Visit Russ Roe now, we like this shop a lot and encourage you to buy something. You can pretty much guarantee that none of your friends will have the same article of clothing.

russroe.storenvy.com

See more of Stevens work here.

At the Grammys last weekend, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) caused quite a stir with his acceptance speech for Best Rock Performance. He passionately reiterated the importance of the “human element” in music, as in “singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft.” He went on to say “It’s not about being perfect, it’s not about sounding absolutely correct, it’s not about what goes on in a computer. It’s about what goes on in here [your heart] and what goes on in here [your head].” Almost as if his words summoned the performance, this emphatic speech came only a few days before Gary Clark Jr. rattled our bones and dropped our jaws at The Sayers Club in Hollywood. Grohl would’ve surely been on his feet after watching Clark’s very human and wickedly masterful performance.

The music gods have been kind. They’ve basically delivered us a multi-generational super group wrapped up into one soul. He has the fingers of Hendrix. The voice of Sam Cooke. The swagger of The Boss. The emotion of Stevie Ray Vaughn. His sound, which is soaked in blues, soul and rock n roll, is such a welcome change of pace in today’s musical landscape. As the electronic/dubstep scene gains more and more momentum, it seems like a lot of music is starting to sound alike. Clark’s style is refreshingly unique and as more people are privy to his music, they will realize they not only love it, but need it. He’s the welcome home cooked meal and good night’s rest after the fear and loathing whirlwind weekend. Not that he’s necessarily cozy, but he definitely makes a soul jump back into a body.

You can’t help but be absolutely enthralled watching him perform. The way in which his fingers run up and down his guitar, it’s almost incomprehensible. With so much lightning coming from his fingertips, you’d think he might be lacking in the vocal department. Not so. Clark sings quite beautifully and with an impressive vocal range (including falsetto) as well. His stage presence is also something of note. You definitely feel like you’re in the company of someone special. Not because he’s an insane guitar player, which he is, but because of the WAY he plays, as if channeling from a higher source.

As for what’s on tap, this should prove to be a huge year for him. He’s already played alongside some legends, including Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow and Jeff Beck, and now he’s ready to rock on his own. Besides releasing his first full length this year (so far it’s just been an EP, The Bright Lights), he’s playing basically every festival of note, including SXSW, Coachella, Sasquatch and Bonaroo. He’s also playing at The White House on Feb 21st at the “Red, White and Blues” event alongside Mick Jagger and B.B. King.

When he sings, “You’re gonna know my name by the end of the night,” he means it. Based on the body language in the room last night, he’s going to be someone people are talking about a lot this year. As of this moment, his performance (technically and emotionally) was the best I’ve seen in my life. I was blown away. If you find yourself at any festivals this year, do yourself a favor and go check him out. Or if you’re lucky enough to see him in a smaller venue, jump on the chance. My advice, get as close to the stage as possible. Support greatness and buy his EP.

-lindsay colip

Download Gary Clark Junior’s song Bright Lights for free here.

click to see more posts by lindsay colip...

Lindsay has written for various music sites, including SPINearth and Jambase, traveled the world covering music festivals, was a SPINearth video correspondent for ‘i am with the fans’ music tour and alongside photographer Steven ‘Walt’ Walter, produced, directed and edited ‘Live and Local’ acoustic performances for SPINearth.

H & M. Marni 

Somewhere

Lost in Translation

The Virgin Suicides

Russell Brownley is the guy that every time you see him, he makes you feel like the coolest guy in the world. His attitude on life and his job is contagious and anyone who has ever surfed, worked, or just hung out with him has only the best things to say. I had the pleasure of trading music with Russell as he worked on the film Cancer to Capricorn and The Path of The Modern Gypsy chronicles with Reef and not only is he a top level visual artist, but his comprehension of editing and sound rivals the best in the industry.

This month Russell released his most recent show reel and it is breathtaking. He highlights the last 2 years of projects all perfectly synched to the song Vireo’s Eye by Future Islands. Keep your eyes out for Russ and The Wuss Productions, or don’t, because either way you won’t be able to miss him.

visit Russell on Vimeo
visit The Wuss Productions.

