Shows: The Shake-Ups at The Melody

On Sunday, April 24th, 2010, the Pandster and I went to the Melody Inn for a nice evening of good, live music. Which is pretty standard for The Melody. Let's face facts: They definitely have good taste, and they always book the coolest underground stuff.





The Melody Inn at night. Indianapolis' finest punk-rock music venue, by far.


I had to go to this show, because Red Queen Hypothesis was playing. I first saw them years ago at The Speakeasy in Muncie, and they were a ton of fun. So naturally, I was all about seeing them again. I was pretty excited, actually. Not many "local" bands have that kind of "staying power"... or, are even that "memorable" to begin with. So, yeah. I was hyped.

This "big evening out" was one of the least expensive that I've had in a while. Ten bucks at the door (for two), and a ten-buck "bar tab" (that consisted entirely of Cokes for yours truly, and Diets for The Pandster) made for a pretty easy-on-the-wallet gig. Another Melody strong-point! So: Not ony are they the coolest, they're also the cheapest. Shit, man! Nirvana has truly arrived...





The Prannies...



The "opener" for the night was The Prannies. They bill themselves as "rock/pop/americana" according to their MySpace... and, that's about right. I thought they sounded very much like Steve Miller, or Bob Seger. I don't know, man, check it out for yourself:

http://www.myspace.com/prannies

I thought they were pretty good. Not too shabs. I'd see 'em again...




Red Queen Hypothesis...


Red Queen Hypothesis has had some major lineup changes, as well as a big move from Richmond, Indiana to Indianapolis. They went from a six- or seven-piece band (with a horn section), to a power-pop trio. They still sounded great, though! Check them out, here:

http://www.myspace.com/redqueenhypothesis

I can't wait to see them again...





... and, The Shake Ups...!


But, the hands-down show-stealer of the evening, was The Shake-Ups. Everyone knew that: Even the other bands commented on how great this band was. If there's a critic that you can truly trust, it's another band. And, the crowd was all about 'em, too. Bands fanning out, plus the crowd fanning out, plus me and Pands fanning out, equals a winner in my book.

They hail from Indianapolis, which is awesome. Because, hopefully, they'll play their hometown a lot! Which also happens to be mine, so that works out pretty conveniently, doesn't it...? They're so good, that they just might be my new favorite band. Seriously...! Fun, quirky, talented, and having some of the most brilliant fucking songwriting chops that I've seen in quite some time all make for a great time, every time. No joke, check 'em out here:

http://www.myspace.com/theshakeups

Now, I'm going to be seeing this band again... this coming Friday night, actually! (May 14th) Wow, that snuck up on me mighty quick didn't it?! They're having a CD release party for their brand-new CD, "Warm Fuzzies", at the Monkey's Tale in Broad Ripple at 8:00 sharp. And, I'm definitely gonna be there. You can also check them out at:

www.theshakeups.net.


This is definitely a band that I'm gonna go see every time that I get a chance. Oh, shit! I almost forgot: They put on an awesome live show, and their set sounds ridiculously good, to boot. So, yeah... go see this band. Today, if you can...!

That'll do it for this installment. See ya at the next show...!



The Solitary Life wants to thank The Melody Inn for sticking it out for 70-plus years, and giving Indy some genuinely memorable music moments. Bottom's up, and here's to 70 more...! Also: Thanks for letting me shoot photos whenever I want; you guys are the best.







.

Heads Up!: Introduction

Introduction

We're proud to introduce the unveiling of a new column here at The Solitary Life titled "Heads Up!". "Heads Up" is going to be our version of a "Buyers Guide" that will be updated, and published, throughout the year, for [hopefully] years and years to come.

This was an idea that we hatched very, verrry early on in the life of TSL. Actually, the original concept goes way back to my time at Concrete Wave Magazine, working on their Buyers Guide. Which was always a little bit of a pain in the tuckus, and a whole lotta fraught with anxiety. And, I wasn't even the dude putting it all together. Thank Gawd.

However: The basic problems with print buyers guides are many, and intractable. First of all, you're still killing trees to print information on, which is soooo un-green, and such a fucking "dinosaur" technology...

Then, secondly, you have the fact that a "print" buyers guide takes many, many weeks to compile. By the time it actually comes out, many of the products inside are already well through their usual "product life cycle". Which, in our "industry", can usually be measured in "weeks" or "months"... but, almost never in "years". As such, any given Buyers Guide is only "current" for a few months [at best]. Which makes it fully useless for the rest of the year. All those trees, killed in vain...

But then, we also have the hijinx of The Media to consider. Not so much with Concrete Wave... thankfully, Michael is a dinosaur with standards, at least... but, with other mags' "buyers guides", we generally have a system where every product under the goddamned sun (and then some) is included therein. Whether they're totally bullshit or not, seems not to matter very much (if at all).

And, "inclusion" in these "guides" almost always has it's price. It's sort of like a "payola" scheme that the mags are running, where the general rule is "Cash For Coverage". Which always serves the magazines' interests... and, serves the interests of the manufacturers, maybe... but, all of this bullshit almost never serves the interests of the average skateboarder, who usually has to sort through "the bullshit" for themselves. And almost always, "The Expensive Way". Through buying these products, and then undertaking an experiment in trial and error. And oftentimes, disappointment.

