#69: The Ghost Ship Fire

On Dec. 2, 36 people were killed when a fire broke out during an electronic music show in a warehouse known as the Ghost Ship in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood. 

Oakland's arts and music community rallied in the wake of the tragedy, hosting benefits for families who lost loved ones, as well as attempting to protect other live-work spaces in a city with skyrocketing rents. 

Music from this episode was either performed or mixed by Johnny Igaz, a victim of the Ghost Ship fire. You can hear more of his music at https://soundcloud.com/nacktmusic

This podcast is made possible thanks to our supporters on Patreon.

Direct download: GhostShipReverb_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:45am PDT
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#68: Michael Braud and Philip Moore

Philip Moore and Michael Braud are two southern gentlemen who have been skating and filming together over the last few weeks here in the Bay Area. We talk about Making America Blade Again, 2016 as a whole, and racism in fast food chains, and why pizza is not a vegetable.

#MakeAmericaBladeAgain

Huge thanks our supporters on Patreon. Thanks to Trudy, Dustin, Edward, Jose, Nate, Steve, Alexander, Zach, Basti, Jon, Levi, Sean, Brad, Ivan, and our newest sponsors, Randy Edwards and Jeff Asi.

Like this episode? Interested in becoming a Patreon for as little as $1 a month? Click here.

Don’t forget to like our stupid Facebook page so you don’t miss the latest episodes, relevant links, and updates about our growing list of guests.

Direct download: BraudMoore_mixdown.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 6:08pm PDT
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Kevin Chow has been everywhere forever. 

Kevin is a mainstay in rollerblading, from writing profiles for Daily Bread to being part of FISE in France, this Canadian-born Barcelona resident has had his hands in more rollerblading-related events than, possibly, anyone else. 

This and all episodes of the Rock Town Podcast are made possible thanks to ourour supporters on PatreonTrudy, Dustin, Edward, Jose, Nate, Steve, Alexander, Zach, Basti, Jon, Levi, Sean, Brad, Ivan, and most recently Uncle Jeff.

#RockTownPodcast

Direct download: KevinChow_mixdown.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 5:23pm PDT
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#66: Trump and the Riots

In this episode, host Brian Krans talks to himself about covering the 2016 election, rollerblading through the protests and riots that followed in Oakland, and the ramifications of underestimating the "fly over states."

The music at the second break is "The Last Days of Oakland" by the Fantastic Negrito. (You should buy the full album.)

This podcast is made possible thanks to our friends through Patreon. But since episodes aren't coming out as frequently, don't feel compelled to continue donating to the podcast. 

Direct download: Trump_and_the_Riots.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:53pm PDT
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Now in it’s fourth year, the OBJ is getting back to the streets this Saturday, starting at Madison Park in Oakland. Right near the Lake Merritt BART station, if you’re in the Bay, there’s no reason to stay away.

Omar, B. Free, and I talk about the comp, a few things that are resting heavily on our hearts, infighting, and other less serious topics.

Huge thanks to our supporters on Patreon: Trudy, Dustin, Edward, Jose, Nate, Steve, Alexander, Zach, Basti, Jon, Levi, Sean, Brad, and Ivan. Like this episode? Interested in becoming a Patreon for as little as $1 a month? Click here.

Don’t forget to like our stupid Facebook page so you don’t miss the latest episodes, relevant links, and updates about our growing list of guests.

Direct download: BladeJam2016.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 9:36pm PDT
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Matt Lewis is the founding editor of the zine-turned-literary journal, The Radvocate, which publishes poems, fiction, non-fiction, art, photography, and illustrations by bladers and non-bladers alike. A publication of So Say We All, a non-profit in San Diego, it recently released it’s 14th issue.

We talk over Skype about how the magazine went from a Kinko’s copy-and-staple publication that started with a joke about a Xsjado ad to becoming a publication you can find at some of the best bookstores in the country.

This and all episodes of the Rock Town Podcast are made possible thanks to ourour supporters on PatreonTrudy, Dustin, Edward, Jose, Nate, Steve, Alexander, Zach, Basti, Jon, Levi, Sean, Brad, and Ivan.

#RockTownPodcast

Direct download: MattLewis.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:22pm PDT
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#63: Aaron Powell

Aaron grew up in the Bay, but took some prime time off from skating. Now that he’s all in again, he’s been a consistently great homie for a session. Now, he’s heading to Portland.

We talk about why he’s moving up north to Oregon, not missing Bay Area traffic, working at AMall, Trigger skates, and why it’s always important to leave home.

This podcast is made possible thanks to our supporters on Patreon. That includes Trudy, Dustin, Edward, Jose, Nate, Steve, Alexander, Zach, Basti, Jon, Levi, Sean, Brad, and Ivan. 

