Allison Awesome is the ragin’-est drummer for Brooklyn’s Awesome Color – three bad ass rippers who are hard at work putting the “power” back into “power trio” and taking the “violence” out of “power violence.” Not only is she ruling on the kit but she’s dead serious about having a killer time skateboarding. I’m a brother that never really made it past the novelty banana board – to be honest I was kinda scared of the music associated with skating – all that west coast punk and hardcore didn’t sound groovy to me in 1985 so I let it be. Maybe I made a bad choice but I think I’m cool. I don’t wanna step onto another subculture right now. Awesome Color’s new self-titled album is out in June on Ecstatic Peace but see ‘em live – it’ll change your life.

Kid Millions: What's the deal with chicks and skating? Are you like the only girl on a skateboard?

Allison Awesome: Sometimes it seemed like that in Michigan, but out in NYC there are lots of girls that rip it up. Nobody cares about that anyway-skaters are skaters.

KM: Can you break it down for a brother? The appeal kind of always escaped me - I have respect for all you brahs and sahs grinding out there but I don't know - I couldn't get my banana board to hook me up in 1984. It just wasn’t rolling into the country like maybe it should have . . .

AA: As soon as I saw a skateboard I wanted to get down. I'm talking about just cruising around--I didn't even know about tricks or anything. It just looked like fun. It's also cool to have an activity when you're a kid that's all your own. You can go skate all day and do what you want and feel free. There aren't any rules or parents or anything getting in the way.

KM: Why is this corny punk rock always associated with skating?

AA: Shit. Those fools need to ditch that shit and pick up a Skitslickers record. I did get turned on to a lot of good music when I was younger by reading Thrasher and checking out the bands in the mag. I definitely started listening to Black Flag, old Dinosaur and Sonic Youth because of Thrasher. There was the SST ad in there for a while.

KM: What are some killer skate jams?

AA: Violent Ramp is the best skate rock band. [Violent Ramp featured Michael Awesome on bass, and a couple of members of Wolf Eyes. Oneida played a couple of incredible shows with them at Detroit Contemporary.} Their shows were the most insane--setting up a ramp against the kick drum and tearing it up wherever- bars, clubs, living rooms. Man, so much stuff I hear and I want to skate right away...Negative Approach, the Minutemen. It's the best when you're skating a mini-ramp and a ripping song comes on, some Misfits, old Metallica, Bad Brains...a classic that everyone knows. Everyone starts skating faster and trying stuff. People want to be on the ramp when their song is playing. Session gets heavy.

KM: Are you cruising the streets with an eye for the next secret grind? Or has NYC pretty much been picked clean? Do you have any pioneer blood in you? Is that your thing?

AA: Hell yeah, I'm always on the lookout. Skateboarding makes you look differently at the world for sure. I'll walk down the street and see a killer bump or ledge and just start freaking out. People that don't skate think you're funny in the head for getting so excited over a greasy curb.
They look at you like you just fell out of a tree or something. NYC is huge-so many spots, since I haven't been here long; there are a lot of spots that are new to me. Taking the bus through Brooklyn is always good for finding new stuff. The best for me is finding any bank or hip-that's the gold.

KM: What's up with scene in Kids where the dude smashes the guy's head in with his skateboard? That was kind of agro. Where's the peace and love? Is that not "cool" to thrashers? Ever get into any fights defending your turf?

AA: Don't worry bout that fucking shit--just skate hard and never quit. Skate destroy and thrash the place, go home with scabs all over your face.

KM: Is it lame to use the word "thrashing" now?

AA: Thrashing's just an aggressive form of skating. We Thrash. I also like ripping, shredding, and schralping.

KM: Tell me some stories where you got hassled by the pigs. SKATEBOARDING IS NOT A CRIME!! Am I right?!!!?

AA: Right on Kid. I could tell you a thousand stories about Ann Arbor pigs, they're the worst. They have nothing better to do than bust skaters. But you’ve gotta FIGHT BACK! Grind the Pigs!! One time I was rolling across town and a bike cop cut me off, so I had to stop. He asked me for my board and I wouldn't give it to him. He got really pissed and grabbed for my deck, but I was holding on tight, so he fucking called for backup! Another cop comes up with a camera and snaps some photos of me and the pig playing tug-of-war with my skateboard. This attracted a crowd of people who asked the cop what was going on and why was he trying to take my board. It was cool, all of these random people thought I should be able to skate, they were on my side, and they told the cop. The cop just let me go, he couldn't deal with it. I need to get hold of those photos somehow.

KM: Are you into the pool skating? Is that too old school?

