Monthly Archives: August 2009

A longtime friend of The Hundreds, veteran skateboarder Mike York, made an appearance at our headquarters this afternoon.  Mike is a certified O.G. when it comes to sidewalk surfing.  He is the embodiment of my personal golden age of skateboarding: the ’90s.  And it’s appropriate that he’s making headway back into the game now, in ’09.  Yorkatron was commenting that the era of pre-pubescent groms hucking off gaps is over, and now it’s time for the old guys to be welcomed back.

I couldn’t agree more.

Skateboarding is in such a funky limbo these days… speaking of which, it really reminds me of 15 years ago when the sport was all but defunct.  There was zero money in it, the big companies had fallen, there was a cataclysmic shift in the industry in terms of tricks, fashion, attitude, and style..  And the only riders and small companies left were those who had a pure love for skateboarding.  Of course, this was also why skateboarding was so awesome, fun, and creative at the time.

I miss the Old York:

by bobbyhundreds

Check the JAGS signature pocket stitch.  The homey P-Rod’s been known to only skate in The Hundreds denim. Now he makes it loud and clear on the cover of The Skateboard Mag‘s October issue, on newsstands now.

by bobbyhundreds

So for the 99% of you who are too lazy to scroll through and read about my Saturday, here are the Cliff’s notes.

by bobbyhundreds

[First of all, if you haven't already, make sure you read the previous entry to find out how I got here]

On the bus ride to the show, Peter (Cassette) and I had a good talk about our mutual hobby of photography.  I mean, most of it was complaining that people who get into photography today have it easy with the digital cameras, Photoshop, and the accelerated learning curve.  I picked up photography as a teenager from my friend Zach.  Strictly shooting film on a Nikon SLR, it took me years to figure out what kids today learn in weeks.

Aside from time, it was costly.  Depending on the film, and where I developed my rolls, it’d cost me an average of $15 to get back 36 photos of over/under-exposed rubbish.  Even better would be shooting a band to walk offstage and realize you never even loaded your film properly.

The point being that some of my fondest memories, and favorite photography, were rooted in summer music festivals like Saturday’s Epicenter at the Pomona fairgrounds.  Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to shoot a variety of musicians at these kinds of events, from Mos Def to The Paladins, Sonic Youth to The Get Up Kids, Sleater-Kinney, Helmet, A Tribe Called Quest, and even Sublime a few months before Brad passed.  I had forgotten what it was like to be in an environment where thousands of young kids congregated to share nothing but a good time.  The atmosphere at these day-long concerts is electric, the extreme temperatures churn out sweat and grease, yet the kids are nothing but smiles.

It’s generally not so much fun shooting strangers in real life because everyone gets camera shy and/or thinks you’re going to plaster their image all over the internet. But wherever you point your camera at shows like these, everyone is so genuinely enthused to be there that they turn into the most willing subjects.

So after Alice in Chains cleaned up, Linkin Park was next and I headed down to the photo pit to rub elbows with all kinds of professional photographers. Staffers for AP, local newspapers, online media, band publicity, music magazines, etc.  I feel at home down here, it’s a different kind of moshpit in the barricaded photographers’ area with all the shutterbugs gunning for that one money shot.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen John, although he’s in the pit on a nightly basis.  John and I used to shoot for our high school newspaper, but since then he’s gone on to shoot professionally as a staffer for Wire Image.  Years ago, we did a The Hundreds Chronicle on him, if you remember.  Check out his portfolio, you’ll be impressed.

John and I were in the middle of catching up when I heard scratching coming from the speakers behind us.  Sure enough, Joe had taken the stage and the crowd was losing their noodles.  I just realized Joe’s big-upping his store SURU there. Nice.

This is my favorite shot from the day. Just sayin’.

Alright, I’ll admit I don’t know much of Linkin Park’s music outside of all the radio jams, but you know what?  Whether you want to admit it or not, by sheer numbers and popularity, this right here is the Rock and Roll band of our generation.  This is that band that our kids will listen to in decades and ask “Daddy, did you ever see Linkin Park play live?”  And now I can say, “Yes, son, I did.  Now stop eating your boogers and finish your cereal.”

