Young Poor & Angry Press

Right now there seem to be a blue million clothing companies. Most of them aren’t very legit. Carbon copies of whatever is trendy and popular at the time. Brands like Glamour Kills who mass market to the scene via bright neon colors and kitchy designs that won’t stand the test of time. As someone whose an avid collector of both band t-shirts and unique clothing finds I look for two things: is the design going to be something that’s only popular now and is it something I’m going to want to sport to the local bar as well as a date out. A lot of the time I end up disappointed with a lot of the brands that offer to send me wares. Then there are other clothing companies. Companies who make a mark and a lasting impression on anyone who wears them.

One such clothing company is To Die For. The company is “the product of two brothers love for art, music, and family” according to the the Welshers’ bio on their site. More than a decade the two, Jason Welsher, a drummer and staple in the Orange County hardcore, straight edge music scene, and Josh “Deph” Welsher an urban graffiti artist, toy designer, and skater, fused their influences into what we now know as To Die For clothing.

These guys are not only class acts, but stay true to their roots in the design and quality of their clothes. A lot of the designs are flash inspired that’s got a new school crossed with old school vibe to it. While their website might not be super flashy, they make up for it with a really simple ordering process and some bad ass clothes. I personally have a few shirts by them in my t-shirt collection and pull them out at least once a week.  Dig the sports colorways on the Tangled II, my only beef is that there isn’t a Red Sox colorway. Got to remedy that Jason and Deph!

The recession was the hot fuse to inspire the industries showcases this past FALL09 Fashion Week. Many a designer proved otherwise with their show-stopper and glitzy glamour induced pieces to help evade the clientele’s adoring-eye from the world’s steadfast economic struggle.

In the classic case of Alexander McQueen, there is no stopping his elusive imagination when it comes to the pieces he sent down the runway this season. Grab life by the horns and use every possible option; centerpieces at his show included huge heaps of past season themed pieces, make-up, styling, as well as hairpieces and hats proved there is no worry and to use what little you’ve got left to work with regardless of the material. Soda can hair rollers, hub-cap off center head pieces, trash bag bow ties, you name it. Amongst others, the recession wasnt only a main focus; many designers kept the bare essentials in mind, sleek suits, less than bold color palettes, and especially flattering silouettes highlighted this seasons mainstage.

FALL READY-TO-WEAR HIGHLIGHTS:
This season’s inspirations varied from S&M inspired leather thigh high boots, to broad shoulders in sequined exaggerated one piece ensembles. Four inch heels, exposed unmentionables, lengthy skirts trailing on the runway.

-Leather Pleasure, Biker Chic; Tough leather, embelished/destressed fabrics, heavy knits, Oversized/Androgyny
(See: Alexander Wang, Armand Basi, Balmain, Gareth Pugh, Julien Macdonald, Jean Paul Gaultier)

-Combining Like Terms, Sheer and Fitted; Mesh, elastic/strapy criss-cross accents, form fitting silouettes
(See: Andrew Gn, Bottega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Miu Miu, Nina Ricci)

-Forties Shortie: Channeling Ingrid Bergman; Oversize Fur collars, knee-length wool coats, solid bold colors; nipped waist, pin-curls, long godet skirts
(See:Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, Zac Posen, Bottega Veneta)

-80’s Revival, Tight and Cropped; Slick and chic, leather, latex, bondage, s&m vibe, subtle overaccesorized metal pieces, studs, perpetuating shoulders, fitted silouette
(See: Antonio Berardi, Balmain, Marc Jacobs, Miss Sixty, Vivienne Westwood)

-Smart Shopper, Basic, Simply & Sleek, Cost efficiant; Sexy chic menswear inspired, budget conscious, dark color palette, corporate vibe, dropped crotch/high waisted, tucked in blouses, suspenders
(See: Burberry Prorsum, Calvin Klein Collection, Chanel, Derek Lam, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent)

Columnist’s Pick: GARETH PUGH, GIVENCHY, BALMAIN

I’ve personally always been a huge fan of Gareth Pugh’s work. This past season he channeled erie meets webbed disastor. Between the textures and embellishment choices he used in his pieces this past collection, his consistent rendering of black shaded color palette clashed so divinely with the novelty fabrics that complimented the body in every exxageration of the matter. I really do appreciate how he uses nothing but blacks and greys within more or less each of his seasons, if not a variety of white amongst the two. Being a designer myself, I’ve idolized his designs and conceptions as an inspiration on my aesthetic aswell, from the hairstyling, makeup, and accesories; his work is my number one highlight of every season past, particularly Fall 2009.

