It’s easy (and fun) to sit and slate all the useless stuff out there—but sometimes it’s nice to give a bit of praise to the things out there that didn’t suck—to look back at the year and think about the bits and pieces that made life a little bit more enjoyable. So before we’re plunged into 2024, here are a few recommendations and highlights from the year known as 2023, from a long list of people who make good things themselves…
BMX-related I was happy to see Lino have a new video part and the whole 90 East video in general. I also saw a clip of Vic Ayala riding a skatepark with Edwin and that made me happy. Watching Harrison Arcari kill NJ has been sick as well.
Non BMX-related I moved back to NJ full time and started a new job. The release of Tame1 Da Old Jersey Bastard on vinyl was a nice treat. The Snail Mail Valentine Demos on vinyl was good too. I came across a movie from the 70’s on DVD called Road Movie that I liked a lot, it has a lot of old shots of New Jersey highways in it that are pretty amazing.
That’s an interesting question to think about. Life zips past and we don’t really gauge what’s what most days—but I’ll have a go. These answers could be different if I thought about them for a few days but the deadline is tight so I’m going in, this springs to mind at present.
My favourite riding related thing from 2023 would be all the local scenes still being active, building trails, making ramps and laying concrete to ride themselves. Those creating zines, DVDs and t-shirts—the real BMX scenes are the local ones, being passionate and putting time into BMX because it’s what they love to do, see and consume the fruits of it. Its DIY—real DIY—not some buzz word you can’t throw on your big business backed job, with zero substance of DIY other than the letters you mask it with. So all praise to those who give and create for no reason other than desire.
The other BMX related thing I enjoyed from 2023 was the riding—local pre-work sessions were a lot of fun. As I sit typing, we are in the peak of winter. I personally went from riding every morning to twice in 10 weeks, it’s wet or humid everyday. I’m looking forward to getting back on it and trying to reconnect the mind and body with the bike.
Non-BMX related, I would say the rise up of people questioning and resisting the bullshit that the so called ‘authority’ and ‘media’ throw out at the people. It’s a sophisticated op, that splits us all into tiny little groups—just look at any corporate media channel for proof of this, each tiny group is against the other.
But what are these tiny groups actually stopping any of us doing? Nothing, the only people trying to stop us and oppress us are the authorities. Over the last few years there has been a mad rush to occupy our minds, strip everything mentally and physically from the human individual.
The government is not our friend, it’s our enemy and should be treated as such, my life experience has proven this on a weekly basis. It’s good to see a lot of people are starting to see this and the push back is big.
A highlight from this year was an evening spent with my partner at a Turkish hammam in Malaga. A cavernous, candle lit maze of hot baths, steam rooms and plunge pools topped off with a full body massage. A melodic soundtrack playing in the background evoking visions of star lit desert nights during Ottoman rule. We walked out feeling euphoric and light on our feet.
Couldn’t help but wonder if Ruben Alcantara might have frequented the Malaga bath houses to help maintain his nimble riding abilities.
Another highlight from this year would be Lino G’s part in the Capital video from 90 East. A master craftsman and long time disciple of the process who just keeps getting better. All of his riding and video work is so well considered and curated. Clarky summed it up well recently in a chat we were having; ‘Relaxed, technical and understated by a man who understands his ability and environment’.
I couldn’t agree more. No cliched, flashy music video style editing here. The riding speaks for itself. Like an engaging, rhythmic piece of poetry from a non-conformist beat underground.
My favourite thing riding related in 2023 was the simple joy of riding with mates as we are all getting older now and as other things in life are taking priority, it’s nice to just pedal about on the BMX with with good people and positive vibes.
Other than riding any time with my nephews and niece has been the highlight of 2023 hands down. They are the best and it’s a privilege to be their uncle and see them grow up.
My favorite (or favourite) riding-related thing from 2023 was Rob Dolecki’s video “Old Dog, No Tricks” that Dig/Greystoke put out. Rob seamlessly showcases his ability to (nicely) dominate all terrain. The parts make the whole here but some of the standout stuff for me was the mind-bending lines at Posh and Catty that don’t look like they should be lines and stuff like the feeble grind-to-nosepress-to-fakie into a wedge.
