Mike Giant Podcast

Live recording of a vinyl set by DJ Jae at The End Up in San Francisco on a Saturday night in 1994. Converted to MP3 from the original audio tape by Davis Livingstone in Boulder, Colorado in 2016 .

Mike recalls memories from the first half of 1994. Topics discussed include: Living in San Francisco, working at Think Skateboards, NYE at the Fillmore, phone card numbers, Cole EMB, writing letters, weekly international calls, 5 Fulton to 15 Third, roach coach, decaf coffee, sack lunch, $375 rent, Jae, circle dancing at raves, sound/body connection, The End Up, piss breaks, Think posse, buying LSD at Molotov’s, sending LSD in graffiti blackbooks, Western Union on Upper Haight, 737 Bush Street, smoking on the roof, sexy French neighbors, Cindy Crawford workout, Clay Street flat, beef with Kept, 3-week race, Sope and Felon, graffiti pits, raid in SOMA, Kept arrested, raid in Embarcadero, Sope and Felon get arrested, bailed Felon out, lying to cops, fight with Kept, dissing each other, Kept beef with Revok, Fate, apologizing to Kept years later, trip to Exeter, snorting E, phone card friends, 12 Westover Road, discovering acid house in London in 1990, discovering Jungle, breakbeat techno, Camdentown, Flame, ge

Mike Giant discusses his experiences in the fine art world as well as how to navigate it. Topics discussed include: Agree, Futura, graffiti writers moving into galleries, art “investors”, 1991 Albuquerque Museum mural show, connector photos, reasons to work with a gallery, stable of collectors, trusting in value, Sharpies, 50/50 split, galleries responsibilities, no sell early shows, exclusivity, taking advantage of opportunities versus remaining loyal, Twist, dealing with museums, museums buying art for their permanent collections, getting graffiti in Juxtapoz, Damon Soule, selling artwork in upscale hair salons in the late 1990s, FecalFace, Sketch show at Juice in 2000, downside of galleries owned by wealthy people, ask galleries for references, better percentage of sales at alternative spaces, The Lab show in Baltimore, first solo show (San Jose, 2001), Bob Schmeltzer, WDWA show (Brooklyn, 2002), The Vandal Squad, BEAMS/Upper Playground in Tokyo with Bigfoot and Sam Flores, 5024SF Gallery, Matt Revelli, u

Mike recalls memories from 1993. Topics discussed include: The Beach Zone, Rob Russell, sending a package of samples to Think Skateboards, Burton snowboards, Tribal Gear, ASR Trade Show in San Diego, Olé Madrid, first E high, moving to 1933 McAllister, Everlasting Tattoo, initial excitement, futon, Psycho City, skateboarding down Haight Street, hard bail, Dream TDK, Twist, Dug, Bum, ground tags, bus commute to Hunters Point, Thrasher, Printtime, surprise first day, Ben Lovejoy, the closet art department, Espo, On The Go magazine, Sope, Clay Street house, Jase, The Condor, Joker, Dubose Tunnel, IHU crew, Pilot silver markers, KRINK, green and red street boxes, daytime tagging, Josh B, living with alcoholics/coke addicts, Jagermeister, LSD, Felon, crooked Victorian, house parties, sticker tags, When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron, The Art of Sexual Ecstasy by Margot Anand, the perineum, breathing techniques, orgasm/egolessness, spaghetti for months, coffee and muffins, sack lunch, girlfriend visits for Chr

Recollections of my early years as a graffiti writer. Subjects discussed include: High school PE class (1988), Subway Art, Breakin’ movie, John aka Tank, Frisco Bus Style, Castoner wildstyle tags, Dan-O (aka Wizdom and Omen), The Frontier restaurant, SHARP Skinheads, exchanging blackbooks, KWS crew, racking with Agree, the Garden Section scheme, milk crate towers, the Escape from Home Depot, 1978 Mercury Zephyr skatemobile, racking fat caps, tossing keys as cover, steaks for guard dogs, leather coats on barbed wire, Grey PVC, the garbage can scheme, IGT by Phase2, Can Control, Skills magazine, Tower Records, bypassing security at Hastings, Cek, losing my shoe to a cop, Doc’s fat cap business, coke demon, LA color schemes, cutting back, chrome effects, student loan scheme, malpractice suit, booze options, Christmas Eve mission, Custom Paint, Krylon racks, potential bomb, Writers Meeting at The Frontier, CMF vs GMW battle.

