Brien Kielb
bad knees, palm trees, nascar, pool drain, die-cut, light carve, wizard smoke, thrashard
Posts from Brien:
Cleared for Take-Off
We first broke the news that Mat Hoffman was attempting to ride again, and this past weekend at the 2010 Old School BMX Reunion, the Condor once again took flight, this time on a real BMX bike. You can check out a story with a great lookback pic on Jared Souney’s site. Welcome back!
read moreDubs On Film
A new resource for video nerds (like me) just popped on the interwebz: The BMX Movie Database. Anyone can register & add their favorite videos to the site, and even upload sections if approved by the filmmaker. High zoot action…
read moreScott Ackerman
The artwork of Scott ‘Smashu’ Ackerman was born in the backroom of a church in Kingston, NY. No, it wasn’t the result of too many Hail Marys or a sketchy interaction with a nefarious preacher; the Smashu family lived in the basement of an old church in the middle of the woods. They removed the pews and erected a mini-ramp, luring wandering pros and local sketchballs to their secluded pulpit of shred.
The adjacent backroom, which housed the screens of Loaded Clothing, became Ackerman’s impromptu art studio. In between heated ramp sessions and insane parties, Scott began to paint. Both Loaded & the church ramp are now gone, but the desire to create remained; Ackerman’s art now fills galleries throughout New York.
Least Most: What came first: Bikes or art?
Scott Ackerman: Umm, shit… Art. Art definitely came first.
LM: How old were you when you started painting?
SA: I was about 17.
LM: Is paint the only medium you work with?
SA: I’ve been messing around with little clay sculptures lately, but yeah, mainly just painting & drawing.
LM: What is your inspiration when you paint? Looking at your artwork, there are a lot of different themes.
SA: I feel like I just have a ton of shit in my head sometimes, and I just keep on painting anything that’s in there. It’s not people, it’s not bike riding; I just feel like it’s a lot of weird shit in there and I’ve gotta get it out somehow.
LM: I’ve seen a few portraits with some Jesus/religious undertones. Is there a reason for that?
SA: I just think it’s a funny subject because everyone knows it. I’m not a religious guy, and (religion) is easy to recognize and laugh about.
LM: Do you have any artistic influences?
SA: My Dad, Basquiat, and anyone creative, really.
LM: BMX doesn’t really pop up in any of your pieces, but has riding had any sort of inspiration on your work?
SA: Yeah, yeah definitely; just riding, period. Most days, I just wake up and start painting, but on the days I actually ride, I just feel more active and I see a lot of shit, and hang out with my riding friends and it makes me want to paint more.
LM: Was Loaded Clothing a way for you to combine BMX and art?
SA: Yeah, definitely. Loaded was an awesome way to do it.
LM: Do you still print shirts?
SA: Nah, not since my dads basement, which sucks.
LM: That brings us to the next topic: When I first met you guys, the church was still going strong, which was such a wild place. Everyone was living in the basement, you had random kids & traveling pros popping in to ride, not to mention the parties. How did that affect both your life & your art?
SA: Good question. I loved living in the church, and it definitely changed my life. It opened my eyes to a lot of craziness, and that’s when I really started painting. I stopped riding and started painting right around the end of the church, so it definitely affected my life.
LM: When the church ended, you wound up moving to Hawaii. What drew you there, and what caused you to move back?
SA: When I moved to Hawaii, I was breaking up with my girlfriend, and I was forced to leave the church, even though everyone else could still live there. My friend had a house in Hawaii and told me to come stay there, so it just worked out perfectly. What was the 2nd part of that?
LM: Why did you come back?
SA: I just thought it was crazy to live in a place that was absolutely beautiful everyday. It was ridiculous.
LM: That’s something you never ever hear.
SA: It was retarded! Every single day it was 85 degrees, beautiful weather, never rains… I was going crazy.
LM: Was it hard to actually create anything, or did you just enjoy the surroundings?
SA. I was creating a lot, actually. I had this big open-air porch, and I started painting a lot more. Hardly rode…
LM: Who can blame you, with surfing and all the beautiful shit to check out…
SA: Just sitting on the beach all day drinking 40’s (laughs).
LM: While walking amongst the crowd, I heard a lot of people speaking positively of your work. Is this a common reaction when you do shows?
SA: Yeah, actually…. This is gonna sound kinda crazy, but most of the time I get really, really good reactions. People really seem to connect to (my work) and like it. I just did a show in Holland, and I was really nervous about that, but everyone loved it.
LM: How did you end up doing a show in Holland?