Joe and Mike doin’ their thang.  Imagine really loud music and fainting teenagers to accompany these photos.

So as anyone who’s shot photos at big concerts can attest to, Security kicks all media out after the first 3 songs of the set.

Monster Energy Drinks had a VIP arena front-and-center for guests to watch the show without getting sweated on or jabbed with glow sticks.  So I headed over there to finish off the night.  The general area was buzzing with all kinds of bad B-list VH1 celebrities.. I swear half these girls were on one of those horrible “Something of Love” dating shows.  Imagine lots of gold foil print on t-shirts and Frankenstein boobs. I also saw Steve-O with hair.

I made my way down to the reserved room for friends and family and watched the rest of the guys’ set next to the soundboards guys.  The view was much better from here.

The guys closed off their set, Chester introduced his new band, Tool headlined the night.  But by this time I was already back over at the bus eating sausage pizza and chopping it up with more friends who made the trek in from L.A.

It was a good day. My 15-year-old self gave me a high five for that one.

by bobbyhundreds

So Joe (Linkin Park) invited me to come watch his band perform Saturday out in the sleepy suburban brown town of Pomona.  He arranged a tour bus for the afternoon, so this is what was awaiting in his driveway by the time I got there.  The driver told me that he just took Ice Cube and his family on vacation in this beast, dropped ‘em off the night before, came and picked us up.

Maybe you’d find it strange that I’ve never been on a tour bus before, considering my rowdy rock star lifestyle.  I’m like the Bret Michaels of streetwear, in case you haven’t heard.  It kinda felt like a Laughlin Best Western motel inside, but with mini cupcakes, chorizo quesadillas and iced liquor stocked in all the cabinets.  So there were 2 of these lounges on both ends of the bus, separated in the middle by a bunkbed room.

This bus comfortably sleeps 12.  Joe and the band’s filmer Mark exchanged stories from the road over years of touring.  Apparently the beds are really comfortable, each equipped with a screen and DVD player, and you can pull an easy 8 hours with the curtains drawn.

The diamond ceiling mirror was the cherry on top.  We were watching Fast Times at Ridgemont High, anxiously anticipating Phoebe Cates’ pool scene. But when the moment came, Eric (Giant Robot) accidentally pressed the remote and RUINED EVERYTHING!

So we reach our destination, on the backlot of a rock music festival called Epicenter.  Some concert officials boarded the bus, distributed our passes, and made us feel special.  I also hooked up the Media pass so I could score some pit shots for you guys.

As we de-bus, Mike Shinoda (right) has no trouble convincing Peter (Cassette), Joe, and I to head over to the main stage to watch Alice in Chains perform.

So we piled into an unmarked white van and pulled up right behind the stage.  I could hear Alice in Chains jumpstart their set as the doors opened, the gritty smoke mixing with the wafting dust in the air.  At this point, I’m feeling REALLY special.

But probably not as special as Joe. I couldn’t walk with this guy or Mike anywhere near the concertgoers. Their fans were rabid, no shame, shouting, begging for autographs, super excited and maniacal to see their favorite rockstars.  After 2 minutes out of the hole, we had to duck backstage, much to the dismay of underage girls and their cougar moms who were ready to throw their bodies and unmentionables at the guys.

So I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I thought I was gonna spend the day at a regular run-of-the-mill concert. But as we stepped onstage, I looked out on a sea of heads, the brown haze rolling in like fog…

Duuuude:

To be continued…

by bobbyhundreds

Boss was a good sport today and helped me out, modeling for some upcoming print magazine advertisements for The Hundreds, decked in our upcoming Holiday 2009 gear.  Here’s the most I could reveal to you from today’s shoot.. and your second sneak peek at The Hundreds Eyeware.  This debut model is entitled the “Phoenix,” made in Italy, and you’re looking at the black colorway.  As always, more info forthcoming.  Stay tuned.

by bobbyhundreds

And this, my friends, is Phil Lumbang.