On a recent trip to LA, I visited  the  Nudie Jeans flagship store, the first of it’s kind in West Hollywood. The visit turned into an awesome discusson on denim, fit, and Sweden (Where Nudie hails from). After learning from the best in the trade, Chris and Phil; two denim connoisseur that take serious pride in their profession, I felt it necessary to spread some knowledge about denim to those of you who were in my shoes and didn’t really have a clue.

Nudie Jeans  was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Maria Erixsson, and now sells in over 20 countries. Most of you have probably heard of Nudie Jeans, and although I am a huge fan of the company and their product, it becomes extremely interesting when you dive into how their denim is made and what procedures are taken in creating such a beautifully finished product. As Phil started to walk me through all the different fits, treatments and constructions, one thing became certain; I had a hard time keeping up with him. Words I have heard used over and over, are (Dry, Selvage, Slow, Japanese Selvage) I always acted as though I knew exactly what these terms meant and nodded along knowingly, but it was evident that I was overdue for a lesson. Chris Adams quickly brought me up to speed:

Dry Denim, is when the denim isn’t washed after the fabricating and dying process. Breaking in a pair of dry denim jeans involves NOT washing them for up to 6 months or a year. Where the jeans come to life is as you wear them, the fabric starts to fade, crinkle, and crease in the areas specific to your body. You get a custom look specific to your lifestyle and how you wear your jeans.

Selvage Denim, doesn’t have anything to do with salvaging anything, the word “selvage” comes from the phrase “self-edge”, the natural edge of a roll of fabric and instead it is denim made on old-style shuttle looms and selvage comes from how the fabric is woven using once continuous cross thread; the weft. As the the weft loops back into the edge of the weave the selvage edge is created.

Slow, production is much slower than conventionally produced denim, and only the best raw materials are used, thus making it more expensive. The slow speed of the loom causes less stress on the yarn makes the hand of the denim softer and the fabric more durable.

Japanese Selvage, seems to be one the top of line types of denim. Japanese denim is known for being high quality and for often using longer cotton fibers so that the threads don’t have to be twisted as much. This gives the material a softer hand feel as apposed to rougher denims that use shorter length cotton fibers. The Japanese also have access to the shuttle looms so you get a more durable less rushed denim. The dying processes are also finished without a wash allowing for the consumer to customize their jeans with wear.

Nudie Jeans became more of an experience than any other denim shopping i’ve done and its amazing to see the difference when you purchase a high quality fitted jean as aposed to what i’ve been wearing in the past. I love the idea of learning about a product before you buy it, the result is an appreciation for a craft that can go unnoticed and also elicits a confidence and pride in what you wear everyday.

a close up look at a pair of After Treated masterpieces. 

clean lines and durable orange stitching is a Nudie signature.

Phil is a denim Genius and these guys also know their coffee.

a sneak peak into the Denim Labs.

visit Nudie Jeans online

visit their store in Hollywood

Gorgeous Bully are an outstanding lo-fi indie pop band from Plymouth, UK.  They’ve  put together quite a nice offering of EPs over  the past year and show no signs of slowing down.  We’re talking some seriously catchy songs that maintain an airy and fun vibe about them without compromise.  The diversity of songs showcases a high level of songwriting and makes Gorgeous Bully very dynamic.  The only thing static about this band is the lo-fi fuzz coming out the speakers.  This group is a machine of psychedelic, underground DIY soul punk.  If you wanted to play the comparison game, they have a lot in common with fellow countrymen Dignan Porch.

More songs on Soundcloud.

There’s a lot that goes into creating a song, few would argue that.  The creative choices are endless and in the end decisions have to be made.  Spanish Prisoners are a unique band in that they are somewhat compulsive perfectionists when it comes to songwriting.  I can only imagine what goes into a creative session with this group.

SP just recently released the single Downtown Chicagoland from their debut album Gold Fools along with two alternate versions.  The three versions of this song show the major differences that subtle choices make in the end and that if there is a strong songwriting foundation that it is hard to be wrong.

