#lost jungle would have been really cool with how they could incorporate the green and black frogs

[xbuster]

I know they probably chose Rail Canyon in Shadow Generations because that’s when Shadow discovers the Shadow Android, but I think I would have preferred Frog Forest/Lost Jungle. I would have loved to see how those stages could be reimagined and it’s where Shadow meets Sonic for the first time in Heroes.

[vannahfanfics]

So Many Things

Category: General Fluff

Fandom: Atlantis- The Lost Empire

Characters: Kida

Kida’s toes kissed the mirror-smooth surface of the pond, causing little ripples to appear in the otherwise flat sheet of water with every tiny movement of her body. The dampness of the algae-coated rock seeped into the thick fabric of her clothes, keeping her body pleasantly cool as the humidity of the dense jungle trapped the volcanic heat in the artificial atmosphere. Her fingers hugged the stone edge of the cleft overlooking the idyllic cove nestled within the network of broad-leaved ferns and twisting green trees hugging the circumference of the lost city. Kida breathed in the fresh air, then sighed deeply. Blue eyes sad, she turned her face upward towards the vast stone dome that separated their city from the outside world. 

[Matim,] she mourned quietly. So many thousands of years it had been, and yet, Kida missed her mother just as much as the day she had been swallowed by the light. Kida’s father had never explained what had occurred, at least no further than the ancestors had chosen her mother to protect their people from the great cataclysm. Kida supposed that she ought to consider it an owner on her mother’s part, to be fused with the spirit energy of her ancestors to see Atlantis through the greatest catastrophe of their lifetimes. Yet, the bitter child locked away inside the princess could not help but feel that she was robbed. 

Kida exhaled again, hand curling over her heart. She always wondered if her mother could see her. Would she be proud of her? Kida dearly hoped so. She had strived endlessly to serve her people and bear the burden of royalty both proudly and properly. Yet, Kida knew in her heart that she was still painfully naïve and ignorant of many things. 

Kida clicked her tongue against her front teeth as her eyes bored into the distant stone ceiling. So long it had been since they had seen the world above, so many thousands upon thousands of years. Kida wondered what had become of the planet. Did the great flood obliterate the entire world, transforming it into an endless ocean? Were the Atlanteans, secluded deep beneath the ocean bedrock, the only living creatures sequestered to land? Or had the human race evolved into something unrecognizable and strange? Kida wondered this, among many things pertaining to the world above the stone, quite often. Her young, spirited heart, despite how much she loved Atlantis and her people, craved the unknown. That was why Kida pushed the borders of patrols to their absolute limits, creeping forward day by day despite the hesitations of the other members of the guard. One day, Kida hoped, some strange miracle would be discovered on those ventures, something foreign and exciting and new. 

[Is that selfish?] she asked aloud, though she knew her long-lost mother couldn’t answer. The Atlantean words dripped sorrowfully from her tongue in place of the mournful tears she could no longer shed. [I know that your sacrifice saved us from extinction, but…] She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she contemplated aloud. [I cannot help but admit this endless existence bores me.] Was that normal, to find complacency stifling? For her spirit to wither on the repetitive ins and outs of immortal life thriving away from the rest of the earth? In her heart, she felt that it was not so, but she still couldn’t help but feel guilty for entertaining such thoughts. Her father would surely remind her that their people are alive and thriving because of the secrecy, and searching for adventure or outsiders could only invite ruin. 

And yet… Kida gazed longingly at the mist wafting through the stalactites clinging to the cavern roof, pretending that they were instead the white, fluffy clouds she vaguely remembered meandering across the clear blue sky. She had always wondered if they were like mist, incorporeal with water droplets bursting against her skin as she waded through it, or actually of solid form, soft and yielding. She’d never know now. With a small groan, Kida pushed her cheek into her hand. She’d gone and depressed herself. She tore her eyes away from the stone heavens to focus instead on the pond, trying to cheer herself up by observing a frog on a lily pad. It licked its glassy black-and-yellow eye, croaked, and leaped into the water to vanish from sight. Kida tutted, thinking it only par for the course for how the day was progressing. 

The gentle rustling of ferns captured Kida’s attention. She turned to see a few of the other Atlantean guards pressing through the jungle, holding their elongated, wood-carved, grass-frond-covered masks at their sides.

