(L–R) Shea Ledesma, Adrian Evans and Matthew Windsor host an opening party for their Gold Blood Collective BMX bikes and style shop on 1526 S. State Street in Salt Lake. Photo: John Barkiple
Take equal portions of LA’s On Some Shit (OSS) and Thee Block, then add a dash of Layton’s 5050 Bike & Skate, and you’ll approximate the BMX sport/style blend percolating at Gold Blood Collective on 1526 South State in Salt Lake City.
SLUG photographer Matthew Windsor, Adrian Evans and Shea Ledesma intend to foster an arts community centered on BMX street style clothing brands and local artists through sales, events and collaborations. Windsor anticipates a variety of ways that artists and vendors can move merchandise through the Gold Blood Collective storefront: wholesale, consignment and pop-up store.
The space is currently stocked with BMX bikes, mugs, T-shirts, hoodies and hats. And for tonight’s opener, it’s all pushed aside to create a dance space with room for bands in the corner. Corvette Boys, Radius and Swell Merchants kept it loud inside, and a Meth & Macaroni pop-up kept it cool on the sidewalk. It was a welcoming scene filled with friendly artists and enthusiasts.
Windsor is excited to host DRUX Clothing, Division Brand and Meth & Macaroni. The two main bike brands Gold Blood works with are Cult and Animal Bikes. Other makes and models are available by special order from Gold Blood, too.
Salt Lake is thriving, and the commercial revival along this stretch of State Street includes an expanded SLCC campus, the Watchtower Café, Tosh’s Ramen, Uprok and Ironclad Electric Tattooing.
Keep an eye on the @goldbloodcollective Instagram account. With future shows already booked, the Gold Blood Collective looks like it’s already creating a fresh BMX art/sport/style scene at 1526 South State Street.
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(L–R) Shea Ledesma, Adrian Evans and Matthew Windsor host an opening party for their Gold Blood Collective BMX bikes and style shop on 1526 S. State Street in Salt Lake. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Jordan Pack chats with Sara Collins and Yung Goya. Look for Yung Goya to perform at Gold Blood on Aug. 19. Photo: John Barkiple
Chelsea Morley sells merch from Meth & Macaroni’s pop-up in front of Gold Blood. M&M started in Brigham City five years ago and also sets up sales at car shows. Photo: John Barkiple
Look for Ally Sandoval behind the register on the weekends. Photo: John Barkiple
Amie Wickham is a Benjamin Major superfan, and she’s excited to see him perform with Radius and Malixe. Photo: John Barkiple
The Gold Blood Collective attracts artists like Bryan Perrenoud (@shmoxd) who produces DIY videos about making tie-dyed T-shirts, embroidered patches and enameled pins. Photo: John Barkiple
Radius raps while Benjamin Major voiced support in the background. Photo: John Barkiple
Radius works the crowd at Gold Blood’s opening celebration on Aug. 5, 2017. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Kenzie Morris and Syria George know Adrian and Shea from Sunset Coffee in Sandy. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Tube top twins Karlee and Kailee know Gold Blood co-owner Shea Ledesma from Sunset Coffee. (Karlee orders the El Chapo and Kailee usually get the iced black coffee.) Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Adrian Evans, Madeline Schierbaum and Jake Knaphus hold to the iron rail in front of Gold Blood’s new storefront. Knaphus described Evans, who sometimes rides for 5050, as the instigator behind many of Salt Lake’s community-related BMX events. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Oscar Aguilar, Christian Howton, Alaska Kelsch, Jake, Chris Holt and Ally Nagle came out in support of Gold Blood’s opening on August 5, 2017. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Annelise Busch, Jeremy Wilkinson and Rileigh Aleshire pose in front of Busch’s and Wilkinson’s motorcycles. Busch appreciates the vintage and custom offerings from Gold Blood on 1526 South State. Photo: John Barkiple
Meth & Macaroni’s Byron Sorensen rides an impromptu rail in front of Gold Blood on 1526 South State. He explained M&M’s origin story as a low-rent homage to Crooks and Castles’ COCAINE & Caviar merchandise. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Vince Perry and Bryan Chow came to shoot the musicians. Perry has his eye on DRUX, and Chow plans to shoot Benjamin Major. Photo: John Barkiple
Three T-shirts for sale at Gold Blood. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Rapper Radius and DJ/producer Malixe figure that their style fluctuates, but for anyone looking for a reference point, Radius might best be compared to Tyler the Creator. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Austin Anders and Seneca Piner are part of the DRUX USA hip-hop collective and streetwear line, which started in late 2015 with a locals-only capsule collection that included crew neck T-shirts and hoodies. Photo: John Barkiple
Three T-shirts for sale at Gold Blood. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Jake Romero has his eye on the hats at Gold Blood, and Brandy May wants a DRUX nylon shell. Photo: John Barkiple
Eder Avelino knows Gold Blood co-owner Adrian Evans through the BMX scene. He’s a street style rider with about 10 years of experience. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Kaitlyn, Kennadi and Sasha came out to see Radius because “He pumps us up,” says Kennadi. “He’s unique, and I expect him to be successful.” Photo: John Barkiple
Tylan, Elizabeth and Justin check out Gold Blood’s opening. Tylan races BMX in Herriman. Photo: John Barkiple
Look for Meth & Macaroni pop-ups throughout the summer. Photo: John Barkiple
The Meth & Macaroni pop-up crew staked out the sidewalk in front of Gold Blood’s 1526 State Street location. Photo: John Barkiple
(L–R) Gloria, Pierre, Roh and Rhetro arrived in black-clad street style repping 9th & 9th’s Hathenbruck, Caleb Flowers and Brynne Perry’s careful edit of “globally recognized apparel, footwear & accessories.” Photo: John Barkiple