Hey: Isn't that what a "buyers guide" is supposed to help average skaters avoid...? Expensive and disappointing "guesswork" in the marketplace...!?

Well, of course it is.


Why We're So Weird!

Here at The Solitary Life, we like to do shit a little bit differently. And, we follow through on that.

First of all: Eliminating the "print" in the world of "buyers guides" saves trees, chemicals, and energy...making this Buyers Guide a hell of a lot more "green". As well as "timely", "infinitely editable" (with just a couple of clicks, any and all errors can be rectified!), and "dynamic" (we can add, delete, and update products at our whim... again, with just a click! Woooooooo!).

Instead of doing just one Buyers Guide a year, we can easily do two, three... hell, however many that we'd like to compile. Just depends on how masochistic we're feelin', I suppose. At the end of the day, we decided to just make our "Buyers Guide" an ongoing column, updated whenever we saw or felt the need to do so. Easy, simple, quick... perfect.

That brings me to my last "point". That, unlike most Buyers Guides, this one is heavily "filtered". That means that, we actually put our hands on a lot of this stuff... researching, going through the house quiver, chillin' at skate shops with the calipers, arguing... testing, and re-testing... and finally, sorting out which companies had the best, and most consisent reputations for product quality, longevity, design, style, and function. You just can't buy that sort of "insight". It's gotta come from a team of completely temperamental nerds. Skating your ass off for a couple decades or so doesn't hurt, either..

The following is a bunch of stuff that outlines what we're thinking, and how the Buyers Guide is gonna work from here on out:


The Companies

In order to qualify for the Buyers Guide, you had to be first and foremost, a skateboard company that we would "normally" support here at The Solitary Life. And, why would we "normally" support these companies? Because:

- They do good shit for skateboarding, or
- They consistently make good stuff, or
- They're truly skater-owned and operated, or
- They're some combination [or, all] of the above.

Nobody paid one red cent to be included here. Indeed, many of these manus might not even be aware that they actually made the cut. We're pretty secretive, selective... and, maybe most importantly, fully independent from "the industry" hijinx. This is the closest thing that you'll find to a "Consumer Reports of Skateboarding", right here. A vision that I've wanted to see come to life, eventually. Finally realized, after all these years...!

And: We went all-out to pick a broad cross-section of disciplines, styles, and philosophies. Whatever the hell you're into, it's [hopefully] represented here. Street, vert, pools, freestyle, longboarding, cruising, carving, racing... it's all included. It's The Skateboarding Smorgasboard, At It's Fullest. Dig in.


Standout Product(s):

For each manufacturer, we picked one [or more] products that we felt represented the overall line, and/or, deserved special recognition. These are things that piqued our interests for one reason or another, and ended up squarely on our "wish list".

And, that best describes what this list is... a wish-list of stuff that we'd like to check out in the near future. Things that we'll almost surely be buying, skating, sizing up, and enjoying for ourselves. We'll keep ya posted on our impending bankruptcy, because I can already see that it's gonna be a pretty good time...




Here's a perfect example of a "standout product" from a "standout company", right here: SMA's beautiful and bitchin' "Stigmata" longboard. More than likely designed as a "cruiser", this board excels in all sorts of skating situations. Everything from bowls, to banks, to the boardwalk... this thing performs great, and is a head-turner to boot. This one's set up with 60mm 92a NOS Santa Cruz Bullets, and Independent 169's. It's also a prized piece of the "house" quiver... when I let anyone else ride it, of course...!


Spotted At

This was almost always, an online retailer. Or, the manufacturers' own website(s). The main retailers that we "shopped" at were:

- Socal Skateshop (www.socalskateshop.com),
- Skate Supply (www.sk8supply.com), and
- Tailtap (www.tailtap.com).

Because, these are the shops that we use, and endorse, here at The Solitary Life. That said, I'd like to take a moment to give Mike Hirsch, Dave Anderson, and Buddy Carr some recognition. They all run outstanding shops, and they all serve their customers extremely well. They stock all sorts of fun, and hard-to-find shit. And, they're cool fucking people, to boot. Thanks, guys. Where would we be without ya...?!

For the hard-to-find longboard stuff, we also consulted Daddies Boardshop here and there (www.daddiesboardshop.com). We've never used them in the past, but we surely will in the future.

If you still really can't find what you're looking for, you can buy direct from [most of] these manufacturers now. Wow, man... the wonders of the internet...


In The Spotlight

There are certain companies that we felt had earned "spotlight" status. These are brands that we feel are making major moves. Whether by doing something exceptional product-wise, for skateboarding in general... or, for their customers... these are the brands that we feel are going above and beyond, right now.

Hey, man: We give credit where credit's due.


Mentionable:

And, of the brands who's reputations we couldn't "confirm" for ourselves (usually because, they're pretty new "brands")... we vowed that we'd get to the bottom of those, soon enough. After all: There's only so many skate-hours available in a day. Those "new" brands will be featured in a "Heads-Up!" sub-column titled "Mentionable", the first of which has already gone to press...

But still: Our ultimate mission was... and, still is... to separate the boss from the bullshit, and the kooky from the killer. In short: This is designed to be the Buyers Guide that you can actually trust to deliver the very best of the best.

We're pretty damn sure that we succeeded with that.

Can Your Company Make The Cut...?!

