another excellent underachievement

Packin it in for a bit

2012-02-21T02:34:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the cyber tumbleweeds here. I've started a tumblr blog for my photos & videos and although I may revive this blogger page someday, I don't know when that would be. In the meanwhile you more than welcome to check me out at http://beaupatrick.tumblr.com/

Yours Indefinitely,
Beau Patrick Coulon

fuck colonialism

2011-11-21T23:39:00.001-08:00

"Considering that virtually none of the standard fare surrounding Thanksgiving contains an ounce of authenticity, or cross cultural perception, why is it so apparently ingrained? Is it necessary to the American psyche to perpetually exploit and debase its victims in order to justify its history?"

-Michael Dorris

Lengthy-Yet-Abridged Post, More Or Less Covering The Past 6 Months Of My Life

2011-11-18T03:37:00.000-08:00

Well I haven't updated this blog in about 6 months. Perhaps blogging isn't my forté? Anyway, this is what I've been up to in recent months...

Earlier this year, around the beginning of summer, I suddenly found myself getting a little down as I was "between jobs" and "between homes," i.e. temporarily homeless and unemployed. So I decided it was a good opportunity for me to go on a road trip around the country. This trip lasted about 3 months.

In May I put all my stuff in storage and jumped in my friends "band van" that was being driven back from tour. We drove west – stopping in Phoenix, El Paso, Austin & Houston – eventually arriving halfway across the country, to New Orleans, where I got out as he continued east.

In New Orleans I spent some time with
close friends, ate good food, took a bunch of photos and shot a little video for Smoking Time Jazz Club. Also, I made some lino cut postcards that I sold on Frenchmen St to help fund the rest of my trip.

A few weeks later, I tore myself away
from N.O. and headed back toward Austin, then up to visit my Dad in Oklahoma for his 71st bday. The freight train rides between Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma went smoothly for the most part and I caught visits with friends & framily along the way.

Then I returned to Austin from Oklahoma for Chaos In Tejas, where it should go without saying, that the punx were "upped." I had my camera with me while in Austin and used the opportunity to shoot a video for my friend Raygunn's band, Deadly Reign. After Chaos In Tejas was over, I made my way back to New Orleans from Austin for a final week of rolling in clover, with plans to ride freight up the east coast toward NY. But before I was ready to leave NOLA I heard the terrible news of a friends passing and quick arrangements were made to ride with my friend Maya in her truck up to Virginia for the memorial.

I don't feel compelled to share the details of the memorial or the circumstances of my friend passing. These are personal subjects and words seldom do them justice anyway.

After Virginia, I arrived in Washington DC thanks to my good friend Toby who dropped me off at my brother David's house on her way back from VA to up-state NY.

In DC I spent about a week and a half hanging out with my brothers, my nieces, nephew and my newly reacquainted extended family. None of whom, it turns out, are very good at dominos. However, I must confess that My 7 yr old nephew Thomas did beat me at chess. I'm skimming a lot of personal details here but time was flying by and eventually I boarded the Chinatown bus and headed to NYC.

I made it to NY in time for the 4th of July and spent that festive joke of a holiday on a friends Lower-East-Side rooftop, where we rolled cigarettes and watched fireworks go off over on the Westside.

This was only the second time I'd been to NY in the past decade and I was relieved to see many old familiar faces still in the neighborhood. Its crazy running into people you haven't seen in over a decade but running into a half dozen of them on the same block within 30 minutes is kind of incredible.
After a couple weeks in NY, and a little work at the merch table for a friends band, I was ready to make my way west again. This time by freight.

Surprisingly, with some good train info from a friend, I made it from NY to Cali in 4 days, which many people experienced in riding freight might find hard to believe, but it's true. I switched trains in Chicago and again in Clinton, Iowa, where I caught one going straight to Roseville Ca.

It was a somewhat rough trip for me physically because I made such quick connections and didn't really take breaks from riding. Trying to stay streamline, I had barely packed enough supplies to sustain me. Yet somehow I made my provisions last the whole way, eating my last can of fish as I went over Donner's pass, sipping the last of my water as the train slowly winded into the valley below and rolling the last of my tobacco as Californian suburbs started peeking through the trees. I was so trashed and cramped by the time my train finally pulled into the yard in Roseville that I had to "slide for home" along ballast rocks as I lost my balance getting off the moving train.

Luckily I only lost a little skin on my palms.

piggyback to chicago

roaming through wyoming

Before making my way back to LA to figure out my work/living situation, I filled up my water bottles, grabbed some trail mix and hopped a junk train up to Dunsmuir California to document my friend Beckey Kaye's art show that was being hosted nearby in an old refurbished wooden boxcar. Several of my friends were there and we all camped together that weekend in the woods near the union pacific mainline, just north of Dunsmuir. Eventually we said our goodbyes and parted ways, heading off in different directions.


outside of Dunsmuir

That last weekend before heading back south was a perfect refrain and I reflected back on the past few months while riding the long slow train southbound toward LA.

its a rough life

Back in LA I quickly found some work at my buddy Jeremy's mill, reclaiming old barn wood and turning it into custom furniture and flooring. Then I moved into a room at Nomad Studio in Frogtown where I have been working on various print & video projects off and on over the past couple years and its here that I am writing this now.

district millworks

have you seen Nomad?

detail of a print I made on some moldy old plywood

Since then I've been staying pretty busy on various projects, some of which are finished and I'll post here soon and others which are finished but still waiting to be released.