Recollections of my early years as a graffiti writer. Subjects discussed include: photographic memory, moving to New Mexico, Cholo graffiti, Breakin movie, Subway Art book, Hip Hop graffiti, Olde English font, Thailand, seeing a writer at work for the first time, Uptown SK8 Posse, Matt Linnell (Circus), Albuquerque ditches, USP, difficulties with spray paint, GIANT, first freeway spot, PBT, Monolithic, 2ZC, CWK, Agree, NY fat caps, Doc, ATK, classified ad in UK skateboard magazine, Tom Brogan, London, Camden Town, EDM, acid house mixtapes, Street Beat, first meeting with Agree and Doc, buff paint, AOT, The All Time Kingdom, photo trading, Agent, Zore, Rafa, Vez, Chicago, recognizing writers, DTE, SB, Lone, rack and return, vintage paint, Wesk, learning security routes, tagging a crane, MC Rock, Dyse, Cheno, Sero, Quasar, Zodak, Zeno, Brisk, the Euclid Yard, Sake, stencil caps, APS crew, Agree dies.

90min mix meant for moments of heavy marijuana consumption. Ambient, dub, jungle, downtempo, juke and more with spoken word from Mike Giant https://soundcloud.com/itsufo mikegiant.com

Giant's interview with his old friend Justin Kerson. Recorded at Justin's home in Northern California on March 19, 2021. Topics discussed include: Growing up Marin County, Tupac, Ben Harper, Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead’s last show at Shoreline, LSD, Dark Orchestra, MoTown, Orange Sunshine Theory, the psychedelic experience, sharing tattoos, ego/graffiti, edibles, therapeutic uses of cannabis, finding his postulate, growing up around cannabis, Pompeii, archeological editing, psychedelics in religion, mushroom therapy, inherited skills, family of artists, first tokes at 13, water polo, scare tactics, Humboldt County, Larry Bird, modern access to information, don’t mix drugs, buying from the grower, decriminalize/legalize, family support, job security, tattoos as a symbol of dedication, Shawn Barber, Anthony G. Morris, array of friends, Bigfoot, Ishmael, aliens visiting in 1972, COVID19 vaccine, fighting infection with good health, peace of mind, The Point of Affinity, The Age of Aquarius, 42, light versus

Mike speaks on the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. Recorded January 17, 2021 in his studio in San Diego, California. Based on material previously published in the "Buddhist Basics" zine.

Mike's interview with his old friend DJ Eldon. Recorded in Eldon's home in Albuquerque, NM on October 19, 2020. Topics discussed include: Meeting each other during the early 90s rave scene, born in 1959 in Albuquerque, growing up in a large Hispanic family, graduated top of his class at Del Norte, radio program at the University of Albuquerque, soul/r&b music, late night radio jumps, Neil Murray, Priests from the East, KUNM, FCC license, Eldon Otis Grier, on-air persona, Wolfman Jack, music director at KRZY, weekend on-air spot from midnight to 6am, meeting country music stars, The Caravan East, Willie Nelson, stagehand work, Waylon Jennings, University of New Mexico, Black radio, sending demo tapes, reel to reel editing, Frankie Crocker, seizing opportunities, moving to New York City, 220 Central Park South, Camp Rising Sun, Jeffrey Troy, Larry Levan at Paradise Garage (late 1970s), Richard Long sound system, good sound, David Mancuso at The Loft, creative mixing, Broadway dancers, locker rooms, baby powde