Find out for yourself. Send us an e-mail (no payola required), and do your damndest to convince us why your "brand" should be in the next installment.

It'd better be some pretty fucking good shit, though, because we [obviously] have some pretty high standards around here. You've been warned.



The first installment of "Heads Up!" is coming soon! Stay Tuned...

Question: Is IASC Nuts?

A Public Service Announcement...

And The Winner Is...

A couple weeks ago, we ran our very first "contest" here at The Solitary Life. Buried deep in the Evansville article was a totally impromptu "Name That Board" quiz . The correct answer, of course, is "Real Rob 'Sluggo' Boyce". The board is circa "about 1991" (or so), for all you skate-nerds out there...




Here's the "contest board", right here. It's one of the "cruisers" that the guys at Get Wet in Evansville, Indiana have floating around the shop. We're always shooting classic boards on the road, and we figured it washigh time to put one of these pics to good use.


The correct answer was submitted by Skull and Bones user "SkateRags" of San Antonio, Texas the very next day. So, we hurriedly sent him a prize pack that consisted of a big handful of both old/historical, and brand-new stickers… with an offer that, if that prize sucked, we would be more than happy to go back to the archives, and find something else. We don't like to suck here at The Solitary Life. And, we love our readers.

Today, we got this from SkateRags:


"I got my prize today, and I appreciate the effort. I also appreciate the "If its not right, I will fix it offer." I am almost tempted to take you up on it, just because I love the thrill of waiting for a package. That would be the only reason, though, because I am very happy with the stickers.

I have misplaced all my stickers, and had to stay out of the last [Skull and Bones] sticker swap. This is perfect. Thank you…”


No, SkateRags- thank you for reading The Solitary Life! Without our beloved readers, we'd just be a bunch of nutty nerds, incessantly typing to ourselves for no go reason at all. Which is what our girlfriends think of us, already…

Interview: Ryan Draper of Rooftop Skateboards

The man behind the plan... and, he skates. Gotta respect that...




Skates pretty good, I might add...


First of all, let's get the quick bio. Name, age, years skating, hometown/company headquarters, etc.

My name is Ryan Draper, and I have been skating for somewhere close to 9 years. I run RoofTop Skateboards in a small town called Bedford, Indiana.

Tell me a little bit about the Bedford skate scene. I've been there, documenting the skatepark for the Concrete Disciples dudes... it looked like a pretty smallish city. How's it look, actually being there?

The scene in Bedford is pretty small, even though we have some good spots here. It’s nice though, because we are all able to get together and skate as friends, regardless of skill or age. It seems like sometimes when we travel, we come across skaters who are involved in different rivalries, or are always trying to one-up everybody else. But, it’s not like that in Bedford.

I saw some Bedford heads up in Noblesville at Forest Park recently... you guys get around, don't ya?!

We do a lot of traveling. Bedford is a small place, and sometimes it is good to skate new stuff. What is nice about where we are, is that there are good parks in all directions, like the ones up toward Indianapolis and Noblesville… Killers Skatepark, in Evansville… and then, more skateparks in Lawrenceburg, and Louisville. Even some of the parents of the younger generation here, will take their kids to different parks. There have been times where we have gone to events, and some of the parents will load their cars up with people just so everyone can get there.

(Optional, doesn't need to be published, but...) Which woodshop do you guys use? Wheel manufacturer?

I wanted to find something that would be a good product for everyone; otherwise I was not going to start RoofTop. After riding a board from South Central Manufacturing, I knew that’s who should press our skateboards. We were later able to introduce wheels that we order from Woodchuck Laminates.





I love companies with a sense of humour...!


I noticed on your website, that a lot of shops carry Rooftop... except for, your local, hometown skateshop. Which, if I'm not mistaken, is Karma… right? What's up with that...?

I like to talk with retailers about what RoofTop is, and what I want it to be for skateboarders before an agreement is made to carry our products. It is important to me that I guarantee the retailer that our skateboards will not warp, pressure crack, or delaminate while they are on the shelf. I also work with them to make sure RoofTops are sold at a fair price. This is my way of guaranteeing skateboarders that they will get a solid product when they buy a RoofTop. I have actually spoken with Karma a couple of times, but it seems like a matter of timing that it hasn't happened yet. The couple of times we have actually caught up with each other, we still have been unable to discuss everything in detail. I can see it happening soon, though.

I noticed that you do sell direct-to-skaters, via the website... are those pries the same prices that you'd find at your local skateshop?

Skate shops have the control over what they set their prices at. I have seen prices on RoofTops from $38 to $48, depending on the shop. I set my online prices according to theirs. That way, there is no reason to come to me, over a local shop. I sell online to make sure that skaters who are unable to make it to shops still have access to our skateboards. When I was younger, we lived in the country. And we only had access to mail order, because our parents didn't have the time to drive to the next town. Even though we sell online, I prefer that skaters support their local shop [if they have one], and to ask for RoofTops at the counter if they don’t see them [on the wall].




Rooftop's dedication to supporting the core skate shop is more than evident on their website. It doesn't get any clearer than this...


Here's a good one: Why should skaters support their local skateshop...?

Skaters should support their local skate shop, because a skate shop that actually cares about skateboarding will attract events to the town, support a team, and provide encouragement to the local skateboarders. I know a lot of the core shops we work with will even give a discount to skaters from time to time, when they need help.