Direct download: AAronPowell.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 9:18pm PDT
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Medium’s “Children of the Night” featured skaters like Dustin Latimer, Brian Shima, Pat Lennen, Robert Lievanos, Jake Elliot, and featured music from Metallica, Steppenwolf, The Who, AC/DC, Megadeth, and more. This podcast is supported from listeners via Patreon. Please like our dumb Facebook page. #RockTownPodcast

Direct download: ChildrenoftheNight.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 12:16am PDT
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Michael ‘Obe’ Obedoza is a major source of positivity in rollerblading. We talk about what’s left of Xsjado, his Thrive Inline skate classes in Carson, getting new people to skate, and so much more. This podcast is supported from listeners via Patreon. Please like our dumb Facebook page. #RockTownPodcast

Direct download: Obe.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 12:22pm PDT
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Dayton Coopersmith is a “triple OG” rollerblader who influenced many of today’s great skaters. We discuss almost getting kicked out of the Extreme Games, skipping school to film for Hoax 2, teaching Jon Julio to ride ramps, Rise Above, the Sea Otter Classic, skateboarding propaganda, and getting respect at the skate park. This podcast is supported from listeners via Patreon. Please like our dumb Facebook page. #RockTownPodcast

Direct download: DaytonCoopersmith.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 7:44pm PDT
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Octavio, better known as Paco, loved his time in Montana during the NWST so much he’s moving there next month. We discuss Montana, food, blading styles, wheel manufacturers, potentially racist nicknames, and much more. This podcast is made possible by our supporters on Patreon. Don’t forget to like our stupid Facebook page.

Direct download: Paco.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 12:15am PDT
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The Forecast Trade Show was held July 9 at the Skate House in Chatsworth, Calif. Feat. interviews with Michael Obedoza, Dave Lang, Matt Mickey, Robert Lievanos, Geoff Acers, Erick Garcia, Gil T, Brad and Chad Anthony, and more. 

This podcast is made possible by our supporters on Patreon, namely newcomers Sean O’Dalaigh and Brad Osantoski. Please like our stupid Facebook page.

Direct download: Forecast.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 7:10am PDT
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Steve Collis (UK) and Patrick Ridder (DE) spent some time in the USA lately, so we talked about the European Union and its feelings about rollerblading.

Follow them on social as @cidylife and @patrickridder (and our FB page).

This podcast is made possible due to support through Patreon

Direct download: RidderSteve.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 10:01pm PDT
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We recently hosted a housewarming BBQ. Erick Garcia, Kennan Scott, and Korey Waikiki, and others wanted to say a few things. #JSF FilthJuice.com

This podcast is made possible due to support through Patreon

Direct download: HousewarmingAntics.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:37pm PDT
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Stephen Babcock, a.k.a, The White Wolf, is a 19-year-old shredder from Brentwood, California. 

Steve’s been racking up some deals: winning the Amall Glen Cove comp, doing a trick tip on negative souls, and now a profile on FilthJuice.com. We talk the NWST, California’s new tobacco law, the Woodward West scholarship fund, and more.

Octavio "Paco" Montano joins us. Follow Steve as @thewhitewolf_ds. Check out Death Squad Blading, and Filth Juice as well.

This podcast is made possible thanks to our supporters on Patreon.

Direct download: BabcockPaco.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 10:18pm PDT
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The NWST 2016 started on June 2 in Missoula, MT. Featuring interviews with Cameron Talbott, Chemi Simiyu, Kellen Zinkgraf, Preston Villanueva, Dustin Jamieson, Zach Newton, Thomas McGovern, Jon Christopherson, Aaron Powell, and more.

This podcast was made possible by all of our supporters on Patreon, namely Basti Loreti and Dustin Jamieson, who were also on the trip.

To stay up to date on announcements for next years’ trip, check out the NWST Facebook page. Don’t forget to like the Rock Town Press Facebook page.

Direct download: NWST2016.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 7:06am PDT
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Kai Carlson-Wee is a rollerblader originally from Minnesota and is the Jones Lecturer in Poetry at Stanford University. He’s most known for his skating in the Life Plus series, where he and his brother, Anders, skated the wilderness, including grinding and wallriding trees. We talk about his short documentary, Riding the Highline, which took first place at the Napa Valley Film Festival last year, homemade skate parks, working as a writer in the 21st century, and why Fargo sucks. Follow him on Instagram as @kaicarlsonwee.

Support for the Rock Town Podcast comes via Patreon, including Trudy, Dustin, Edward, Jose, Nate, Steve, Alexander, and Zach.

Direct download: KaiWeeFINAL.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 7:33am PDT
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Jon Julio has been a pro skater for more than half his life, and is the man behind the Valo Brand, Them Goods, and the Blading Cup. 

On this episode, Jon answers questions from the /r/rollerblading community about the relationship between Valo and Roces, the likelihood of a Fifth Element reboot, the status of the industry, and more. Jon and I also talk about his new storefront, the Blading Cup, the new Forecast trade show, and taking pride in being a rollerblader.

