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Features
Releases
Alivenique
Seth Olinsky
CY DUNE
Talk Show
QOQEQA
El Búho
Crush Club
African Footprint International
Galalabadimo, Khutse (feat. Merz)
Ali Beletic
American Culture
Algae & Tentacles
Ohioan
Wooden Wand
Pontiak
Sam Amidon
Moan
People of the North
The Royal Arctic Institute
Chris Forsyth
William Tyler
Info
Newsletter
Store
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Talking the Texas Punk Problem
Talking the Texas Punk Problem

TALKING THE TEXAS PUNK PROBLEM

with legendary photographer Bill Daniel

 

   JESSE SUGARMANN     Talks Making Art with Cars

JESSE SUGARMANN 

Talks Making Art with Cars

Eric Block in Conversation with Scott Towne
Eric Block in Conversation with Scott Towne

NEVER BORING

Eric Block in conversation with Scott Towne

Remembering Williamsburg's Legendary Monster Island
Remembering Williamsburg's Legendary Monster Island

MONSTER ISLAND

Remembering the Legendary Williamsburg misfit/venue/studio with Andrew Deutsch, Maya Hayuk, Wolfy, and a cast of 1000s

Featured
Alivenique Foreshadows Her New Meta-Pop Project with “Tune in [Prelude]”
Alivenique Foreshadows Her New Meta-Pop Project with “Tune in [Prelude]”

DAY ONE DEFINED AS META-POP AND PLANNING ON DROPPING a handful of singles in 2022, WE’VE GOT THE PRELUDE ON REPEAT.

In my mind, when I was writing the song, I was traveling to an underground Brazilian loft party, where mishaps are happening all over the place, and it’s perfectly human, festive and a total party.

Galalabadimo - Sān Kalahari Desert Vocal and Instrumental Music
Galalabadimo - Sān Kalahari Desert Vocal and Instrumental Music

“The Galalabadimo settlement was literally just a few shelters made of sticks and grass only. No mud walls. Someone went to clean the sand floor of a hut we were to sleep in and he came out with a huge white snake. Thanks. The nearest well was around a 40 minute walk through the desert, it was impossible to drive there. The water was extremely salinated, salty. Hard to drink, but it was the only water source. We had to walk back all that way with the heavy water containers. They had to do this every day or so of their lives.”

Backcountry with Surfer Chris
Backcountry with Surfer Chris

Surfer Chris has literally paddled around Kauai on his 9'0". Multiple times. True Life Freerider, living out of his surf cave on Kalalau fishing and surfing. We met Chris after our first trip hiking back into that most remote of Beaches, and got back in touch to catch up. 

Featured
An Interview with El Búho
An Interview with El Búho
Das Damen
Das Damen

Loud, Louder, DAS DAMEN. Lyle and Jim reminisce about music pre GPS. cellphones, and ATM’s

Slim Moon
Slim Moon

Slim Moon on his Olympia days, Buzz Melvin shenanigans, snowball fights with cops and more.

Nels Cline
Nels Cline

Lightning Records talks with Nels Cline on his early musical influences, growing up in Southern California, and the future of guitar.

Pattie Manning
Pattie Manning

Stock car racer, Pattie Manning, talks racing obsessions, her first stock car, and being female in the racing community.

African Footprint International
African Footprint International

“The vision of African Footprint International is to bridge the gap between the less privileged and privileged, the physically challenged (disabled) and able people and unite them through African traditional music, dance, drumming, story telling, theatre for development, international music and all possible genres as well as broad informal education courses.”