Most recently I took a couple weeks off to ride freight down to New Orleans for my birthday, Halloween and the Día de los Muertos celebration. It took a little longer on the trains this time than I anticipated and I spent my 34th bday and Halloween on a freight train between Texas and Louisiana. Luckily I made it to NOLA in time for Day Of The Dead and the 10th Annual New Orleans Book Fair where my friend Amy and I had a booth and were selling prints. Coincidentally, my niece Morgan was having her wedding around the corner from the book fair, in Washington Sq, and I was able to run down the street in time, and linger long enough, to catch the ceremony. It truly is a small world sometimes. Or at least, a small country.

There is so much I love about New Orleans, and certain people there, that it's always hard for me to leave that place. But I couldn't stay this time. Facing the fact that taking freight across country is unwise when you have to be somewhere by a rapidly approaching and specific date, I decided to spend an extra few days in NOLA and fly home (last Friday) instead of hopping freight back. I had an obligation to return to work at the mill and also I wanted to work the Spits show that was happening here at Nomad on Saturday.

on the sunset route

where I spent halloween

the Spits @ Nomad

my table at the book fair

The Spits killed it of course, as usual, but when Monday rolled around I found out that I was laid off from work at the mill. So now here I am at another crossroads, suddenly with free time on my hands again. Can't really say I know what's in store next and I may not be the best at it but I'll try to keep ya'll posted best as I can.

high plains driftin

Destroyed In Seconds

2011-05-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

3 minute music video I produced, directed & edited for LA punk/hardcore/d-beat band: Destroyed In Seconds (D.I.S.). Shot during a live set at The Blvd Cafe & Bar in Boyle Heights 3/11/11.

Shot by Mark Burton, Beau Patrick Coulon and Cyril Helnwein
(check Cyril's incredible photography out at www.cyrilhelnwein.com ). Edited by Miguel Banderas and Beau Patrick Coulon ( Check Miguel out at twitter.com/MichaelBandit ). Production Assistant, Vivaldo Berhitoe.

D.I.S.
Mike Fisher - Vocals
Bruce Reeves - Guitar
Leon Del Muerte - Guitar
Kent Elmore - Bass
Sean Vahle - Drums

DIS's album Critical Failure is out now on Deep Six Records and Power It Up Records.
For more info go to:
www.warlordclothing.com/dis/
www.myspace.com/destroyedyourface
www.facebook.com/DestroyedInSeconds
twitter.com/dbeatdown

Star Fucking Hipsters Tour Pics

2011-04-21T01:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos and a vid clip that I took recently while on tour with SFH

pictures > words

2011-03-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

Well the van I'm traveling in has kinda broken down en route to Portland on the outskirts of Boise Idaho. Its in the shop now and is likely getting fixed in the next few hours. Luckily the country bar we've posted up in (next to the auto shop) is being hospitable. Lo-and-behold, they even have wifi. Presently I am seizing the opportunity to edit and post some recent portraits I've taken. More to come as stability returns to my life or at least as soon as I'm stationary for a few hours again.

near a fire

2011-03-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a grainy, slightly out of focus, under-exposed, picture I took of my friend near a fire. Enjoy!

in the yard

2011-03-15T01:30:00.000-07:00

Blackbird Raum killing it in Fullerton

2011-03-11T03:26:00.000-08:00

Myself, Vivaldo and his traveling girl-buddies, Sigge & Hedda all drove way the hell out to god forsaken Fullerton to see the Blackbird Raum show last week. The venue (Riff Haus) was some kind of christian youth recording studio with incredibly young skinhead bouncers. Seemed like an impractical setting for this kind of band but whadya gunna do? It was a rad show all in all, my only criticism would be that the spastic, flashing, multi-colored stage lights were really really awful. Anyway, here are some pics and a lil video footage from the night.

(click photos to enlarge)

Hedde, Sigge, Vivaldo

Zach, Sigge, Hedde & myself

some yungins in the crowd

blackbird raum!

if you haven't already you should check out this band more, they have 3 excellent records out that you can get here: blackbirdraum.com and its probably on itunes as well

Aaron Geman "Fish-Bird" Kinetic Sculpture

2011-03-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

The other week I took a trip up to the bay area to visit some friends and see some shows. Much of my time was spent in Oakland at ABCO Art Space. http://abcoartspace.com/

One afternoon I went with ABCO resident artist Aaron Geman ( http://aarongeman.com/ ) to a former landfill turned park, where I shot this video to document his "Fish-Bird" sculpture.

