Klute, Among Other Things, Is Helping Bring Tribes Together in San Diego [Interview]

The OG DJ and producer known as Klute (I asked the origin of his name, yes it was a hokey question and no he did not answer), has been in the drum and bass game legitimately longer than some of us claim to have been in it.  Over the span of his career he's put out some of the essential dnb tracks which defined the genre, worked with Metalheadz and Hospital Records, and started and run his own record label, Commercial Suicide, which now has its own impressive lineup and discography.  

Honestly, if you're reading this blog you'd better damn well know who Klute is.  I'm not here to drive my SEO, man.  It's about recognizing what dnb powerhouses like Klute bring to the table, and the answer is a hell of a lot, past and present.  He's just released a new Invaderz EP on Commercial Suicide to critical acclaim, and will be wrapping up a U.S. tour in San Diego this week.  After 20 years in the game, Klute is the gift that keeps on giving, and in a scene which is changing and getting punked by the new EDM culture and group divisions, it's the mainstays like Klute who will dig their heels in with us and get us to the other side.

Another mainstay of dnb culture is Bassdrive, and once again I have to say if you're reading this blog and you don't know about Bassdrive, pause your reading and go educate yourself.  Bassdrive.com is the best and most heavily visited live Drum and Bass streaming player we have going stateside, and also in many countries where dnb is even more marginalized than it is here.  We know Bassdrive pretty well in San Diego as we have two shows from local DJs here: HEAT Live and Impressions DnB Radio, run by Delano and Indentation respectively. 

What I suspect many DnB heads didn't know, however is that Bassdrive is now a booking agency, representing both international heavy hitters like Klute, and some of the lesser-known djs who have shows on Bassdrive and may not have been able to get representation otherwise.  "The launch of Bassdrive Bookings Drum&Bass Talent Agency is part of a natural progression of Bassdrive. It was at first to provide much needed representation for the Bassdrive Radio Staff DJs and look out for select few top quality international headliner caliber artists in the states and Canada," Bassdrive Operations Manager Dvus told me as we were putting this all together. That's good enough for me; the more we can get both heavy-hitters and up-and-coming djs moving around the country and the world, the more of a chance we have of survival and of showing people what this music is truly about. Using its connections with major international talent, Bassdrive is helping spread the love.

The Klute show marks a convergence of minds and talents in the microcosm of the San Diego dnb scene as well. Every city has a few crews within their individual scene which take on the responsibility of throwing parties, and it seemed to some of the promoters in San Diego that a bit of fractionation was going on, where loyalties had built to specific venues, djs, sound systems, etc. This party will be unique because of the fact that all these factions have come together to bring this party to a neutral venue and pool all of their talents to make the best possible party. "We didn't even want people to know which crew was throwing this thing," one of the promoters told me. It's true, when I first saw the flyer I was like "OK, what is going on with this. Who is throwing it?" For lack of a better term, they're calling the group, representing multiple crews "Converge." I'm not allowed to name all the separate parts that went into this event, but if you take a look at the local talent on the flyer and you know the groups in San Diego, you'll see that the promoters are really trying to make sure everyone is represented fairly, and that the best possible party comes out of it. Klute via Bassdrive is an excellent place to start.

So, this post is listed as an interview because as a cranky old scenester stuck in the crosshairs of these many elements of dnb both local and global, I was lucky enough to get to interview Klute, who just by the virtue of who he is is able to help bring together all these people, crews, countries, sounds. I wanted first and foremost to find out what's going on with Klute, his record company, and any new releases, but also what he thought of some of these bigger questions. If you haven't already scrolled down to get to the good stuff, here's what we talked about:

DWS: You just got finished with Sun & Bass, and now you’re wrapping up a pretty whirlwind U.S. tour. How does it feel to go from the chill atmosphere of Sardinia to clubs in the U.S.?

Klute: There's no real way to answer to answer that, I really enjoy the intensity of travelling and seeing different places and different people. The main thing is that places and people are different and that’s the beauty of it all.

DWS: It looks like you and your label, Commercial Suicide, are really excited about the new Invaders LP, New Found Dialect which is releasing officially while you’re here on tour.  How did you come to work with The Invaderz and what do you like about their style?

Klute: I've been a close friend of Darrell from the Invaderz for many years now. We both debuted on Metalheadz at the same time back around 2001 and we’ve kept in close contact ever since. We share a similar sense of humor so eventually it seemed only natural to put their stuff out.

These days there are precious few artists who can diversify their sound, and that’s what I love about the Invaderz. They’re a three piece and all three bring a range of styles and influences to the table. It’s a great album, I thoroughly recommend everyone at least check it out. 

DWS: Are there any upcoming releases for you  yourself on the horizon?

Klute: Yes! 2014 was a slow year for me on the release front. I put out one single with a Calibre remix. I wrote plenty of music so theres plenty to come in 2015 starting with a solo single on Commercial Suicide in January.

On the compilation side of things I have tunes on forthcoming albums on 31 Records and DNB Arena. Look out for them.

DWS: You’re going right down the coast of California on this tour (with a brief stop in Puerto Rico!), and you've been to all three cities, SF, LA, and SD many times before.  From your vantage point as a pioneering Dj and producer from the UK, what do you see are the differences in crowds and fans from each of the three?

Klute: People are people at the end of the day, and with that also comes time, things change .

