PODCAST · society
Tattoo 408
by Ethan Gregory Dodge
You can't talk about the developments of modern tattooing without mentioning the contributions of the San Francisco Bay Area. The number of renowned tattooists to at least get their start in either San Francisco or Oakland is staggering. But how many can you name from San Jose? Let's fix that! Like most things in Bay Area popular culture, Santa Clara County—affectionately called "the 408"—has made rich, diverse, yet overshadowed offerings to the world of body art. Every other week we'll either get to know a new San Jo tattooist or drop a little South Bay tattoo history. This is Tattoo 408.
Episodes
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050: David Knapp — Part 2
🪄 "Magic" Tattoo Dave Knapp started his tattoo career under the tutelage of Dave Flowers at Guru Tattoo. Since then, he's had a storied career not only tattooing in many shops across the 408, but also in machine building, pigment production, as well touring as a music tech for many different...
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049: David Knapp — Part 1
🪄 "Magic" Tattoo Dave Knapp started his tattoo career under the tutelage of Dave Flowers at Guru Tattoo. Since then, he's had a storied career not only tattooing in many shops across the 408, but also in machine building, pigment production, as well touring as a music tech for many different...
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048: Dylan Sandstrom — Part 2
🏍️ Dylan Sandstrom's dad dragged him to Tattoo John's San Jose Tattoo on the regular when Dylan was just a boy. It was there he was exposed to both the biker and Americana tattoo styles. The son of a biker and always fascinated by low riders, Dylan began drawing automobiles of all kinds. In...
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047: Dylan Sandstrom — Part 1
🏍️ Dylan Sandstrom's dad dragged him to Tattoo John's San Jose Tattoo on the regular when Dylan was just a boy. It was there he was exposed to both the biker and Americana tattoo styles. The son of a biker and always fascinated by low riders, Dylan began drawing automobiles of all kinds. In…
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046: Ike Greca — Part 2
Ike Greca started dabbling in tattooing in his hometown of Porto Alegre, Brazil. It was there that he read about San Jose's New Skool Tattoo in a magazine. Little did he know, he'd eventually be tattooing with those sam artists. Now based in Vancouver, WA, Ike still visits San Jose frequently,...
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045: Ike Greca — Part 1
Ike Greca started dabbling in tattooing in his hometown of Porto Alegre, Brazil. It was there that he read about San Jose's New Skool Tattoo in a magazine. Little did he know, he'd eventually be tattooing with those sam artists. Now based in Vancouver, WA, Ike still visits San Jose frequently,...
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044: Andre Bernal — Part 2
Andre Bernal was born and raised in San Jose, CA but left his hometown right out of high school to join the Marines. Soon after that, he completed a tattoo apprenticeship in Dayton, OH before returning to the Bay Area where he has spent the rest of his 25 year career. You can currently find him...
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043: Andre Bernal — Part 1
Andre Bernal was born and raised in San Jose, CA but left his hometown right out of high school to join the Marines. Soon after that, he completed a tattoo apprenticeship in Dayton, OH before returning to the Bay Area where he has spent the rest of his 25 year career. You can currently find him...
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042: Daniel Dagones — Part 2
🌵 Born in Massachusetts, raised in New Mexico, and settled in San Jose, Daniel Dagones is a tattooer with a unique perspective on his art. He learned the craft in his hometown of Las Cruces in the early 2000s. But in 2011 when he moved to the 408, he was inspired by the quality of tattoos here...
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041: Daniel Dagones — Part 1
Born in Massachusetts, raised in New Mexico, and settled in San Jose, Daniel Dagones is a tattooer with a unique perspective on his art. He learned the craft in his hometown of Las Cruces in the early 2000s. But in 2011 when he moved to the 408, he was inspired by the quality of tattoos here and...
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040: Matt Tillman — Part 2
Tattooer Matt Tillman—owner and proprietor of the Holy Scythe Tattoo—grew up in San Jose through the 80s and 90s. What started as tracing comics morphed into a tattooing career of over two decades. --- Support the Show ⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify…
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039: Matt Tillman — Part 1
Tattooer Matt Tillman—owner and proprietor of the Holy Scythe Tattoo—grew up in San Jose through the 80s and 90s. What started as tracing comics morphed into a tattooing career of over two decades. --- Support the Show ⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or...
