Minneapolis Double Header
This past Saturday 3rd Lair held a premier for The Hesh's Mixtape Vol. 1 as well as Mitch Guth's No Collar, two local Minneapolis videos. Here's what it was like:
I got there around 9:30PM (the flyer indicated a 9PM screening), and true to skate video premier form they were still trying to figure out the projector.
Before the main event a new Jonathan Reese street part was shown to a stoked and partially wasted audience. In the short time since I last saw a part from him Jonathan has gone from a talented little kid into a grown ripping pimp. I don't remember many details from his part, but his fakie b/s bigspin into a seldom skated roadside bank, which was fucked.
Oskar Barrett and Gabe Broderick also screened the trailer for their new video T.H.I.S., which looks heavy.
Next up was The Hesh's Mixtape Vol. 1. Upon viewing Mixtape I was reminded me of a recent conversation I had with filmer Pete Spooner, about how footage from 2.5 years ago feels dated and a little lame, but footage from 5 years ago looks fucking dope. Apparently, Kevin Chartrand agrees, as much of the footage in the video was either filmed recently or about 5 years ago.
Ian Sherman has the first part in Mixtape Vol. 1. He skates to some Da Drought -era Lil' Wayne and delivered his best part to date with a less hammer oriented, more relatable style.
Anthony Hart skates in the Nike Air Yeezys and bums out sneaker nerds everywhere. Multiple clips CJ Tambornino clips were used, and even though I'd seen them all already, I still wanted to say 'What the fuck!' out loud. Mr. Hesh himself Kevin Chartrand came through with a banging part as well (see below for proof).
Pat Dykstra closes out the video with what seemed to be a part comprised of pre-2008 clips. Highlights include an incredibly proper backside noseblunt slide on the Highland High 3 stair and a trick off the side of the Weisman Art Museum at the U of M (How the fuck did he ride on that? Boards?).
Mixtape Vol. 1 kills it super hard. It feels like a homie video should and legitimately made me want to go skate. The use of multiple types of cameras in its production gives the video a casual, 'fuck it, film this' vibe. Fun fact: Kevin told me he doesn't use a microphone on the GoPro camera he films with because any sound it would record would just be drowned out by the intentionally loud trap music he edits to. Props on the narration, not too many skate videos have voice-overs. Great job, Kevin! You can watch the video here.
After Mixtape wrapped up the crowd started getting rowdy. It was dark inside the park but I'm pretty sure that the second feature's creator Mitch Guth fell into the bowl before announcing his video No Collar. After the ruckus died down, Guth made his way up to the deck and got the video started.
Before its screening I was under the impression that No Collar would be a "homie" video, heavy on the goofing and not terribly concerned with big tricks. What I watched was quite the opposite.
Sam Evensen opens No Collar with one of the best flatground nollie heelflips I've seen lately and proceeds to front crook your feelings. Andrew Leibman skates an infrequently sessioned ledge (exception: Tabari Cook skates it) and his part is set to a really good song. I'm a big fan of Andrew and I'm excited to see more parts from him. Reed Allen looks really fucking cool on a skateboard. Reed is a relatable ripper and I love his style, a fastplant outside the Walker Art Center was the highlight of his part.
The video's Friends section is both long and good. Grady Moquin is such a fucking pimp, he casually kills his part in No Collar. Nosepress shove-it out? What??? David Nelson skates a Light Rail stop, which I haven't seen in a local video before. Congratulations, David. You're killing it.
Julian Mejia does a kickflip wallride on a very steep bank to wall at Augsburg College and executes an impressive cabelarial kickflip. Jack Olson has a five minute long face melter of a part. FIVE MINUTES!!! I don't know how he can produce so much, but keep it coming dude. See it below for yourself:
Familia HQ favorite Corey Millet closes the video with a couple NBDs on famous spots, all while appearing to be asleep on his board. He has that Antwuan Dixon / Tom Penny / Gino Ianucci thing going on where he doesn't lift his arms. Its wild. Corey's been on a ripping spree and if people weren't aware, they will be after a viewing of No Collar.
No Collar is definitely worth the 10 dollars Mitch is asking for it (here). The video exceeded my expectations, it was expertly edited and filmed, has a great soundtrack and overall makes me feel good about the future of Minnesota skateboarding.
After the video I heard a very juiced up kid who was holding a broken board say that he got so hyped from watching the videos he had no choice but to focus it. While I didn't break my own board in two, I can see where the kid was coming from. Thanks to all involved for reminding me how much fun skate video premieres can be. I can't wait for the next one.