[Princess,] one of them addressed her with a polite dip of his head. He gestured with his spear into the tangles of ferns and vines and bushes. [We are going to patrol the perimeter. Would you like to join us?] Kida nodded in affirmation and stood, retrieving her own spear and throwing her mask over her face. She tromped past them to lead the patrol party into the denseness of the jungle, trekking confidently over thin, well-worn intertwined paths to the edge of the city. With every step she took, the distant cascading of several waterfalls grew in volume, until it filled the air with a consistent, steady gushing. They strode along one of the many rivers carving through the jungle to the edge of their world, where the water would spill over the precipice to cascade down into the dizzying chasm to disappear into the thick sheet of water vapor. 

Kida’s sure feet expertly navigated over the protruding tree roots, checking the edge of the void for any signs of concerning erosion. The watery atmosphere slowly ate away at the rock, chipping it away in small places. In several instances, large chunks of the landscape had just caved in, sliding into the abyss to leave a gaping hole, like a giant had taken a bite out of the platformed city. The Atlanteans had reinforced the edges of the chasm with concrete, but even that was only temporary; as time pressed on, the water wormed its way into the pores to spread cracks and fissures across the light gray stone constructs. 

Thankfully, Kida didn’t note any alarming progression of the erosion. They tracked a swift, purposeful path to what used to be the entrance of their city, which was now a collection of large stony steppes budded with large ferns and a few small shrubby trees. Kida froze when a strange noise greeted her ears, and she quickly raised a hand to order the small scouting party to stop. Kida narrowed her eyes behind the mask when she recognized the sounds as distinctly human. 

[But how can that be?] She wondered aloud, crawly forward on all fours to lower a broad purple leaf. Several yards away, a medium-sized group of very distinct people were talking animatedly about something. Kida found herself drawn to the skinny, gangly young man with orange-brown hair and spectacles framing his eyes. Kida cocked her head to the side slightly as she regarded him, strangely fascinated by him. 

Kida jumped slightly as her fellow Atlanteans crouched down beside her and whispered feverishly, asking her what she intended to do. As fascinating as the newcomers- the answers to her prayers, really- were, she had to apprehend them before they could get into too much trouble in this new and strange land. Kida instructed the group as to how to proceed, and then, in a flash, they had the strangers surrounded. 

[Who are you strangers and where did you come from?] she demanded while brandishing her spear, pouring more malice into her tone than she felt. 

Someone shoved the skinny boy forward. He fumbled with a small, leather-bound journal and stammered a few incoherent words. Kida cocked her head slightly, watching as he struggled to regain his composure before clearing his throat. Kida’s eyes blew wide behind the carved wood as he timidly uttered a few broken phrases in Atlantean. 

[Who... are you strangers and where... do you come from?] 

[He speaks our language?] She wondered incredulously, eyes widening behind the mask. How would a surface-dweller have any knowledge of their ancient, lost culture? The man jerked and flipped open the book to hastily flip through the pages, stumbling over his words. Kida slowly lowered her spear, growing increasingly intrigued. A few enunciations and pronunciations were off, but she could largely understand what he was saying. Making a hasty decision, she removed her mask, watching as the man’s eyes widened and a blush blossomed on his cheeks. 

[Your manner of speech is strange to me,] she told him with a curious look. The man grabbed his forehead as he struggled to retrieve the proper words, hand whirling in unconscious gestures as he forced out, [I… travel… friend!] Kida repeated his words softly, a bit confused as she struggled to understand him. Inhaling deeply, he suddenly crossed his arms and flashed her a smile. He suddenly switched to a strange dialect, yet one Kida could understand perfectly. 

[So, my friend, I am a traveler!] He clarified with raised eyebrows.

[You speak the language of the Romans!] she realized with an almost accusatory look, fascinated by the sudden switch. Grinning now that he was finally getting somewhere, he keened while leaning forward, “Parlez-vous français?” Kida smiled amusedly and agreed with an impressed, “Oui, monsieur!” The others standing behind the linguist watched with various degrees of shock and confusion as the two communicated. Finally, the man exhaled satisfactorily. 