SA: Through Christina Varga and the Woodstock Art Association. They were having an exchange program, and they chose 5 Woodstock artists to go, and I got picked.
LM: Where else have you done gallery openings?
SA: Mainly just around Woodstock/Kingston. I’ve had 6 shows in NYC, and I did one in Hawaii. Mainly just around wherever I’ve lived.
LM: Is there anything you’re trying to accomplish through painting, or is it something you just do for fun?
SA: Totally just for fun. I hope people like it and want to look at more stuff, because I’m going to keep doing it.
LM: Have you sold many pieces?
SA: Yeah, lately I’ve been selling a lot. I just sold 20 paintings to a lady in Texas, just some random lady. Day before Christmas, too.
LM: How did she find your stuff?
SA: Facebook (laughs).
LM: This last question comes from Crandall: Is it weird being weird?
SA: (laughs) I think Crandall is a lot weirder than me.
All photos courtesy of Bryan Tarbell.
18 Wheels
Few shots from the Murder City Devils show this past weekend in NYC. It’s not easy to properly pre-game a show with $10 beers at the ESPNZone. Times Square is a tourist trap…
Smoke Stack
Radabonzical boost-filled Ryan Wert edit care of Kink Bikes.
read moreAll American
Throw in a topless Catherine Bach and you’ve got every adolescents wet dream in 1985.
Trapped Under Ice
If you’ve been paying attention to The Least Most, we’ve made it pretty clear that we’re into zines. So, wouldn’t it make sense to send us some? Send an email to info@leastmost.com and we’ll let you know how to get your mag to us. No matter how pro or how poor your Xeroxing skills may be, we’ll be sure to spread the word to the masses.
Our first submission is Ice Cold issue #4, hailing from sunny San Diego.
Yes, this is a BMX zine, but there is very little BMX in it. Not that I mind, though; I spend more than enough time riding & refreshing bmxfeed that I don’t need to be inundated with rail shots & bike checks in every BMX-related piece of media I come across. In IC, you’ll find lots of random doodles, popsicle jokes, sleeping arragments based on relationship status, and Tupac fun facts, along with scattered nuggets of bike knowledge & weirdness. Check out the Ice Cold site to get your own copy.
this next one’s a cover…
Neutron Rats taking on Anti-Cimex.
Albany has a long-standing tradition of organizing an annual show entitled “Ghosts of Hardcore Past”, where local bands emulate their influences. Some people go over the top in recreating the look & sound of their chosen band, others just use it as an excuse to get drunk & make noise. No matter what the lineup, this is always one of the most fun & well-attended shows of the year, and 2010’s installment was one of the best yet.
Die High did Hatebreed’s Under The Knife EP in its entirety.
The Girls of Porn doing the weirdest Bad Brains covers you’ve ever heard.
The Wessels covering The Adolescents.
Pointblank as The Dead Boys.
…with liberty and Testors for all.
more Dead Boys.
Damnation Alley, channelling Phil & Dime for the Pantera set.
Psycho Circus
@jaredsouney posted up a rad Northeastern photo archive over the weekend. I was a little too young to make the 3-hour drive to ZT Maximus, but I remember fruitlessly calling the skatepark for business hours, likely years after they closed, after I finally got my drivers license. The convoluted park name had me picturing a carousel amidst whatever wacky circus-themed ramp setup they had, but the pics & story paint a starkly contrasting portrait. Definitely recognize a few of these guys from the old MSC skatepark in Westfield, Mass, though. Check out more pics & other assorted radness at jaredsouney.com.
read moreDecade of Deece
Everyone has their own definition of what makes a BMX video ‘great’. Editing, team selection, soundtrack, multitude of bangers – all of these elements combined are what make certain videos stand out from the rest. Web edits flash by the eyes of thousands of riders each day, and most of them are forgotten by the first page refresh, but full-length vids (hopefully) stand the test of time. The invention of the DVD, along with advances in editing & filming equipment made the 2000’s the most progressive period yet for BMX flicks, and this list runs down the decades best. Got a problem? Hash ’em out with me in our forums.
Little Devil – Criminal Mischief
This video could’ve been complete dogshit surrounding Van Homan’s final part and it still would’ve made the top of the list. Luckily for viewers, the LD team at the time consisted of some of the most popular riders of their time, and while it might be the oldest video on the list, most of the footage still stands up to any contemporary clips. From Nate Hanson’s straw-mouthed peg bonks to Marvin’s fury-fueled bike tosses, everything here is gold. As a 17-year old BMX geek, I was lucky enough to attend the CM premier at a now-leveled indie theater in beautiful Binghamton, NY. In all the premiers I’ve been to since, there has never been a video that got as crazy a response as Derek Adams’ masterpiece. As soon as that spraypainted Chevy Caprice hit the screen, the crowd erupted with a howl that I’ve not heard duplicated since. Each passing part merely exacerbated the crowd; by the time Van’s part came to a close, I thought every seat would be torn from the floor and thrown through the screen. Fireworks, bottles and fists flew as riders made their way from the exits. The Forward premier the following spring was heavily secured, and with good reason.