Jeff Ho
Jeff Ho

Photographer/artist Kristy Campbell talks to the legendary culture creator about cutting 3 feet off his boards, his anti-culture of surf, bold colors, sneaking into the ranch, what it used to be like before the punks, and how Dick Dale allowed him to show his ideas.  Photo: Kristy Campbell

 

Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer

Talking with the founding member of Detroit's proto punk heroes MC5 about the revolutionary power of the electric guitar.  Photo: Hugh Candyside

Lenny Kaye
Lenny Kaye

We talk to the guitarist from the Patti Smith Group, creator of genre defining garage music compilation Nuggets, and philosopher sage of rock n roll about the Beginning and End and Beginning of Shred.  Photo: Bob Gruen

 

Past Isn't There
Past Isn't There

Sir Richard Bishop, founding member and guitarist of Sun City Girls and rare books dealer, challenges all guitarists to give up their pedals and forget everything to break through.  Photo Credit: Karl LB

Thanks Frank, let’s race. 
Thanks Frank, let’s race. 

Barreling through the 7-day La Carerra Panamericana road race in Mexico with vintage Porsche maniac Matt Hummel

An Interview with Crush Club
An Interview with Crush Club
Dick Dale
Dick Dale

The King of Surf Rock Guitar tells us about inventing the Strat and reverb, teaching Jimi to play slide, and rehabilitating lions.

Manipulating The Now
Manipulating The Now

With Captain Beefheart cohort Moris Tepper

Jim Clark
Jim Clark

Poet Ossian Foley interviews Brooklyn light sculptor Jim Clark about rehabilitating his once zoo schoolhouse in 80's Williamsburg, hiding light sculptures in Pennsyvlania ponds, and how these ideas of light synthesize and progress in his latest LA solo show.

FUTURE OF SHRED
FUTURE OF SHRED

We asked some of our resident shredders to talk the future of shred, here's what John Deiterich of Deerhoof had to say...

The future of shred?
The future of shred?

We asked some of our resident shredders to talk the future of Shred, here's what Ed Rodriguez of Deerhoof had to say...  Photo: Paul Costuros

These are my thoughts on shredding.
These are my thoughts on shredding.

We asked some of our resident shredders to talk Future of Shred with us, here's what Van Carney of Pontiak had to say...

Dominic Grossman
Dominic Grossman

Photographer Patrick Gookin takes a morning run with ultra marathoner Dominic Grossman.

Jane Cramer's Dirtbikes With Dad
Jane Cramer's Dirtbikes With Dad

A little after dinnertime, I called up Tom Cramer, my father and asked him about that wind in his hair.

Lake Jean: A Short Tour of the End of the World
Lake Jean: A Short Tour of the End of the World

John Melillo, musical impresario behind Algae & Tentacles, phd in sound/text theory and professor at University of Ariz, and novelist and poet Johanna Skibsrud, take a photo/text journey through the desert flat of Jean Lake,  a small endorheic dry lake 3 mi east of Jean, Nevada, home to lost earth works by artists Michael Heizer, and Jean Tinguely.

Sam Amidon on the Future of Shred
THE PAST IS FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS PAST

Chris Forsyth talks on the anti-shred

Bill Daniel's dirt bike photos
Bill Daniel's dirt bike photos

More amazing photos from Bill Daniel

Lots of Noise and Smoke and Crunching metal
Lots of Noise and Smoke and Crunching metal

Heli-photographer Brooke LaValley's Desert Race Aerials from the Baja 1000 and Mint 400.

How Fast Things Were Coming at Me

Visionary American improviser Bill Frisell removes his reverb pedal from his pedal board but finds it's Visionary American improviser Bill Frisell talks speed of culture, loving hot rods, wanting to be a race car driver but ending up on the road of the unlimited potential of guitar.

The Howard House: A House, A Mess, A Time and Place

Richard Hart talks us visually through the skate punk Howard House.

LIGHTNING X HILUX EVENT collaboration with Chris Owens
LIGHTNING X HILUX EVENT collaboration with Chris Owens

Join us Saturday May 21st for our collaboration with  Roaster Chris Owens, where we will install a coffee tasting space inspired by the experiments conducted by artists Robert Irwin and James Turrell with psychologist Ed Wortz, to explore the influence of different frequencies and timbres on the flavor profile of our very limited edition roast.