“We’re friendly travelers,” he explained with a hand splayed graciously over his small chest. “We’ve come from the surface world.” Behind her, her guards exchanged galvanized but concerned whispers. Kida ignored them, enthralled at the golden opportunity she’d literally stumbled upon. I can finally learn everything about the surface world! She thought, automatically switching to English as the group began introducing themselves. By matter of protocol, Kida would have to deliver them to her father, the King; she would take all the time she had to squeeze as much information as she could out of them. 

“Come with me,” she addressed them with a smile. “I will take you to my home. Please, follow us,” she said, gesturing into the brush with her spear. The others led the way, while Kida fell in step with them at a small distance, absorbing the peculiarities of their persons with bright, glimmering blue eyes. 

Matim, she thought with a quick glance up at the dome. There are so many things I have yet to learn, but… I think after today, I shall be a little less ignorant, no?

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!

Tag List: @deliathedork​

[tagamark]

Linyanti 500

Kings Pool GM Neuman Vasco heads out across the Linyanti to retrace the tracks of an extraordinary full-day outing…

My earliest introduction to the Linyanti Concession included legendary tales of the Linyanti 500, and I always thought, One day is one day… Well, over the past two weeks I have completed it, not once but three times ! And boy, it is so worth it!

The 120 000 hectare Linyanti Concession has four camps, and the Linyanti 500 entails touching base with all these camps in one day. This drive showcases the different habitats and wildlife in different settings… all day long, with never a dull moment.

At 06h30 we departed Kings Pool with my super amped agents – Destination: Savuti Camp. The mopane is still green and the pans down in the Makgadikgadi and the Savute Marsh are drying up as the rains seem to have left us for the season. This is confirmed by the masses of elephant that move through the scrub, almost unidentifiable except for glimpses of the occasional termite mound-like back towering out of the bushes. Which explains why the mopane remains stunted… annual rummaging by elephants! About 150 elephants later we had made it to the Savute Channel, and the corner where our beautiful “old school” explorer-feel bush camp Savuti is nestled. It was mid-morning, and I thought we were doing well for time.

After viewing the area from the camp main area deck which overlooks the Savute Channel and the log pile hide out in front of camp, enjoying a most welcome cup of coffee and some delicious homemade cookies, we set off for DumaTau (DT). I decided we would follow the channel upstream to where it comes off the Linyanti River, and my passengers could not agree more. Before doing this though, we had heard of wild dog in the area!

As we know with wild dog, they can cover huge distances during those cool mornings and afternoons. There was a slim chance we would see them, but it was better than nothing… and besides, we had fresh tracks. So we tracked by vehicle, walked and followed, backtracked and continued … until, BAM! We found them strolling along the river’s edge. The world’s second-most endangered large carnivore in a healthy pack of 18, which we have come to know as the Zib Pack… we will get to the name a bit later on our drive and you will understand why. After a couple of pictures we were off, DT-bound.

Over the two-way radio I could hear a search for lion around DT; two males’ tracks had been seen in the area, so I planned to search as we got closer to the last location of the spoor. In the meantime the channel was amazing. There seems to be more water pushing in this year, made evident by some backflow areas that have previously had no water now hosting hippo! Even the red lechwe have moved all the way downstream close to Savuti. As it was warming up huge herds of elephant came to the river for a quick drink before crossing over to the other side to continue their ecosystem “engineering”. What a pleasure this drive is turning out to be, I thought to myself.

We got to an area known as Forest, where the mopane trees have grown tall creating a mystical feel… Then on the two-way, tracks of lion spoor from that morning seen heading in the same direction we were heading! What luck I thought to myself. They went off the road and we looked for a while but decided we had lost them.

Then our attention was captured by some elegant male kudu that were walking ever so gracefully, as well as wallowing warthogs and impala rams snorting and grunting as they challenged each other, battling for the beautiful. Not too much later we continued to out next destination.

Then around the corner, totally unexpectedly, a guest shouted LION in excitement! And there they were, the family sitting in the shade right next to the road. And yes we did stop and admire the impressive felines. It was the Channel Pride which is seen a lot along the Savute Channel – the two females with their five cubs. And if you know the Channel Pride, yes, all five cubs are still alive and well… awesome!