Etnies – Forward
Rooftop & Ruben might have two of the most opposite styles in BMX, but they both manage to fit perfectly into Dave Parrick’s 2002 Etnies-branded flick. Parrick’s most intricate film, featuring a diverse cast of thrasher from the East, West, mid-coast & beyond, Forward managed to live up to the years of hype that preceeded its debut. You can’t fuck with the style of Taj, speed of Stricker and precision of Freimuth. Also, this is one of the 3 videos on the list to be released before the death of VHS tapes, so all you “collectors” can go dig the bargain bin at the local Bike N’ Hike, you might find a copy.
Empire – Chill Bro!
(Shreditors Note: Due to the magic of Youtube and copyright infringement lawsuits, sometimes you will find an video part with the music missing. Savvy uploaders have taken to re-editing parts to their own song selections, but this kid chose to just help out Rick Ross’ beat and record his own version of “Hustlin”. Brilliant.)
The Trend/Empire family has a long history of great shop vids, and Chill Bro! is easily their best yet. Aaron Ross whips & hustles his way into the hearts of the collective BMX world. Tony Cardona puts down his bindle long enough to crank out a 2-minute blast of wallrides and kick outs. Austin’s BMX prodigy, Chase Hawk, is given the final spot of the DVD, showing up every trail kid to ever grace 9th Street. Hawk & Black Sabbath go together as well as bong rips and Sleep records.
Animal – Can I Eat?
Animal Bikes began as a no-frills street company, shilling pegs and sprockets all over the East Coast in 2000. The simplicity of their marketing & product line, along with a diverse team of riders from all across the country lent itself to an excellent series of videos; the crown jewel being Can I Eat? There isn’t any filler, and you won’t find any intricate film tricks, but you do get a diverse soundtrack and a wide-range of riding styles that inspired a whole new generation of street riders. Vic Ayala & Edwin put NYC back on the map. Debbie Harry coaxes Bob Scerbo’s icepicks and rail moves for his most solid part yet. The hightlight, however, is Steven Hamilton. Garrett Byrnes might have popularized pegless street riding years prior, but the creativity of Hamilton almost makes Byrnes an afterthought. His ability to turn the most unrideable spot into a virtual skatepark coaxed hundreds of bad web edits for the last half of the decade. He might be absolutely kookednow, but expect a return to glory in the next team DVD, due out this year.
50/50 – That’s It!
I’ll admit, I’m not a huge advocate of fancy editing & “innovate” camera work. I can respect the effort of videographers looking to break up the monotony of clip-clip-clip sections, but there are times when flash animation & fades are taken too far. Jordan Utley, however, does an amazing job of making the look & feel of That’s It! match the intensity of the Utah shops’ massively skilled team. Dave Thompson, who I’d never heard of prior to TI!, starts things off with a shotgun blast of speed, while Cameron Wood scares the piss out of everyone throughout his 5-minute section. Rob Wise proves that he’s Layton’s answer to Van Homan, and Mike Aitken deservedly gets the final part, cementing his legacy as one of the most skilled & smooth riders to ever grace a 20″.
Square One – Wide Awake Nightmare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMgchhif-KA
Square One was a brand that, in retrospect, confused the hell out of me. They never really had a well-defined image, and went through various owners & retail outlets, but no matter what the incarnation, the most lasting part of their legacy was Wide Awake Nightmare. Names like Chris Doyle, Corey Martinez, Kris Bennett & Brian Wizmerski make this 2004 release well worth searching for.
Banned 3 – Better Off Dead
The 2000’s were a period where BMX videos seemed to take themselves way too seriously. Lots of web hype, over-editing and ‘epic’ music selections took a lot of the fun and excitement out of grabbing a new DVD from your local shop. Banned 3 erases the boring mistakes of the past decade and brings back the rawness that’s been missing from BMX since the Baco days. Many of the featured riders in Banned were relative unknowns, but it didn’t really matter; the balls-out moves combined with the perfect mix of general debauchery gave the Florida natives instant notoriety. If there is any video of the last 10 years I’d most like to see video producers emulate, it’s Banned 3. Drop the film burns & ledge dancing, kids, and get fucking sketchy.
