of my league. They could ride all day long, sunup to sundown, without even thinking about it - and we climbed some pretty intense roads including the Moki Dugway and the Burr Trail Switchbacks. One night around a poached campsite outside of Natural Bridges everyone suddenly realized that I was riding a double chainring road bike setup on my Gunnar Crosshairs and had a good laugh at my expense (they were all riding mountain bike gearing, i.e. triple chainrings and smaller gears). For that I earned a little respect and it was on that trip that I learned what self-sustained touring was all about and I've been sufficiently hooked ever since. 

Yesterday I got a call from Jon telling me he had a three-hour layover in Seattle so we made a plan to hook up for dinner and beers. He was heading home after another epic trip with a few unsuspecting individuals. It was great to catch up and realize that no matter how much time lapses between visits, we are bros for life. 

Derailleurless in Seattle

So the wife has been in China for two weeks exploring and sightseeing, which makes me a bachelor! Sounds awesome, right? Time to let loose and do all those manly things. I had all of these plans to do so much while she was gone. Things like visiting friends, maybe make some new ones, playing and recording music, going out to eat on the cheap ... you get the idea. Instead, I have been laying low at the house and catching up on sleep, eating easy to prep food and watching TV; I'm now up to date on Sons of Anarchy and I've finished Weeds. Damn if I ain't a ton of fun. A baller. 

I did do one thing I'm quite fond of, though. That one thing is converting my Gunnar Crosshairs into a singlespeed cyclocross machine. After ten years of ownership and having countless different setups that include the Gunnar being a road bike, a touring bike (with a triple chainring), a geared 'cross bike and faithful fendered commuter, she's now a bonafide simple steed. 

Perty, idn't she? (note the "hands holding a malamute" in the corner)

As most cyclists making the switch know, the "magic gear" is an extreme rarity and a bike with vertical dropouts will undoubtedly require the use of a chain tensioner. Not so for this project. I found the perfect 38-18 setup that adequately keeps a tight chain line and I couldn't be happier. I raced it last Sunday at the famed Silver Lake course, north of Seattle. It was a hoot and made me realize how perfect singlespeeds are for racing 'cross. No mis-shifts, no mishaps and no overthinking. Just riding as fast and efficient as possible.

And you know what? I'm not missing anything, except for my wife.