We continued following the meandering Savute Channel, enjoying the amazing birdlife it had to offer. As the road went up into a riverine canopy we saw a herd of elephant huddled together under a large feverberry, not too far from the water. We were about 15 metres from these mammals and in cool shade, so we stopped to spend some time with them, and best of all to observe their behaviour. Out of nowhere we heard an eerie rumble from behind that did not sound too amused by our presence. Little did we know that it was the matriarch of a herd that had split up through the foliage. We also noticed two very young elephant sleeping behind the group in front of us, the adults all standing guard, looking outward and very aware of our presence. The rumble in the jungle, as they say, was overwhelming and the matriarch came right up behind our quiet vehicle, and we felt honoured to be in their presence. A charge and a trumpet was their way of nudging us on, as if they knew the trip we had ahead of us!

We knew we were at the mouth of the Savute Channel as we spotted a swamp boat which is used by Savuti for their boating activities. This activity is offered all year round and can also be incorporated into a full-day excursion with a picnic lunch at a magical spot on the water’s edge somewhere. Right after the boat station is the DumaTau Star Bed, a raised platform that overlooks the mouth of the Savute Channel, and the impressive Zibadianja Lagoon. The Star Bed is offered to guests at DumaTau who wish for a luxurious overnight immersion in nature … there is no better place for guests to take in the wonders of the Linyanti than this unique geographical confluence. Now, remember my reference to the Zib Pack wild dogs we saw at Savuti? It’s a shortened version of Zibadianja Lagoon, which seems to be the core of the pack’s home range.

Onwards to our next camp. We had now left the Savute Channel and were heading along the Linyanti fault line, along which three of our camps are found. This fault marks the border between Botswana and Namibia. Before we got to DT I felt it very important to showcase how light our camp footprint really is. We stopped at the site where DT had previously been located before we moved six years ago. Believe me when I say you would never guess there had ever been a camp there! The location has regenerated and completely reverted to its natural state. It was 13h30 and we were almost at our next camp.

I radioed ahead and cashed in a favour (wink), deciding we would try to find the lions that were seen in that area after our stop at DT. We saw a couple of impala and kudu before we called again, five minutes from camp. The camp main area is hidden behind impressive jackalberry trees, and we were met with smiles and refreshing towels, a typical Wilderness welcome. I had a smirk on my face as I knew my guests had never been to DT and could only hope they had enough breath… as a lot of it was about to be taken away!

Particularly as you walk into the split main area of the camp, and see the floating deck extending out onto the lagoon which is currently festooned with water lilies… you really have to be there to experience the magic that is DT. My favour was cashed, we were offered a scrumptious lunch overlooking the Linyanti River and the swampy Namibian floodplains. By the time we pulled out of DT, stomachs full and good coffee in us, we felt as good as new.

We did not have to drive very far from the camp when the same guest as earlier shouted LION again… And as true as Bob, two male lions were spotted not too far from the road looking quite lazy. These are the Channel Boys, as we call them in the concession, and they dominate the Savute and DumaTau area of the concession. As we drove towards them one lifted his head as we stopped the vehicle, but only allowed us one shot before plonking back down again. It was mid-afternoon and I did not think these two would be moving, but as I reversed the vehicle and pointed it towards Linyanti Tented Camp (LTC), one male got up, stretched and started heading east. What a coincidence, I thought, that’s where we are heading! We watched for a bit and discovered he was not moving to a cooler spot, but rather was on a mission to somewhere. I followed and positioned the vehicle ahead of him and to the side for a ‘walk-by’. We followed him after he moved past and moments later he arrived at a kudu carcass that evidently they had been feeding on for at least two days!

We still had LTC to get to as we were determined to complete our Linyanti 500… We will get there quickly, I thought. It will be a straight drive, I told my passengers. But not a chance! We got to another magical place between DT and Kings Pool, a big open area scattered with ancient leadwood and mopane trees, currently decorated by a tower of giraffe and a dazzle of zebra. This same area is where we conduct our educational walking safaris from Kings Pool. In awe, we bobbed and weaved among the animals along the Linyanti fault riverine forest, eventually ending back at Kings Pool. We stopped in at the camp for a quick loo break and to pack high tea before continuing east to LTC, our last stop before heading back home.