What if my local shop thinks I'm a dork… what do I do then?! (Note: Yes, my local shops do think I'm a dork, so yeah, I guess it's true. Guilty as charged, dudeman...)

I get the "dork" thing too from time to time, probably because I like country music! (Laughing…)

If a local shop is being serious about it, though, and coming down on you for being a dork because of what you listen to, or how you dress…? Then, they have missed the meaning of skateboarding completely. Keep doing your own thing, and forget what other people think.

That's pretty good advice. How did Rooftop get started? I remember some small company in Bedford called Ban Skateboards, and I guess you had something to do with that, too....?

Ban Skateboards got started when we decided to buy skateboards, and hand-draw them to influence skateboarding in our home town. We each had different ideas about where to go with it though. My friends Seth and Dwayne wanted to start a shop, and I wanted to get a company going… but, it just kind of died after awhile. Ryan [Smith] from the Rise in Bloomington had heard about it though, and showed some interest in carrying the boards. I knew it would be an opportunity to introduce something new to both areas. So, I started testing boards… and everything just took off from there. Seth, Dwayne, and I still meet at the park when we can, and skate together. It’s funny, because none of us ever thought that Ban Skateboards would actually lead anywhere. But, it ended up leading to talks of a new shop, and RoofTop skateboards…




These are the boards that I first saw at Boards-Inc. in Richmond, Indiana on tour last year. I'm always stoked on small, locally-owned, skater-bred, sincere little companies like this. Support them.


Here's one: Why "Rooftop"? What's the meaning behind the name...?

RoofTop just came into my mind one day while trying to think of a name that hadn't been used yet. I didn’t want to start a company under a name, only to find out later that somebody else was also using it. Since we are from a small town where people have to save all they can, I imagined some guy ripping off a piece of an old roof and nailing some wheels to it. I mentioned it to a friend one day joking about it, but he liked it and somehow RoofTop became the name.

Tell me about the team Who's on the program, and why'd you pick those dudes?

There are four guys on the team: Kelsey Perin, John Barcus, Matt McDole, and Tom Storm. Every one of these guys has something about their skateboarding that is amazing. I’ve seen Kelsey and Tom pull off some of the craziest stuff with amazing style, John is the kind of guy who will break out something technical when nobody expects it, and Matt always comes up with something crazy that nobody else has ever thought of doing when we go somewhere. I also usually invite local skater Chad Parkinson to go with the team, because he throws out the most technical stuff at any given time.




A composite-shot of Rooftop's current offerings. The humour is, once again, entirely evident in the graphics.


What are your goals with Rooftop? What are you trying to accomplish?

I want RoofTop to accomplish supporting the skateboarding community. To me, this means hosting and supporting events, helping the little kid down the road keep skateboarding when his parents don't have enough money, and working with shops to offer a board that is just as good as others at a reasonable price, so skateboarders can keep doing what they enjoy. RoofTop has already grown larger than I ever expected, and to me it is a company that everyone in the area can be a part of. RoofTop is something I do because I enjoy being involved in skateboarding, even when I have to dip into my pockets just to keep it going. It would be amazing to watch it grow, but whatever happens, I will just continue to do my best to make it available to anybody who wants it.

Last question: Why should the average kid support Rooftop, vs. Baker, Deathwish, Element, or whatever...?

My goal isn't to get everybody riding a RoofTop over the other brands; it’s just a different option that is available for skateboarders. I would like skateboarders to know that by supporting RoofTop, they are helping us fund events in the local areas. This means competitions and product tosses that everyone can be a part of. I have heard from an overwhelming amount of skaters that they love the way the boards feel, so I would encourage everyone to try one. At the end of the day, though, I think what matters is the skateboarding, and not the brands.

Thanks for the interview Bud!




Check 'em out for yourself: www.rooftopskateboarding.com.

In The Spotlight: Best of the Buyers Guide

Editor's Note:

The "In The Spotlight" segment of the "Heads Up!" Buyers Guide is exclusively reserved for companies that we felt had earned special "spotlight" status. These are brands that we feel are making major moves in the marketplace. Whether it's by doing something exceptional product-wise, or going over-and-above for skateboarding in general... or, offering the very best in customer care and customer support... these are the brands that we feel are going off the hook, right now.

Hey, man, it's pretty simple: We give credit where credit's due. What else can I say…?

The five "Spotlight" brands for this season are:

Alpha;
Loaded/Orangatang;
Santa Cruz (NHS);
Element;
and, Never Summer.

Congratulations to them all on a job well done.




Company: Alpha

Website: www.alphaskate.com
E-mail contact: info@alphaskate.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yes! And, they're even on sale!


Standout Products:



Here it is: The Alpha Tool! The Transformer of the skate-tool world. And, totally indestructible, to boot. Simply put? It's the best skate tool you'll ever buy… we can all but guarantee it.

Spotted at: I reviewed this for somebody, way back when. It still kicks ass, years later. Nothing else even comes close.

Price: Regularly $16.99, but on sale now (!) for $9.99 each.