Fit – Fit Life
Before their nasty breakup, Robbie Morales & Chris Moeller managed to create one of the strongest brands in all of contemporary BMX, and Fit Life is the perfect representation of their efforts. Brian Foster & Van Homan dial in amazing sections, and the BMX world was formally introduced to guys like Eddie Cleveland & Chase Dehart. My only gripe is the Chad Muska intro; Rob-o, we know you have an affinity for skateboarders, but I don’t need some washed-up b-boy introducing a bike video. Disregarding that, A+ on all accounts.
FBM – All Time Low
Prior to their 4th release, FBM had a history of producing mixtapes of chaos; Crandall’s concoctions were filled with footage of East Coast legends and no-names, marinated in piss, ashes & broken glass. Following the legendary Albert St., the FBM boys switched to a more traditional format, giving each member of the then-prolific team their own section. As great as the clips of Tag, Scerbo, Ayala, and the rest of the team are, my favorite part will always be Kelly Baker’s. Looking tough as hell and still pulling supermans at age 40, Baker manages to smile even when eating shit. A country boy can survive, indeed.
Metal Bikes – Dead Bang
This is probably my most debated pick, but full sections by a (healthy for once) Jimmy Levan and Sean Burns eek this 2008 release onto the list. While not necessarily filled with the cleanest editing or smoothest landings, this is as rock & roll as BMX gets, and brought some much needed attention back to the Metal brand. Only thing missing is Mike Griffin’s kickflips.
Humble Beginnings.
Mat Hoffman became “The Condor” with the aid of a backyard vert ramp. Chase Hawk gained trail boss status by rolling through 9th St while in elementary school. At age 14, I was bunnyhopping over Avon boxes in my driveway. Is it any wonder why, 11 years after this photo was taken, I can still barely x-up?
read moreMetallica – Live in Albany
Bob Rock. Napster. Haircuts.
Over the past two decades, Metallica have become better at alienating their audience than downing Jaeger pints and crying in therapy. For a period in the late 90’s ‘“ early 2000’s, it seemed like there wasn’t a news story or music video that didn’t cause thrashers raised on Ride The Lightning to run back to their vinyl collection and pray for Cliff Burton’s resurrection. That’s the anomaly of Metallica’s career: they created 4 of the greatest records of all time, and no matter what bullshit they now feed to their fans, the diehards will still show up in droves, hoping that the power that drove the band through the 80’s will shine through the graying, inked-up, family man façade that is Metallica in 2009.
This was my 2nd time seeing Metallica; the previous being on my 21st birthday, where I didn’t even get shitfaced pre-arrival because I wanted to actually see/remember the show. For the rebate performance, that idealism went right out the window. Four Loko, Sparks and a Genny Cream Ale were my beverages of choice to prepare for the 1 mile stroll to the arena. Lamb of God and some insufferable Social Distortion imposters were the openers, which we managed to miss due to the aforementioned drinks at hand. While waiting in line for an overpriced Coors Light, ‘The Ecstasy of Gold’ chimed over the house speakers, which is the cue for the set to start. I didn’t rush out of line, however. Metallica records and sells each show as a digital download, and if you check out LiveMetallica.com, you’ll notice that each set is almost the same every night, save for switching out a few older tracks. This makes skipping a song to piss a whole lot easier.
Being born in 1983 kept me from witnessing any of the legendary tours of the bands prime, but I can’t imagine the crowds back then being nearly as lame as the one that gathered at the Times Union Center. The ‘that guy’ rule was definitely not in effect; you couldn’t walk 3 feet without bumping into a brand-new $30 tour shirt, or a faux-vintage Master of Puppets tee that was likely purchased at Macy’s or Hot Topic. The nerdy dudes I was surrounded by in ‘the pit’ were almost oblivious to my intoxicated headbanging and constant screaming in their ears. If this were a Slayer show, I probably would’ve been punted about 4 songs in, but these guys just took it. I thought I would be into checking out the new songs live, but they don’t really sound any better in person. In between the new material were choice cuts from the first 5 records, spare ‘The Memory Remains’, maybe one of the worst singles they ever released. As ‘Master of Puppets’ came to an end, a pre-recorded tape chimed the opening acoustic notes of ‘Battery’; after that, the rest of the night was a blur.
This might sound like a bad review, but the show itself was a great time. There is no real way to compare the Metallica of today to the Metallica of yesteryear, but if you’re young, you wouldn’t know better anyway. If you get the chance, don’t pass it up, heed these words, though: keep your expectations low, and your blood/alcohol content high.