“This is the last song on the record but its actually one of our favorites- it was hard to get right though, maybe thats why we recorded it three times!” – Leo Maymind of Spanish Prisoners

“Based around this vintage synth that my bandmate Mike and I bought randomly one day on Craigslist called the Korg pe1000.”

“A more full band version we did with a lot of overdubs that’s got some good ol fashioned tape saturation and compression to it.”

In true DIY indie fashion, Spanish Prisoners have Make Our Vantasy Come True, a Kickstarter campaign, to  purchase a van to tour in. With a donation they are giving you the opportunity to go on a virtual tour with them.  Along with lots of great physical merch the band will share one song recorded in the van every day from March 7-31st with the Kickstarter backers.  You’ll also get photos, videos and journal entries along the way. This project will only be funded if enough money is raised by Thursday, Feb 23rd so get on it. SP had one of my favorite albums from last year and 2012 will be even bigger for Leo, Amberly, Mike, and James.

Facebook

Twitter

Kickstarter

Taking inspiration from the c90s out of London and Tropicool out of Los Angeles, this freshair mix might be just what the doctor ordered. Where the January NYE 2012 Palm Springs Mix kept your soiree rocking until the wee hours of the morning, this mix is a perfect hors d’oeuvres to the party. These grooves are just that…groovy. Not exactly meant in the way we would have said it in the 1960s, but meant more as in a funky vibe. A feeling of cool without really trying or knowing why. Imagine yourself in a chic loft overlooking the city of your choice, a tasty beverage in hand, the best of friends surrounding you. It’s certain to be an epic night. Let this bad boy be your guide into goodness. Listen UP and Witness THIS.

listen and download it here:

Track list:

Take Care Of You Cherokee Take Care Of You
Mercy Edit Murphy
Groove With You Fantastic Man
Be Loved (Daniel Avery’s ‘Divided Love’ Remix) Headman Be Loved
Yes, I Know Daphni Vacay vitamins
Parfait Tirage Paradis Parfait Tirage  La Ballade de Jim – Single
Everything Goes My Way (Ewan Pearson Disco Version) Metronomy Everything Goes My Way
Sail Away (Aeroplane Remix) The Rapture

check out freshair’s past mixes here:

January

This may be the most important building of the 20th century.  Louis Kahn was an American architect who immigrated from Russia.  Most of his works were influenced by monumental antiquities and the relationships of materials, light and the sites where he was to build.  Kahn’s most iconic project is arguably Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, the National Assembly of Bangladesh, located in the capital of Dhaka.  JSB was completed in 1982, twenty one years after construction began.  Beyond it’s awe inspiring scale and beauty, Kahn was able to design a lot of light and volume into this structure by leveraging his understanding of spatial relationships and ability to harness indirect nautral light.  The fortress-like building with a strong geometrical facade meets a man-made lake on three sides.  It’s a reminder that this low lying country has struggled with flooding and fights an uncertain future of rising sea levels.

Louis Kahn is one of America’s greatest architects of all time and remains one of the most mysterious.  In true fashion of the estranged artist genius he had three families with three different women.  Kahn died of a heart attack in a men’s restroom in Pennsylvania Station in New York just after returning from Bangladesh in 1974.  He was never able to see the completion of his most iconic building.

Tropicool is from LA and he is putting together some serious mixtapes as of lately. Our Super Bowl party turned into a dance party thanks to David La Melza aka Tropicool.

It’s late in the afternoon and if you’re slowing down a bit, push play on one of these mixtapes and turn it up. Keep it in mind for the weekend of course.

click download on the soundcloud download button to get the mixes straight to your itunes.

This Music Monday we are featuring a never before heard remix of the song Coming Home by 2 Hearts and Chemicals. The track is remixed by one of our favorite bands, The New Division whom we’ve featured a few times before.

click on download from soundcloud to get the song straight to your itunes.

2 Hearts and Chemicals is a band comprised of musicians Eli Lhymn & Stephen Biebel, based out of Los Angeles and New York City. The duo originally hail from Pennsylvania, and met in grade school when they were just 13 years old.

Influenced by the works of Brian Eno, M83, Harold Budd, and Ulrich Schnauss, as well Bowie, Bolan and Slowdive, the duo produce heavenly electronic tunes in a lush and bliss filled pop haze.