Why we picked this:

Because we use this, and we use it all the time. We'll back this one up, strictly based on our first-hand experience with it. The one that they sent in for review [about three years ago… maybe four, now…] still works, and works the tits. It hasn't broken, rusted, or fallen apart (like so many other tools will)… and, the keychain-loop even keeps it from getting lost (and, believe me, we lose everything around here…)

The bottom line? Yeah, it's an outlay of ten-to-sixteen bucks. But: It's the last skate-tool that you'll ever buy. End Of Story.


___________________________________________________________________________


Company: Loaded/Orangatang

Website(s): www.loadedboards.com; www.orangatangwheels.com
E-mail contact(s): dontwalk@loadedboards.com; taco@orangatangwheels.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yes, on both.


Standout Products:




Here's the board that started it all: The Loaded Pintail. A couple years old now, and still world-class…





The Ceviche, which replaced "The Fish" in the lineup last year (as I recall). A huge leap forward in functionality… which is a lot to achieve, when you've already set the "high bar" with the previous product line…





The "4President" wheels. Extremely good wheels… ranking right up there amongst "the best in class"… if only it weren't for…





… their bigger brother, the "InHeat". Note the rippled inner lips, which are designed to improve rebound and response. Once again, surpassing their own "high bar".





The 70mm "Stimulus", a pre-ground wheel designed for perfect grip, right out-of-the-box (no break-in time required), and rounded lips… perfect for sliding and freeride applications.





And, lastly: The Durian. A 75mm beast of a wheel that can pretty much wreck whatever you put in front of/under it.


Spotted at: Loaded and Orangatang's websites. We reviewed a Pintail way back in the day, and we haven't looked back since.

Price: Loaded completes typically run upwards of about $300 a board; Orangatangs average around $55 a set.


Why we picked these:

From the first time that I ever laid my eyes on my Loaded Pintail, I knew straightaway that this was something very, very unique and special to behold. As did everyone else that happened to be in the room that day that it arrived… and, everyone that's laid eyes on it [and, more than likely, "borrowed" it…] ever since.

Loaded (and their "sister" company, Orangatang) make products that turn heads, and demand attention. They're quality stuff… that much, is obvious. What's not-so-obvious is that, these things are simply dreams to ride. So much so, that it took some pretty heavy-handed negotiating ("threatening" might be a better word for it) to get my damned board back…! Same goes for the Orangatangs; I should just break down, and keep those under armed guard at all times, because they have a nasty tendency to go "walkies" mighty quick…

Clever promotions, beautiful ad campaigns, impeccable quality and attention to the smallest of details, a sense of humour, a real drive to have fun, and cutting-edge technology applications all add up to an overall package that's damn near unbeatable in the high-end longboard market.

If they ever make a slalom board, I'll be all over it.

___________________________________________________________________________


Company: Santa Cruz

Website: www.nhs-inc.com
E-mail contact: info@nhs-inc.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yes.


Standout Products:



What I consider to be the first of the "good" Santa Cruz re-issues, the legendary Steve Alba "Bevel". In it's day, a fully dominating, deep-pocketed [Combi] bowl wrecker. The re-issue? At least 99.9% of what the original was. A damn fine feat for the boyz at Cruz…





The next in the "new" reissue lineup was the dual Steve Olson/Duane Peters offering. The Olson caught a little flack for heat-transfer quality, but the Duane was fully hand-screened, and like the Bevel, totally legit in every way… right down to the routered hand-holds. Classic Duane! There's still a few on the market, get 'em while you can…! (Photo courtesy of www.tailtap.com)





The next insta-classic in the lineup, we have the "Dead Pool" model (which we have on the way in, for review... and boy, we can't wait...). Featuring the oft-asked-for (and, finally delivered) Cruz Missile Concave (another mid-'80s-era, totally dominating product from NHS…). Combined with something "new" shape-wise and graphically, NHS has finally delivered to legions of Skull and Boners what they've been asking for, for years. NHS listens, NHS produces, we buy. It's that simple. This photo is from www.socalskateshop.com.





And lastly, Cruz steps it up one more time, with the soon-to-be-released, period-correct, Cruz Missile-equipped, and spot-on-accurate Rob Roskopp reissue. The only "giveaway" that this is a reissue…? The double-drilled front truck holes. Even those will actually be an improvement over the originals, offering two nose and wheelbase options for the "riders" that will surely be set up, and loved. Photo from Socal, again.



Spotted at: All over the place (See the photo credits).

Price: About $62.95 for most of these. Duanes are on sale at most shops for about $47… get 'em quick, before they're gone.


Why we picked these:

This goes to show how fast you can turn around a company's reputation, merely by listening to your customers, and delivering what they're willing to spend money on. It wasn't an easy road for Cruz: Several years of "lackluster" reissues (to put it nicely…) put quite a damper on their reputation.

Then, the miracle occurred: Cruz Got It Together! Starting with the Bevel, they began offering products that started to add to (instead of, detracting from) their storied and legendary legacy. The Duane wasn't a stellar mover [at first]… but, the Dead Pool seems to be moving pretty quickly, and I'm guessing that the "proper" Roskopp might move an order of magnitude quicker than the Dead is moving, right now. Desirable stuff= brisk sales. The age-old formula that never falters, and never fails.


"PowerLyte's super thin, 8-ply maple veneers and bullet-proof [Kevlar] top layer yield the strongest, lightest skateboard decks available. Constructed 90% of wood, it's the other 10% that makes PowerLyte decks incredibly strong, and 22% lighter. Compared to conventional wood decks, PowerLytes flip quicker and are 150% stronger..."