Magazine 01
Making a Scene : BATT Joshua Tree, CA
Making a Scene : BATT Joshua Tree, CA

We talk to desert rockers BATT about Making a Scene out in the Mojave, playing in pools, their Wonder Vally Summer's Eve Fest, and skateboarding in National Parks with monks. 

Cy Dune Where the Wild Things Video Premier on Vice
Cy Dune Where the Wild Things Video Premier on Vice

To celebrate Cy Dune's upcoming No Recognize EP, a bunch of local musicians, and other various art types, got together in the Arizona desert and shot at some cans of spray paint with guns, which then exploded all over canvases. Sounds like a pretty perfect way to spend the day. 

Matt Hummel talks Vintage Porsche Collecting, La Carrera Pan Americana, and Record digging in Brazil
Matt Hummel talks Vintage Porsche Collecting, La Carrera Pan Americana, and Record digging in Brazil

Hummel talks racecars in Mexico, Record Digging in Brazil,  vintage Porsche sourcing, dj'ing small town Indonesia, and skateboarding the way it was.  Japan/Oregon/California culture.

CULTURE CREATOR: Aaron Rose

Aaron Rose, founder of NYC's famous Alleged Gallery and director of Beautiful Losers, speaks to us about the seeming randomness behind a counter cultural movement in our Culture Creator Series 001 interview.

An interview with Jesse Sugarmann
An interview with Jesse Sugarmann

Do you see this insanely awesome picture of the Pontiac suspended in air above? Read this conversation with brilliant artist Jesse Sugarmann.  

 

Downtown New York in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s with Rhys Chatham
Downtown New York in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s with Rhys Chatham

Legendary Post minimal Proto No Wave composer Rhys Chatham tells his story first hand. This memoir traces his path from 60's Soho NY with Morton Subotnick, LaMonte Young, Philip Glass, and Richard Serra, to discovering the Ramones at CBGB's, all the way to his current home in Paris. 

Talking The Texas Punk Problem with Bill Daniel
Talking The Texas Punk Problem with Bill Daniel

Legendary documentary filmmaker of Who is Bozo Texino, Guggenheim  Fellow, Genius Punk Photogpraher - Bill Daniel opens the vault of his amazing Texas Punk Problem series, and turns the camera away from the bands to explore the scene. Crowd shots from Bad Brains, Husker Du, Butthole Surfers shows, and more….

MAKING A SCENE: ANDREW DEUTSCH WITH FAT BOBBY, MAYA HAYUK, AND WOLFY REMEMBERING WILLIAMSBURG’S LEGENDARY MISFIT/STUDIO/VENUE MONSTER ISLAND
MAKING A SCENE: ANDREW DEUTSCH WITH FAT BOBBY, MAYA HAYUK, AND WOLFY REMEMBERING WILLIAMSBURG’S LEGENDARY MISFIT/STUDIO/VENUE MONSTER ISLAND

Long before zip lock bags of Williamsburg air were selling on the deep net for $20k, a host of creative misfits were reinventing culture a few 100 feet east of the east river. Home to many of our favorite Williamsburg artists, including Maya Hayuk, Kayrock printing, and the infamous Oneida Ocropolis studio, musician Andrew Deutsch and myriad friends take us into the legend of Monster Island.

CY DUNE

Cy Dune channels Dan Graham, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bad Brains, Patti Smith, and Black Flag, on his new Lightning LP Shake. 

Jesus Robles of Design/Build Firm DUST
Jesus Robles of Design/Build Firm DUST

We talk with Jesus Robles of Tucson Design/Build firm Dust, about desert architecture and the space and line between architecture and sculpture. 

Letter from the creators of Lightning

Looking back on how Lightning came together, it’s as if we have been chasing this story, and it’s many threads, for years.

Fear and Loathing at SXSW

Tales from the Doritos vending machine.