I headed up to Phil’s studio in the distant galaxy of Silver Lake / Echo Park late this afternoon.  His pad is decorated with a lot of fun things to look at: art, photographs, from some famous people, some not-so-famous.

Phil is an artist himself.  Though he’d be the first to admit that he’s of the not-so-famous variety. He’d also admit that he’s more of a graphic designer, not really a painter.  But that’s okay with him, he has no agenda here.  He just wants to draw bears.

Awesome Bears, at that.

Phil has worked as Shepard Fairey’s art assistant for the past several years, but is finally venturing off to concentrate on his true passion: his imagined, fantastical world of happy-faced animals that have been sprouting up all over the streets of Los Angeles, the internet, and art galleries.

The Awesome Bears are a response to the current climate of street art.  While everyone’s juiced on getting up, fixated on who’s bigger, who’s badder, Phil just wants to take it back to Fun.  Simply put, with simple drawings, Phil Lumbang wants to incite happiness.

That’s why he doesn’t even bother getting up at night.  He’s got nothing to hide.  The Awesome Bears that’ve been popping up on abandoned warehouses in downtown Los Angeles, stripped brick walls, and abandoned lots, were all painted in the middle of the day.  He actually just got busted by some black-and-whites in Chinatown last week, but when they realized Phil’s mission of spreading smiles, all they could do was shake their heads and laugh.

Personally, I was first drawn to the Awesome Bears because of their iconic simplicity.  The art scene has become so tired and redundant, as of recent more directed around financial numbers, politics, hype, and public notoriety, than personal fulfillment and pure enjoyment.  So to see Phil’s characters steal some of that limelight has been refreshing, to say the least.  All you can do is smile when you see an Awesome Bear, and sometimes that is the most powerful work that an artist can offer.

This is where Phil keeps his paints.

And this is all the paint he needs.  For now. I asked him if he ever sees the Awesome Bears as colored, and he said definitely yes.

So there are other animals in the Awesome world of cartoonery.  Lately, rabbits have come into the picture.  Every animal is different, subtle idiosyncrasies here and there, an upturned lip, a heavier eye, a skewed nose..

Phil takes me through the process. With anything he does, it starts with hand drawn illustrations.

Here are some early details of Awesome Bears. Back then, they had a bit more expression and facial characteristics.  Phil managed to take it down a notch, whittling the bears to their most basic features.

Don’t get it twisted, Phil’s skillset goes far beyond simple cartoon bears, but for some reason, he’s just always loved to draw giddy furry creatures.  But being trained in such areas as Anatomy drawing have helped him lend form and sensible movement to his Awesome Bears.  As basic as they seem, there’s actually a lot of conscious deliberation put into the characters’ posture, stance, and expression.

It’s funny, Phil admits that so much of the Awesome Bears are modeled after his own physical appearance.

Yeah, I dunno. Phil has the craziest Transformers collection.

Super chill.  In the past half-year, there’s been such a tremendous response to Phil’s Awesome Bears in the immediate art community and beyond.  Phil just told me that Giant Robot has him slated as the cover, and accompanying 8-page-interview, in their September issue.  Plus, he has his own solo exhibition, “HUG LIFE,” coming up September 12 at Rebel Army Studios.  Check Phil’s site for more information.

Oh, before we go.  Here’s a vintage Awesome Bear, back when Phil admits he was “tryin’ to be on some ironic, funny shit.”  Awesome Bears would never say anything like that today.

Don’t ask.

by bobbyhundreds

I was fooling around in our photo studio this afternoon when our friends from Nylon Pink checked in.  They’re on the way to premiere their new music video for “Lipstick” tonight at Les Deux and have also got another show at The Warped Tour this Sunday at the Home Depot Center (Kevin Says Stage).

