Giant Robot Store and GR2 News — los angeles nista RSS

It’s only been a couple of months since I’ve hung out with 100-percent skate rocker Eddie Solis but in his case that may as well be a lifetime. His two-man hardcore band It’s Casual has a bunch of listening parties and killer shows coming up (including on this Sunday at The Vex with Black Flag and Good For You), his hometown-centric radio show Los Angeles Nista (with guests including local musicians, skaters, artists, entrepreneurs, and politicians) is taking off, and he even has a photography show coming up in Santa Ana. What! I had to get the scoop, and met my friend this morning in beautiful Echo Park.

I haven’t done any public speaking about Giant Robot magazine since it bit the dust in November 2010. So I was surprised and flattered when my friend Eddie Solis (from the band It’s Casual) asked me to be on his radio show which has featured the likes of Chuck Dukowski (Black Flag), Keith Morris (OFF!, Black Flag), Dimitri Coats (OFF!), pro skater and musician Mike Vallely (Elephant Skateboards, Good for You), and Rick Kosick (Big Brother magazine, Jackass). My particular episode streamed live on Monday night, and I was indeed a good fit since the magazine that Eric and I started was definitely a product of Los Angeles, punk rock, and even skateboarding. Eddie and I talked about all of...

In the old print magazine, Eric and I used to give our Top 10s about everything that we had been checking out or into during the production of each issue. The lists could be random, ranging from what was on Eric’s thoughts on business to me being a new parent, with art, music, cinema, and other things in between. This was always done at the last minute, and it turned out to be one of the magazine’s most popular sections. It allowed readers to get to know our personal interests, habits, and happenings and, in turn, get to know us pretty well–even more than the articles which were pretty transparent anyway. On the same page, we’d ask friends and contributors...

So much Black Flag news today. Reyes, Ginn, Dukowski, and Robo will tour Europe. Morris, Dukowski, and Stevenson with Egerton will play Europe and Vegas. Will the Continent survive? Will there be any L.A. shows? Is this proof that Chuck Dukowski is not only a ripping bassist but the nicest guy who can get along with anyone and everyone? Expect lots of Black Flag talk and music when my friend Eddie Solis from It’s Casual hosts skater and musician Mike Vallely on the Los Angeles Nista radio show (downloadable on iTunes) on Monday, January 28 from 9-11 PST. Eddie is an SST insider and Mike V & The Rats not only played My War during the Black Flag reunion shows...