Breaking In My New Shit

2011-02-11T03:25:00.000-08:00

Last year I had a blast making music videos and photographing/videoing some of my freight adventures. Since then I've been planning on doing a lot more video & photo work. So after a fair amount of thought and research, and after a hefty amount of annoying all my photographer friends with endless questions, I finally made up my mind and got the new Canon 60D. I think it was the most practical choice for what I need.

Anyhow, last weekend was the litmus test for whether I made a wise choice or not. First I helped my friends at www.recklesstortuga.com by getting some behind the scenes video footage and stills for their webseries, Online Gamer. Then I went to a couple different shows where I likewise shot video and stills. Learning the camera's features on the fly was actually pretty fun and I was able to get a few nice shots and some video. Here's a sampling:

Nino Zombi doing their thing at AMPLYfi in Hollywood

On the set with Reckless Tortuga

Destroyed In Seconds (DIS) tearing it up at The BLVD in Boyle Heights

Well after the weekends experiment I actually feel pretty good about my choice in camera and I'm looking forward to next week when I travel up to the bay area to shoot... something! It'll be a surprise, so stay tuned...

Listless 2010

2011-01-31T21:28:00.000-08:00

Alright now that we're a month into 2011 I suppose I should tell y'all my 10 favorite Movies and Albums of the past year. So yeah, I'm not trying to "review" or critique anything, I'm just stating that these were MY favorites and I highly recommend checking this stuff out if you haven't already. So here goes:

Movies:

10) Cyrus

9) Youth In revolt

8) True Grit

7) Biutiful

6) Which Way Home

5) The Fighter

4) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

3) Winters Bone

2) Exit Through The Gift Shop

1) A Prophet

(from A Prophet)

honorable mention: I love you phillip morris, inception, wah do dem, the crazies, the town, catfish, the kings speech, 127 hours, the social network, conviction, blackswan, somewhere

Albums:

* I truly can't rate these on a 1 to 10 scale or whatever, they're all so great and most are not even in the same genre so what would be the point? Just know that these were the newer albums that soundtracked most of my past year

*Band: Mischief Brew & Guignol. Album: Fight Dirty

* Death - For The Whole World To See (1975 re-issue)

* P.O.S. (Pissed Off Stef) - Never Better

* The King Blues - Save The World Get The Girl

* Blackbird Raum - Under the Starling Host

* Dark Dark Dark - Bright Bright Bright (ep) & Wild Go (lp)

* Andrew Jackson Jihad - Can't Maintain

* S.F.H (Star Fucking Hipsters) - Vol II: Never Rest In Peace

D.I.S. (Destroyed In Seconds) - Critical Failure

* Squalora - Hell Is Other People

* Magrudergrind - Magrudergrind

Yeah yeah, I know, some of this stuff came out late in 2009... but I didn't hear/see it til 2010 so cut me some slack.

Video Of The Week

2011-01-27T12:52:00.000-08:00

This is easily the coolest train video I've seen in months. Really makes me want to get an old Super 8 camera.

Prepare To Be Underwhelmed

2011-01-08T18:34:00.000-08:00

This is a 25 second short that I did as a challenge from Vimeo. Its a vignette of five different five second clips that I shot at Sunset Junction Music Fest last summer. After I finished my edit I read the rules again and saw that they said "no music." As you will see, or rather- hear, I used a super short Beirut song as a soundtrack. Oh well Vimeo. Anyway, here it is

Building A Ham Empire

2010-12-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

Lately for work I've been building a recording studio in the Hollywood hills with my brother Nick for an old friend of ours. On lunch I like to walk down the hill to The Oaks Gourmet Market on the corner of Franklin and Bronson. Its a nice lil fancy pants market/deli combined with a decent little coffee shop. I've tried most the items on the menu there already and haven't been disappointed by the quality or flavor at all. Actually, they serve the best grilled cheese sandwich I've ever had, it comes on cranberry walnut bread with extra sharp cheddar, Fontina and creamy Camembert cheeses. If a grilled cheese sandwich could change your life, this one just might. Their coffee is pretty damn good as well. Hell I'm not trying to write a goddamn review here but I guess you could say I dig the place somewhat. So anyway, last time I was there I noticed that they sell Jamón Iberico, which is cured ham from Spain. For those of you that aren't familiar, Iberico Ham is the best shit on earth. Its often referred to as the caviar of pork and although I couldn't really give a shit about caviar, I can't deny that I truly love this ham.

me at a Jamon stall in Barcelona, summer 2009

I first tasted this Jamón on a visit to Spain a little over a year ago and it fully blew my mind. One of my brothers and I wanted to bring a big ol shank of it home with us but we were informed that it was illegal in the US for some reason and only one place in Spain was allowed to export it in small amounts. So you can imagine that I was kind of stoked to see that a local market was carrying this delicious and somewhat rare (over here anyways) item. Then I noticed the price tag...

pics taken from the deli case at The Oaks Gourmet Market in Hollywood

$45 for 4 ounces!!! That's only like 2 thin slices! Can you believe that shit??? They're charging 5 times more than it costs in spain! It would be nearly $200 a pound at that rate. Anyway this got me to thinking... and no not about shoplifting, although that thought did cross my mind briefly... no, what I thought was that I should start smuggling this ham in from Spain and selling it here at the inflated rate. I mean at that ridiculous price someone could make a pretty penny off only a few pounds. But why not a few thousand pounds? Seriously, it would be a victimless crime. Its not like cocaine or something that ruins lives and whole communities. Its delicious meat for chrissake!

