OK, so granted this is a little old. I mean, 2013 and all that. But like a lot of snowboarders who did their seasons when Shaun White was the coolest thing ever when I heard he has started a band I was the first to scoff. It was kind of sad, I thought. Stick to what you’re good at Shaun! But here I am eating my words again, because after receiving a heads up on his new collaboration with Oakley I checked his shit out and it’s actually really decent.
From what I can tell the band Bad Things released their debut self-titled album back in 2013 with the lead single Anybody. It’s a kind of surf rock, Fastball style gem infused with exactly the kind of pub grunge you think a snowboarder or skateboarder might enjoy. Aside from Shaun, the vocals are a surprise. Deep growling and thunderous melodies carry the song brilliantly, taking the focus from the gimmick that Shaun White is in a band, and adding some serious legitimacy to the bunch.
Another thing that’s grown on me in the past few years of Shaun White is his style. He used to be the scruffy snowboarder dude that looked a bit like carrot-top was trying super hard to be cool. If the pic above is anything to go by, he’s got his shit together now and the most recent news from their camp would back that up. Shaun has announced the Oakley Enduro sunnies, in an ode to the ’60s musicians who slogged it out on the road the pre-digital age. They’re a sweet pair of vintage frames with musicians flair and available in all Oakley O-Stores and select retailers.