For awhile there San Fran reigned supreme in the USA as the home of DNB but I think things are spread around more evenly these days. Its been a few years since I was in San Diego, so im really looking forward to checking it out again, but these days, I’d say my fav’s on the west coast are def Respect in LA, Stamina Sundays in SF, the Baltic Rooms in Seattle and not forgetting Portland which just totally rocks.

 DWS: Same question East Coast vs Midwest vs West Coast (if any), and what you find interesting or weird about U.S. dnb heads in general?

Klute: I was born in the US so I'm not really in a position to judge Americans (or maybe I am!), but I really like coming out here to tour, I love the diversity and distance of the cities. I love to fly around. It's my fave country in the world I don’t want to single out certain cities only to make others feel bad cos they're all awesome in one way or another. Favorites include Chicago, Boston, NYC (my sister lives there)...everywhere.

DWS: You’re finishing the tour up in San Diego, and obviously this is a San Diego-based blog.  Any specific observations for San Diego heads? 

Klute: I had the best burrito of my life so far in San Diego.

DWS: The sub-genres in Drum and Bass seem to be disappearing as the music evolves and styles merge.  For many producers and fans who have been around a while, however, you’re seen as one of the pioneers of Liquid Drum and Bass, but you got started in a hardcore punk band called The Stupids, which is pretty hard stuff comparatively.  What draws or inspires you towards the prettier and more ambient sounds you create in your dnb music?  Is it expressing that musical side of you versus punk, or do you feel dnb is a more flexible genre to create those kinds of sounds?

Klute: I wouldn’t say I'm synonymous with “liquid” at all to be honest. My palette of sounds has always been pretty random, it might be that I make better "mellower” tracks or whatever but I have to say that the balance of styles and emotions is all part of nature. I like the rough with the smooth, otherwise I think it gets pretty boring.

DWS: Some of the older electronic acts are starting to get fed up with the current EDM culture, with Dj Craze and the Prodigy putting out releases which are anti-EDM in no uncertain terms.  What do you think about what’s going on with the mega-star EDM producers and the culture that’s popularizing them? 

Klute: I think EDM and corporate culture has infiltrated a lot of “our” culture. It's about money and making lots of it very quickly, strip mining a culture that has grown organically over decades. 

That was a very poignant note to end on, but think about the evolution of this culture, and the fact that suddenly we are being "strip mined" for our parts, jammed together into more palatable sub-genres like Dubstep and Trap, and infiltrated by festivals and newcomers who not only don't get it, but have no desire to even try to learn (aside from an awesome few who have made a tremendous effort, you know who you are).  It's no wonder people hold onto their crews so tightly.  

It takes a special type of person to be able to break down those walls some of these wounded warriors have put up, and try to bring everyone together for the sake of the music.  Something I've realized over the past 8 years or so is that in drum and bass in the US we can't really afford to be too crew-oriented anymore.  We're all fighting for the same thing: the glory of the bassline. 

Corporatized electronic music has come around a few times in the twenty-odd years since jungle and dnb were born, and we've managed to beat it back and keep our integrity, but each time we loose a few soldiers, and each time the scene is diluted a bit with new infantry who may not be quite as Spartan as we are, who aren't as sure what we're fighting for.  The San Diego crews on the microcosm and Bassdrive and others like them on the national front are providing a way for us to keep fighting, and our main weapons are unity and the ability to bring Klute and the like to cities everywhere, and let the music speak for itself.  

I know most of us feel this way: drum and bass and jungle have given so many of us so much, and in some cases it's saved our lives.  It's brought a group of people together who otherwise wouldn't have known each other into this shared reality of fast, hard bass music but also of integrity and valuing the respect of the few over the adulation of the masses.  Unified, we're big enough to give back to the music and keep it going for a long time coming.  Klute's not going anywhere and neither is Bassdrive.  Let's make sure San Diego stays strong so we can keep the bass rolling.

I want to thank Klute for taking the time to speak to DWS during a very busy tour, and to Bassdrive and the promoters from San Diego for facilitating all this.  We all look forward to his performance in San Diego on November 8.  Click here for details.

DWS Relaunch! October '13 Brewery Artwalk Wrap-Up OR April '14 Prequel

Well, I've been sitting on this piece and rotating, as I have with my entire writing career (how did it all fit up there?) lo these 6 months, but I'm happy to see that many of you are still checking in with DWS, and I really appreciate it.  With all the apathy and self-loathing through which I wring myself, it's awesome to know there is an audience for this stuff.  I don't believe in resolutions, but it is a sincere goal for me to take this unapologetically Po-Mo/Pop Fuck to new heights this year, and I'm glad that some of you are sticking it out with me.  And so with that, I bring you the unofficial re-launch of (Dropping) Weird Science with, unsurprisingly, a wrap-up of the last Brewery Artwalk in October 2013.  It was a doozie, so strap in.

Ok, I feel like I've been on my soap box for long enough; if you are in Southern California and haven't made it to the LA Brewery for their semi-annual artwalk, I don't even know what to do with you.  Luckily I have this blog, so I shall once again spend hours trying to summarize and sell this wonderful phenomenon and convince you to go to the next one on April 26-27, 2014.  Please, for the sake of your own cool points, listen to me this time!

I'm not going to spend much time on the history of the LA Brewery or the nature of artwalk, I think those are covered pretty well in my three previous harangues: the Artwalk Preiew, the April '13 Review, and my Interview with the Brewery's Press Director, Kristine Schomaker.  I also want to spend more time featuring the many and sundry artists who opened their doors to the public this time around; they are the true heroes of the Brewery.