Mike's interview with his friend and mentor Wane COD. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on October 13, 2020. Topics discussed include: Agree’s tutoring, Top 3 New York writers, Wane, Hims, Know, IGT, Can Control, Ghetto Art, Bomber, Hype, Albuquerque Aerosol, Huffer, studying zines, San Diego vacation, born in London, moved to North Bronx, early fascination with subway graffiti in 1978, Min, Spin, readability of graffiti writing, Vin and Rolieo TCS, racking, Kato, Dyan, age gap amongst kids, The Players, early crew fashion, breakdancing, Burn, “motioning”, junior high, blackbook exchange, Michelob, the sneak peak, Agree’s blackbooks, stolen markers, Sey, show and prove, graffiti mentoring, Saturday art class, Bize, Rem 311, urban disarray of 80s/90s, painting at night vs in daylight, the addiction of graffiti writing, Allerton Ave, Tremont Ave, Key, Cav, Kodak 110 camera, making “connecter” photos, photos as evidence, hunting instinct, Blade, Comet, art in motion, graffiti pieces as dynamic

Part two of Giant's interview with his friend Joy Shannon. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on July 5, 2020. Topics discussed include: Ed Hardy changing sanitation standards in tattooing, latex gloves, the Old Timer Splotch, tattooing in photo booth, re-using needles, Crown Needles, cartridge needles, loupe, fineline tattooing, carving and printing, support from her students, support from fans, apprenticeships, Nalla Smith, teaching, wardrobe, wig making, learning from Black girls, difficulties for college teachers, concussion, first meeting with Mike, Gifts from the Universe, the LA “Springboard” mentality, moving to Italy, tattoo tribes, side gigs going full-time, Shanti the service dog, Florence Tattoo Convention, Kai Uwe Faust, Druid tattoos, punks, throat tattoos, Laguna College of Art and Design, Ed Swanson, learn what not to do, private/public spaces for tattooing, shops full of specialists, tattoo TV shows, backstory, Karen Roze, private ritual tattooing, benefits of a support syst

Part one of Giant's interview with his friend Joy Shannon. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on July 5, 2020. Topics discussed include: Culture magazine, art/music writing, offering a tattoo apprenticeship, growing up in Santa Ana, early years in Chicago, Irish bloodline, Celtic art, history of Celtic tattooing, tattooed mummies, Viking burials, personal tattoo tools, Ancient Ink, self-tattooing, continuing ancient traditions, The Audience Will Come To You, changes in how to enter the tattoo business, “specialty” tattooers, playing music and signing as a child, Elton John, understanding metaphors, costume design, Orange County, being a “weirdo”, Goths in California, avoiding people on the street, cheap used records, 90s home video editing, Headbanger’s Ball, Yo! MTV Raps!, Immortal, Symphonic Metal, the music students, Show and Prove, skater applause, cello, appreciating orchestral music, Jazz standards, inherited skills, Celtic harps, advances in technology, keyboard sensitivity, signing a

Giant's interview with his old friend Tony Bonetti. Recorded at Tony's home in Sunnyvale, CA on Sunday, June 14, 2020. Topics discussed include: Ramon Altorre, tattoo trip to New Mexico, ultra violence, San Jose, the Tech Boom, initial links to the tattoo world, The Skullz Press storefront, being an excellent tattoo collector, Chris Trevino, “A Tattoo You Can Read from Across the Room”, the unwritten rules of tattooing, seasonal mistakes, “Suited”, Amuletic, tattoos as markers of life experience, Greg Rojas birdcage, growing up around firearms and hunting, Nature Deficiency Disorder, Great Out Doors, Open Awareness, conservation, wild game, ethical harvesting, process of buying a gun from a licensed dealer, self defense concerns, avoiding mainstream media, sobriety, trigger awareness, Glock and shotgun, AR-style rifles, requirements for firearm purchase, written test, background check, customer cross-section, Tech immigrants, refusing stupid customers, long lines, teaching ladies to shoot, various types of

Mike presents a guided meditation in the Vipassana tradition over a digital mix he made featuring tracks by Steve Roach. Recorded April 20, 2020 by DJ Artistic at Lower Left Studios in San Diego, California.