It was a quiet drive… or at least we thought it was, until we encountered two male lions, the boys from Namibia that dominate this part of our concession. They were on a patrol in the area and we just happened to be driving along the same tracks (remember predators with their soft pads prefer tracks with little or no vegetation in order to cover ground), and the two-way vehicle tracks allow the brothers to walk side by side! Such respect they command as the francolin and impala almost serenade their flowing movement.

Onwards to Linyanti Tented Camp, and our last leg before we were done. LTC is a beautifully rustic camp also found along the Linyanti River in the far eastern corner of our concession. It is an adventurers’ kind of camp, with two main areas split across LTC East and LTC West, a huge open lagoon out front and intimate tents on either side overlooking the channel. As I looked over the papyrus and reeds from the LTC deck I saw sunset was coming soon! We really wanted to enjoy it here but we came to the conclusion that we’d have our celebratory gin and tonic back at home base; sad to leave, but we headed off nonetheless.

“All mobiles one koloi [vehicle] leaving LTC for 321 [Kings Pool] along the main tsela [road] for 321, operating mobiles, same tsela, please leba-leba [keep a look out]” went out over the radio as we pulled out of LTC. This is when I was informed of some peculiar wild dog activity not too far from where I was driving; in fact, the guides suspected they had a den! We were losing light but surveyed the area and were able to see six wild dogs at a den site; however, being a newly-discovered den site for environmental reasons we pulled out immediately after spotting them.

The sun was halfway below the horizon when we called our three-minutes out from Kings Pool. I had already ordered the gin and tonics to be ready when we arrived in camp – surely one of the most magical places to have a celebratory drink after a full day out in the bush.

Eleven lions were seen at three different sightings, roughly 300 elephant, about 60 giraffe and two different wild dog packs, to name just a few of the prolific species we saw on our concession…

And that’s the Linyanti 500 – done and dusted!

African Safaris | Taga Safaris – Your African Safari Specialist

[houstonlocalus-blog]

Let’s Go Skate: Tommy Guerrero

Tommy Guerrero. Photo: Claudine Gossett

  In my earliest teens I had so many friends who I had no idea at the time were just a couple of years away from the end of their lives.  It felt like every year I lost another friend and skateboarding was what kept me out of the troublesome things that they had all gotten into.  Though my first deck was a Hosoi, the first deck I bought was a Powell Peralta Tommy Guerrero model.  Watching the Bones Brigade videos and reading the mags, guys like Tommy Guerrero were the ones I could relate to the most.  Skating the streets, hopping off of jump ramps, and just using curbs, ditches, and pretty much any terrain we could find, it always felt like Guerrero was the one Brigade member I wanted to emulate the most.  When I reached out to him, I had no idea that I’d actually hear back.  Though Guerrero literally helped shape my teens through his skating, he’s been a busy guy since that time and he never really seems to look back.  Co-founder of Real Skateboards, an accomplished and critically acclaimed musician, and former art director for Krooked Skateboards — under the Deluxe Distribution brand who distributes Spitfire Wheels, Thunder and Venture Trucks, as well as Krooked, Anti Hero, and Real Skateboards — Guerrero doesn’t ever seem to slow down.  It’s refreshing to see someone who just lives in the moment and who incorporates all of his past and his present into his future.  Free Press Houston was more than thrilled to sit down with him and talk about all he’s done, all he does, and all he has in the works for the future.

  Free Press Houston: You grew up in San Francisco where Thrasher is based, do you see San Francisco as the birthplace of street skating?  

You won the first street contest as an amateur, and you and Gonz both had pro models come out in 1985, but which one came out first?

Tommy Guerrero:  I don’t think San Francisco is the birthplace, but because of Thrasher being here they just reported on it more.  Things are happening simultaneously throughout the world, so who’s to say where the birthplace of street skating is.  We never really had a skatepark here after South Bay closed in 1980, so we just skated the streets cause’ that’s all we had.  Not many people in San Francisco have backyards or at least yards big enough for a ramp, so we skated street just based off of geography and necessity.  The terrain alone of San Fran made us ride street more than anything else.

Mark and I were the first to turn professional for street skating specifically, but I don’t know if his board came out before mine or not, so I don’t know who was first.  But you know, Lance [Mountain], [John] Lucero, and Neil [Blender] were all skating street before us.  They were just known more for vert skating.