"Hole" image from randihokettfineart.com

Randi Hokett     On first glance, Randi's Hokett's work seems simplistic and modern, but as so often is the case, it's all in the details.  Multimedia takes on a different meaning than usual in the many materials Randi uses to create different textures, shadows, and effects in her pieces.  However the real interest in Randi's work, for me anyway, are the ridged, textured rifts and holes which look like prisms and feature often in the center of each piece but also appear on the sides in more recent works.  On largely blank backdrops, these topographical features, for lack of a better term, spring out with sparkling reds, graduated blues and purples, even black.  One could make the obvious vaginal reference here (keep it classy, San Diego), but the holes and chasms seem to represent more in my opinion.  An emptiness that comes form the human condition here on earth;  a gaping wound, a blind jump into a deep abyss.  Looking at them, one is able to re-connect with the heart of what makes us what we are; fear, beauty, pain.  It's all right there, not to be covered up or sterilized by man-made materials; the glaring fact that we are organic, perishable, fallible.  Check out her portfolio at www.randihokettfineart.com and see her unique take on textures, found materials, and the nature we can't escape.

Image used by permission from artist.

Christina Ramos     My friends and I had a differing of opinions on thought-provoking artist, Christina Ramos.  I thought her featured images of G'd out nuns throwing up gang signs and other fun poses were interesting, charming, even - dare I say - quaint.  My friend, not so much; she found them offensive and possibly a little racist, stating that we should go out and get some real cholos and see what they thought about their "quaintness."  Personally, I think most of my friends who are ex-bangers would think they were cool.  I'm not sure, however, how a nun would feel about them, but that point was not raised at the time.  What I think we can agree on (arguing friend has not been asked for further comment, so I'm positing here), is that the juxtaposition of religious piety with imagery generally associated with urban culture in these pieces is definitely meant to raise some eyebrows, and it's a cool commentary on the paradox of many criminals' seemingly extreme devotion to the Catholic faith.  I see it as a reversal of the tattoos many of these guys have all over their bodies: instead of a big dude in a wifebeater with the Virgin Mary slapped on his back, does it still look cool when an archetype of faith and chastity is playing poker while smoking a spliff?  I say yes, but I'm not part of either of those archetypes, so until we are able to drag a cholo and Sister Sassy to Ramos' studio, my friend and I will have to agree to disagree, but which one of us has a blog, hmmmm?  Check and mate, graciously unnamed buddy.  Christina Ramos' full portfolio, which includes some not-not-so-pop portraits, can be seen on her website at www.christinaramosart.com.  Title of image shown is "You Can Take the Sister out of the Hood, but You Can't Take the Hood out of the Sister." 

"Fly" image used with permission from the artist.

Sarah Jane Hardt Photography     Do you like pubes?  As many of my friends know, I'm not much of a fan, but Ms. Hardt got me to care about them again in two of her photo series, "The Skin Series" and "Redhead Fetish".  There's body hair aplenty in "The Skin Series," and one of the photos from "Redhead Fetish," featuring a closeup of a ginger pubis, has earned quite a lot of attention.  From the artist, "As a photographer and Celtic-born redhead, I'm curious with the preoccupation some men and even women have with us 'gingers'...And naturally it (the series) took a slightly provocative course."  In my opinion, provocative is an understatement.  Beyond the shock value (many of us have taken pics of our parts mid-coitus, but few of us have the balls to immortalize them in lacquer and show them to the public), it's the lighting, the colors (or lack thereof), and the sense of illicit movement in these pieces which really stun.  Both gritty and pretty, Sarah's eye for the interesting art that can be found right in our own bodies makes her a truly stand-alone talent.  Sarah has put "The Skin Series" up on her professional Facebook page, and it'll be available for a limited time via this link.  If you want to view more of the "Redhead Fetish" series or are interested in purchasing her work, she can be contacted via email at memorieswithhardt@gmail.com.  Sarah also takes her unique eye and techniques to her commercial work, and if you are looking for very high-end event photos, check out her commercial website at http://www.memorieswithhardtphotography.com/.

Image from www.kevinflint.com

Kevin Flint/Dystopia     Termed by the artist as "apocalypse chic," Kevin Flint's Dystopia studio jumps out at visitors from a corner as they first enter the Brewery.  Hooks, chains, industrial surfaces, gas masks, and much more adorn every inch of this loft, so "apocalypse chic" seems a very apt descriptor, indeed.  Flint also has a line of "functional art," which includes coffee makers, water coolers, and other architectural features with which to adorn one's kitchen or office.  I usually find my way to the actual paintings and photos in the Dystopia studio, however, most likely because these pieces cross the border separating apocalyptic architectural oddities and just plain kink.  While the photos of nudes with gas masks are obvious, there's also something to the flat, textured pieces with surfaces being rended apart by hooks and chains that has something vaguely (or not so vaguely, in my case) shows kinship with BDSM imagery.  The deep blues, reds, and purples of this "industrial flesh" with hooks in it being dragged apart by some unseen force - it just seems inescapable.  The victim without a body, the sadist pulling at the rope just out of view.  The industrial wasteland feel of the studio is haunting enough, but when you add this layer to it. it's downright sexy.  Kevin has a brand new Etsy store at which you can purchase his curious pieces, and it's linked to his website, www.kevinflint.com, where you can view all his work.

