Punk Rock and Paintbrushes planned this dirty south tour off the success of 2021’s tour through the midwest. In St. Louis last summer, we met Matt, the owner of Change skateshop in Tupelo, Mississippi, and over the course of the last twelve months, he, Emily from PRPB and Paul Kobriger planned the Change Tupelo Festival, the first of its kind, for Matt’s hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. Along the way, Chris Nieratko’s awesome giveback/non-profit Super Skate Posse joined the party and a massive crew of skaters and artists descended on Elvis’ birthplace (that’s right!) on September 2-4. Scroll on through to see who pulled up and how rad the art shows and giveback were: Elvis landmarks, local bands, wild skate demos and more.
Mark DeSalvo, Sean Cliver, Blair Alley, Jason Adams and Paul Kobriger fresh off the plane and into the Beale Street circus!
We all flew into Memphis and actually got a few hours to check out the historic city. Beale Street, home of the blues, B.B. King, Elvis’ Graceland—it was a loud and eye-opening night in Tennessee!
Photo Credit: Blair Alley
First day in Tupelo we were treated to a city tour. First stop: The house Elvis was born in! Chris Nieratko and Jamie Reyes take a break from the humidity on Elvis’ porch swing.
Hosoi is never short on the good vibes! Selfie in Elvis’ family room.
Big Elvis fan Jason Adams checking out the museum and gift shop.
Clyde Singleton bought the Elvis shades and sideburns and pajamas and wore them all day.
OG San Jose: The Kid and Ray Barbee.
Clyde strikes his best Elvis pose in Tupelo Hardware where Elvis got his first guitar.
Tupelo is full of murals and statues dedicated to its most famous resident.
Christian Henry and Justin Henry, part of the Posse.
Paul Kobriger and Ray Barbee talk music and art in Hotel Tupelo’s lobby.
Clyde cooked for us! And it was amazing! Look at the stoke on Hosoi’s face!
Old Big Brother pranksters: Clyde and Chris.
Locals from Tupelo and other nearby shops came and ripped the demo.
Then came Super Skate Posse’s giveback: 100 completes, helmets, shoes, and Ts to kids from the Tupelo Boys and Girls Club!
Jamie Reyes strikes a pose with a very stoked new skater.
Ray and his trusty Leica M6.
We all started here!
Matt from Change helping a youngster get his skate legs.
Words can’t describe the feeling of seeing 100 kids all learn to skate for the first time. Truly spectacular and heart warming.
Look at that face! This is what it’s all about.
Full squad, all learning to drop in together. So rad.
Ray framing up another classic. The kids! The Super Skate Posse! Tupelo!
At the Punk Rock and Paintbrushes gallery, Ironclad Tattoo was set up giving free ink. At the end of the day, one of the artists let Hosoi give him a little cross.
The Kid and Ray inside the PR&PB gallery on Main Street in Tupelo.
Okay, now we’re in Nashville at Sixth Ave. Skatepark and event space. The PR&PB show went off here. Cliver and Mark DeSalvo hangin’.
These locals were cool as shit! They had their own vintage merch and rocked with the local band Real Face.
Classic decks come out of the woodwork for autographs at the PR&PB shows.
Trever Keith, frontman for Face To Face lives in Nashville and did an acoustic set for the art show attendees.
Local rockers Real Face. Look ’em up when in Nashville!
Two of the most positive dudes you’ll ever meet. Christian Hosoi and Brandon Novak. Both spoke at Caldwell Guitars the night before the Nashville show.
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