Black Label Society and Children of Bodom at Convention Hall

For those of you in New Jersey, a rare opportunity is at hand. The Black Label Berzerkus is coming to Convention Hall in Asbury Park! tomorrow night (Friday the October 8th). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for all ages. So man up, don some leather and head toward the boardwalk as Black Label Society, Children of Bodom, Clutch and 2cents bring some metal to the Jersey Shore.

What's Really Good with Zach Cusano

Hanger Bowl session Sept 14 2010 from Zach Cusano on Vimeo.

I have known Zach for a while, I went to high school with him. He's one of the best dudes I know. He has an awesome ramp in the backyard of his parents' house in New Jersey, and is always down to have people over to skate the ramp, listen to metal, and drink beer. He's got a serious beard, and he's always down. Glad to see you are doing well in the South pal.

So Zach, how has the South been treatin’ ya?

- Good as hell. The skate scene down here is awesome.

Still hot as shit?

- Oh yeah, hotter than two rats fucking in a wool sock. My homie Jack R. Cox always says that.

Jack is a good man. If I’m not mistaken, you two were having a beard contest? Fill me in on that.

- Yeah, the bet is this: neither of us can shave until I graduate college. If I graduate on time, that will be in 2012. I have been growing mine since March, and he has had his since May I think. I’m whoopin’ his ass when it comes to length haha. The loser has to pay the winner 200 bucks. And if we both make it to the deadline, we are gonna smoke two huge blunts while sippin’ on fortys.

That’s my boy. Getting curly?

- Oh yeah, like a Jew down in Lakewood.

Are you in school full time?

- Yeah, everyday, skate after class. I can’t complain.

It’s not getting in the way?

- Not yet, we’ll see how long that lasts.

I’ll shoot ya straight, I don’t really know anything about the South. What’s the skating like? Any spots or ramps you are hyped on?

- The skate scene is sick. There is a killer backyard scene, from mini ramps with lumber for coping to a killer vert bowl. I’m stoked on Matt's ramp, Otis's pool, and the hanger bowl aka the John’s island wreck center and there is this sick ledge spot by my house at the aquarium. You need to make it down here.

photo: Grant Montauk

The street was your thing for a while when we were younger. Are you skating any street or just pool-doggying out?

- I am loungin’ poolside you could say. I have been at the bowl the last four days.

Chasing the muff around?

- Haha, nah. I got a girlfriend.

Yea Lindsay right? She skates?

- Yeah I’m stoked on that, I got an awesome set up.

So after you both skate the hanger bowl, do you shower and then smash, or just go for it all stanked up?

- Hahaha, we smash in the shower.

Thata boy. You used to do some hunting. Are you still into it?

- I didn’t go this year or last year. I used to be into it, but now I would rather spend all that time I’d be in a tree standing, skating.

Zach, his basement ramp, and weapon of choice.

How do you feel about vegans?

- Vegans? Fuckin’ weird. I like red meat and potatoes.

And pink meat?

- If it smells like fish.

photo: Grant Montauk

So back up north you got a pretty serious set up at your parents’ place. Ramp in the backyard, ramp in the basement. Any future plans for the Cusano compound?

- So many plans, can’t promise they’ll happen though. I got a million ideas. Bowling out the backyard and the basement is the ultimate goal. Hopefully one day.

Where is that cash flow coming from?

- My funds are coming from the MCCU, the Momma Cusano Credit Union.

Your mom is the shit.

- She has been super supportive of me skating and so has Steve. I got the set up at their place.

Photo: Grant Montauk

I love them both. You will have to tell them that I said hi. I understand you just got on Bacon. What’s up with that?

- Yeah I just found out the other day. I heard Tim ( Johnson) wanted me to call him and I did and he said he wanted to start hookin’ it up. I’m stoked! Bacon is the shit.

Hell yea, I’m hyped for ya. Couple more here for you. Budweiser or camo Keystone?

- Budweiser for sure. I’m not hyped on Keystone.

Photo: Grant Montauk

Straight joint or spliff that shit up?

- Joint all day.

I am assuming you have not gotten any tanner. From what I recall, you were whiter than a prime bag of snake. Do people believe you are from the Jersey Shore?

- Not at first sight but they eventually do. Haha, I am super pale, notebook paper underneath the shirt. My arms are kinda tan though.

Abs for days?

- Always carrying a six-pack.

Ha. Alright, give me a break down on DTB.

- Down to Burn – it’s skateboarding and smoking weed. It’s the homies from Charleston who skate together. Fuckin’ the shit.