Image taken from www.artexture.com

Keith Collins/Artexture     What do you do when you're walking around an art city and you see a huge, photorealistic image of Siegfried and Roy with their white tiger hanging in a window and it's a fucking CARPET?  I'll tell you what you do - you get your ass into the adjoining studio as fast as your fat little legs can carry you.  Upon entering Keith Collins' studio, wonders abound.  It's set up like a high-end furniture shop, and most of those gorgeous furniture pieces are also for sale, but the show-stoppers of course are the tapestries; Marilyn Monroe in life-like detail, Muhammed Ali after knocking out Joe Fraizer, a stunning Martin Luther King mural.  They even have T2!  Even more amazing is where you think these would be woven tapestries, they're really hook rugs, and all of them are made from found/recycled yarn scraps.  If you think it's possible to get any more awesomely hipster than that, you're delusional.  This guy should be featured on Portlandia immediately, and if I ever win the lottery, my first unreasonable purchase will be the Siegfried and Roy piece.  Keith Collins also does home installations of more modern carpet pieces as well as floor mats, and they're all pretty sick.  Check out the crazy stuff this guy can do with yarn on his website, www.artexture.com but save the tiger rug for me!

Tuki Lucero     Tuki Lucero's business card titles her as an "Artistic Recycler."  This is true; she does create tiny sculptures in found objects, mostly old tin cans.  The label she gives herself, however, belies the full emotive scope of her tiny sculptures.  Part Dia De Los Muertos, part religious imagery, part sparkle, these tiny vignettes are usually only about 2"x4", but pack a huge visual punch nonetheless.  The tin cans are all vintage, and it looks like the pieces inside are done collage-style, with images of the Madonna and child, disembodied masks, etc.  One would think these pieces are meant to be gruesome or some sort of tiny phantasmagoria, but I don't think that's Tuki's aim, though some of them do seem to make a comment on the true nature of organized religion.  There is definitely an element of the past; somewhat Victorian and somewhat Mexican religious imagery, but to me the ultimate goal is whimsy with a deeper meaning and a connection to those past ways of making found objects or items around the house into folk art (think those weird hair sculptures from the Victorian and Edwardian eras).  I think Tuki's creations are far from folk art, but there is definitely a nod to it there.  Tuki Lucero's Etsy store is currently under construction, but if you're interested in viewing more of her pieces or purchasing, you can email her at tukilucero442@gmail.com.

MNKR Clothing     It didn't take much for me to know I would be featuring MNKR in this post.  When I walked into Designer Matt Fellows' studio, there was a podium with a poster glued on in the style of those annoying inspirational paperweights which read "Be the Change, Sucka."  Sold!  I'm a sucka for tongue-in-cheek satire that's done so simply and eloquently.  At that point I didn't even really care what this place was selling.  Luckily, this would not simply be fleeting hipster lust.  MNKR's website advertises itself as "t-shirts and other weirdness," and both t-shirts and weirdness are on point.  Most of the t-shirts do indeed contain weirdeness, continuing the irreverent wit I saw on the podium into wearable art.  You might have seen some of these before: "Helvetica is Awesome," for example, or an outline image of the state of California with the word "home" inside.  These clothes hit me right where I live and if I don't snap them all up, visit MNKR's website and Be the Change to your wardrobe, Sucka!  The site also has a list of vendors in case you're 80 years old and prefer going to stores to shop over online shopping.  "Like" MNRK on their Facebook Page or follow them on Instagram for news and product updates and - I'm sure - more weirdness.

Dave Lefner Reduction Linocuts     Well, nothing says "Pop Art" more than a linocut of a Tootsie Pop wrapper with a large yellow overlay that reads "POP!"  With so many permutations of Pop Art and street art these days, it's nice to see a literal translation of the form, whatever "literal" might mean in the Pop Art world (I can feel Andy Warhol's smug glare bearing down on me from the ether over a pair of sunglasses as I write this).  Literal or not, I really enjoy Dave Lefner's purist commentaries on pop culture and advertising, and his linos are some of the cleanest you'll ever see.  Now these aren't photographs, mind you or even paintings.  They're carefully etched linocuts which are made to look somewhere between a photo and a litho, but the tiny cuts create a greater dimension to the image.  In the example above, the wrinkles in the candy wrapper do look photorealistic, but it's literally cut out of a template.  Lefner's website is awash with examples from his Pop! series, as well as a number of old theatre marquis and some more abstract pieces.  Many of the Pop! series are sold out, so if you want to know how many cuts it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, contact Lefner on his site.

Wyatt Mills - Just Badass Art     I hope you're still with me here, because Wyatt Mills was one of my favourite finds this time around, and I'm not the only one who thinks this retro skater-looking kid is going to blow up.  The image to the left here is actually a self-portrait (awesome) which I believe was to be featured in his most recent show, "Phantasmagoria."  In a YouTube video about the show, he says that his style is mean to shock, and meant to wake people in up out of their computer realities and look around.  His technique is great - oils slapped onto various media with a trowel or other unconventional instrument so that he gets crazy textures, shadows, and sweeping madness.  It's a very modern or Dadaist approach, and I always marvel when artists can slam paint on a canvas (or door, in the case of this portrait) seemingly haphazardly, and pull not only a clear face or shape out of it, but something so emotive and full of perspective and depth.  There's not many of those around anymore, save David Choe and a handful of other street artists.  In keeping with the Dadaist theme the pieces in this show and that I saw at The Brewery also incorporate news clippings, headlines from gossip mags and other verbal pieces set up in a collage format either over or under the oils.  If you didn't get an emotion from the haunting, twisted faces, the words and nods to the brutality of our screwed up media system will strike a nerve on that tip.  Mr. Mills has probably the most kickass website I've seen in a while as well, and you can take a look at his other pieces or hit him up about pricing at www.idoesart.com.  Good God, I hope he shows at the next one!