AA: Pool skating is bad as a motherfucker. You get to carve and go really fast. The most satisfying feeling in the world is a grind on pool coping. It sounds like a fucking chainsaw! I've never gotten to skate a real pool, just some cement bowls at parks and shit. So if anyone out there can turn me on to the real deal, hook a sister up.

KM: Can you tell me a personal history of your skating experience? How'd you get turned onto riding? What are some awesome grinds in Ann Arbor, Flint and Detroit?

AA: I just started skating around my driveway on a shitty board from Sears. Then a kid from the neighborhood came over to skate, and he had an H-Street Matt Hensley, the board with the street sign graphic. I borrowed his board, and didn't give it back for about a year. I got a paper route so that I could buy my own pro board. This was in small wheel, big pants days. Around that time I saw my first skate video, Shackle Me Not, and it blew my mind. I never looked back after that. All throughout high school I would just go skate parking lots, usually by myself. It wasn't until I was 17 or 18 that I finally started skating with people in downtown Flint, and finally started learning some tricks. That's when I fell in deep; all I wanted to do was skate. Downtown Flint ruled for skating. You could skate all these ledges by the river, and it would be completely empty except for bums and skaters. There's also a derelict ice rink in the middle of downtown that everyone skated, it's the smoothest cement around.

When I moved to Ann Arbor, I didn't know anyone, so I'd go skate by myself. Every few nights, though, I'd meet someone out skating until I had a crew of friends to shred with. This crew became the A-Two Killahs, skating under the battle cry of ALL-RIGHTA!!! I also got a job at a skateshop that was opening and Violent Ramp was around, I was living the dream. Every night that we weren't at a show you could find us setting off the rad alarm at Arborland, Dexter Park, or on sneak attacks in downtown Ann Arbor. Weekends were all about the cement parks in mid-Michigan like Lansing, Midland, and Bay City. Then the heat got too heavy in Ann Arbor, so me, Violent Michael, Eric, moved to Brooklyn and formed the Killers East Coast division. Still living the dream.

KM: Tell me about your time in the skate shop. Was that a sweet gig? Or did it suck?

AA: Definitely a sweet gig. It's fun to get really excited about skating and meet lots of people, and that's pretty much what a skate shop job is all about. It's also nice to ride new boards a lot and see all the new videos when they come out. My friend Chuck Damage started the shop, with me and Eric Hardin riding shotgun. It was really cool to listen to Chuck's glam records, set up boards, and play carpet skate all day. Launch Board Shop-Ann Arbor, Michigan— if you ever visit it, check out the awesome drawing of Thin Lizzy that Eric drew in there. Jailbreak was the shop's theme album. Good times.

KM: How is the NYC skater community? I heard it was actually pretty mellow.

AA: I don't know too much about it outside of just skating. But people seem cool out here, and are down to skate and party. There are some serious rippers in NYC. That's for damn sure.

KM: OK - check it out. It’s a beautiful day, Saturday, late spring, flowers, birds, the whole shit . . . where are you grinding?

AA: Meet up with the Killers on the Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg Bridge, in the little park with the monument. Play a quick game of skate then cruise over the bridge. Roll to the curb by the East River Bandshell and have a longest grind contest. Then stop by Dumpling House for some cheap eats and then it's over to the Brooklyn Banks for a serious session. Skate there until the bikers become unbearable or someone gets a staff infection. Then hit up some spots downtown along Water Street in the evening. Last summer I would have gone over to the perfect mini-ramp on the Hudson River, but the city is closing that park.

KM: How many boards do you have? How are they customized? Do you spend crazy money on a board and all the trucks and wheels (and whatever that shit is called - break it down for me)? Can you hook a beginner up with a guide to getting the best, least expensive gear? What are some good places in NYC?

AA: I love getting new decks; it's fun to pick out the one you want, even though I always get the same size and shape over and over. I like big tails and hard wheels on my skateboards, but the thing that makes my board different from any other is pretty much the way the trucks turn. I can tell right away if it's my board or not. I ride 'em loose...always. I have a grocery getter board, too, a cruiser; it's an old Schmitt stix with longboard wheels. It's like riding on a couch. Before I worked at a skateshop and got spoiled, I would buy used gear from the other kids. A lot of skaters only want to skate brand new boards, so if you don't mind a little wear on the tail, you can save money by getting in on the used action. Check out Autumn in the East Village and KCDC in Williamsburg for gear. Both are killer skateshops and they'll set you straight on anything you'd need.

KM: What are some wicked sites, videos, mags on this shit?

AA: Check out Girl Mouse, FTC Penal Code 100A, and any Anti Hero video for some feel good entertainment— killer skating and awesome soundtracks. Watch 'em then go get some!!!