Surfing, Skateboarding, Music, Photography, Travel, Culture and general antics of the youth on the run.

Beach Goth remains freaky good The Growler’s music festival is the best Halloween party ever

I still have glitter in my hair and I’ve surfed and showered several times since the weekend. But I don’t mind, it’s a nice reminder of a really good time — and I think it’s why I like the Growler’s Beach Goth music festival so much. It’s ridiculous. Absolutely looney tunes. It’s a freak show that encourages anything but normal behavior, serenaded by the best underground and above ground indie bands there are. And they do it right in the middle of good old uptight Orange County, which makes the freaky, trippy ghoulish musical costume party pop off that much more.

The Growler’s closed both nights with what might be some of the best party rock out. And then there was Grimes’ pop party, proving she’ss made it a long way since a Garae Band track in one of Dane’s old movies. She’s a full-blown pop star now. And we’re OK with that — she’s the freaking perfect weirdo for the job. Warpaint is easily the sexiest band on the planet. And their music is even better than they are hot and powerful. Toro Y Moi, The Drums, Mac Demarco, Tomorrow’s Tulips, Corners, Die Antwoord, Juicy J and many, many more ridiculously glittery performances. Have fun below, and thanks to the dudes at Burger Records for taking care of us.

7C3A0552 7C3A0792 7C3A0831 7C3A0878 7C3A0961 7C3A1054 7C3A1163 7C3A1182 7C3A1192 7C3A1263 7C3A1502 7C3A1718 7C3A1737 7C3A1885 7C3A1916 7C3A1933 7C3A1985 7C3A2000 7C3A2013 7C3A2098 7C3A2121 7C3A2160 7C3A2165 7C3A2173 7C3A2176 7C3A2194 7C3A2219 7C3A2223 7C3A2275 7C3A2280 7C3A2342 7C3A2352 7C3A2453 7C3A2589 7C3A2627 7C3A2703 7C3A2746 7C3A2762 7C3A2769 7C3A2812 7C3A2819 7C3A2834 7C3A2837 7C3A2843 7C3A2850 7C3A2964 7C3A3011 7C3A3020 7C3A3030 7C3A3040 7C3A3045 7C3A3051 7C3A3056 7C3A3061 7C3A3063 7C3A3078 7C3A3088 7C3A3089 7C3A3092 7C3A3095 7C3A3103 7C3A3117 7C3A3149 7C3A3170 7C3A3189 7C3A3210 7C3A3221 7C3A3248 7C3A3257 7C3A3283 7C3A3287 7C3A3412 7C3A3445 7C3A3446 7C3A3497 7C3A3505 7C3A3533 7C3A3574 7C3A3601  7C3A3693 7C3A3726 7C3A3736 7C3A3739 7C3A3744 7C3A3757 7C3A3763 7C3A3768 7C3A3771

austyn gillete what youth part friend skateboarding

Dear Youth Our weekend with Austyn Gillette and Part Friend

Austyn Gillette was down in San Clemente for physical therapy on Friday. He said he’d be back to his house in LA around 2:30 and invited us to meet up. His band Part Friend was playing with Swimm. all was well until I arrived and Austyn was at the Emergency room with his friend who…

Ian Walsh and John John Florence what youth Eddie opening ceremony

Dear Youth Ian Walsh and John John Florence at the opening ceremony for “The Eddie”

“I don’t understand them, but I sure do respect them.” Nate Lawrence told us that last night after attending the opening ceremony to the 30th Annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau event with Ian Walsh, John John Florence and the rest of the world’s best big wave surfers — including DEKKA author/photographer Derek Dunfee…

derek dunfee what youth dear youth

Dear Youth DEKKA Journals by Derek Dunfee

Editor’s Note: For those of you who don’t know Derek yet, you’re in luck. Basically this is like getting to ride shotgun to some of the world’s scariest places and waves, with one of the nicest, most talented dudes there is. He shoots photos, surfs the world’s biggest waves, travels at the slightest breath of wind…

The Anxiety of On the Road’s Original scroll After reading On the Road (Twice) I feel different

I’ve read Jack Kerouac’s coming-of-age novel On the Road twice now.  First the heavily edited, Penguin Edition and now the racier, much more raw original scroll edition. I’ve also read most of Jack’s other books including Big Sur, The Dharma Bums, Tristessa, Visions of Cody, Mexico City Blues, The Sea is My Brother, and Satori in Paris…

Julian Wilson what youth surfing

Dear Youth European Photo Diary of Quinn Matthews

Editor’s note: It’s well documented what a national treasure photographer Quinn Matthews is. And while his Europe tour of duty wasn’t without it’s hiccups and we thought we lost him, or he’d lost it, or both, he did manage to come back with some gold. The gallery and story below by Quinn are proof that…

Kai Neville Cluster France What Youth

Dear Youth France, you son of a bitch

Chip nearly stomped a huge backside slob. Noa came so close I vomited on the beach. Dion lost his credit card, got a new one, and lost it again.

Quinn matthews in portugal waves surfing what youth

Dear Youth Damp Jeans and the wave of your life

I’ve been in Portugal for about two weeks, and it’s been sunny all of two days. The rest of the time it’s been gale force winds and rain. All of my clothes are wet, cold and dirty from the rain and mud everywhere. I tried to do some laundry the other day, but we don’t…

Kelly slater 540 surfing air photographed by quinn matthews for what youth

Dear Youth: Kelly Slater’s 540 sequence Processing Kelly’s air at the Cluster House in France

Kai, Blake and myself went down to Bayonne to pick up some film from a French lab. We had moules and frites on the river (just like Chas suggested) and were enjoying a warm Fall day in France when Mitch Coleborn texted us and said the waves were firing and to hurry the fuck up…

Noa Deane guitar what youth surfing

Dear Youth France House

Every one knows now that the best camera in the world is the one in your pocket. And hell, we all have one in our pocket! The only difference with these photos and yours, is Blake tends to wander around France with the world’s best surfers. He’s with Kai filming Cluster. Eating baguettes, drinking latte’s…

John John Florence in France Photographed by Quinn Matthews What Youth

Dear Youth Deep Frence sand and currents with Quinn Matthews

France has been fun. Like, really fun. But like I think I said earlier, it’s a lot colder than last year, and I didn’t pack properly. There’s been a bunch of stuff that’s gone on but I’ll just get right to it and rattle off some observations and experiences in the past week or so….

what youth issue 9 deadlines dead lions what youth

Dear Youth Dead Lions Suck

Can we start planning the party yet? Holy shit. Issue 9 deadline nearly made us dead. And we need to start party planning. It’s time. And while shit aint confirmed, we need this man. Let’s just say, mark your calendar: Thursday, October 23 Something is going down. If you’re in the greater CA area, we’re…

Dane Reynolds, Craig Anderson, Dion Agius and Noa Deane surfboards in france surfing what youth

Dear Youth Scenes from Europe: Part 2

Today I drove past a little Russian gypsy stall and there were a bunch of old cameras on display. I noticed a vintage 35mm Leica, brass plated with a slick wood grain wrap. It had this Nazi emblem etched into the brass. I managed to heckle them down to 120 Euros. It was a relic,…

Sign up for letters from What Youth


By enabling this page, you are acknowledging and accepting our privacy terms and conditions.