Rob Silverman Photography     My obvious inclination toward the strange, the weird, and the avant-garde of the art and music scenes would imply that I also lean that way when it comes to photography.  With all the options for different washes, digital manipulation, and lacquering, one can make a photo look like pretty much anything else.  While I do love a good surrealist photo, I actually tend more toward the classic in both my own photography and in other artists.  Working almost exclusively in black and white yet somehow able to capture shading and light grades expertly, Rob Silverman is an excellent example of all that is awesome about classic photography technique.  The ability to capture the beauty we find all around us in the real world in all of its stark, unpixelated reality is, in my opinion, something only photography can wholly do as an artistic medium.  Not so easy to do, especially in black and white, is the ability to capture the emotions and true feeling of the subjects of this photography; the forlorn energy of a dog in front of an old gas station, the stern and enduring countenance of a Navajo brave in full headdress.  Turning motion and light into still life and back while not losing any of the emotive quality and without digital covering is what separates good technique and good eye from good photography, and Mr. Silverman is a good photographer.  I don't even feel the need to make the requisite reference to Ansel Adams here.  Silverman has a solid, deeply emotive style and technique all his own.  Though I've prattled on about his black and whites quite a bit, Rob Silverman has a whole array of photo styles, including commercial and event photos, on his website www.robsilverman.com.  You can also contact him via the site for pricing on current works or bookings.

So, there we have it.  Ten of the great artists making me jealous by living at The Brewery and doing what they love.  Now the next Brewery Artwalk is upon us, just two weeks from today, and I am once again planning to wander through it in awe, bumping into more weird and wonderful art and people, wistfully wishing I could live there as well but also gaining hope for the future of art.  Ironically, San Diego's much more commercial and therefore LAME artwalk takes place in San Diego on the same weekend, April 26-27 and it's literally outside my doorstep.  I will choose, however, to drive 2 hours up to downtown LA to the LA Brewery and support my new friends and idols in the pursuit of truth, love, and beauty in art.  Pardon me as I'm waxing extremely sappy at the moment, but I think The Brewery is really important in sustaining a real art culture in America, and that makes this event important, because for two weekends a year, the general public and unartistic schmoes like you and I can be a part of it.  How can you not get sentimental about that?  Do yourself a favor and take that weekend to go do something good for your soul and witness a living, breathing art community at its very best.

Review: Photek at SD Union

Well, SD Union has barely given us 2 weeks to recover before another installment is coming up this Saturday, `10/12 at The Merrow in San Diego.  I guess you have to take FREAKING ADAM F when you can get him!  This has got to be his first appearance in SoCal in a hot minute, at least at a small venue.  That being said, I'd better get this review of the more than comparable Photek before this one rolls out.

First, let's talk about The Merrow.  The venue used to be The Ruby Room but has recently changed management/ownership, so not much has changed for the SD Union Denizens.  I do miss the graffiti on the wall outside the club, and the bar staff still needs to work out a few timing kinks, but otherwise the drinks are still a great price, the new decor is nice and they have some great local craft beer options, so for the most part it's pretty much the same, just classed up a bit.

So Photek (along with Adam F) is what I call a "second tier" producer; this is the group of DnB talent who came out with releases within a year after the first tier/inventors Hype and Goldie, with his first release out in 1992.  What this means to me is that these guys are OG to the thousandth power, and have done more than most of us can comprehend to shape the scene that we've all come to know, and you can also go ahead and frigging give them credit for Dubstep while you're at it.  Something I didn't know is that he's also been nominated for 2 Grammys.  So, while I never doubt SD Union's ability to pull big names (especially since J Majik 18 months ago), I was still surprised, if for nothing else than he hasn't been in SoCal since about 2006.  We're taking it next level this year!

As is my horrible jaded scenester custom, I didn't get to The Merrow until around midnight, missing Will Guise, Evlo, and resident Ghost MD.  I'm sure they laid it down, however, and one of these days I will have to stop being a dickhead and come early.  I did catch the end of Adia Break's set, and that definitely got the crowd going and ready for Photek.  MCs CSD, Subliminal, and resident/founder/birthday boy along with Eric Yo, Ridda, were also on hand to amp the crowd and host.

Photek holds a special place in my heart not only for shaping DnB as a whole but being instrumental in creating darkstep and techstep, which readers have seen me laud in other posts and with which I identify more than any other sub-genre.  In this area, he did not disappoint.  Photek's set consisted of many of his own classics, current sick tracks which also had lots of dark flavor, and dubplates that I bet we couldn't even date because none of us will get our grubby little hands on them.  Not just tracks, Photek's set had a nice overall dark n' grimy feel, and with me still on such a high from Wreckignition, it was like methadone to help me come down.

It was also Ridda's birthday as I mentioned, and what better way to celebrate - jeez.  Apparently there was a little cake mishap, but who needs a frigging cake when you've got Photek on your birthday?  Pssh, not me!  Beyond that there was a great chill vibe and everyone seemed to have tons of fun.  Great party as always.

So now we have Adam F (Breakbeat Kaos), jump-up OG, coming in on Saturday and I'm barely over September's parties.  The event will be at The Merrow once again, and cover is $10.  For more information, go to the SD Union: Adam F event page or SD Union's Facebook page.  Be there or be frigging stupid!