Moto: Derek Gibson
Moto: Derek Gibson

Pro Motorcross rider turned artist, Derek Gibson talks about growing up riding dirt with his dad in Southern California, and channeling that spirit into his current art practice. 

Wooden Wand

Simple song masterworks on the new Wooden Wand LP Azag-Toth released on Lightning. 

Katsuhisa Sakai in conversation with and photographed by Patrick Gookin
Katsuhisa Sakai in conversation with and photographed by Patrick Gookin

Los Angeles based sculptor Katsuhisa Sakai shows Lightning editor and photographer Patrick Gookin where he has hidden his secret sculptures in the Souther California desert. 

Ali Beletic Builds a Surfboard out of Tule Reed
Ali Beletic Builds a Surfboard out of Tule Reed

Lightning editor Ali Beletic builds a primitive surfboard out of Tule reeds and surfs it at Doheny. 

Never Bored / Eric Block talks with BMX legend Scott Towne
Never Bored / Eric Block talks with BMX legend Scott Towne

Ride every day. Never get bored. 

PEOPLE OF THE NORTH

Check out the legend behind the new People of the North record on Lightning. 

Howard Wuelfing talks PROTO PUNK
Howard Wuelfing talks PROTO PUNK

Underground legend Howard Wuelfing traces the confusing lines of proto punk through email. 

Gold Mining with Chris Entz
Gold Mining with Chris Entz

Gold Mining. Yes. Here's how you prospect a piece of land to find gold. 

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William Tyler

Future Jazz Lightning fingers, screaming acoustic revolutions with the new Limited Edition William Tyler album out on Lightning Records. 

Valuing Nature in Design
Valuing Nature in Design

Life exists tenuously. E.O Wilson writes in The Diversity of Life, “The biosphere, all organisms combined, makes up only about one part in ten billion of the earth’s mass……Michael Yun, landscape architect and guitarist in WL, talks the ecology of design. 

OHIOAN

Mule Skinners, Circle K, and the American Dream - up in smoke with the new release by Tucson underground legend Ohioan. 

Reading Milan Fust on the Pacific Crest Trail
Reading Milan Fust on the Pacific Crest Trail

Reading Tale of Two Cities is actually awesome. John Wilkinson hikes from Mexico to Canada.

American Spirit Blues

Redbox late at night in front of Circle K. Ryne Warner of Ohioan explores water rights and modern punk culture in Tucson. 

Songwriting Tips and Tricks by James Toth / Wooden Wand
Songwriting Tips and Tricks by James Toth / Wooden Wand

If none of these tricks work for you, you may have to learn to play bass. 

ONE CREATIVE SENTENCE BY OSSIAN FOLEY
ONE CREATIVE SENTENCE BY OSSIAN FOLEY

Only One. 

Chris Keiley on Heckfest
Chris Keiley on Heckfest

First you blow things up, then you fall asleep at Heckfest. 

Peter Baer, the silver eagle, and touring at 15
Peter Baer, the silver eagle, and touring at 15

Master Tucson woodworker Peter Baer reveals the unknown story of his past, his love for Stanley Clarke's bass shredding and dropping out of school to play Achy Breaky Heart in some Montana wanna be Casino. 

Deadheaded Ego Death and how I found the balls to play rock drums

Ego Death, rebirth, skipping out on high school and black flag for school credit on Dead Tour in the 80's. 

Featured
MOAN Shinji Masuko (DMBQ, Boredoms)

Lightning Records is proud to release the first official Moan record Think About Forgotten Days.  

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LIGHTNING 001 PARTY

CHRIS OWENS AND HILUX COFFEE / SETH OLINSKY SOUND INSTALLATION / ALI BELETIC SCULPTURE / DESERT HANG OUT / PIONEERTOWN CA.

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LIGHTNING 002 PARTY

SAM AMIDON / CY DUNE / ALI BELETIC / SCOTT PINKMOUNTAIN /  PATRICK GOOKIN / JTHAR

Thor Harris writes letters to Dad and Houston Texas
 

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