As for Givenchy and Balmain, these designers illuminated the concept of big shoulders, leather accents, feather boa trimmed seams, and no less black pieces to no end. Fitted, above the knee, tailored, and sleek. All qualities of a fine look for this Fall season; to purchase these items whether you be online or look in store you can check out these sites: http://www.openingceremony.us/ http://www.luisaviaroma.com/

‘If you have a particularly outstanding feature it is always a good thing to emphasize it. In fact the whole of fashion is emphasis — emphasis on a woman’s loveliness.’
-Christian Dior

So you just wrapped Brothers, how was that experience?

We wrapped that two years ago actually, well, just about. It was fun but so long ago I don’t recall many of the details.

You’ve been in a lot of movies. Big and small. What’s been the most enjoyable experience filming experience thus far?

I just finished a movie called UNSTOPPABLE that Tony Scott directed and that was very enjoyable. I don’t know that it was “the most” enjoyable movie I’ve done but being the most recent I will go with that one.

Tell us about the Star Fucking Hipsters project?

Sturgeon (the lead singer, formerly of Choking Victim, also the lead singer of Leftover Crack) is a friend of mine and he mentioned that he thought it would be cool if when they came through LA they got some footage of me beating him up in an interrogation room. My brother-in-law who introduced us decided that we’d shoot their entire video here and we just went about doing that. It’s for their new single called 3000 MILES and it should be up on YouTube or available on their MySpace soon.

What was one of your favorite episodes of Boy Meets World?

The first one, I had to grab Corey and slam him into a locker. It was also my first acting job.

As a follower of yours on twitter I noticed a tweet about making the Breakfast Club into a TV show. You expressed a slight disgust for such allowed to be possible.. what are your thoughts on the latest craze (so-to-speak) of taking old classic films, and even 80’s and 90’s TV shows, and re-vamping them for ‘’today’s generation’’?

We as a society seem to have run out of ideas. Sucks for us.

Going along with my previous question do you think they will ever remake Boy Meets World? If so, would you want to make an appearance in the show?

That’s funny. Laughing Silently To Myself

What prep work did you do to get ready to play Seth Ryan in American History X?

I was really into the LA ska scene in the early 90s and familiar with the skinhead subculture so I knew something about it from the beginning but I had to play basically my worst enemy. I tried for a while to look back at what kind of music or tattoos those guys were into but my only real contact with them was in fights. The director pulled in some guys from OC and I had to bite my tongue while I listened to them spout their garbage philosophy. I really hope I made them look like idiots, that was my main focus.

The tattoo you had in the movie is of an American Oi band named Anti-Heroes. Any thoughts on their lawsuit?

Maybe if they  hadn’t done such a spot on cover of Skrewdriver’s Anti-Social, Nazi morons wouldn’t have been into them.

Did you ever see the fucking sailboat? Cause I damn sure know I didn’t.

Yep, I sure did.

What have you been listening to lately?

Al Green, Gallows, Star Fucking Hipsters, Symarip, Mariachi El Bronx, Op-Ivy, John Holt, Contropotere, D’Angelo, Amebix, Against ME! Those are the most recent bands I’ve forced upon my kids. The list changes almost weekly.

How long have you been into hardcore and punk rock?

Since I was a kid. When I was 12 I started getting dropped off by my mom at the Reseda Country Club for the all-ages shows, that’s where it started.

You grew up in Manhattan and you’re in California now. Which coast’s music do you prefer?

I wouldn’t know. I like what strikes an emotional chord in me and it doesn’t really matter where it’s being made. I left Manhattan when I was really young and didn’t really grow up with NY Hardcore like the kids out there. If I was gonna go see a NYHC show, like the Cro-Mags or Gorilla Biscuits when I was a really young kid I made sure to go with a big group, those shows were a lot of fun but attracted a rougher crowd and there were always fights. But NO ONE back then was doing that fucking lame “hardcore dance.” The first time I saw that was at a Madball show 5 or 6 years ago and I was bugging out, like what the fuck are these kids doing?! I’m sure it’s what my parents would’ve thought of a pit way back when but there’s a beautiful aesthetic to a good pit and these “karate kids” look like a bunch of morons having epileptic fits…

What’s your take on all these new school hipster kids and the Rod Stewart hair?