Well my mind is made up and I'm ready to start building my ham empire. I'm now hiring henchmen and mules for my operation. Just think of the possibilities! Please email me your qualifications if you are interested in joining me in this venture. But I must ask for serious inquiries only please. And please keep this between us, loose lips sink ships, snitches get buried in ditches, etc, etc.

memorabilia from my misspent youth (pictures from an old article)

2010-12-04T15:51:00.000-08:00

The other day I was at my moms house using her computer because I had just pawned mine to get $ to fix my car. While I was there I came across this old issue of LA Weekly dated Feb 1993.

Sometime around the fall of '92 this guy from the LA Weekly started coming around with a photographer, trying to get interviews from street kids. I recall being suspicious of him at first and not wanting to talk with him or allow my photo to be taken. Eventually I caved in at the offer of $2 and a slice of pizza and I allowed them to take my picture. That's me below, rockin' the flip brim thrash hat:

Several months after that pic was taken I was walking along Hollywood Blvd and spotted a stack of LA Weekly's with an image from my squat on the cover. The article was about street life on the boulevard for the different factions of kids, punks, junkies & gang bangers. It discussed our lifestyles; drinking, squatting, sex, drug use, violence, blah, blah, blah, all the usual half-sensational crap. And well the article caused a bit of a stir among us because we thought it was going to get everyone busted.

People I knew were going around threatening each other and starting shit with anyone who had talked to the reporters. It was all pretty fucking silly in retrospect but at the time, having anything to do with the (relatively tame) LA Weekly article was tantamount to snitching. Of course, no one ever got "busted" because of the article. Our squat eventually got raided though, as all Hollywood squats inevitably do... but it was probably for something stupid like throwing bottles off of the roof into the parking lot next door.

It kinda goes without saying that 18 years ago my mom and I didn't exactly get along (fyi, we get along much better nowadays). I had moved out of her house and was on my own at thirteen. And at 15, around the time this article came out, I was having a grand ol' time living on the street, hustling quarters on the boulevard for 40s everyday. I wouldn't have had it any other way and I love that my mom kept this article, a token of my underachievement, all these years.

Dont Fence Me In

2010-11-12T03:48:00.000-08:00

Here's some of that shaky video that I took between Klamath Falls, Mount Shasta and Dunsmuir California, heading into the Central Valley. It had been rainy all week up north until the day we decided to hop out. We left Portland on All Souls Day which must be a lucky day to travel on because the clouds parted and as you can see, momma nature put on a nice show for us all the way south.

All the usual disclaimers apply; this is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance I have to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. I am a figment of your imagination. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. Don't try this at home, etc, etc.

As always, special thanks goes out to the Union Pacific Railroad for politely keeping its bulls off my track (all the way from Portland to LA this time). I also want to give a shot out to Nico and Vivaldo for being such great company and for supplying the 12 hour picnic. Sorry about your bad luck in Colton.

Chapter 1: For Better Metal from Beau Patrick Coulon on Vimeo.

Chapter 2: Don't Fence Me In from Beau Patrick Coulon on Vimeo.

Freight Trains, Shit Eating Grins & Mamma Nature

2010-11-08T19:15:00.000-08:00

Well after a lil 10 day road trip with Star Fucking Hipsters as they wrapped up their Cracktoberfest tour and after an epic freight train ride through Mother Nature's ample bosoms, I finally shook off my reverse homesickness and am happy to be oversleeping in my own bed again. Yes that's right, I'm back home in cozy ol' traffic infested Los Angeles, feeling refreshed and reinvigorated to um... do stuff and.. uh.. things.. Let me get back to you on that one.

Anyway, for some reason I didn't take any pictures of the SFH tour... or my Halloween/B'day party that we had up in Olympia (which were both, stated simply, a lot of fun). However I did get a bunch of shaky video footage and some purty photos on the freight ride back with my friends Vivaldo and Nico. Here are the pics for now, I might edit together a video later (click to enlarge):

feast or famine and lapses in blogging

2010-10-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

What is up with that whole "feast or famine" rule? Is it a natural law or something? I had to turn down 5 jobs this week because I couldn't fit them in, but earlier this year I couldn't find work to save my life... I don't know why but that phenomena is so strange to me...