If the difference between those tricks (how else do you describe this stuff?) seems stark, it’s because it is, or is at least victim to the artificial starkness created by an industry caught in an identity crisis. In Rob’s world almost all segments of BMX are fair game; Rob’s not a trail rider that rides street occasionally (or vice-versa) but it seems like Rob is just a rider, in general. That was refreshing to see in 2023.
Non bike-related, I spent a good amount of time in 2023 watching old(er) movies. While I enjoy motion pictures very much these days, for some reason the silver screen didn’t hit me as hard as it probably should have as a younger man. Because of that I find myself playing catch-up. So instead of hitting the local cineplex, I’ve been skipping the Marvel madness and plunking down in the comfort of my own home with some classics. Here’s 4 “old,” but still very good, flicks I saw in 2023 plus 1 documentary about movies, that’s basically a movie in itself.
Paranoia, assassinations, corporate secrecy; this one is pretty damn close to a perfect movie for me.
This one is a little ridiculous, and to use a word the kids say, cringe, at times, but the San Francisco photography and general, again, as the kids say “vibe” make it an entertaining flick. It does the job of a great movie, which if you ask me, allows you to transcend the real world.
Brian DePalma takes you on a weird voyeuristic ride through Los Angeles that while not veering too far into Inceptionesque meta territory, gets you wondering what’s real and what’s not quite real. For another great DePalma, check out Blow Out, which that with The Friends of Eddie Coyle, are probably the two movies that got me on the old movie rabbit hole.
Bend of the River, 1952
I never thought I would be super interested in Westerns, but I watched a few of the James Stewart/Anthony Mann ones in 2023 and I can see the appeal. This one stuck out to me for its “keep you guessin” story and superb on-location photography in the great northwestern United States.
Los Angeles Plays Itself, 2004
This is the documentary, or video essay, as it is described on Wikipedia. A staggering work that essentially tells the history of Los Angeles using other movies to do so. This is for fans of Los Angeles, movies, and anyone even remotely interested in “the urban” (as the academics say). This ties this movie thing all together as after watching I now have a huge list of flicks (all older) that are on my to-watch list.
I would say my favorite riding-related thing of 2023 would be the Lansdowne skatepark 45 anniversary jam a few months back. I got to see and ride with a bunch of people I haven’t seen in years. Lansdowne is a staple in the Baltimore skate and BMX scene but here was an incident about 15 years ago there and bikes weren’t allowed there for over 10 years and skateboarders had to wear full pads. After years of debate with the county they started allowing bikes and stopped the full pads rule which is great for all of us.
My favorite non-riding- related thing of this year I would say is the comedian Sam Tallent’s book Running the Light. If you’re a fan of comedy it is an incredible read. It reads like a film and is the first book I’ve ever read that I would really get excited to pick back up.
TBS Malmo – September 2023
It’s not really surprising when everything else about life in Sweden and Copenhagen is miles above the UK that their DIY spots are also mint. Top of the spot bucket list, Pontus and the gang have really cooked up an endless transition/banked schralpers paradise. A quiet, mither-free urban bobsleigh run with no need to bunnyhop, I could happily spend the rest of my days riding back and forth on this trackside path. The perfect commute. Cheers Pontus!
Nightmare Tenants/Slum Landlords
Not the most highbrow TV viewing or from 2023 but this reality TV delight following rogues on both sides of the property fence has managed to fill that deadzone of ‘what to watch while you’re eating your tea.’ Too hard to concentrate on something good whilst eating and unable to lower yourself to something like The One Show why not give this one a try? As with anything on Channel 5 it’s so poorly made that you’re never sure whose side you are on and by the end of each programme you end up hating them all. Keep an eye out for pint-sized debt collecting hardman Paul Shamplina and Darwen’s own land baron Paul Ainsworth-Lord. Top telly.
Top five riding-related, in no particular order:
New section at FDR: I was fortunate enough to witness the entire thing poured in one day (56 yards worth of concrete). It adds some new favorite lines to the local DIY.
