Issue 249 - September 2009

Snug Life: The Jared Smith Story

“He’s a swindler, a shyster, a cynical bastard.” “I would be fucked without him." 28-year-old Jared Smith, more commonly known by the nickname Snuggles, has been pushing around the skate scene for more than 15 years. It all started for him back in Lawrenceville, Georgia. By the time he was 13, his mind was made––he ­would either fulfill a career as a skateboarder or produce the artwork on the bottom of the boards.

OM: Vespers and Vigils

Ascend. A light skyward to the field rise claimant to freedom.
One key element that separates OM from the wide majority of their peers is the obvious spirituality in the lyrics, and subsequently the music as a whole. Every part of the sound is devotional and surrendered as prayer.

Localized

On Friday, Sept. 18 SLUG Magazine brings I Am The and openers To the Death to the stage of the Urban Lounge. Five bucks gets you in. Read on for interviews from I Am The and Neon Trees, who canceled their performance prior to the show.

The Slits: Unleashed Animal

It’s been 30 years since the release of The Slits’ influential debut album, Cut. Ari Up, only 14 years old when she started the group, was a woman destined for greatness––after all, she grew up in a household that became a stomping ground for punks and, well … her stepfather was Johnny fucking Rotten of the Sex Pistols.

Alex Caldiero: Poet or Wizard?

Alex Caldiero is stuck in a strange balancing act: On one hand, he tries to defy the “poet” label in order to avoid being categorized and pushed aside as such. On the other hand, he longs to be recognized and remembered for his life’s work and art.

The Used: FU Cakes & French Film

Say what you will about Orem’s The Used, but I have a small place in my heart for the first local band I ever interviewed on air and the first rock band to really “make it big” outside this small bubble. The last time we spoke, it was to reminisce about Asian massage parlors on Pico and Bundy (no shit). This time it was a bit more professional.

Este: No Forks, Ranch, Pineapple

I’m not sure how closely Este follow the regulations put in place at the original location involving no forks, no ranch, no pineapple and no Red Sox attire, but I am often tempted, when I’ve got my pizza at home, to flip on a Red Sox game, throw some pineapple on top of the pie, grab a knife and fork and dip that fuckin’ slice in some ranch dressing.

People's Market

Ah, it’s another beautiful Sunday afternoon at the market. One of the vendors is taking a break for a moment to huck a few lines in the skatepark. The lady over there is offering a free coconut hand scrub, and the group meditation is going to start in 20. Wait—which market are we at again?

Spinnerette: Changing Big

Spinnerette’s first album opens with erraticly grunged-up guitar and the unmistakable voice of frontwoman Brody Dalle letting you know she’s just a “girl out looking for love.” Before you react with your preconceived notions about what that might mean, she’s a lot more settled down than her lyrics and image might suggest.