New Review: Thumbprint Gallery Presents Anarchy in Artistry at Basic

I'm not sure how they do it, but Thumbprint Gallery manages to consistently come up with new and interesting themes for its group shows to showcase local talent at Bar Basic in the East Village.  Just this week there was another show (which I unfortunately missed) called "Lions, Tigers, and Bears oh $h!t!", and there have been a number of others in the 6 weeks or so since "Anarchy in Artistry."  In addition to

Iggy looking beautiful in a stunning photo.

Thumbprint's solo shows at its permanent location in La Jolla, these 1-off event mini-shows at Basic help keel Thumbprint present in the San Diego art scene while promoting hometown talent and interesting ideas.

Though it's been a while, I just had to review the "Anarchy in Artistry" show, because this is a subject near and dear to my heart: punks and the people who love them.  The images in this show ranged from classic anarchic symbols to photographs of my long-lost love, Iggy Pop, to more artsy interpretations of punks, such

Mr. Potatohead as angry punk.

as a "Mr. Popunkohead", as I'm calling him.  Some pieces were a bit pedestrian or, in my grumpy punker's mind, sort of missed the mark, but overall a good collection, and you can't argue with the theme.  My only real disappointment was in not seeing any sculptures of creepy dolls dressed in trash bags with safety pins holding them together, but you can't have everything.  Maybe I'll make one of those myself for the next show!

Thummprint Gallery's next show at Basic will be a group show held from September 14-October 6 called "Deconstruction of Art" and will be guest curated by Suicidal Octopuss, another heavy hitter on the SD Pop Art Scene.  The show will feature snak3oil, Lord of Stink, Grumpus, We Are Zombies, Bobbydrawsskullz, and quite a few more insanely talented artists.  There will be an opening reception on 9/14 at Thumbprint's La Jolla location.  Go to www.thumbprintgallerysd.com  for more info and all upcoming shows, or check out the Deconstruction of Art facebook event page.  Should be a good one!

Sid Vicious looking a little more like Gary Oldman than he probably should.

Cool Socal Events This Weekend 5/17-18

I don't plan to make this a pattern, but there is just too much good stuff happening this Saturday in both art and music, and it being Friday afternoon, I've decided to cram them all into one resource for you to schedule your weekend of coolness accordingly.  Try not to miss anything, as your cool points will increase with every awesome thing you attend!

Music

Junglist Fridays at the Kava Lounge.  LA heavy hitter RAW will be at this this first installment of this monthly massive, and if you miss it you are a fool.  Check the link above of the Junglist Fridays event page for more info. 5/17 starting at 9pm, tickets are only $5.!

The DoLab Presents: if you're in LA this Friday 5/17, this looks like the place to be.  The DoLab will be presenting some huge names including MartyParty, Noah D, Trill Murray, and Alexander DCD.  Located at King King Hollywood, tix are $20 for this massive lineup!

Switch Radio show Saturday, 5/18 11am-2pm.  You don't even have to leave your house for this!  Just wake up, and tune in to hear Rawtee, Dino, Senneca, and Jahz.  Start your Saturday off hard!  Tune in online at www.drumnbasstv.com

HOME3ASS Presents RAW, APX-1, Clutch, Camo UFOs, and XYZ.  If you were in LA on Friday but still want to see your favorite local legends, don't fret.  RAW and APX-1 will be back at HOME3ASS on Saturday at Los Globos.  Get your hard, dark ragga no matter where you are in Socal this weekend!

SD Union Presents Hybris and The American Jungle Live Fliming Party!  This one is so huge, it has its own post.  Just click the link above for all the info.  5/18 at the Ruby Room in San Diego.

Art

Warehouse 1425 Group Art Show in East Village, San Diego.  This show features some of the biggest and best street artists in San Diego, and is to benefit a good cause: the resurgence of the East Village art community.  Check the link for all the info.  Tonight, 5/17 from 6-10pm.

Power Animals III: Spirit Guides this is an opening party for a group show, sponsored by Thumbprint Gallery and taking place at The Spot in Barrio Logan.  This is a free event going from 5-10pm on Saturday, 5/18.  Featuring work from Ali Bautista, Mr. Dvice, and Sumo1.  Great, theme, great gallery!

North Park Festival of the Arts.  5/18, features art from all over the country and especially local artists.  Many different varieties.  I believe this event is free, but there are areas that you can get tickets for such as the Beer Block and the Upper Glass Whiskey Tasting.  This is a classic North Park Block party with tons of art, music, performance art and BOOZE!

Subtext Open Hours: Cognitive Dissonance, the Works of Kelly McKernan  I missed the opening for this show, but its still going on and Subtext will be open tomorrow, 5/18 from 12-3pm so anyone can go in and look at Kelly McKernan's amazing selections.  I know I'll be there hastily snapping pictures for my review that I should have done two weeks ago.  Click on the links for more details and directions to Subtext.

Herb Turner: Realist/Idealist at Oma Gallery.  This is closing this weekend, so if you're in Escondido, it's worth trying to catch it.  Click the link for details.

James Chronister at LUX Art Institute, Encinitas.  You'd swear these paintings are photographs.  This show is also closing this weekend, so if you're in Encinitas, I highly recommend you check it out. 

Jessica Lange at MOPA: Photography Show Closing 5/19.  MOPA can be a little pretentious, but I think this show is well worth it.  Catch it while you can!

Art Museum Day and International Museum Day: Participating Museums in San Diego are MCASD and SDMA.  MCASD has two locations, both showing interesting exhibits right now.  Art Museum Day means you can visit both of these museums for free on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. 
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Now do you see why I've put all of these events in one article?  It's just too much!  Get out this weekend, hit as many of these as you can, and expand your lexicon of coolness. 