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038: Crystel Vasquez — Part 2
✍️ Crystel Vasquez grew up drawing and coloring on San Jose's east side when she came across the tattoo work of Roberto Cervantes—remember him from episodes 14 & 15? Now, 20 years later, she is tattooing on the south side at Sacred Oath Tattoos. --- Support the Show ⭐ Rate & Review – A quick...
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037: Crystel Vasquez — Part 1
✍️ Crystel Vasquez grew up drawing and coloring on San Jose's east side when she came across the tattoo work of Roberto Cervantes—remember him from episodes 14 & 15? Now, 20 years later, she is tattooing on the south side at Sacred Oath Tattoos. --- Support the Show ⭐ Rate & Review – A quick…
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036: Jason "Sphinx" Litral — Part 2
🤘 Sphinx's story picks up where we left off last episode—the beginnings of Current Tattooing. Sphinx also talks about his artistic inspirations and share a few wild stories. --- Support the Show ⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple...
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035: Jason "Sphinx" Litral — Part 1
🤘 Sphinx's story begins not with a tattoo machine, but with a can of spray paint. He was born in San Jose in 1974, and as a young kid in the early '80s, he was drawn to graffiti after watching Beat Street. He began his tattoo career in 2001 at Metamorphic, where he apprenticed under Andy…
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034: Dan Wysuph — Part 2
The second half of Ethan's interview with Dan Wysuph at Fog City Tattoo in Santa Cruz, CA. Make sure you go back and listen to the first half if you haven't! --- Support the Show ⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only...
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033: Dan Wysuph — Part 1
😶🌫️ Ethan took a trip down the windy highway 17 to pay a visit to Dan Wysuph at Fog City Tattoo on Seabright Ave in Santa Cruz, CA. 🏄🏻 Dan grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains, attending high school in Los Gatos, yet spending most of his free time in Santa Cruz. Having spent his childhood with...
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BONUS: Tomorrow is Friday the 13th!
Tomorrow is Friday the 13th! You know what that means, tons of San Jose shops tattooing tons of awesome flash designs at a discount. Here’s where you can get some sick tats tomorrow: Midtown: San Jose Tattoo Eleventh Dimension Tattoo Arts Xibalba Ink AlwaysCre8 Tattoo Studio Downtown: Blacksuit...
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032: Jerry Moran — Part 2
In this episode, Ethan sites down with San Jose tattooer Jerry Moran to talk about what first pulled him into tattooing, how he’s stayed grounded through the industry's shifts, and why collaboration and connection remain at the heart of his work. From his earliest obsessions to the way he…
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031: Jerry Moran — Part 1
In this episode, Ethan sites down with San Jose tattooer Jerry Moran to talk about what first pulled him into tattooing, how he’s stayed grounded through the industry's shifts, and why collaboration and connection remain at the heart of his work. From his earliest obsessions to the way he brings...
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030: Julio Ávila — Part 2
Ethan Gregory Dodge sits down with Milwaukee tattooer Julio Ávila about his start in tattooing and how his career brought him to the 408. Julio lives up to the stereotype of a storied tattooist with some truly wild stories. In fact, he just published a book detailing many of them. Support him by...
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029: Julio Ávila — Part 1
Ethan Gregory Dodge sits down with Milwaukee tattooer Julio Ávila about his start in tattooing and how his career brought him to the 408. Julio lives up to the stereotype of a storied tattooist with some truly wild stories. In fact, he just published a book detailing many of them. Support him by...
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028: Ronita Yvarra — Part 2
The second half of Ronita's interview with Ethan. Episodes now drop the first Monday of every month and both parts of the interview drop on the same day! --- Support the Show ⭐ Rate & Review – A quick 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps a ton and only takes a few seconds. 📢…
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027: Ronita Yvarra — Part 1
Tattoo 408 is finally back after a long hiatus with a very special guest: Ronita Yvarra. In this episode, Ethan sits down with Ronita to hear the story of how she went from being a teenage artist in East San Jose to one of the region’s early female tattooers. Ronita learned the craft under Chuck...
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026: My Tattoo Story
This week, I'm taking the time to address some questions I've gotten, the primary one being my own tattoo story. I dive into some of my religious upbringing, my love for San Jose, and my overall vision for Tattoo 408. Please bear with me as I turn the mic around this week. --- Show Support: Rate...
