June 20, 2007
MUSIC
Skate Date
A member of Bones Brigade makes sweet tunes.
Tommy Guerrero
“Hello Again,” the opening track from Tommy Guerrero’s 2006 release From the Soil to the Soul, is a breezy guitar piece that’s immediately followed by the insistently dirty funk exercise “The Under Dog.”
Both are fitting titles that act as the perfect introduction of Guerrero to a new legion of potential admirers. Guerrero, an original member of Powell & Peralta’s Bones Brigade skateboarding crew in the sport’s heyday of the ’80s, has traded his trucks and decks for tracks and discs. He recently joined the maverick hip-hop label Quannum, bringing with him a penchant for funk, groove and international flair.
Although Guerrero is best known for his kickflips and ollies, he’s been making music since he was a teen, playing guitar in a band he started with his older brother. Guerrero began thrashing in the late ’70s, before skating or punk rock were fashion accessories.
Switching genres from punk to funk doesn’t seem much of a stretch to Guerrero, who connects his choice of music with his adolescent experiences. “Punk, funk and soul are all emotional and self-expressive,” he says. “I think the feeling of being disenfranchised and ostracized leads to an emotional place that few can tap into. That gives the music meaning and is pretty damn cathartic for the artist.”
From the Soil to the Soul certainly emits a vibe of tension and release, mostly due to its unique production style. Guerrero is very much a DIY artist, playing most of the instruments on the album and dropping a heavy hand in the disc’s carefully arranged chaotic production.
“My approach to production is basically flying by the seat of my pants,” he says. “It’s like running with your hair on fire while meditating. Just plug in and go. What you hear is what went down at that moment.”
Considering Guerrero’s reputation as a revolutionary from the days when skateboarding was considered radical and rebellious, it makes sense that he would cast his lot with Quannum. The label has been churning out groundbreaking, genre-defying (and -defining) albums for years. DJ Shadow, Quannum’s co-founder and one of its principle artists, is now legendary among plate-spinners and knob-twiddlers. His colleague Tom Shimura (aka Lyrics Born) is one of the most gifted wordsmiths in hip-hop.
Guerrero says Shimura played a major role in luring the skater extraordinaire into the Quannum fold. “Tom heard my stuff in Japan a handful of years ago. He contacted me personally and sent me some of his stuff. This was long before his solo album, and I wasn’t familiar with his work. I found his vocal style unique. He’s lyrically superior to most MCs. Our professional acquaintance evolved into a friendship and mutual artistic respect.”
Quannum is also based in San Francisco, so Guerrero says it was a natural fit for him. “I knew everyone who worked there and respected all the artists and owners. It was a very organic process.”
When not touring Guerrero spends his days toiling away at Deluxe Distribution, a San Francisco-based skateboard distribution firm. He speaks about the good ol’ days with reverence, but has no desire to relive his skateboarding past.
“It was an amazing time, but I can’t even remember the ’90s. The ’80s were all about decadence in every walk of life. Let’s just sweep that era under the rug, shall we?”
Of course that’s easier said than done. Years of executing tricks honed through trial and error have taken quite a toll on the 40-year-old.
“Everything hurts except my hair,” Guerrero quips. “Wait, I feel some more gray coming in. Pass the Advil.”
Guerrero loves Philly, and will gladly play through the pain. He strives to give a little bit back to the town that gifted his former world with LOVE Park, and his new arena with a distinct touch of soul. “I just hope I can channel at least a small piece of that Philly sound.”
No comments:
Post a Comment