James Brown + Mais Cafe

Listening to James Brown on the IPOD while doing the dishes, I came to further understand why he is the god-father of soul. Here he is after a lot of soul searching:


Do yourself a favor and come to this show: If only to see Jack Wilson Jr. A band featuring some of the coolest dudes in LA.

East Coastin'

check here for the dates and locals:www.myspace.com/sethpettersenmusic

art barn may 15th

April Powers Voyage of Destiny

Pictures are way cooler than what I would be able to write. I would however like to say thank you to the following people: Trevor Beld for driving the WHOLE time and doing all the dirty work. Tania Beld, Dale Dreiling and Corinn McKnett for putting up with me all those times I had to go pee or would yell. John Healy for upgrading his whole life and showing up how to move on correctly. Michael Leahy for ruling Davis super hard. Matt Roar for ruling San Fran super hard. Connor sisters for being a sight for sore eyes. Kirby Slavin for ruling the whole world super hard. Landon Sea for being dude #1. Chris Larsen and co for ruling the acoustic sound super hard. On with the show. oh yeah, Randall Sena rules super hard too. MOST THANKS GO TO PAUL WILLIAMS FOR SAVING MY LIFE!!!

On the Road...

Singin Cricket

Trevor Beld has now entered the digital age, officially, by becoming the proud owner of a computer. He is running some sort of MAC, which of course is equipped with Garage Band. He and I have been noodling around and recording some of my "solo" work. I recently posted a song called Singin' Cricket which was a song that Franklin for Short played around with about a year ago but it never came to fruition. Its basically another one of my songs which is about how the world around us is falling apart and we should be kind/rewind. You can listen to the handy work here. Thanks Beldy.

Good Tymes

I don't know much about surfboards, why I like what I like. I just know I like to have fun, and at this point in time I have narrowed down the boards that I consistently ride to these four. On any given day, I can chose from one of these and have a good time.
Top: A wonderfully heavy log shaped by the lovely Ashley Lloyd. I told her I wanted a heavy board, for cruising. Made out of a biofoam blank, this tanker is set for speed coming in at 10'3" length and a little under 4" thick in the middle. I took it to Dennis Ryder to have glassed with 8oz volan. A few people have gotten mad at me while I was riding this board, and rightfully so. Its tons of fun, but you have to be careful to spread the wealth of waves cause this thing connects the smallest junk all the way to the shore. Best day on this board: Inside the Cove at C-Street, shoulder high and lining up just right, lots of long cradle rides.
Second From Top: 9'6" Scott Anderson "Traditionalist". I bought this board used off of Craigs List a few years ago, from Kurt who plays drums for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Kurt is an awesome guy and great surfer too. Once I started riding this one, it was all I rode for a solid year. So much fun, this board can do it all. Its lost some of its life now, and doesnt move the way it used to, but still puts a smile on my face. Took this board to mainland mexico to surf La Ticla rivermouth.
Second from Bottom: Once upon a time I had a fish that I rarely rode because usually the conditions weren't right for me, and I never really put in the dedication to getting the thing wired. Since I am mostly longboarding, I wanted something for those head high, overhead days. And something for the beach breaks too. This is a 7'8" single fin rounded pin tail thing shaped by mr Derek Dodds. Theres almost no rocker so it can get some speed down the line. This thing has worked really good for me at decent days at Pitas, Pipe, Solimar and Rincon.
Bottom: 7'2" Liddle Displacement Hull. I don't know much about this board. I just got it and Ive only ridden it 3 times. My good buddy Landon Smith rides his Liddle all the time, swears by it. Last winter I surfed with him at Little Rincon and witnessed some of the most radical surfing I have seen in person. The speed that he drew on this thing seemed to be unparralled with anything else. He would get super low and just cling to the pocket. He called me up a few days ago to tell me that a used Liddle was for sale. By the second wave I caught on this thing I could see that I am in for a journey of speed. He said not to get discouraged by its unfamiliar ways, that it would pay off in the end.

Record Swap

Most Played Records

These albums get the most spin time around my house. I will probably keep them forever. They all belong to me in more ways than one. No particular order:

pulled from Brit Smith's flickr page.

feeling it

Merlin

So, Merlin has been practically begging me to do a photoshoot with him. Today I found I had some time while waiting for moms nurse to show up, and the lighting was just right outside. It was really funny when Merlin and Oscar the cat startled each other.
I think we really captured Merlins mood today...

I am excited...can't you tell?

Franklin for Short is heading out on a brief road trip with our pals Le Petit Protest.
Its a united invited excited pilgrimage to DAVIS, SAN FRANCISCO, and SANTA CRUZ.
Lets hope the road and the city treats us kind...thankfully we already know we're going to be seeing some friends!!!

boatyard

today i helped rory sand and patch up the 35' Erickson which is in dry dock down at the marina. I was removing some crud with acetone and as i reached up to place the acetone on the deck, it spilled all down my arm and straight into my armpit. i have been making this face since then:

Back to Baja

duskin it, only 4 surfers for a hundred miles brought some soup to the cliff
locals evita rory me derek

Off to Baja

I am about to depart for the 8 hour drive to Cuatro Casas in Baja Norte. Derek, Amanda, Evita, and Rory are running late. I will return in 4 days. I'll post something if anything worth posting happens which I'm sure it will.

Hmm...

By: Marcus Sanders
May 1, 2008
San Francisco surfer Adrian Ruiz, 25, was attacked and killed by a shark while surfing at Troncones in Mainland Mexico on Monday afternoon. According to local paper Despertar de la Costa, the shark bit him on the right thigh, left a 15-inch wound, and he died from blood loss. He was about 300 yards offshore when attacked, and the situation was aggravated by a lack of emergency services at the beach. The estimate is that the tiger might have been up to 660 pounds. Ruiz, who worked as a bartender in San Francisco and took frequent surf trips, had just arrived in Troncones for a surf holiday.

life is just a song

Songs from a Window

Franklin for Short was lucky enough to appear on the local TV show SONGS FROM A WINDOW.
Here are some of the songs we played, they are all off of the upcoming album SWELL. The whole crew worked very hard and did a fine job! extra special thanks to Jon DeBaun!
FAST & SOFT

BROTHER BIRD