SD Union Tomorrow, Saturday 5/18: Hybris and The American Jungle Filming!

This month's SD Union at the Ruby Room is just huge.  Technical Support TV is doing it big with Metalheadz's Hybris, and if that isn't enough, The American Jungle, a documentary about stateside Jungle and DnB, will be filming and talking to people about the San Diego scene.  It's great to be a part of this momentous film, and it really speaks to San Diego's influence on the current DnB climate that we've been chosen to represent in the documentary.  This is not only going to be a sick party, but an opportunity to show the whole country and probably the world that we hold it down!

If you don't know Hybris, I don't know what to say to you.  Check the Bio:

"Hybris is Evan Vischi. After years of being a studio recluse, Evan surfaced in the DC scene and released collaborations and solo projects under the name Robot Death Squad. He then moved to the Czech Republic to focus on advancing his own sound and began releasing under the name Hybris. Towards the end of 2009 his tunes were spotted and picked up by Kasra, and his debut single was released on Critical: Modulations (The Cleaner/ Raindance) in June of 2010. Not long after, a trip to Groningen and a collaboration with Noisia resulted in Crystalline, and in February 2011, the Hybris EP on Noisia's Invisible imprint was released.  Later that year, a meeting with Goldie and Rido resulted in the creation of the Prague Connection EP, a collaborative effort between Rido and Hybris.  Hybris continues to push the limits of his brain and monitors to further uncover new sonic territory. Watch this space for more updates."

There really isn't much else to say.  Dark, grimy, techy, immaculately produced beats?  Yes please.  Sound will be provided by Bombshelta (SD).  The rest of the lineup also includes Organized Grime's technicians Sub Killaz and Evlo, as well as Volz (Us vs Them, magik Muzak, Black Hole recordings, breezy bliss, diamond dust, SD).  Your benevolent hosts Ridda, Subliminal, and CSD will be sheparding the crowd through this huge lineup.  Really look forward to this one!  Cover is $10.  For all the details, check the event page on Facebook.

Warehouse 1425: Group Art Show Tomorrow Night 5/17 Feat. Exist 1981, Mr. Dvice, That Kid PEEP and More!

Before you go out for your late-night drinking this Friday (I suggest Junglist Fridays), be sure to check out Warehouse 1425, a group art show which will feature tons of local favourites, doing exclusive pieces for the event.  The Warehouse 1425 website explains the point of this show, and the history of the art district in the East Village: "Once commonly called "The Warehouse District", San Diego's East Village has had a rich and varied history. From the 1970s through the 1990s, the area was the heart and home of the city's underground artists and innovative pioneers. There was an excitement alive in many of the abandoned warehouses, which artists used to create, showcase, teach, and live with their craft.
As the neighborhood evolved, it saw the decline of these live/work spaces and with it the creative spirit that so enriched the community.  TODAY WE LIFT UP THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS PART OF A RESURGENCE OF ART IN THE EAST VILLAGE."
There is a $5 suggested donation to support this cause and the contributing artists.  The event will be held from 6-10 at 1425 E St.  Go to www.warehouse1425.com or the Warehouse 1425 event page for the full lineup of featured artists and entertainment.

The Very First Junglist Fridays at the Kava Lounge. I am loving this DnB Resurgence!

The first installment of Junglist Fridays, brought to you by Bulletproof Sessions and Dub Chamber Records, will be a smasher!  They're featuring RAW (as himself), Tonz of Drumz's Sixfootunda, local hero Special Technique's Rebellion, Dregen from Dub Chamber, and NKey from DnBtv.com.  You can't argue with this lineup, and it's only $5!  Come to the Kava Lounge and celebrate the end of a brutal week with some brutal bass!  Hosted by Tez, Oozi, and Reflex.

Organized Grime this Monday - Get Ready for Austin Speed! 5/13

This week I'm excited to see on the Organized Grime lineup, one of my new favourite hometown heroes, Austin Speed, will be playing.  I've been watching the progression of his career under some duress from other friends for the last year or so, and I'm glad I was pushed to do so.  It seems that every track or mix he releases is more creative and interesting than the last, but also very well put together so I can't even complain about that.  I'm mildly obsessed with his most recent DAD Mix, and the collaboration tracks that I've seen for him are progressively fun and interesting.  I'm glad he will be at OG this week since I missed him at Elektrofied a few weeks ago.  It should be a great show.  Not to be discounted, Alex Flux from OneMassive, Under Pressure's Murdock, and P Man (SubFM) will also be there.  Resident MCs CSD, Oozi and Disekt will be presiding over the bass on your face, so give the middle finger to Tuesday and come to the AC Lounge to see some really interesting up-and-coming experimental bass music.

3rd Annual Smog vs.Respect DJ Battle 5/11 in LA at the House of Blues on the Strip

Well, here's something I've never heard of even though it's in its 3rd year.  I'm so good at keeping current, aren't I?  This looks like the spot to be if you want to see two crews battling it out with classic tracks and, I'm assuming, a good bit of vinyl and DMC techniques.  Per the name of the event, the 2 crews will of course be the Respect crew (Machete, Scooba, Clutch, NoFace, Drone, XYZ, and Gil Konspiracy) and the Smog crew (12th Planet, Flinch, SPL, Antiserum, Pawn, DLX, Noah D, and Kelly Dean).  All have skills and all, I'm sure, will be bringing their A-games.  The event is even set up with modified DMC rules and will go round-for-round wish each dj trying to outspin whomever went before.