-Typical advertising hype [that we believe]. The laws of Engineering are on Cruz's side, on this one...



Adding the oft-imitated "Powerlyte" construction to the mix (a Kevlar sheet added to the top of a street deck, giving it longer-lasting "pop" and durability that works… instead of "longer-lasting hype and bullshit", like a lot of other manus are offering right now)… the always-excellent Ricta program… the still-chugging Independent legacy… and, even simple little (but, still world-beating) products like those excellent Krux Bushings… they all add up to one undeniable conclusion:

NHS is back! Praise the lord...


___________________________________________________________________________


Company: Element

Website: www.elementskateboards.com
E-mail contact: Nada?! Nothing that's available via the website, at least…
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yup!


Standout Products:



The Darrell Stanton "Positive Negative" deck, which utilizes the outstanding "Push" construction… a construction that we featured in our recent "New Technologies [That Work]" piece here at The Solitary Life. Combining a lightweight, air-chamber core with a carbon-composite layer embedded in the top layer of veneer gives the average street-skater the best in both light weight, and high strength.


Spotted at: Element's website.

Price: $110.00?! Holy crap…! But, y'gotta pay to play, I guess. And, these "new" technologies won't be getting any cheaper, either.








Here, we have something a little more up my alley! A well-executed series paying tribute to one of the true legends of the surfing world, Greg "Da Bull" Noll. If you don't know, Greg Noll was one of the tiny handful of surfers that dared to conquer Waimea Bay on Hawaii's North Shore back in the late1960s. This is a guy that blew open the perceptions of what can (instead of ,"what can't") be done on a surfboard. Offered under Element's "Travel Well" program, these completes take a lot of cues from Greg's legend, right down to the "jailhouse stripe" top graphics (inspired by Noll's trademark surf trunks), to the period-perfect, nostalgia-inducing clay-colored wheels on "Da Bun".

Spotted at: Element's website. Our only "complaint" is that, they should be promoting these better than they are. Our "finding" them was damn near flukey, at best.

Prices: $150, $160, and $170, respectively, via the Element Store.


Why we picked this:

I'm sure that we're gonna get a whole lotta flack for putting a "mallboarder" skateboard company, squarely into what we're advertising as an "independent, free-thinking, and totally legitimate buyers guide". Come what may, the plain-spoken fact of the matter is that Element is still doing some pretty cool stuff that doesn't entirely fall in line with the typical "modus operandi" of some huge, corporately-owned mega-company. Usually, these companies don't push boundaries, don't make waves… and, Gawd forbid, don't do anything revolutionary (or even "evolutionary" in a good many cases…). Playing It Safe, and Following The Herd is what corporations do best, and it's usually left to the "smaller underground" to pave the new pathways, and set the new trends of the day.

To have a big-ass skateboard company come in, and put forth a new skateboard construction that actually works, and does what it's designed to do, is a revolutionary statement in an industry where "success" is defined by the amount of hype you can generate… not, the actual results that everyday skaters can expect to get out of the product.

Likewise: Most "big companies" would have bastardized Greg Noll's likeness and "image" to the point of laugh-ability (see the "Lords of Dogtown" cinematic disaster as proof of what I'm talking about, here) in the uber-corporate interests of moving a few more units, instead of doing what Element has done… which is, tailored a stand-out product that might not set the sales-spreadsheets on fire... but, that does represent the man, and the legend, in the most accurate [and recognizable] manner possible.

That says a lot about the intentions, and the integrity, of this company. "Integrity" being something that's in woefully short supply these days in this industry of ours. The fact that Element has instituted a comprehensive MSRP pricing structure across the board, is another testament to their dedication and integrity… in this case, to supporting the brick-and-mortar skate retailer by "leveling out" the pricing "playing field".

For a bunch of "corporate whores", these guys sure are doing an awful lotta stuff right. Go figure, and good going. Keep it up.



___________________________________________________________________________


Company: Never Summer

Website: www.neversummer.com
E-mail contact: info@neversummer.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yes.


Standout Products:



We could have picked anything, really. But, we picked the "Heist", because we thought it looked the baddest-assed of the bunch. We like bad-assness around here...



Spotted at: Everywhere. Concrete Wave, all over the forums, at Silverfish… you can't escape these things. Maybe, one of the most-talked-about companies of the last couple of years.

Price: $259.99, complete.


Why we picked this:

Wonderful website with all sorts of geek-out information (including multiple-angle shots of the products, flex ratings, et cetera)… highly advanced materials and technologies (borrowed from their uber-successful snowboard program)… a full-on, three-year warranty (unheard of in the skateboard market)… all-around crash protection (composite top and bottom sheets, tip and tail protectors)… and, some outstanding graphic "flair"… and, you've got yourself a hands-down winner, folks. Behold, and believe it.


It just doesn't get much better than this.

Heads Up!: What We Need From The Manus

The Problem...

One of the most frustrating things about being a skater today, is this "new world" of ours called "Online Shopping". Not that it's all bad, by any means. Indeed, it's pretty damned handy, most of the time. It oftentimes allows us... that is, "demanding, old geezers (like me)"... to find highly specialized products quickly and easily, that might not be readily available (or, available at all) at our local, brick-and-mortar skate shops. And, it offers the convenience of shop-from-home-in-your-boxers comfort, and speedy, to-your-door delivery.