  FPH:  I know you don’t really get nostalgic, but when you were doing the Bones Brigade stuff, as it was happening, did it seem as revolutionary as it became known for?

Guerrero: We weren’t conscious of it at the time, we were just skating.  Thrasher and Powell got behind it so hard, which is what really pushed it.  I mean, when things happen, you’re in the moment, so it didn’t seem revolutionary at all back then.

  FPH:  I’ve heard stories about skaters saying “Tommy bought us beers” or your (Mike) McGill smoking hash story.  I know the other guys were seen as “choir boys” by some of the other skaters of the time, but you guys drank and smoked out, right?  

Guerrero: No one did hard drugs, but we weren’t “choir boys” either.  Mostly just beer and occasionally weed, but that’s it.

FPH:  You and Jim [Thiebaud] started Real Skateboards in 1991, how big of a leap of faith was it to start your own brand back then?

Guerrero: It was huge.  We had no idea what we were doing in the beginning other than to just skate and stick to what we believed in.  Fausto [Vitello] and Eric Swenson gave us the money to order like our first 300 boards, or maybe it was 100, I forget.  Coming from Powell, I was paid off of royalties at a dollar a deck and that was it.  So coming into Real and taking a two thirds pay cut wasn’t easy, but I did it because I wanted to stay in skating for the rest of my life and it was important to do.  

  FPH:  You guys have a pretty stellar team including possibly one of the greatest street skaters currently riding, Dennis Busenitz.  I see Busenitz and you having a lot in common where you both are tying two eras together, have you ever seen that as a common thing between you two before?

Guerrero: I’ve never really seen that, but the guys today stand out in two big ways being that they’re so technical and that they’re so consistent with their tricks.  Some of these guys are gnarly and effortless in how they come up with different variations of tricks.  When we first learned kickflips, we figured there were about thirty different ways to do them,  These guys today blow me away with how they can just keep taking things to the next level.  Because so many of them came into skating so recently, their starting point is off the charts already.  It only makes sense that they’d have the green light to just go nuts with it.

  FPH:  I know you do art direction for the brands of Deluxe, do you still do graphics work or is it just taking what the artists work on and getting it to have the overall look that you want? Who’s idea was it to do the Trump deck?

Guerrero: I was doing Krooked hands on where Mark [Gonzales] would just send me the art and I’d handle the layout and the marketing of it all with the overall look and feel of the brand.  But the repetitive stress in my arms and in my hands along with being in front of the computer all day is not my place in this world.  So that all took a backseat years ago, and we have a really talented team of artists today.  So Jim will show me stuff and I’ll put in my two cents but that’s about it.  

Jim came up with that one.  He really likes to fuck with establishment.

  Tommy Guerrero in Japan. Photo: Claudine Gossett

  FPH:  Your grandfather was a jazz musician, you and your brother had a punk band that played with Bad Brains, DOA, and more; does it feel like music has helped shape who you are in more ways than one?

Guerrero: Yeah, completely.  Because skating and punk were still new back then with outcasts in both worlds.  With punk you didn’t need lessons, you didn’t need to learn “Louie Louie,” and you didn’t need a past in music, you just need that DIY energy.  When you’re a kid, when things are just fucked up, skating and punk back then were like saying, “fuck you” to the jocks and the people who beat you up.  Because when they’d come into our world, they were the outcasts, but we were the outcasts in the everyday world.  I can’t say this enough, but back then, skating was not cool.  The two worlds go hand in hand because skating and music are both built off of acceptance from your friends.  Music was another form of expression, and in a way, we’re all fuck ups.  But when you’re with your kind, things are just better.  Skaters see the world in a different way just in how we look at a red painted curb.  Every one else sees it as a red curb and that’s it, but a skater sees it as fun for hours.  We have seen friends die young while we grew up throwing ourselves into the ground for fun.  We’re different.  Not many people wanna’ fall down for a living.

  FPH:  Your solo work feels like my impression of who you are in everything you do.  There’s a flow to it, especially on this last solo album, 2015’s Perpetual where it feels like who you are in that moment while embodying the vibe of the bay area.  Is that the goal, for it to be a flowing entity that exists in that moment and time?