Check out Valo-Brand.com, Them Goods, and swing on down to the Blading Cup.

Direct download: JJ2.1.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 7:27am PDT
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#51: Trap House (feat. Ivan Narez)

Krans talks to himself inside his new place about messing up a podcast with Jon Julio, donating to Schmidty’s Ramp & Camp, buying but not watching Cayenne, and more. He’s soon joined by his former and current roommate, Ivan Narez. They talk about adult stuff like buying vans, taxes, credit, and Valo 6. (patreon.com/citizenkrans)

Direct download: TrapHouse.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:24pm PDT
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Yay! It's episode 50, but it's not all celebration: the Rock Town Garage is closing down. Well, it's moving at least. Krans talks about losing his house, where he's going, podcasting, and, of course, season two of Daredevil.

Direct download: GBRTG.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:31pm PDT
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#49: Victor Arias

Victor Arias is the latest Valo skater with a pro boot bearing his name. His edit, filmed in his home country of Mexico, came out earlier this month. We discuss making the edit, his ritual for breaking in a new pair of skates—from K-mart blades to the VA.1s and a political candidate who shouldn’t be named. Erick Garcia also calls post-root canal surgery. Check out valo-brand.com.

This podcast is made possible thanks to supporters on Patreon.

Direct download: VictorArias.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 9:48am PDT
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Black Market was Kevon Thompson’s first skate video, influencing him musically as well as in blading. He’s our co-host the latest installment of the Blade Video DJ series. Music from the video includes mixing by director Doug Urquart, as well as music from artists like Lyrics Born, MF Doom, Pigeon John, and more.

Follow Kevon as @thebizone.

Support for the Rock Town Podcast comes from our supporters on Patreon.

Direct download: BlackMarket.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 10:36pm PDT
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The AMall Glen Cove Comp was held Saturday, Feb. 27 at Glen Cove Elementary School in Valencia, Calif., a legendary Bay Area spot. Competitors included Ivan Narez, Victor Arias, Korey Waikiki, Stephen Babcock, Boo Garnsey, John Vossoughi, and more. Cover photo by Erick Garcia. 

Direct download: AMallGlenCove.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 12:24pm PDT
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Shawn Oberg (@shawn.oberg) is a master of full-boot utilization, usually doing tricks that would drive a contest MC nuts. We talk about how switch and dominant foots form, red curb dancing, his upcoming Filth File, his edit for Moonshine, and why he’s currently walking with a cane. The Rock Town Podcast is made possible from our supporters on Patreon.

Direct download: ShawnOberg.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 9:40am PDT
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Cameron Talbott returns to the podcast to talk about the Northwest Shred Tour coming to his hometown of Missoula, grizzly bears, and good spots to hit up in Montana. We also give our immediate reactions after watching "State of the Art." Don't forget to check out the 2016 NWST Facebook page. Support for this podcast comes via Patreon supporters.

Direct download: CameronTalbottNWST.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 7:32am PDT
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Dr. Hazel Bain is a Scottish solar physicist who recently returned from a three-month expedition to Antarctica with NASA to launch the G.R.I.P.S. balloon. It gathered data about gamma radiation from the sun. We discuss her research, growing up a “jock geek,” science communication, and more. Follow Dr. Bain on twitter: @hazbain

Direct download: HazelBain.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:02am PDT
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#42: Jeremy Raff & John Vossoughi

Jeremy Raff and John Vossoughi will soon release their video, "Characters," which debuted at the Blading Cup. Besides the video, we discuss Raff's journalism career, caucuses and primaries, and more. 

The music on the break is “The Primary Color Movement” by Black Moth Super Rainbow.

Support for this podcast comes from fans via Patreon and RockTownPress.com. 

 

 

 

Direct download: RaffVoss.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 12:06pm PDT
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Erick Garcia is an American rollerblader and photographer. Known better as ESG, he’s “El Presidente” to the Juiced Sucka Foos. He talks about Oakland life, K2 skates, cess slides, and skitching in Bay Area traffic. Follow him on Instagram: @juicedsuckafoos filthjuice.com Break song: “Juiced” by Zyme #JSF

Direct download: RTP_ErickGarcia.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 11:53pm PDT
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Kevon Thompson is an American rollerblader, filmmaker, and music maker. In 2013, he made the blading documentary “I’m Still Here.” We discuss NorCal and SoCal, Black Market, modern campus life, and more. He’s on Instagram and SoundCloud as @TheBizOne.

Direct download: RTP_KevonThompson.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 7:44pm PDT
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#39: Pat Lennen

Wonder what happened with Pat Lennen? Most known for his stunt skating in videos like Leading the Blind and Drip Drop, he got his start flipping over Ferraris, but now at 34, skating makes him uncomfortable. He’s also looking for a ping-pong table. Support for the Rock Town Podcast comes from its Patreon contributors.

Direct download: PatLennen.mp3
Category:Blader Digest -- posted at: 1:36am PDT
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