But: Most of the manufacturers and online retailers already know all of these benefits. That's why, they're forging such a huge presence on the world wide web.

However: What they don't seem to understand, are some of the frustrations that go along with online shopping. Namely: Not really knowing (understanding) what it is that you're looking at. Let alone, buying.

Most "product shots" that we, as consumers, are presented with online are the standard, not-very-telling "bottom" shots of decks, or "face" shots of wheels. Both are basically designed to show us what the graphics are... but, not a hell of a lot more.

The problem is, I believe that only a very small of skaters (ie, "the clueless ones") buy skateboard equipment strictly based on graphics, and graphics alone. Especially here in the "niche" market... here, we tend to have much older skaters that [generally] have very specific ideas about what they want and/or need... and therefore, they also tend to know what it is that they're looking for. If the "picture" on your website isn't very descriptive, and/or informative... the net result is more often than not, that this sort of skater will go looking elsewhere. Which generally loses you, a sale.

The Answer...!

The answer to these problems is easy enough: Just, take more pictures for your websites! A fairly good start/rule-of-thumb might be, to use the guidelines that we came up with here at The Solitary Life, for our "Heads Up!" Buyers Guide.




Here they are, "the guidelines" that we've been sending out to the manus, for inclusion into the Buyers Guide. The "oblique" shots are usually the most "telling", giving a nearly three-dimensional perspective, via a two-dimensional photo. This helps us- the customers- get a much, much better grasp on what it is that we're truly looking at (or, purchasing...)

Also note: The size of this "photo". Details matter, when you're making and selling quality products. The ability to "see" those details, of course, matters just as much...


The more information that you guys... the retailers, the manus... can pack into your websites, the more likely it will be that your customers feel confident enough to make truly informed buying decisions. And confident, truly informed customers tend to be freer-spending ones, I might add. Simply because, there's very little doubt left to get between the initial desire, and the ultimate purchase. It's minimizing this "buyers doubt" that is the ultimate goal of more generous and thorough product-shots.

But, don't believe me, or even take my solitary word for it. Scan any days' worth of dialogue on Silverfish (www.silverfishlongboarding.com) or Skull and Bones (www.skullandbonesskateboards.com), and you'll find at least one dude... but, more than likely, many dudes... asking the same sorts of questions. "How big is that?!", or, "What's the wheelbase?!". And, more often than not: "Hey! Y'got a pic of that, by any chance...!?"

Manufacturers: Help Us Surrender Our Cash To You! Give Us The Photos! Please. You'll only be helping yourselves in the end.

Mentionable: Spring 2010

This is a brand-new feature here at The Solitary Life, where the focus is going to be on companies or products that we haven't reviewed [yet]... and, that didn't make it into The Buyers Guide. Why wouldn't a company make it into the Buyers Guide, you ask...? Typically, a company wouldn't "make" it into the Buyers' Guide if they don't have much of a reputation in the marketplace (if any). This is usually because, they're new companies. Or maybe, they're just not widely advertised, promoted, or accessible for one reason or another.

Whatever the case may be, some of these companies are doing extremely interesting stuff. This run-up-to-the-Buyers-Guide segment, is where we'll be spotlighting those companies and products.

__________________________________________________________________

Company: Street Swell

Website: www.streetswell.com
E-mail contact: info@streetswell.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Apparently so.


Standout Product:




The "Cruise Zulu" complete. Mounted up with Seismic "Black Ops" Speed Vents [73mm/76a] and Bear Grizzly 852's. This is one gorgeous ride, folks…

Spotted at: Street Swell's website.

Price: $345.00. Definitely, not "cheap".

Why we picked this:

There's a million and one "small longboard companies" out there right now. But, very few of them are doing anything remarkably different than the same 'ol, same 'ol "stringered-wood-look", or the boatload of Sector Nine "sand-and-surf" clones in the marketplace.

Here, the almost understated "wave" graphic, and the similarly understated "Street Swell" logo gives this board a measure of refined elegance that's just not seen in many longboards on the market. And, the choice of remarkably high-end componentry… from brands with solid reputations for being world-class… is smart complement for a board aimed at this price range. The 4-oz fiberglass generally means that this will be an incredibly snappy and durable rider for years and years to come.

__________________________________________________________________



Company: Dregs

Website: www.dregsskateboards.com
E-mail contact: None, actually. At least, nothing on their website.
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Sure! You just can't e-mail them...


Standout Products:



The 76mm, 78a durometer "Luv Your Mutha" wheels. A [partially] soybean-oil based polyurethane means that less petroleum [natural gas]-based "oils" are required. But: Are they truly "Green"? Or, just muck-green...?


Spotted at: Dregs' website, via Daddies', after seeing them in (but, not remembering much from) an old Concrete Wave "Noteworthy"

Price: $59.95. Again, "not cheap!"


Why we picked this:

This looks like 76 millimeters of soy-based, slide-able goodness, right here. According to the hype-vertising on the Dregs website, "The Love Yo Mutha formula uses soy oils to offset the use of petroleum product." It doesn't say how much petroleum product is "offset" by the use of soy-based oils… something that we'd like to find out, to gauge just how "significant" this "offset" truly is. And, if it's worth the price. However: What probably impressed us the most, is that these are the first wheels that I've seen in a while, that could be described as "loveable". I mean, that funky, putrid green... that earth-happy, trippy name... and, the fun-loving graphic treatment almost screams, "Hug Me!".