Guerrero: To be honest, a lot of the time I have an idea of how to approach it.  On that one, I wanted to steer away from making an album in front of a computer, moving wav files around.  So I bought an eight track Tascam, and worked within the limitations of what I had in front of me.  The album before that one was darker and less open, so I wanted something with a sixties drum machine, a floor tom, and a surf almost desert rock guitar sound.

  FPH:  The most recent album, Concrete Jungle from your group with Ray [Barbee] & Chuck [Treece], Blktop Project is all improvised correct?  Was that the plan from the start, to just go in and see what comes out?

Guerrero: We had a day and a half to record, because Ray is super busy, so we worked loosely on ideas and grooves.  We set up in a live room of the recording studio and the foundation of the album we did like it was a rehearsal.  We wrote a bunch on the spot, but that made it better I think because it was a challenge.  I go back and listen to it now and there are things on it that are really great moments.

  FPH:  I know you just toured Japan doing solo sets and DJ sets, do you see the DJ sets becoming something you’ll start doing on the regular?

Guerrero: I’ve been spinning records for a long time now.  I have a friend who has a killer record collection who lets me borrow things, and since I turned 45, I decided to only spin 45’s.  I don’t use a Serrato or anything, but I wanted the tour to have a party atmosphere.  So I did the solo sets with just me and some looper pedals.  I wanted to spin the 45’s with a social type of gathering where I could do something different to change it up and keep it interesting for me and the crowd.  Because I go there alot and I really just wanted it to be a different experience for them so I don’t wear out my welcome by coming back again and again and doing the same ol’ things.  I also wanted to challenge myself by mixing it up.

  FPH:  How did BS with TG become a thing?

Guerrero: I’d been talking about it for a while.  I love a good story, just BS ing with characters, especially skaters.  I love Steve Olson, and I’ve gotten to where I can get someone to just tell me story.  Originally I had planned to do it in a bar, you know how people will tell a bartender anything?  That’s the look I had in mind and I had a friend who was gonna’ let me use his bar, but it was complicated so I just got a camera and Frank [Gerwer] and we just did it.  He’s such a funny guy and so it made sense to use him for it.  It’s hard to have consistency because all of our videographers are all out shooting skaters.

  FPH:  Are there dream guests for you or is it just a shoot from the hip thing on who does it?

Guerrero: Well, I’ve kind of gotten them all already.  I mean getting Mark [Gonzales], everyone in the skate community knows that there’s no one else like Mark.  He’s such a good guy and I’ve seen him give people the shirt off of his back before, literally.  He’s so funny and he has such great stories, plus knowing for so long I’ve gotten to see him through all of the incarnations of his life. Back when he’d come to my mom’s house she’d even be like “your friend Mark is a funny guy.”  I mean, I got Natas [Kaupus], the white unicorn of skating who never does interviews, Eric Dressen and Tony [Hawk], too.  I’d like to get Neil [Blender] and I really wanna’ do Ed Templeton but I wanna’ go down to where he is to do it.  [John] Cardiel is someone else I’d like to interview and [Geoff] Rowley just because he does what he does and just doesn’t give a fuck.  I went and did that one with Matt Hensley and we didn’t really talk about Flogging Molly, so I’d like to do a second one with him.  I mean, there are too many people in our history that I’d like to do but I’m unprepared.  I’m so fucked and I’m not the most organized person.

  FPH:  You’ve lived a life under a lens, you come off as a guy who looks forwards and never backwards, but if you had the chance to go back and tell your younger self anything, what would it be?

Guerrero: Don’t be so stupid.

  It’s insane and inspiring that Tommy Guerrero never seems to stop.  Between recording albums, playing shows, and running a skateboard company he still has the time to live in the moment without ever looking back.  You can find Real Skateboards at pretty much any professional skate shop, you can find his solo albums and work with Blktop Project in all of the digital outlets, and you can catch new episodes of BS With TG here on Youtube.  While he’s not one to relish the “good ole days,” he definitely doesn’t look on all he’s done without humility and grace.  Possibly one of the most humble guys you could meet, he’s definitely someone to admire as much today as he was thirty years ago.  

Let’s Go Skate: Tommy Guerrero this is a repost