The band’s debut EP – “Coming Home” was released Fall 2011 to great reception and critical acclaim. The band is currently in the studio with Tom Rogers (Atomix Studios) working on their sophomore release, to be released in 2012.

And now about The New Division, bio by Lindsay Colip

Spearheaded by John Kunkel (vox/producer) and amplified by Micheal ‘Janzie’ Janz
(sequencing/synths), Mark Michalski (synths) and Brock Woolsey (guitar), The New Division
is an LA based tour de force. Influenced by Joy Division, New Order and Depeche Mode, they
have taken the tastiest slices of these bands and infused some new life into them. Not stuck
under the weight and spell of the greats that came before them, but perfectly inspired, these
guys have done what most bands can’t do. They’ve remained faithful to their influence without
being a copycat. Their sound feels comfortably connected to the past but with a momentum that
fastens them to the future. The core stays true to electronic dance music while supporting thick
branches of 80’s synth, italo disco and brooding chill wave. Kunkel adds tugging lyrics to the
tracks, bringing satisfying emotion to the party.

Kunkel and his mates are constantly writing music. On any given day, they’ll have multiple
songs going at once, expanding and editing whenever it feels right. In early 2011, they felt they
had 6 songs right and put out the highly acclaimed EP, The Rookie. It wasn’t long after that they
felt they had enough material for a full length, and in late 2011, they released Shadows. This
album is generating a huge buzz. As more people put their ears to it, Shadows continues to
climb up charts all across the US as well as internationally. Several music publications named
the LP a top album of 2011 and as the new year unfolds, the masses are catching on.

The New Division are embracing today’s musical landscape by being multifaceted.
Understanding the relevance of collaboration, they continue to drop remixes of their favorite
artist’s tracks and in return, encourage others to remix their own music. They have also started
a label, Division 87 Records, which scouts both in the States as well as overseas for new talent.
Several members also have side projects going (Gala, John Glenn). If you’re lucky enough to be
in the Los Angeles area, you can hear the guys live before they inevitably head across the pond
to appease their international fans.

No plans of slowing down, they are striking while the iron is hot. A new EP is due out in late
Spring, more live shows are being announced and a festival in their future looks probable.
If they continue at this pace, which seems likely based on the amount of started songs on
Kunkel’s computer, it will be a very ear pleasing year. They’ve also decided to take a more
collaborative songwriting approach on this new EP, which will only enhance and deepen their
already solid sound. In sum, The New Division will make you want to get into your car on a dark,
rainy night and take a drive though a glittering downtown. Into your soul they will instill a deep
longing for the introspective 80’s, when emotions were pinned to your jacket and one glance
from the girl gutted you. And above all, they will encourage you to honor your inner demons and
in the same breath, remind you to roll down your window so you can blow them out with one
long exhale.

follow The New Division on Facebook here.
follow 2 Hearts and Chemicals on Facebook here.

follow us on Instagram at @witnessthis and tag us if you want to submit a photo.

LIFETIME

We featured Lifetime last year and here they are on our top five list again. Going into the show, we knew we were going to hunt down their booth. We had our expectations pretty high after seeing last years line and with this brand we assure you, they continue to raise and set the bar when it comes to premium lifestyle apparel. We met Mike Wilson this year, Mike is from Vancouver and manages sales in Canada, it was very cool to have him show us the line, pulling his favorite pieces off of the rack. “Let me show you this waxed canvas we are working with now!” His excitement is a solid indicator of what this brand means to the people who represent it.