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025: Klem — Part 2
This week is the rest of Ethan's interview with Klem. Learn why Klem left the 408 for Santa Cruz, what led him to open his own shop, O'Reilly's, and how it became a staple in Santa Cruz tattooing for many years. Plus, hear why Klem feels that tattooing is better than winning the lottery. If…
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024: Klem — Part 1
As I talk to tattooists all over the 408, many names consistently come up whom I have not interviewed. But one in particular came up for often than any of them: Klem. Preferring to go by his last name, Klem has been tattooing for over 30 years. Born and raised in South San Jose, Klem started...
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023: Adam Barton — Part 2
Adam Barton takes us through the rest of his time at New Skool, his world travels, and the opening of Fog City Tattoo in Santa Cruz, CA, where he currently tattoos. --- Show Support: Rate and Review: Love Tattoo 408? Show your support by leaving a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple...
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022: Adam Barton — Part 1
🌹 It's hard to talk about San Jose tattooing in the past 30 years and not mention Adam Barton. His career took an early turn when Adrian Lee invited him to guest spot at New Skool in downtown San Jose. It marked the beginning of a remarkable journey. Join us as we unravel the fascinating…
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021: Cory "Good Morning" — Part 2
In the rest of his interview, Cory "Good Morning" walks us through his time at Metamorphic Tattoo and opening up Current Tattooing in the Alameda/Rose Garden neighborhood. --- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the best ways to support the show! Leave a 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts…
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020: Cory "Good Morning" — Part 1
Cory "Good Morning" started tattooing on homemade machines in downtown San Jose before landing a professional apprenticeship in New Orleans. There, he really cut his teeth in a fast-paced street shop. Today, he's the founder and owner of San Jose's Current Tattooing in the Alameda/Rose Garden...
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019: Orly Locquiao — Part 2
For Orly Locquiao, tattooing quickly became a conduit to connect with his Filipino heritage. After tattooing in Chicago, he found himself at New Tribal, a shop in Waikiki, Hawaii. There, he was welcome with open arms and learned the art of Polynesian tattooing. After a few years, he brought what...
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018: Orly Locquiao — Part 1
Orly Locquiao was born in the Philippines and moved to San Jose at the age of two. After writing graffiti for years, he found tattooing at age 20. When his parents sent him to Chicago to live with his uncle, he landed an apprenticeship on the West Side and the rest if history. He now owns and...
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017: Ron Earhart — Part 2
In the second half of this interview, Ron Earhart takes us through his story of arriving in San Jose and falling in love with the bio mechanical tattoo genre. After tattooing at New Skool and Analog, he now owns and operates Eleventh Dimension Tattoo Arts in West San Jose. --- Love Tattoo 408?...
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016: Ron Earhart — Part 1
Ron Earhart has been tattooing for over 30 years, 22 of which have been in San Jose. He opened his first shop as a teenager and eventually found himself tattooing with Adrian Lee and Paco Excel and New Skool. This is the first half of Ethan's interview with him. --- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the...
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015: Roberto Cervantes — Part 2
The second half of Ethan's interview with Rob Cervantes. Rob takes us through leaving Pierced Ink to currently tattooing in Central Valley. --- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the best ways to support the show! Leave a 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts (it takes ~10 seconds). Tell your...
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014: Roberto Cervantes — Part 1
Rob Cervantes grew up in a Chicano family on San Jose's North side. He started tattooing as a young teenager after seeing several folks in his neighborhood practice the craft. In this interview, he walks us through his childhood and his early career in tattooing. --- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the...
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013: Adrian Lee — Part 2
The second half of Ethan's interview with Adrian Lee. He takes us through why New Skool shut down, opening up Analog Tattoo Arts Kollective, and his career up to the present day. Other artists mentioned: Matt Shamah Alan Pham Ron Earhart Horitomo Monmon Cats --- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the best...
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012: Adrian Lee — Part 1
Adrian Lee is the owner of Analog Tattoo Arts Kollective in San Francisco. He was the co-founder of New Skool Tattoo in San Jose along with Paco Excel, from episodes 5 and 6. Adrian approached the interview in a similar way in which he approaches his art: very thoughtfully. I really enjoyed this...