Just noticed my last blog was in August... wow, has it really been that long?? So anyway, what exactly have I been up to you ask? Well I spent most of the summer broke, covered in poison oak, dealing with lame car accident/fines bullshit and then more recently I've been working remodeling a massive warehouse/studio for an artist downtown. I've also been working on my own designs/projects in the evenings. Also I was in a fun Zombie themed art exhibit in downtown L.A. last week, check out the flier below (designed by my buddy Jason Liwag and printed by yours truly at Nomad Studio). Another explanation for the lapse in blogging, if its needed at this point, is I got a netflix account.. which basically means that I have no social life at all now. Watching a documentary is often more gratifying that just hanging out anyway. Other than that I've been obsessed with making the ultimate Halloween music mix... I sincerely want to stem the coming tide of holiday tunes for as long as I can.

After this weekend I'm goin' on a little road trip, tagging along with my friends band Star Fucking Hipsters as they tour the west coast... then I'm hopping freight back from Seattle in a couple weeks... hopefully I'll get some good photos and video footage that I can share with you folx when I get back.
Til then, remember, don't take any wooden nickels, keep yer eyes on the prize, always wipe front to back, blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc.

We'll all be millionaires!

2010-08-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have some stupendous ideas that I want to put out there for you more motivated people to capitalize on. I don't really have the desire to develop them myself so feel free to just "run with it" if you think you can get any of these onto store shelves in time for Christmas. All I want is a little royalty check every once in awhile when the millions start rolling in.

1. Hand Woven Human Pubic Hair Bath Matt. I figure these could be made cheaply in some third world country where the only asset one has is their body hair. It would be a totally "green," fair trade, chemical free and biodegradable product. You could even offer some deal like Toms shoes does: "for every Pube Mattm you buy, an impoverished person in the third world will be given 50% of the sale price in cash. This is way more proactive and far less pretentious then buying some crappy shoes, that will fall apart in a week, with the well intentioned delusion that you are actually making a difference. Plus I feel that the Pube Mattm is a very practical item. It not only camouflages one's own fallen short and curlies but who doesn't like to step out of their bath or shower to feel the coarse bristles of finely woven pubes under their feet?

2. Toilette Film Projector. This item is pretty simple and self explanatory, basically its a small digital projector that shoots an image or video onto the bottom of your toilette bowl. Just imagine the joy you'll feel while taking a nice bowel movement over a photo of your boss, ex girlfriend or boyfriend, mother in-law, despised political figure, celebrity, Glen Beck, etc., etc., the possibilities are limitless. And it will play dvd's & bluray wirelessly from your pc so you can have target practice with your yellow lazer beam during scenes from Nanny McPhee Retuns, Eat Pray Love, Cats and Dogs, or any other appropriate film.

3. Masculine Scented Candles. Not many dudes out there, myself included, give a shit about scented candles. Sandalwood? Seriously? I don't have time for that shit. But if there were campfire smoke, steak, bacon, cigar, motor grease and gravy scented candles, even I might be interested in purchasing one or two.

4. Crystal Clear Dentures. Lets face it, platinum and gold grills have gone out of style. Blame the economy or Lil' Jon fatigue, it doesn't matter. Fact is people just aren't interested in trying to appear "street" or look intimidating by blingin' out their teeth like they were a few years ago. I think that niche market could be filled by our new product: completely see-through teeth. What could be more hardcore and unsettling then seeing straight into someone's throat every time they spoke or cracked a smile? Nevermind being crunk, people would think you were seriously crazy. They would cross the street when they saw you coming... and when all is said and done isn't that what cultivating a hardcore street look is all about? Now consider the usefulness and practicality of ClearDenttm, no more would you have to waste valuable time brushing your teeth, when you see a little build up of food residue just throw your ClearDenttm in the dish washer and when its finished washing, blamo! sparkling clear teeth! And there's nothing quit like biting into your favorite meal with the sharp crystal edges or your new mouth chandelier.

Well that's all for now, I have lots more ideas but lets see if any of these take off first. Good luck!

Some Of My Art

2010-08-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

"Citizen Zinn" woodcut

"Hollywood Propaganda" triptych on canvas

3' x 4' "Gassmask Dance" panel

"Crackillac Style" 12"x 12" two color screen-print on goldleaf (laminated over found wood).

"FR8" five layer stencil on canvas

"The Travelers" (documentary)

2010-08-08T01:12:00.000-07:00

This Documentary first aired on MTV's "Real Life" series sometime in the late 90's, and except for a few VHS copies floating around here and there, it hasn't really been seen much since. I'm posting it now because a bunch of my friends are in it and I know certain other people would like too see their faces and hear their voices again, especially Ron and Boyd who have long since caught the westbound. (R.I.P.)

Straight To Hell

2010-08-04T03:13:00.000-07:00

pocket video camera: $150
5 cans of kippered herring, tortillas & Tapatio Hot Sauce: $10
Traveling halfway across the country courtesy of the Union Pacific Railroad: Priceless

So I bought a small cheap video camera and decided to test it out on a freight ride through the desert. I was accompanied by my friend Shawn McKinney who traveled with me from Colton Ca., out to Tucson Az., where we parted ways. I continued on alone into the brutal heat and bleak landscape of West Texas. This is the video I edited together from that trip.

