The Last American Craftsmen Pt.1 - Pat O'Hare

ONE of my fondest childhood memories is wandering in to the O'Hare Surfboards surf shop back in 1964. I was tagging along with my Mom who had a painting class in Cocoa Beach that day. It just so happened her class was right next door to the little wooden structure that housed Pat O'Hare's beautiful surfboards. I wandered inside drawn by the smell of resin and the sound of a planer carving through foam. And so my introduction to the world of surfboard building and the amazing Pat O'Hare began...
Surfboard building was never profitable. The cost of materials, labor, advertising, and overhead always made it a "for the love of it only" occupation. And the competition for the few dollars surfers actually had was always stiff. Many familiar labels from surfings "golden age", namely the sixties, had called it a day by the eighties. They literally couldn't afford to do it anymore. And a lot of the Mom and Pop companies were done soon after. Unless you had a very visible team of contest surfers and a famous surfboard shaper, you had to switch to selling clothing in your surf shop to even have a chance of survival. Two things changed that. Enter automation and overseas factories. Surfboards have traditionally been shaped and fiberglassed by hand. And the pool of craftsmen shrank as the pay did. So, like most American companies, they shipped production overseas. Most overseas (and stateside) factories are automated these days, the computer has aided in producing machines that shape the surfboard with only minor finishing required. And the factories are usually production line, working for many different labels, both legally and "bootlegged". Surfboard making has become profitable again, but, like everything else machine made, it's lost it's soul. Although the number shrinks every year, there are a few who still do it the way they used to.
Pat O'Hare moved from Manhattan Beach, California in the early sixties and set up shop in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Rick James came along too, and James and O'Hare Surfboards were born. The time was ripe on the East Coast, surfing was about to experience a major boom in America's consciousness. Thanks to The Endless Summer, every kid near an ocean wanted to experience surfing. This helped Pat and Rick get off to a good start, although Rick returned to California a short time later. Pat kept on making beautiful surfboards, in between raising a family and surfing as much as possible. He had a knack early on too, of making surfboards that worked insanely well in the myriad of Atlantic surf conditions. He was (and is) a quiet, humble man, never blowing his own horn. Oh, he could, and justifiably so, but he's just not wired that way. But those who understand superior craftsmanship and excellent design could take one look at a Pat O'Hare surfboard and marvel. Greg Noll was one such expert, and Pat was picked as the sole maker of the East Coast Greg Noll line. Quite an honor, and where most shapers would puff their chest and tell the world, Pat just took it in stride. Amazing. Looking at a vintage Greg Noll board shaped by Pat is to see a subtle combination of blended lines and curves, where nothing is out of place, and stunning symmetry is the end result. Ditto for anything under his O'Hare label, from the sixties Tommy McRoberts model "The Rebel", right up to any of his modern shapes. He's still on it, Fish, Quads, seventies style single fins, and of course, his amazing longboards. The lines are still soft and sensible, but once you get them on a wave you'll know that each board is truly magic. Other labels claim their boards are magic, but O'Hare quietly delivers in his own low key way. Pat still shapes today, just the same way he did back in the early sixties. All one hundred percent by hand, and all made with S-O-U-L. Get one while you can through the link below, and get ready to be amazed on the very first wave you take off on. You're not just riding an unreal surfboard, you're riding a piece of art from one of the last American craftsmen. Amazing.

PS - I'm sure he'd want me to tell you that you better hang this piece of art on the face of a wave, not on your wall at home ...

To contact Pat O'Hare about your piece of art, email him through www.16streets.com.

LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK PT.1 - SUBSONICS

Atlanta, Georgia 1992 - A lot was happening in the new capitol of the Southeast at the start of the last decade. Some big things were right on the surface. Ted Turner was taking his empire international with CNN. The Atlanta Braves went from worst to first, giving the once-burnt-to-the -ground city it's first "real" winner (take that Sherman!). Down the road a piece, Athens, Georgia was (still) giving the world The B52's and R.E.M.. Elton John moved to town (no doubt looking for tips from the infinitely cooler Ru Paul). The summer Olympics, and all the craziness that was to come with it, was four years away. The new capitol of the Southeast was about to become an International City. Like I said, things were clear right on the surface. But this is the land of red dirt roads and the waters are muddy, son! And sometimes the most peculiar and amazing things can be found on the murky bottom.