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011: Friday the 13th in San Jose
In this episode, Ethan talks with Lesley Mullins, shop manager at Marks of Art Tattoo, and Tyler Harrington, tattooist at State of Grace, about their experiences working tattooing's favorite day: Friday the 13th. The following shops will be doing Friday the 13th flash this coming Friday, October...
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010: Abraham Ortega — Part 2
Today, Tattoo 408 brings you the second half of Ethan's interview with Abraham Ortega, owner of Blacksuit Tattoo. --- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the best ways to support the show! Leave a 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts (it takes ~10 seconds). Tell your tattoo-loving friends and family...
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009: Abraham Ortega — Part 1
Abraham Ortega has been tattooing in San Jose for over 20 years. Like Chono, he learned in the streets on the East Side before moving into it professionally. He is currently the owner of Black Suit Tattoo in downtown San Jose and specializes in black and grey Chicano tattoos. --- Love Tattoo 408?...
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008: Chono Garduño — Part 2
This week I'm finishing up my conversation with Chono Garduño.--- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the best ways to support the show! Leave a 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts (it takes ~10 seconds). Tell your tattoo-loving friends and family about it! Get 15% off when purchasing tattoo healing...
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007: Chono Garduño — Part 1
This week I'm talking with Chono Garduno about his 35 year tattooing career. Born and raised on San Jose's East Side, Chono got his start tattooing on homemade machines in the streets.--- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the best ways to support the show! Leave a 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple…
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006: Paco Excel — Part 2
When we last left Paco Excel, he was just starting to tell us about his days at New Skool, the shop he co-founded with Adrian Lee in San Jose's midtown. In this half of the interview, he takes us through the rest of the shop's days and where his career went after that, and where it is now.…
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005: Paco Excel — Part 1
I took a drive north to the foggy town of Pacifica, CA to interview Paco Excel. Paco, along with fellow artist Adrian Lee, opened up that tattoo shop known as New Skool back in the mid 90s. It changed the game in San Jose tattoo. --- Love Tattoo 408? Here are the best ways to support the show!...
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004: Scotty Weeks — Part 2
Hey everyone, welcome to Tattoo 408! Ethan Gregory Dodge here with part 2 of my interview with Scotty Weeks. I loved my conversation with Scotty. He's seen so much and his shop, Marks of Art, is a staple in San Jose tattooing. If you haven't listened to the first part of the interview, go back…
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003: Scotty Weeks — Part 2
Hey everyone, Ethan Gregory Dodge here with episode number 3 of Tattoo 408. We're moving on to a new artist. This week we have Scotty Weeks, founder of Marks of Art Tattoo. It's difficult to talk about San Jose tattooing and not bring up Marks of Art. It's been open on Union Avenue in the…
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002: "Tattoo" John Bullock — Part 2
Hey there everyone. Ethan Gregory Dodge here with the second episode of Tattoo 408. This is the rest of my interview with Tattoo John Bullock over at San Jose Tattoo. It's the oldest operating tattoo shop in the 408. It opened its doors in 1978 and only closed down one time due to a fire in 2020....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
You can't talk about the developments of modern tattooing without mentioning the contributions of the San Francisco Bay Area. The number of renowned tattooists to at least get their start in either San Francisco or Oakland is staggering. But how many can you name from San Jose? Let's fix that! Like most things in Bay Area popular culture, Santa Clara County—affectionately called "the 408"—has made rich, diverse, yet overshadowed offerings to the world of body art. Every other week we'll either get to know a new San Jo tattooist or drop a little South Bay tattoo history. This is Tattoo 408.
HOSTED BY
Ethan Gregory Dodge
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Tattoo 408 have?
Tattoo 408 currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Tattoo 408 about?
You can't talk about the developments of modern tattooing without mentioning the contributions of the San Francisco Bay Area. The number of renowned tattooists to at least get their start in either San Francisco or Oakland is staggering. But how many can you name from San Jose? Let's fix that! Like...
How often does Tattoo 408 release new episodes?
Tattoo 408 has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Tattoo 408?
You can listen to Tattoo 408 on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Tattoo 408?
Tattoo 408 is created and hosted by Ethan Gregory Dodge.
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