Hell yea, any travel plans for this year?

- Up and down the East Coast, wherever I can stop.

Photo: Grant Montauk

Maybe out west? Rumor has it the weed is cheap and the girls are loose. Denver possibly?

- Sounds sick, I will see what I can work out. So many things to skate out there.

Any sponsors or other people you would like to thank?

- Tim and Angelo. Angelo owns Parrot Surf Shop, they hook me up really well. I rep their shit hard. And Tim Johnson from Bacon, I am stoked to be a part of that team.

Any last words...?

- If you’re not DTB, then fuck you.

Stay Dunkin on Em

Slover remindin ya that your game is just not that tight

slover dunk from Mike Goodwin on Vimeo.

Jersey Shore

I realize this post is about 2 weeks late but who gives a shit. Doubt anyone noticed anyway. It is true, we were able to finish enough of the video to have a premiere in New Jersey, and I have to say the event was a success. (maybe with the exception of the episode at the Berkeley Cartaret). I am not that into writing about my own stuff so I am gonna keep it short and sweet. Charlie and Maxwell, along with their homie Chris trucked down from Massachusetts, and Nick and Greg flew in from Denver and we got it movin'. Our buddy Cesar over at Don Chucho's was tolerant enough to let us rent out his bar for the night and we hooked up with DJ Skills who brought the fuckin' funk. Those who were present know where I am coming from, it would be nice to have Skills out here to replace some of the funboys we hear "spin" every night but thats neither here nor there. Special thanks to Gene Demeter, Adam Slover, Cesar, DJ Skills, Jack Laird, Caity at Red Bull, Ron at Spellbinders, Kyle Arc for the photos, Phil Mansfield for shootin' some video, anyone else who helped us put the premiere together and of course everyone who came out and helped us suck the bar dry.

Some Gringos reared their heads

Marty brought a friend

Loosen' up

Take ya chains make ya buy 'em all back

the Main Man DJ Skills

Cesar the Boss and Caity

More Homies

Chomko stay sippin

Slover and DJ Skills rippin' and runnin'

Jack givin' away some gear. Thanks again for hookin it up

Cuttin' her loose

Thank you

Nicole and Joy on point

This guy..

Phil Adam and Kenny, and Dan lurkin. If ya see this dan i would love to hear about the end of your night.

The man behind the lens, Kyle Arc and a lady friend

Matty B made it out

Get it Taylor

Lutzifer with the double

Back to the Boneyard NJ Premiere Party from Phillip Mansfield on Vimeo.

More Fishin: Jersey and Maine

Have had these for a while just took me a bit to get them up, its summer who wants to spend time on the damn computer?

Shaun landed another bass off Darlington

Shaun and I along with the rest of my family took a journey up to a cabin we have in Maine right in BOOTHbay harbor. We have a couple of rowboats up there, each replete with its own set of leaks but we figured we would take 'em for a spin to the ISLAND and back.

Could not find any large fish so we fished for small mackerel with fresh-water rods. The ISLAND in the background

Shaun gettin' it.

Not sure if there is a size minimum for these little guys but it is what it is.

Chop Chop

Man the Great Conqueror

Jersey's Finest

Photos from the first BBQ are on the way but in the meantime, tune in to one of New Jersey's finest outfits, the Hudson County Scumbags. Sproat and I stumbled upon this gem a few nights ago and knew it was just to good to pass.

Boneyard BBQ

Our homies from New Jersey Fundip and Rob were in town for a bit. Unfortunately they have since had to head out, but not before Fundip put in a little deck work. Dave gettin' after it.

Finger got Chomped

Got in a little scuff at the bar on new years eve. Some huge dude got a hold of my finger and this was what it looked like when i wrestled it out of the goons mouth

Stoke of the day

my main man jeff mansfield got the stoke of the day over at thrasher. give it a look

http://www.thrashermagazine.com/StokeOfTheDay/2009/html/084709.html

i threw up a few photos from this ramp a few days ago. Managed to throw together a few clips of the new jersey fools messin around the day before I headed west to CO. enjoy

Good Ol' Boys

In the few days I was back in Jersey I headed over to my main man Zach's place to check out his new ramp I had been hearing about. The thing is no joke. Pool coping, some vert, death box you name it, most definitely one of the raddest back yard set-ups I have seen.  Here are a few shots of the DV boys doing there thing.

zach indy

zach smith death box

tim front tail

meff

jeff crail revert?