Me and millions like me have spent countless hours glued to a TV screen, pounding away at the controls of our gaming system of choice, attempting to maneuver a digital self around on a skateboard or snowboard course, courtesy of Tony Hawk and his extreme sports brethren. Not as many of us have spent an additional countless hours glued to a screen watching real skateboarders and snowboarders do real tricks on video’s via company’s like Chocolate Industries, Four Star, enjoi, and many others. The soundtrack tradition of these games and videos, and the surrounding culture, has developed it’s own identifiable style and affect over the years, one that’s influenced by it’s punk origins and one that’s invariably meant enhance the heart-pounding and death-defying potential of what is happening. Think a Warren Miller movie, but full of unruly skate punks with skinned knees.

In a model of support we’re likely to see a lot more of in the coming years from bands looking for an alternative to the traditional label system, extreme sports and apparel company Volcom isn’t afraid put a little money behind a band who make music that fits this mold, no doubt bolstering their cred among the community and customer base they serve. Given the customer base, it should come as no surprise that local foursome Kandi Coded, helmed by legendary local rock producer Jack Endino (see Nirvana, Murder City Devils, TAD) and legendary snowboarder Jamie Lynn, are among this new guard being supported by the company. They’ve got pedigree from both communities and they nicely fill that niche for an extreme soundtrack, a niche that I’d say hardly existed even five years ago.

I mean, listen to the first single off their latest Volcom supported album and tell me it doesn’t conjure up the image of you barreling down a hill, preparing to fling yourself for the sweetest 1080 you’ve ever done in your life (virtually or not)?

MP3: “Hurt Till it Bleeds” - Kandi Coded from Fell For the Gift courtesy of Volcom Entertainment

Volcom Entertainment is releasing Kandi Coded’s Fell For the Gift this month, and starting the last week of the January, they’ll begin the Volcom Blizzard Bizzare Tour in support. That tour, which includes ASG and Valis in support, finishes up at the Sunset Tavern in Seattle on February 12th.

See the complete Volcom Blizzard Bizzare Tour dates below the fold.

Kandi Coded On the Volcom Blizzard Bizzare Tour with ASG!
1/27- Boulder, CO - The Volcom Store
1/28- Denver, CO - The Marquis Theatre
1/29- Breckenridge, CO - Cecilia’s
2/2- Salt Lake City, UT - LO-FI Café’
2/3- Jackson Hole, WY - Mangy Moose
2/5- Bozeman, MT - The Filling Station
2/6- Whitefish, MT - Bierstube
2/7- Spokane, WA - the BLVD
2/8- Nelson, BC - Finley’s
2/9- Kelowna, BC - The Habitat
2/10- Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret
2/12- Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern