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

Dear Youth Our weekend with Austyn Gillette and Part Friend

austyn gillete what youth part friend skateboarding

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 cut his hand.

They got back two hours later, his friend Jeff had some crazy finger cast thing on now, so we had a couple drinks and we were off to the show. When we arrived the walls we’re covered in mylar and it reminded me of a haunted house. They had an open bar with two options: PBR and moonshine. I talked to Adam from Swimm the next day and he said when they were cleaning up they found several different piles of puke around the warehouse. I think the mooonshine was the culprit.

The next day I showed up to Austyn’s around 1, hungover and tired, he and friends were already drinking champagne. He was in a tuxedo and we had a conversation.

 

What Youth: What’s happening right now?

Austyn Gillette: Well, we’re having some afternoon soakers. We got a little champagne, we got a little orange juice, we got some friends, little laughs going around. Am I right? Yeah, ummm, played a hell of a show last night, don’t remember a thing. No one showed up. Everything’s working out really, really shitty.

What happened to Jeff yesterday (remember the ER)?

Oh! Before the show, Jeff decided to try to cut his finger off while trying to make a pedal board. Not for the show, just a pedal board for no reason, and uh, is that champagne empty? We’re gonna need more champagne. Anyway, we’re playing with vaude tonight. V A U D E.

Who played last night?

Part Friend. Nothing’s different. same band, we had different drummers for a bit. Warren Smith — and he recently bailed out on us due to a surf trip in Bali. I don’t think he plans on coming back.

So its the same people in both bands? 

Michael: Me and Austyn switch from bass and guitar. Austyn sings in Part Friend. I sing in Vaude. Austyn writes all his own stuff for Part Friend. We had to find a drummer last minute so it was either Graham or a drum machine. We decided to go with Graham. Keep it real, keep a friend, a fellow cohort, a weekend kind of guy. He shines on the weekend.

So which one is your main one Austyn?

Theyre both! There’s not really a main band. Mine is Part Friend, and Mikey’s is Vaude. We’re each our own writers and then we play backup for each other, but when I’m playing Vaude I feel right at home and visa versa. Literally, right at home. We practice here, we play here, we sleep here, we sweat here, we breathe here, we sleep here, we bleed here, we wake up here. Jeff definitely bleeds here.

So who’s playing tonight? 

Vaude. At hotel cafe located off of La Cienaga and sunset. I think we’re closing the deal at 12. we got some scouts coming out. Some people you might of heard of, Warner. Paramount. Ring a bell?—Michael Cukr 

what youth owen wright surfing snapper rocks

Owen Wright and the First day of spring And tomorrow we have a new issue for you

Over the weekend, lots of you probably watched Owen Wright win the Quiksilver Pro. A feel good hit for the spring to be sure. There were times over the past year in which I had conversations with people about whether Owen would ever properly surf again, so I must say it was a pleasure to sink…

the what youth top 34 surfers

The What Youth Top 34 This is who’s coming on the very unprofessional What Youth World Tour 2017

OK, so this is a few days late. Lots of rum-infused discussions around fire rings to sort the order. But we did it. Just in time to beat the big boys out at Snapper. And so, just to brush up here’s the criteria: A perfectly inexact science that sees the surfers who represent themselves the…

soviet soviet

My favorite new band just got deported Italian Dark Wave band Soviet Soviet just got arrested, embarrassed and sent home before playing in LA

I discovered a rad new band this week. They’re Italian and called Soviet Soviet. Chris Coté sent it to me, and Maya was into it too as was everyone I’ve sent it to. Rad, Italian Dark Wave (my new favorite genre) for my headphones. And I was in luck, they were scheduled to play Sunday night…

Ozzie Wright, Surfing, Byron Bay

The New What Youth Top 34 We’ll unveil the new list Monday, March 13th

Last year we introduced the What Youth Top 34. The idea being: we wanted a list that gathered a more dynamic group of surfers together. The criteria? Umm, this: The perfectly inexact science that sees the surfers who represent themselves the most authentically through their surfing and living at the top. Their creativity rewarded. Their flaws…

what youth cherry glazerr and crap eyewear

Cherry Glazerr at The Smell Backstage and live photos by Tony Accosta

LA darlings Cherry Glazerr recently played a show at the very iconic and incredible venue The Smell, an underground institution for bands in LA. Tony Accosta got to tag along backstage and as they took the stage for this very intimate show. The show coincides with the release of the band’s new Crap Eyewear frame,…

what youth balaram stack

48 Hours in NYC with Balaram Stack “Finish your drink we gotta go!” Filming a “4 Cities” With Balaram

Balaram Stack’s New York moves really fast. I actually found myself in a full sprint at one point. The visit to the city was a string of finishing what’s in front of you to hurry along to the next place, where whatever is in front of you will be re-filled and your eyes will have a whole…

what youth dapl

Can’t Surf This Pipeline Water, Oil, and Standing Rock: Why the fuck do we wanna destroy the earth?

Editor’s Note: When it comes to water and the environment, we’re all in. We have to be. It goes far beyond politics. It’s life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good week for either. Once again, we called our political consultant in SF, Heleanor S. Thompson to get some clarity on why anyone would want to put an oil pipe through someone’s drinking…

what youth recommends former dane reynolds craig anderson austyn gillette

Former is here Dane Reynolds, Craig Anderson and Austyn Gillette’s new clothing line is live (and it looks good)

Yesterday I went on a rant. I do that. Wine at night and all. I said things felt alarmingly stale in surfing. Boredom was getting me, I wanted to drown out the real world with my trusty surf world, where anything was possible and you just ride a wave, man. And I wasn’t happy with what…

what youth dane reynolds trapped in portugal jail

Dane Reynolds has been released After being harbored for two days in Portugal for a lost passport, he’s good

Because of the sensationalist potential of this story, it was kinda hard to tell how serious it was. We talked to Dane’s wife Courtney and she said Dane’s being let go now and is OK. It’s been a few very sleepless days and nights for her due to some head-scratching policy in Portugal for a…

what youth chippa wilson surfing

Dear Surfing, Anyone out there? What I’d do to watch a surf vid that mattered right now

I’m still awake, watching music videos, trying to recreate the nostalgia that late night MTV2 once provided. Right now it’s Radiohead’s “Karma Police” music vid on YouTube. This is what you’ll get when you mess with us. I’ve had enough wine and a long enough day not to care anymore. I’ve just finished a perusal of…

We Kinda Saw This Coming Soli Bailey Wins the Volcom Pipe Pro (This is why we’re not surprised)

Soli Bailey was born during the biggest storm in the history of Byron Bay. And he just won one of our favorite contests, the Volcom Pipe Pro. It’s our favorite for a few reason, mostly because the commentators don’t handle us with kid gloves, and even better, Red Bull implemented an “Other Guys” secondary commentary booth…

what youth

Are We OK? Some scary clarity on what’s happening in the real world

Editor’s Note: We’re quite certain we’re not your number one political news source. But we’re also pretty certain you know we pay attention to what the fuck is going on. Whether it’s what to eat, drink, surf, skate or listen to — we want you clued in — but it doesn’t stop there. What’s going on…

Sign up for letters from What Youth


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