_________________________________________________________________

Company: Goldcoast Longboards

Website: www.goldcoastlongboards.com
E-mail contact: sales@primodist.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yup, sure can!


Standout Products:



The Pier (complete):

-The Shovel Board
-Dimensions: 27" x 7.5"
-16" Wheel Base
-Kicktail
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 5" Trucks
-57mm 87a Vicious Wheels
-Die Cut Grip Tape



The Modra (complete):

-The Dart Board
-Dimensions: 44" x 10"
-25" Wheel Base
-Kicktail
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 7" Reverse Pivot Trucks
-70mm 83a Shred Boot Wheels
-ABEC 7 Bearings With Teflon™
-Printed Grip Tape




The Freedom (complete):

-The Moon Board
-Dimensions: 40" x 9.5"
-24" Wheel Base
-Kicktail
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 7" Reverse Pivot Trucks
-73mm 81a Freedom Wheels
-ABEC 7 Bearings With Teflon™
-Printed Grip Tape



The Seed (complete):

-The Pan Board
-Dimensions: 24" x 6.5"
-14" Wheel Base
-7 Ply Canadian Maple
-Century 3" Trucks
-52mm 87a Seedling Wheels
-ABEC 5 Bearings
-Printed Grip Tape



Spotted at: Goldcoasts' website.

Price: The completes are priced as such: The Pier, $100; The Modra, $150; The Freedom, $150; and The Seed, $90. Somewhere between "midrange" and "pricepoint", price-wise.


Why we picked this:

There's only a few "pricepoint" longboards on the market... depending on how you define "pricepoint". I'd say that anything under $130 or so, would be pretty "bargain". The only "pricepoint" brands that I can recall, are Layback (who's status is kinda questionable, what with the lack of advertising and all… but, apparently, they're still available through VK Sports…), and another apparent newcomer to the game (scroll down a bit), San Diego Speed's "Stella" brand.

Unlike a lot of their competitors, Goldcoast seems to have everything that a "pricepoint" brand needs to succeed in the marketplace: Good, consistent promotion (full-page ads in Concrete Wave are a good start); Massive graphic appeal (once again, getting out of the Sector Nine, "surf-inspired" rut…); An informative and comprehensive website... but: Does the product measure up to the hype…?! Well, we're gonna find out. Probably sooner, than later...

__________________________________________________________________________

Company: Nersh

Website: www.getsomenersh.com
E-mail contact: nershlongboarding@gmail.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Yup!


Standout Products:



Here, we have what just might be the widest wheel on the market, today: The Nersh "Money Hax". A "pretty-tall" 75mm, by an "insanely-wide" 70mm. Best use? Where grip is absolutely critical. Such as: Rear-wheel setups for slalom decks, maybe…?

Spotted at: Nersh's website

Price: $73.00 a set, for either 76a, 80a, or 83a.

Why we picked this:

Because, it's such a fun, nutty, and highly-specialized sort of product, that it might have gotten fully overlooked, otherwise...

All of those guys that were jumping on the "six-wheeler" [slalom setup] bandwagon a few years back, might wanna check these bastards out. Seriously. As would anyone that pushes their riding so hard, that sliding out is a perpetual and intractable issue. At $73.00, they're pretty pricey. On the other hand: If you're need that grip to avoid imminent danger, I'd probably counter with "Well, so is _______ surgery…!"

Besides: Can you really put a price on "fun"...?! The Bottom Line is: If the rebound and resiliency are there (both being key to that other desirable wheel quality, "speed"...), these might just be the standout wheels of 2010.

__________________________________________________________________


Company: Stella

Website: www.sdsskateboards.com
E-mail contact: info@ sdsskateboards.com
Can you buy direct from the manufacturer…? Nope; only dealers can buy direct from SDS.


Standout Products:



The "Battleaxe", a lowered speedboard (very akin to the current Landyachtz Evo), at a "Blue Light Special" price…

Spotted at: Stella's website (via Silverfish Longboarding). Photo from www.inertiaboardshop.com.

Price: $129.95 (complete) at Inertia.



… and, the "Slow Dayz" kicktail…

Spotted at: Stella's website (via Silverfish Longboarding). Photo from www.jazzygearsports.com.

Price: $98.98 (complete) at Jazzy Gear.


Why we picked this:

Again, this appears to be another "pricepoint" entry into the longboard market. Boldly taking another big step out of "the rut", and breaking some new ground graphically, Stella is on the same general pathway as a lot of the new, bargain-priced upstarts. An outcropping of San Diego Speed (a distributor/importer that deals almost exclusively in "pricepoint" products), the price is more than low enough for anyone to make this their low-buck, entry-level choice. But: How much "upgrading" is it going to need, to get it "workable"? If, any at all…? Advertising at Silverfish is a super-good start that lends a lot of immediate credibility (as Silverfish doesn't usually fuck around with B-Level advertisers that make crappy stuff...)... but, is the beef truly there…? Are they worth "the money", regardless of how little "the money" may be...?

Again: We'll soon find out…