The music in the background is The Clash's classic, "Straight To Hell." I think Joe Strummer would have approved. Hopefully the Youtube overlords don't mute it.

Thanks to: Jason "Swoozie" Wilkins, Dutch, Shawn McKinney, and to the Union Pacific for politely keeping its bulls off my track.

Documentary Feature Film: Long Gone

2010-07-31T02:15:00.000-07:00

Filmmakers David Eberhardt and Jack Cahill spent the 1990’s hoisting themselves, separately and together into the open boxcars of passing freight trains, then riding off into the far horizon. Along the way, they gained the trust of their fellow riders, homeless men (mostly) who ride the rails year after year, a half-dozen who describe themselves in this fine, sweetly melancholy documentary. These guys, who tell their story in voice-over, come with nicknames worthy of old-world cowboys, from the scraggly sidekicks Joshua Long Gone and Horizontal John, to New York Slim , an eloquent African American Vietnam vet who serves as a peacemaker in a world where drunken campfire brawls are common. There’s a new generation out there too, including the brainy 18 year old Jesse, who’s forgoing college to “spare change” her way across America with her boyfriend, the plaintive, aptly named Stonie. Eventually, in color and black-and-white footage encompassing several years, these seemingly shapeless lives develop compelling narrative arcs, usually misguided, never self-pitying. With singer Tom Waits moaning low on the soundtrack, the directors, who offer zero historical background, capture beautifully the continuing allure of an exacting lifestyle. Out there, it’s clear, freedom isn’t a stump-speech buzz word, but a physical reality felt in every bone-trembling line of track.

- Chuck Wilson - LA Weekly

Long Gone - Documentary Feature Film from i am 8-bit Productions on Vimeo.

note: as of Aug 8th this video isn't up on Vimeo anymore but you can buy or rent it on Itunes (at the regular price) by going to this web address:
http://www.newvideo.com/new-video-digital/long-gone-productions/

Hobo Ethical Code (taken from wikipedia)

2010-07-29T23:47:00.000-07:00

An ethical code was created by Tourist Union #63 during its 1889 National Hobo Convention in St. Louis Missouri. This code was voted upon as a concrete set of laws to govern the Nation-wide Hobo Body; it reads this way:

1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
3. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
4. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
5. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos.
7. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you.
8. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
9. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
11. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.
12. Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose all molesters to authorities, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
14. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
15. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.
16. If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!

short video of me screen-printing some patches

2010-07-25T18:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I made a bunch of patches at NOMAD Studio for some old friends who were all coming to a big reunion at Tickfaw State Park in Louisiana. I captured some of the silkscreening process on video and this is what I edited together from that footage. This video is not a "how to" or a tutorial or anything, its just for fun. Hope you enjoy it.

The song used, Hallowed Be Thy Name, is an Iron Maiden cover by Guignol and Mischief Brew. I am not associated with the band in any way, just a fan.

some of my photogcrappy

2010-07-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Lost History: The Hobo Wars

2010-07-23T23:12:00.001-07:00

DISCLAIMER

2010-07-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

This blog is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. Batteries not included. Use only as directed. Do not use blog while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. This is not an offer to sell securities. Apply blog only to affected area. May be too intense for some viewers. For recreational use only. Do not disturb. All models on this blog are over 18 years of age. If condition persists, consult your physician. Freshest if eaten before date on carton. This blog subject to change without notice. No postage necessary if mailed in the United States. Breaking seal constitutes acceptance of agreement. For off-road use only. As seen on TV. One size fits all. Contains a substantial amount of non-tobacco ingredients. Colors may, in time, fade. Slippery when wet. For office use only. Not affiliated with the American Red Cross. This blog not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform. At participating locations only. Not the Beatles or authorized Beatles propagandist. Falling rock. Lost ticket pays maximum rate. Your canceled check is your receipt. Reversing may cause severe tire damage. Avoid contact with skin. Blog sanitized for your protection. Sign here without admitting guilt. Employees and their families are not eligible. Beware of blog. Contestants have been briefed on some questions before the show. You must be present to win. No passes accepted for this engagement. No purchase necessary. Use only in a well-ventilated are. Keep away from fire or flames. Blog price does not include taxes. No Canadian coins. Not recommended for children. No solicitors. No dogs or unruly children permitted. No anchovies unless otherwise specified. Not for resale. Call before you dig. Driver does not carry cash. No transfers issued until the bus comes to a complete stop. This article does not reflect the thoughts or opinions of either myself, my company, my friends, or my blog. Don't quote me on that. All rights reserved. You may distribute this article freely but you may not make a profit from it. Terms are subject to change without notice. Do not remove this disclaimer under penalty of law. Hand wash only, tumble dry on low heat. No substitutions allowed. For a limited time only. Void where prohibited. Article is provided "as is" without any warranties. Reader assumes full responsibility. An equal opportunity blog. No shoes, no shirt, no service. Quantities limited while supplies last. Read at your own risk. Parental advisory - explicit lyrics. Text may contain explicit materials some readers may find objectionable.

friendly reminder: never loose your soul

2010-07-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

Sonseed performing their amazing song "Jesus Is My Friend"

Shooting 3,000 Miles Away

2010-07-05T03:31:00.000-07:00

So this is kinda old news considering the video for 3,000 Miles Away came out in mid January. But what the hell, I only recently started this blog so why not write about it now?