Into the Punk and Hardcore void of the 70's and 80's came a Southern version of what had already been happening around the country for 5 or 6 years. The 80's Garage Rock Revival hit town via The Fleshtones, spawning a whole new generation of like - minded bands. The mighty Woggles took the mantle for the home team and have held it ever since (more on our rock and soul geniuses in a future chapter). As Atlanta was becoming the South's new promise land, the city also became a cool music mecca. Out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, came the sci-fi sounds of Man Or Astroman?. Chapel Hill, North Carolina gave us Southern Culture On The Skids and The Flat Duo Jets. Florida's contribution was The Hate Bombs. Atlanta itself had a strong Rockabilly subculture, containing rocking bands and rabid fans. Many other groups in this loose knit scene came and went, burning out bright and fast. Few have had the longevity of our aforementioned heroes. But something is missing you say? Who are we leaving out? Probably the best "bridge" between the punk, rockabilly and garage camps, ladies and gentleman, I give you The Subsonics!

How The Subsonics met is a bit fuzzy, but one thing is loud and clear. They are a captivating live band and their many releases over the years are chock full of gutter - y story/songs. The Subsonics are a strange mix - First, you take equal parts Buddy Holly, Lou Reed, and Johnny Thunders. Blend as fast as all hell breaking loose and garnish with knives, chains, J.D. novels, and lotsa black leather. Do not dilute with Jonathan Richman or rough it up too much with stomp boxes. The dish you'll be serving to your guests will be a look at life on the wrong end of town. And usually a look at it long after midnight.

Their sound centers around Rockin' Clay Reeds' buzzsaw guitar rhythms. The chords fly at you fast, and the "solos" have evolved into a squawking barrage of non-notes. Don't think for a minute that what Mr. Reed plays is because of a lack of know how. Ya gotta know the rules to break 'em sonny, and break 'em he does. But it all fits. And when he wants to be melodic, he can do that too, albeit with a bit of twisted - ness. Just listen to "Red Roses" from their 1992 self - titled release. This instrumental is the best non - surf surf song that you're ever likely to hear! And it sounds like soundtrack music for some deserted beach scene , deep down into Mexico, so far down that nothing matters ... It's dusty, windy, and 99 degrees in the shade .... but the waves are breaking, and breaking beautifully ..... Fast forward to 2006 - "Parasites" is the other side of the Subsonics sound, I call it Buddy Holly or Bobby Fuller on speed. It's all warbling, spittin' vocals over a classic 3 chords / 3 minute punk template. It's no wonder that their world wide fan base is made up of fans of Rockabilly, Punk, Garage, and Surf musics. Their songs cover the style spectrum, and it's never forced or a parody. It's just ... real ...

Standing up behind the sparse drum set, chewing gum and ducking cat calls, is Buffi Aguero. The minimalist thumping is the heartbeat of the Subsonics monster, always driving the song on, as if to escape the angry villagers. When Clay and Buffi started the Subsonics the sound came together and projected the unique and cutting edge tastes of both. They just know all the right stuff, and incorporate that into the songs - whether it be B movies, pulp fiction paperbacks, or outsider art. They cite everyone from The Velvet Underground to The Voidoids as musical influences. Ike Turner and Phil Spector too. Does it get any better than that? Don't think so! Ms. Aguero also fronts her own band, Tiger! Tiger!, but more on them later ....

The left side of the stage has seen a few different bass players for our tremulous three piece. First came troublemaker Scott Weatherwax. Then the multi-talented Ron Skutt. Third in line was crowd (and Bad Trip) favorite, Christy Montero. This classic Subsonics line - up was like a twisted Tony Orlando and Dawn, except "Dawn" was hot-under-the-collar sexy and Tony looked like some androgynous hooker that hadn't eaten in a month! European tours followed , but sadly the Revlon endorsement never saw the light of day .... After a brief , but brillinat, fill - in by bassist Buzz Hagstrom (Woggles, Graham Day), The Subsonics lured Rob Delbueno (Man or Astroman?) into the fold. Rob brings a steady and wide array of talent, and thumps out the 4 string glue that holds the whole shebang together.

So after many singles, e.p.'s and albums (see links below), the Subsonics chug on, steamrolling everything in their path, and getting stronger with each new lightning bolt they get hit by. They criss cross the U.S. all the time, and Europe is an annual event. Can Japan be far behind? You owe it to yourself to catch this crazy trio when they Godzilla your town, or buy some of their music from one of the links below. Better yet, do both. Tell 'em we said "hey". bruce bad trip
Next installment: Part 2 - "Tiger! Tiger!"

www.slovenly.com/subsonics.shtml

www.myspace.com/subsonicsatlanta

www.subsonics.net/