Over at THLA, I talked to some Filipino ninja Iron Mike about MMA for a good hour.  Why Strikeforce is better than UFC, how to get out of an armbar, Fedor and GSP’s world destruction, why MMA is like modern day WWE WWF.

That’s Rich Hill and Umi doing the Star Trek greeting incorrectly.  Anyways, Rich is Ally Hilfiger’s brother (that chick from MTV’s “Rich Girls,” which is heralded as the precursor for “The Hills.”)  WHO CARES.  More importantly, Rich is Tommy Hilfiger’s son.

Rich. Is. Tommy. Hilfiger’s. Son.

He also has a budding music career.  We were playing some of his music in the store today — not bad.  He has a joint out there with Kid Cudi as well.

Rich.

by bobbyhundreds

So after that post yesterday, someone over at Grand Central Market (or GCM as we like to say in the ‘hood) sent over a week’s worth of groceries in a show of gratitude.

But best of all, was the shirt made specifically for Pat.  An orange tee with ORANGES on it.  It doesn’t get any better than this.

by bobbyhundreds

Remember back before The Black Eyed Peas had the chick from Kids Incorporated on their side, were considered underground hip-hop here in L.A., and made songs like “Joints and Jams” and “Fallin’ Up?” Well Congratulations if you do, but that has absolutely nothing to do with this post.

2 things. First off, if you didn’t already figure out through our newsletter, The Hundreds x SE 26″ PK Ripper bike is now for sale in our new-and-improved ONLINE SHOP, as well as the collaboration t-shirt.

Furthermore, I just wanted to let you know that the second part of The Hundreds’ Fall 2009 Delivery 1 hits THLA and THSF this Thursday morning. Up for grabs are our new season of accessories as well as a fresh batch of tees, just some of which include:

“Kai.” This one’s an homage to the original coolguys.   All murdered out, smokin’ dope in the bathroom, the hoodies.. Cobra Kai crew gets down.  Don’t get caught runnin’ in a shower stall costume.

“Bombsquad.”

Anyone who’s ever achieved a modicum of success can relate to this one.  They can also relate to attracting pesky haters eager to spread their bitter seed.  So this one’s for our jealous, insecure friends out there who spend more time spewing hate than concentrating on their own progress.  Paraphrased from Jim Hightower’s original quote, “Even the smallest dog can piss on a big building.”

(Special guest appearance by Wallace Hundreds)

I was never really good at math but I was pretty good at cheating, which was probably a more important life skill than Geometry proofs.  When was the last time you used a protractor ?

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

“Waldo” socks.  Switch wore these the other day and then complained that after he washed ‘em, they shrunk in the dryer. So then I told him to try ‘em on in front of me.  After he faked all kinds of hardships like O.J. with the glove, turns out they fit JUST fine.  If it fits, you must acquit.

3 new colorways of our popular JAGS leather belt.  Now whenever your shirt rides up, girls will spot something else surprising instead of that Dolphin tramp stamp you got on Spring break, buddy.

The Adam trifold velcro wallet is perfect for holding all the money you don’t have.

Here’s the brown colorway of our Bifold Square wallet.  There’s also a black one for all you toughguys who still wanna look awesome while you’re being tough and impressing your male friends and all.

I named this one the “JON” backpack but I won’t tell you why or else Jon will install a brick in my face.  But it’s the perfect utilitarian backpack for everyday use.  Even has a nice laptop holder, custom TH zipper pulls, plenty of space to hold bricks of all sizes.

You’d never believe it, but the PAPARAZZI backpack has something to do with cameras.

So yeah, there’s a laptop holder in the back with another compartment to hold bricks and toughguy wallets and all the aforementioned money you don’t have..  But when you unzip the bottom, you’ll find storage for all your camera gear or whatever else you wanna keep hidden from your parents, wives, authorities, TSA, God.  Yes, that’s right. Even God can’t find what’s in there.  We’re that good.

I’m going to Hell now huh?

by bobbyhundreds