La Paz, Bolivia: Not the most pedal-friendly city, being 12,000 feet in altitude and situated within a valley (meaning very hilly). But the place has some of the sickest surrounding mountainous landscapes ever, as well as an amazing cable car system and volunteer-built DIY park.
Taiwan: Took an impromptu trip halfway around the world earlier this month. Food and riding terrain is first rate, to say the least. Thanks Robin and Allen for the hospitality.
Mexico: Went on quite an adventure with Corey Walsh and John Glassett to check out a 30 foot-tall concrete cup on a cliff in a remote area of Mexico overlooking the Pacific Ocean. More about that in the upcoming DIG Issue 2023.
CSX: Got to hop on freight trains with Lil Jon a few times this year. More about that in the upcoming Maintain video being released (hopefully) in a few months.
Docu-series: Telemarketer. Big Skerbs put me on to this; he’s also friends with one of the directors. It’s based in my home state of New Jersey, and pretty much guaranteed to become a cult classic.
Riding: Video wise it’s only really stuff from the brotherhood that gets my juices flowing so it’s hard to look any further than Sandy and Coxie’s Lost Collective chef d’oeuvre as well as Tim’s Real Estate. Music is a key ingredient so minimal wave and jazz-funk is fine by me.
On a personal note I had the worst crash of my riding ‘career’ in February when the coping stones of a down ledge disintegrated beneath my front peg in a suburb of Barcelona. For a brief period there was fear that the damage sustained was far worse than just not being able to ride again so with some good fortune and rehabilitation I was able to get cruising around again by the back end of summer. So getting the confidence back up to do some bits on a quick trip to Copenhagen in September was definitely a highlight for me and feeling I wish I could bottle up.
Music: A lot of my spare time is taken up searching for new music but what’s new to me isn’t necessarily current and a quick flick through my favourite discoveries from this year and the most recent of those was released over 15 years ago. Having said that ‘Good Lies’ by Overmono was definitely the tune of the summer followed closely by Miso Extra’s ’50/50’ for fans of timeless electronica and odd concept pop.
Album wise Medicine by GOAT and Fever Ray’s Radical Romantics are probably highlights for fans of Scandinavian psychedelic rock and weird electro pop. Much like Lino’s new 90 East section dropping, with Czarface’s Czartificial Intelligence coming out so recently it’s hardly had time to sink in to be considered on a 2023 list but when it’s all time kings doing their thing it’s undeniably classic shit.
Matt Comeau/Ian Fleming “Doggy Style”
I usually prefer watching full length videos over edits, but this one is an exception. Ian Fleming’s filming actually makes riding look as exciting as it is, and he’s got a distinct editing style that adds to every project of his. Matt Comeau’s riding in this is original, well-rounded and tasteful. Another strong release from these two, this one is a pleasant break from nosemanual to barspin ad nauseum.
Joanna Sternberg – I’ve Got Me
This record feels like the best parts of being a kid. Joanna’s songs have simple, but strong arrangements and relatable lyrics that give them an instantly timeless and authentic character. The driving, melodic piano on the happier tracks makes you want to stomp around in the biggest puddle you can find or conduct a marching band in your apartment. Hypothetically, I mean maybe it kind of could.
I went on a riding trip to Copenhagen in September with a top crew. It was a pretty easy going week riding whatever we came across. We took the train over to Malmo and rode some standout diy spots – TBS is one of the best places I’ve ridden and could spend the week just riding that place and there was this yellow bowl nearby with unpredictable transitions that got the nerves shot. Pretty depressing coming home and riding stuff that was probably laid by the Victorians. It was nice to see Cookie back riding good after having a horrific crash in Barcelona at the start of the year too.
I’m not the biggest one for going to gigs but there were quite a few rap shows in Manchester this year celebrating 50 years of hip hop and I got to see Large Professor, Masta Ace and Roc Marciano but the stand out one for me was Rome Streetz—nice small crowd and a lack of the who-sampled-who queefs you sometimes get boring everyone. I got his new album Noise Kandy Vol 5 this year and its really good – he played loads of it which was mint because my default at a gig is usually hoping they play their old stuff. I love all this new rugged Griselda and Your Old Droog stuff at the moment.
CENTRAL LIBRARY 