The story goes like this: My long time friend Scott Sturgeon, from my squatting/train hopping/bumming around on the streets days, was touring with his new band Star Fucking Hipsters (SFH). This was back around the beginning of 09 when they were promoting their first album "Until We're Dead" on Fat Wreck Chords. When they hit the LA area I invited my bro-in-law Ethan Suplee to come check them out with me. Ethan was already a fan of Scott's earlier projects Leftover Crack and Choking Victim so he was as excited as I was to see this new group. After the show, which kicked ass, we all hung out and I introduced Ethan to my friends in SFH. Naturally they became friends with Ethan as well...

Fast forward to sometime during the Fall. SFH had just finished recording a new album titled "Never Rest In Peace" on the Alternative Tentacles record label and were about to start the "Cractoberfest In The West" tour with Ska-Punk legends Citizen Fish. Scott told Ethan about wanting to shoot a music video after Cractoberfest for what would be the first "single" from their new record...

Ethan offered to help Scott with his music video in anyway he could; maybe ask around to find him a director, studio, etc. Then Ethan and I talked about it and we figured it would be a cool project to just do ourselves. So rather than trying to hook Scott up with other people who might only want money and possibly wouldn't have an understanding for SFH's music, we decided to take on the project.

Via phone and email, Scott, Ethan and myself worked out the basic concept, some scene ideas, location ideas, and we nailed down the shoot date. We discussed at length how the video should look and feel. Lastly we went over the "budget"... basically there was no budget. Scott said he would have a few hundred dollars from merch sales that he could invest in the video after his tour ended, enough to rent a good camera, but that was about it. Not to be daunted by monetary challenges, we moved forward with our planning...

Based on our conversations and a few subsequent emails, I wrote up a treatment and general shot list. Now we just needed to secure everything else that it takes to shoot a half decent video; equipment, a place to shoot, wardrobe, props, etc, and most importantly we needed to find a crew that would work for free.

The first thing I looked for was someone proficient with a video camera. I asked around a little (you never have to look very far to find creative people in LA) and my brother Nicky Shulman suggested I talk with a guy named Shawn Butcher. After a quick phone call, Shawn and I had arranged to have a meeting later in the week...

Technically proficient and experienced in video work, Shawn agreed to take on the role of Director Of Photography. Shawn was very knowledgeable regarding the equipment we would need and he did some incredibly creative problem solving to secure said equipment for next to nothing. Shawn then secured Rodrigo Chavoya and Daniel Warlock as additional volunteer crew.

At the time I had been working on various silkscreening/fine-art projects at NOMAD Print Studio/Gallery/Art Compound here in LA and I had become pretty good friends with NOMAD proprietor; Damon Robinson. Always supportive of artists and their creative endeavors, Damon agreed to allow us use of the studio for our shoot. Next I secured Davan Firinn to do make-up and I got my homegirl Laurén LaRocca to be our P.A. Ethan got Dickies to kick us down the grey coveralls we used as our prison uniforms and we rustled up some handcuffs and other various props from friends here and there...

After watching the last show of Cractoberfest on November 8th at the Glasshouse in Pomona, I went to the studio and worked through the night building and painting the set and organizing our production space. The crew and SFH showed up the following morning and helped me finish setting up. We started shooting at about 11am and approximately 10 hours later we were wrapping up. The video went public mid January. Here's the result:

Video credits:
Produced by The Chaos League
Concept by Scott Sturgeon
Director - Beau Patrick Coulon
Director of Photography - Shawn Butcher
Starring - Ethan Suplee as the interrogator
Starring - Beau Patrick Coulon as the Corrections Officer
Starring - SFH (Sturgeon, Nico, Frank, Chris, P-Nut, Alex) as themselves
Editor - Shawn Butcher
Camera Assistant - Daniel Worlock
Stills by Alyssa Tanchajja
Grip - Rodrigo Chavoya
Makeup Artist - Davan Firinn
Production Assistant - Laurén LaRocca
Shot at Nomad Los Angeles

*special note: Giovanni Reda from The Berrics showed up during the shoot up and captured some star fucking antics and behind the scenes stuff for his online video segment "Wednesdays With Reda."
Check it out:

www.starfuckinghipsters.com
www.nomadlosangeles.com
www.ethansuplee.com

video of the week

2010-06-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

This video made my night. Enjoy!