Seeing Lifetime’s Fall/Winter 2012 line makes us miss the Pacific Northwest. You can see influence from Vancouver BC, where the brand was founded; canvases, flannels and sweaters woven from deep earthy colors (orange rust, Vancouver Island rain forests dark greens, foggy lake blues). The perfect mixture of outdoor ruggedness and city culture politely declares ”distinguished gentlemen but I know my way around the shop and in the woods.” Practicality and longevity is equally important with Lifetime, this brand makes apparel that last a long time. We purchased a chambray button-down two years ago and it looks just as good as the first day we put it on in the store. It’s a tough world out there for apparel brands, we see them come and go in a unpredictable economy, but we are certain that Lifetime is here to stay.

lifetimecollective.com

WELLEN

It was impossible to look past the colors purposefully and perfectly scattered among graphics and materials hanging in Wellen’s booth. Wellen was founded by Matt Jung in 2007 and since then has grown to be a proper surf apparel line, gracing forward indy surf retailers such as Surfindian, Thalia, and Shelter to name a few. Wellen also finds it’s place in trend-setting boutiques such as American Rag. Matt showed us a bit of his upcoming line and it’s impressive to say the least. Pastels make their way in, along side lots of perfectly complimentary colored graphics and prints that push the line into a art driven, yet easily wearable line. There is a playful flavor that resonates with Wellen, whether it is the friendly approachability of the Matt and his team or the designs themselves that speak “sun, waves, and not taking life too seriously.”

wellensurf.com

WILL LEATHER GOODS

“Made in USA” is de-bossed beautifully on a leather patch of the first bag we pick up. It feels good to hold something made here at home, and every time we see it, we wish more people did it. Will Leather Goods is more than just Good, it’s smart, sophisticated, premium, durable and nostalgic. The nostalgia comes from the story we hear from Madelyn Krevitt, who is manning or should we say womanning the booth when we come by. She tells us about the founder William Adler who started WGD selling belts on the boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA. Bill took inspiration from western culture (saddles, gun hosters, and cowboy belts) and after he started WGD in Eugene Oregon in 1981, he began the production of hand made leather products such as belts, bags, wallets and other small accessories. Now the “Adler Family Co.” is embossed right below “Made in USA” as a reminder that you can expect solid, classic, rugged yet stylish, made in America product from Will Leather Goods.

_

Will x Tribeca Film Festival from Will Leather Goods on Vimeo.

willleathergoods.com

MAKIA

We had been familiar with Makia, but before this show, hadn’t taken the time to really check out the line in it’s entirety. We have to admit what pulled us into the booth was a warm invitation from Geoff Nishimoto and Camille Dizon from 722 Figueroa (LA showroom and marketing agency for Makia). After having Geoff show us the line it was hard not to get excited. The confident yet wearable colors found on the jackets brought a few themes to our attention.

1. Durable and Stylish: The idea that with Makia’s jackets you can see that they are durable and very well made, forged from the fjords of Finland, well, designed at least. The confidence that you can take these jackets down back-country pow lines all day, then put on your best going out gear, throw the jacket on top and you look incredibly sharp instead of looking like a little kid hanging out in your snowboard coat in a bar.

2. We took note of the hardware. In the past it seems that  big buttons have been reserved for hi-fashion designer sweaters and jackets that don’t necessarily speak to durability and ruggedness, but here we see them used in a way that works the opposite, they compliment the clean silhouette of the apparel and invite classic European detailing into the mix. Overall Makia understands how to make modernistic apparel for a guy who thrives on being outdoors and still wants to look polished.

makiaclothing.com

PUBLISH

Publish is on another level. We are so incredibly excited about this Southern California brand and in our minds it sits as one of the top  clothing brands at Agenda. We had the special opportunity to speak with their Creative Director Mike Huynh about the line and he walked us through the pieces. Each silhouette is dialed, the cut is sophisticated but still true to a casual fit. Where Publish stands apart from the others is it’s attention to detail, everything from the embroidered feather that graces the backs of some of the knits and a few jackets, to the sharp buttons and trim, speaks of a attentive designer. The materials also need to be applauded, a vest we pulled out of the rack, had three different materials constructed into one. The result is a far from bland apparel line that is impossible to overlook. Publish is also consistently pushing forward on the  comfort side. With the release of their Jogger Pant y0u can tell they have had fun with the concept but have stayed true to what they stand for. We can’t wait to comes out next from Publish because so far they have been beyond impressive.

publishbrand.com

Note: By no means are these brands chosen because of hook-ups or advertising incentive. Instead we approach these shows with an open mind and let the product speak for itself. The brands we feature are here because they’ve inspired us and we want to wear their gear. Thank you so much for reading.