Mike presents a mix of jazz vinyl records featuring outstanding percussion. Recorded on Monday April 13, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Mosaic, “Mosaic” Max Roach, Bitter Sweet, “Mendacity” John Coltrane, The Africa brass Sessions - Vol. 2, “Africa” Buddy Rich, A Different Drummer, “Barney’s Bugle” Gene Krupa, Percussion King, “Valse Triste” Elvin Jones, Mr. Jones, “One’s Native Place” Buddy Rich, A Different Drummer, “Back of the Bus"

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, choir, synths, soundtracks, dub and breaks. Recorded on Monday April 13, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) DJ Rap, Proper Talent 001, “Get Under” LTJ Bukem, Suspended Space, “Suspended Space” Underground Crew, Jungle Warfare, “Melody Madness” Dark Soldier, Falling, “Falling” Loxy & Ink, Twisted 3rd Mind EP, “Skitzaphonic” Soundmurderer & SK-1, Rewind Records, “Badman" Adam-F, Section 5 Records, “The Bible” Dom & Roland, Moving Shadow 144, “Can’t Punish Me” Axis, Points in Time 004, “High Point” John B & Exile, Planet Mu Records, “Broken Language” DJ Rap featuring Hooligan, DJ Raps Propa Classics, “Lick Shot"

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, choir, synths, soundtracks, dub and breaks. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi, “Koyaanisqatsi" Nightmares on Wax, Smoker’s Delight, "Nights Introlude" Jean Michel Jarre, Oxygene, "Oxygene (Part I)" LTJ Bukem, Earth 12001, "Cosmic Interlude" Stranger Things soundtrack, “Hawkins" Fort Knox, The Foundations EP, "Got the Funk" Tomita, The Bermuda Triangle, "The Giant Pyramid and Its Ancient People" DJ SS, Formation Records presents A Decade of Breaks, "Analogue Signal" Environments, Disc 4, Ultimate Thunderstorm White Label Vangelis, Beauborg, "Beauborg - Part I" Ink and J. Dub, Architecture Recordings, "Dance of the Titanium Minds" Beaver/Krause, Gandharva, "Nine Moons in Alaska" Dillinja, Valve Recordings, “Crunch" The Harmonic Choir, Hearing Solar Winds, "The Flight of the Sun" J. Krishnamurti, Mind in Meditation, LP. 3 - Side 1

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, synths and breakbreat vinyl records. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Ice-T, The Iceberg, "Shut Up, Be Happy" (featuring Jello Biafra) Digital, Portica Recordings, “Clipper" Soundmurderer & SK-1, Rewind Records, "Search & Destroy" Tangerine Dream, Rubycon, "Part I" Massive Attack v Mad Professor, No Protection, "Radiation Ruling the Nation" Lemon D, Big Bad Bass, "Get Dirty" Tomita, Kosmos, “Aranjuez" Dylan + Loxy, Cylon Recordings 6, “Stereotype" Kryptic Minds, Unkut Recordings, “It" Tangerine Dream, Exit, "Remote Viewing" Kung Fu soundtrack, "On Evil"

Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, synth and breakbeat vinyl records. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Yogananda, Chants and Prayers, "God, Christ, Gurus” Kitaro, Ki, “Sun” The Orb - Orbsessions Volume Two, “Shem Version” Sixtoo, Antagonist Survival Kit Instrumentals, “Amphitheatre" Steven Halpern, Eastern Peace, “Ming Garden Courtyard” Audio Pharmacy, Prophecies, “Prophecies” Jean-Paul Kreder Ensemble, Chants de la Renaissance, “Las! Ou Vas-Tu Sans Moy” Tobe Nwigwe, The Originals, “Zen Master” 2010 Movie Soundtrack, “Probe” Beat Junkies, Deeper Concentration, “They Don’t Understand” Vangelis, Antarctica, “Life of Antarctica” DJ Wally, The Stoned Ranger Rydes Again, “Drugs In Front of Me” Kitaro, Tunhuang, “Free Flight” Yogananda, Chants and Prayers, “Prayer at Eventide”