I don’t really understand it. I don’t know what a “hipster” is really either. I thought they were the kids listening to folk and always about to kill themselves but now there are these other “hipsters” with flock of seagulls hair and eye-liner that don’t really seem like they’re suicidal but they want it to look that way. Bizarre.

Has fatherhood mellowed you a bit? I know you let some rage out on Twitter occasionally.

Yeah for sure. I’m not allowed to fight anymore, that’s my wife’s rule but I stick to it and also you want to set a decent example for your kids. I have daughters so we try to use words to defeat people in any kind of altercation. That’s what I’m trying to teach them. Or that’s it’s alright to be wrong sometimes too and even though your mad or freaked out, realizing that you’re wrong and admitting it can make all the frustration go away. If I had sons we’d just be at the MMA gym all the time and fighting with people and it’s be fun but less cerebral and there’s something really good about thinking clearly.

I see you are a supporter of Invisible Children. Do you happen to know about Outlet Thru Noise? If so, what are your thoughts?

I know nothing about them, I’ll look into it.

I have some Silly questions for you:

Twitter or MySpace?

TWITTER BITCHES

Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Both are awesome but I would put on the Beatles before the Stones…

Xbox or Ps3?

Not allowed, wife, kids etc…

Coke or Pepsi?

100% COKE, but not for quite some years as I’ve been dieting.

UFC or NFL?

NF-who? UFC!

King of the Hill vs. Family Guy?

Family GUY!

Alcohol vs. Pot ?

Been sober for almost 9 years so neither, but I am pro legalization.

Marvel vs. DC ?

Which released Sandman? (Editor’s Note: DC Comics….)

Sex Pistols vs. Ramones ?

As a kid the Pistols seemed to embody Anarchy better, as an adult my kids have not been exposed to them but will request Blitzkrieg Bop by name and I doubt that I have any Pistols on record or CD…Maybe an old cassette.

Ever since we started YPA Press a little over a year ago we’ve been swamped with albums in the mail from various labels. Some of them you see prominately displayed on the site in their own seperate columns. Those are the albums usually we are all listening to in and around the office. That however does not include 1/2 of what we get that sadly we never get to tell you about. That’s until now. YPA Press proudly brings you a weekly round up of album reviews from our staff. Check it out and make sure to come back as we’ll be doing this…you guessed it…weekly.

Deas Vail - Birds and Cages - If you’re a big fan of bands like Copeland, Death Cab for Cutie and even Coldplay you’ll probably love this album. The songs are very mellodic and catchy. Songs like Dance In Perfect Time and Puzzles and Pieces remind me of something you’d hear in a really good romantic comedy staring Zach Braff. Personally my favorite track off the album is Sunlight which actually made it on to my morning jogging playlist (a big honor if you know me.) If you’re a fan of melodic music and vocals that have more emotion to them than Lifetime network, than you’ll love Deas Vail.

Stich Hopeless & The Sea Legs - Gone Bats  - I really liked this album. Of course really what’s there not to like. One part punk rock, one part psychobilly with the most revolting lyrics since “Who Killed the Prom Queen” by the Necromatix. The album is so fast and furious, sometimes it does get a bit hard to understand what Stitch is saying. On the other hand with lyrics about necrophilia (Corpse Fucker) and serial killing (Blood Bath) it might be a little bit of a blessing not to know exactly what is going on in this album. One thing you will find is that it’ll make you tap your foot at the same time you’ll want to get into a bar fight. Stich Hopeless & The Sea Legs remind me of what would happen if real life pirates played punk rock.

House of Heroes - The Christmas Classics - I’m not a huge Christmas guy. To be perfectly honest I’m a Jew and so I don’t really listen to Christmas songs that often. That being said, I have to admit this CD is pretty catchy. House of Heroes covers such classics as All I Want For Christmas Is You and Silent Night. As if Christmas wasn’t emo enough, this band kicks it up a notch with their own flair on Christmas. This is the sort of album you give to friends as a stocking stuffer.

Strictly The Best 41- Various Artists - Reggae and dub compilation from the fine folks at VP Records. This record is amazing from beginning to end. Vybz Kartel’s Dollar Sign is one of my favorite tracks on the album and worth buying this album alone. Some other notables on the album are Swing by Elephant Man and Gallis by Mr. Vegas. This is probably the best compilation of dub and reggae I’ve ever heard, probably why they’re in their 41st installment of this series. The Chin brothers are amazing producers and I’m looking forward to more compilations by this label.