Haroshi opening at HUF warehouse w/ Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee, Money Mark, and Fredo Ortiz
On Saturday night, the HUF warehouse hosted a reception for the singly named Haroshi. But the Tokyo sculptor isn’t some poseur who simply paints on skateboards or appropriates the culture for street cred. His pieces (made out of used boards by DLX team riders in this particular case) actually capture and convey the energy and power of skating from a skater’s point of view. Probably the smoothness, too, although rent-a-cops were stationed to keep guests from fondling the art.
Money Mark and Haroshi at HUF warehouse
One of the first guys I saw upon entering the HUF warehouse in Downtown L.A. was Money Mark, who brought me over to Haroshi. One cool dude introducing me to another. Mark was slated to jam with with friends Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee, and Fredo Ortiz later on that night.
Art by Haroshi at HUF warehouse
The sculptures were based on the skaters whose used boards they were made of. For example, that’s Torey Pudwell’s arm flipping the bird, tattoos and all. Pudwell actually tied with Dylan Rieder in a contest where guests were invited to ollie over the fire hydrant sculpture (and sign the piece afterward). I missed it, but appreciated the wheat-pasted skate photography on the warehouse’s walls depicting fire hydrant tricks.
Art by Haroshi at HUF warehouse
The musicians plugged in around 9:15, and Tommy Guerrero said, “Consider this a night at the improv.” But they weren’t goofing around. For around 90 minutes, the combo played a raging mix of rock, funk, and soul. Totally unlike the jazzy, loopy stuff–which was totally amazing when Tommy and Ray played at Scribble and Scripture way back in 2003–I heard hints of Thin Lizzy and Funkadelic. Sweaty and heavy.
Tommy Guerrero and Money Mark at HUF warehouse
I think it was Fredo Ortiz who really charged the combo. He’s played and sat in with everyone from the Beastie Boys to Los Lobos and Tenacious D–not to mention Tommy and Mark–and he pushed extra hard all night. Each of musicians is a real master, and it was cool to see them riff off each other and set each other off in a casual but intense setting.
Clockwise from top left: Ray Barbee, Fredo Ortiz, Tommy Guerrero, Happy Tsugawa-Banta, Money Mark
I hitched a ride with my friend Happy Tsugawa-Banta, who has played with Ray at countless shows including my wedding. So it was extra cool to see Tommy ask Mark to hand her a tambourine (above).
Haroshi opening at HUF warehouse
The musicians were visibly fried by the end of the set, but Keith Hufnagel himself came out and asked them to play Haroshi’s guitar sculpture. After Ray did some serious tuning, they took turns, playing soulfully but also a little gingerly. Did Nike’s Phil Knight really purchase the piece for $20,000+?
Hufnagel, Haroshi, Barbee, Guerrero at HUF warehouse
You might still be able to score some of the very cool HUF x Haroshi x DLX gear online but the event has gone the way of the second-hand smoke, taco wagon fumes, and ringing ears. An incredible night in Downtown L.A. surrounded a ton of old and new friends–many whom I couldn’t even get to say hi to because I was either staking out a spot by the band like a fanboy or digging the set.
Ray Barbee, Happy Tsugawa-Banta, Tommy Guerrero at HUF warehouse
Check out videos of Haroshi’s process and works here and here. Then do yourself a favor and go skate and check out some live music.
w/ Kenny Anderson at HUF's Haroshi opening