An old shitty story: Sometimes You Gotta Doo When You Gotta Doo

2010-06-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

In Amsterdam one morning after a night of drinking Jamesons and this piss beer called Columbus, I woke up in this little boat that I was squatting on one of the canals with the most terrifying urge to defecate. There was this pressure in my bowels as if god's invisible hand reached down and grabbed me near the base of my spine and was slowly squeezing until I leaked shit.

Before I ruined my only pair of pants in a foreign country, I searched like hell for a toilette. Unfortunately all I found was a playground full of children and no good bushes for cover.
There were no shops or businesses around for me to use the bathroom and I was terrified of being chased by an angry mob of dutch mothers if I suddenly had to drop trow near the playground in front of their kids. So i tried to make it to my friends squat several blocks away.

I made it half a block along the first main street , when there was gods firm grip on my bowels again, this time unrelenting. It was as if I were a tube of toothpaste being squeezed by an overzealous dental hygienist. I leaned against a brick building as the poo ran out of me and formed a hot mud mask inside my Carhartts around my butt-cheeks. Grabbing my pant legs around the back of the knees in an attempt to maintain the leakage I moved down the sidewalk. I felt like a dejected animal and I walked like that, ridiculously hunched over with my hands gripped around my knees, for six cobblestoned blocks.

When i got to the squat i yelled up to my friend Burger's window to let me in, he had running water and a shower in the derelict building they had taken over. Posh, I know...
Burger finally came to the window up on the 4th floor after I had called his name about 5 times. He yelled down to the street that they were all still sleeping and that I should come back in a few hours then he started to disappear back away from the window.

Panicking, I yelled "WAIT" and "its a goddamn emergency!"
He came back to the window annoyed and shouted back "WHATTHAFUK?"
Seeing no use with discretion i let him know.

"I shat myself okay? I need to use the shower for christsake!!!"

A moment later it had registered with him, and everyone else up there for that matter, because I heard a raspy if not thunderous amount of laughter mixed with coughing and foreign swear words come from the inside the window. Finally he threw down the keys and I was making my way up the four flights of stairs, hunched over with feces beginning to make its way into my boots.

Once inside Burger opened the door holding his nose like a little kid about to jump off the high-dive at the local public swimming pool. I saw half a dozen heads peak up from various sleeping positions then disappear back to snigger at me from within the stale warmth of their sleeping bags. Burger led me down a dark hallway with no lights to the bathroom which also had no electricity.

Once inside the shower, I took all my clothes off and turned the water on. It was the coldest shower I have ever experienced and the cold seemed even more infinite due to the total darkness of the windowless bathroom. I washed all the shit off of my lower body, forcing little turd particles through the tiny holes in the drain with my foot until the poo felt all disbursed beneath my toes. Then I tried to clean the feces out of the thick duck cloth of my double knee work pants. When my pants were nearly clean I turned them inside out, put them back on and just stood shivering under the icy water for about 20 minutes while waiting for the smell to wash away. It never quite did. I took my pants off again, wrung them out and tried to drip dry because there were no towels. Finally I turned my pants back right-side out, got dressed in my soggy clothes, left the bathroom, walked down the crazy dark staircase, and walked out the front door of the squat; out into the brisk gray Netherland morning.

By nightfall I was mostly dried out. That night while walking down Damrak, the main street near the train station and the red-light district, I ran into a few of the people from that squat. They were all jovial and happy to tease me about the morning, someone handed me a warm Columbus and said "here you go Paddy-Poopy-Pants" and everyone laughed their asses off at my expense.

The nickname "Paddy Poopy Pants" hung around me about as long as the odor did. I left Amsterdam for Berlin a week later and it was cool with me that the nickname didn't follow.

Trash Humpers

2010-06-21T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've watched this trailer about 10 times since my brother Lightfield sent me the link and I cannot wait to see it. Harmony Korine's new film, Trash Humpers, follows the lives of a small group of sociopathic elderly people in Nashville Tennessee. If this movie is anything near as strange and beautiful as Gummo was then I will certainly enjoy it.

Get more info on this film at www.trashhumpers.com

Nomads Ride For Free

2010-06-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is a short little video me and my friend Shawn shot on a recent train ride from Colton to Tucson. It's titled "Nomads Ride For Free" because the art compound/studio Shawn and I work out of is called NOMAD Los Angeles. It was hotter than hades riding that train through the desert and our boxcar was especially shaky. We were both thirsty as hell and thoroughly exhausted by the time we got to Tucson.

why am I blogging?

2010-06-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hmm, why am I blogging you ask? I suppose it's because a blog offers me something that the social networking sites don't. Instead of simply updating my "status" or getting some message whittled down to 140 characters, I have a place to ramble on and on about noxious shit if I want. Not that I'm planning any long winded diatribes at the moment, but it's good to know that when I do I'll have a blog to do it on.

As I get used to this whole blogging thing I will post more photos, anecdotes, art, and other items that I find funny, strange or interesting.
For now here's this:

here goes nothing

2010-06-21T03:39:00.001-07:00

ooh isnt that special?