Was this the best viral video of 2013? Maybe even the best car commercial ever? It’s got my vote. Sixty-six million views and counting. What an incredible branding effort. Cheers for Volvo, JCVD and all involved in this imaginative concept and flawless production.

Seshn is an online community that began as a pretty tight group based around surfing on Linkedin. Brand Winnie, the founder of Seshn, later expanded his vision for Seshn to evolve into a larger platform for publishing and discovering unique content around things that interest you. Brand’s community emerged from Beta just last week. The new Seshn is simple, clean and well designed, showcasing a lot of interesting people and a ton of cool content they create. I’m stoked to be featured as a writer within surfing.seshn.com, where I’ve included some of my work for The Inertia and other pieces. Check ’em out at http://timhamby.seshn.com If you have a passion you want to share or explore, whether it is surfing, music, art, film making, fashion, writing, rock climbing, DIY, coding or anything else- just go to seshn.com and request an invite.

I’ve always been a fan of surfer/film maker/musician Jack Johnson. Not just his music, but his humble attitude, and the things he’s always stood for. A little over 12 years into his ever-progressing music career, it seems to me that Jack is really hitting his stride. My wife recently picked up his latest offering, From Here to Now (released in September, 2013), and all I can say is- Wow, if you haven’t already, go get this CD! Every track is superb and memorable- super catchy rhythyms and melodies and the kind of lyrics that allow you to have new “ah-ha” moments each time you listen to them.

Always talented and flashing many moments of brilliance over his career (six studio albums, one soundtrack, two live releases and a few EPs), I liken this most recent release to a surfer who has identified the sweet spot on their new board and is working it out in perfect conditions. It leaves you feeling good and creates a moment in time you’ll never forget. I think people will look back on this CD as something particularly special/pivotal for Jack’s career.

This is a live version of one of my favorite songs from the new CD, Ones and Zeros.

Here’s a beautiful live acoustic rendition of “Sunshower”- one of my favorite songs by one of the most gifted singer / songwriter / guitarists of my generation- Chris Cornell. I’ve never had the opportunity to see Chris, Soundgarden or Audioslave (his other bands) in concert, but hope to some time. This video was a treat to find. Recorded on June 16th, 2013 with high quality HD video and audio. Amazingly, just 375 views- doubt it will stay that way for long.

Dark as roses, fine as sand
Feel your healing and your sting again
I hear you laughing and my soul is saved
On forgotten graves you cry

Crawl like ivy up my spine
Through my nerves and into my eyes
Cuts like anguish
Or recollections of better days gone by

But its all right
When you’re all in pain
And you feel the rain come down
Oh its all right
When you find your way
Then you see it disappear
Oh its all right
Though your gardens gray
I know all your graces
Someday will flower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
In the sweet sunshower

Eyes like oceans so far away
A feather trail to a better way
Worried mornings turn into days
Then into worried nights

But its all right
When you’re all in pain
And you feel the rain come down
Oh its all right
When you find your way
Then you see it disappear
Oh its all right
Though your gardens gray
I know all your graces
Someday will flower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
In the sweet sunshower

I know all your graces
Someday will flower
In the sweet sunshower
And its all right
All you’ll be you are today
Are today
Its all right
All you’ll be you are today
Are today………

Romain Cloitre-Bali Holidays from romain cloitre on Vimeo. {EAV:db883cc94c39f5f8}

ÉIRE. Frio from aritzaranburu.com on Vimeo.

Outside The Box from Adam Chilton on Vimeo.

Danny Fuller | Cloudbreak June 8th 2012 from RVCA on Vimeo.

January Pipe from Dylan Roberts on Vimeo.

Another great one from LNF (Lastnamefirst.tv) on Vimeo! I think every town needs to have one of these at their premiere break. Enjoy!

A semi-oldie, but goodie! Love this organization, this song and this video.

Love this duet with Leonard Cohen and U2. Do you know Cohen? So many still do not. He’s a 78-year old poet, author, singer/songwriter and owner of one of the most unique and compelling voices ever. He’s probably most well known for his song, “Everybody Knows”, but his music catalog and place in history runs much deeper. 

From his Wikipedia:

In a speech at Cohen’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2008, Lou Reed described Cohen as belonging to the “highest and most influential echelon of songwriters.”

The critic Bruce Elder wrote an assessment of Cohen’s overall career in popular music, writing, “Cohen is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic. . .singer/songwriters of the late ’60s. . . [and] has retained an audience across four decades of music-making. . . Second only to Bob Dylan and perhaps, Paul Simon, in terms of influence, he commands the attention of critics and younger musicians more firmly than any other musical figure from the 1960’s who is still working at the outset of the 21st century.”

Enjoy this clip of Leonar’ds “Tower of Song”. The album version of this song sounds like it was played/recorded on one of those tiny little casio keyboards that you might have received as a throwaway Christmas gift back in the 80’s. But the simple melody, wry lyrics, golden voice and enigmatic style of Cohen have always made it one of my favorites. Nice work by Bono and team with back-up. It’s clear they recognized they were working with “rock” royalty.

One of the most beautiful and soulful versions of one of the most beautiful and soulful songs ever. Jimmy Cliff, feeling it.

Beautiful work from Riley Blakeway on Vimeo. Beautiful Play from Kelly Slater