It's nice to see that in the current DnB climate where no one wants to step on each other's toes, there are still two crews who are willing to battle like the golden days, and present the event the way it was intended: to showcase the strengths and learn new techniques of your fellow djs.  Good job boys.

Below are a few links to past event Smog Blog, as well as an RSVP form which will get you into the event for $5.  More details also on the event page.    Also don't forget to head on over to Repsect this Thursday for Sinistarr (Metalheadz).

Sugarpill at Dragon Lounge this Saturday 5/11. Trappy Dubs, or Dubby Trap!

Ok, so if gogo girls can dance sexily to it, I call it trap music, and I think Sugarpill is pretty trappy.  I do not want to debate this, as the lines are evermore blurring on the slow bass music front, but what I do want to do is get everyone stoked on this show!
According to Facebook and Sugarpill's own website, Dragon Lounge was the very first live gig he played back in 2010, and now our prodigal son is returning fresh on the heels of Coachella to the next installment of Dragon Lounge at the Kava Lounge.  That's 2 lounges for the price of 1!  Speaking of price, this event is only $5, with drink specials all night.  Pretty much the best event in San Diego this weekend from what I can tell.  Also playing this magical night will be Arkon, Misk, and Goldenchild, who, in my experience, never disappoint.  Support your San Diego bass music scene (clearly we're a cheap date), and come out to Kava Lounge this Saturday - you know you don't have anything cooler to do.

Gridlok in LA this Saturday, 5/11 Presented by Timeless DnB!

This will be Timeless DnB's first installment of "Special Edition" shows, brought in part by Technical Support TV, and they're starting with a banger!  Gridlok (RAM Records, Area 51) and BLE3K (Viper Recordings) will be killing it at Rain Nightclub in Los Angeles.  Also playing will be local heroes Adamantium, Renegades of Dub, and Holic, with J-Tec and San Diego's Ridda on the Mic. 

The event is 18+, so be forewarned crochety old junglists.  Seems a small price for this lineup though  The price for 18+ will be $15 and 21+ is $10, but you can RSVP on the Event Page to get a $5 discount.  $5 for Gridlok and BLE3K!  Sounds like a hot and cheap Saturday night in LA, my kind of night!

Tonight 5/6/13 Organized Grime Welcomes Zyfo and More!

Only 5 hours until the next Organized Grime installment - OG has been going strong for quite a while in San Diego now, and it's great to see a Monday weekly be this successful.  OG is always free, always has cheap drinks, and is at one of my favourite venues, the AC Lounge.

I met Zyfo this past weekend at I Like it Dirty, and he seems like a really nice guy who's passionate about bass music, and wants to do what he can to keep it going.  We need as many of these types in the scene as possible right now, so I look forward to seeing what he can do on the decks.  He works with Gamma Audio and sets up systems for events, so I'm sure we'll see clean levels in his set and dedication to precision.

The full lineup for tonight also includes OG's own ADP, Roane, and XBassMagX, with your resident MCs Oozi, CSD and Disekt.  Throw your regard for a healthy sleep schedule out the window tonight and come out to support these guys!

Set Times for I Like it Dirty Tonight 5/4. I Have Them!

Just a quick post so you can schedule your partying accordingly.  I Like it Dirty will be $15 at the door before 11pm unless you already got your pre-sales like a smarty (aka unlike me).  There will be 2 rooms going strong until 4am (room 1 looks like it'll be going all the way till 6!)  Make sure you down those Red Bulls and come correct!  Spin Nightclub in San Diego!  Set times are below.

PS I love the name of Room 2.  Hilarious!

 

AREA 1 - BASS BLASTIN'
10:00 - 11:00 6Blocc
11:00 - 12:00 Osal8 & Squama
12:00 - 1:00 Dysphemic & Miss Eliza
1:00 - 2:00 Evol Intent
2:00 - 3:00 Mr Vandal
3:00 - 4:00 Havok Mega & MK Ultra
4:00 - 4:30 Gum B
4:30 - 6:00 Malfunction & Streetsweeper

AREA 2 - ANTI WHACK AUDIO SURVIVAL
10:00 - 10:30 Streetsweeper
10:30 - 11:00 Beatkillerz
11:00 - 11:30 Kechup
11:30 - 12:00 Uncut
12:00 - 12:30 Kial
12:30 - 1:00 Peacemaker
1:00 - 1:30 Peligro
1:30 - 2:00 Gum B
2:00 - 2:30 Pandagrass
2:30 - 3:00 Malfunction
3:00 - 3:30 Zyfo
3:30 - 4:00 Lockjah

NYC This Friday 5/3 Femme Fatale! All-Female DJ Performances, Art Show and Live Art. Sounds Sexy!

This Friday in Brooklyn Aram Sun and Electric Essence present Femme Fatale, Ep. 001 at Public Assembly in Brooklyn  This all-female electronic music showcase will feature my favorite East Coast female DJ Empress, as well as Hardcore first lady Jen Mas.  There will also be an art exhibition, live art and a public canvas for anyone who gets inspired while there.  Looks like cheap drinks and free water as well.  If you're in NYC and can't Dirty Birdy it up with us on the west coast, this looks like the place to be!

Evol Intent! 5/4 Drumz & Elev8 Presents I Like it Dirty

The dirty double-play continues on Saturday May 4 as Drumz and Elev8 bring you Evol Intent at Spin Nightclub in San Diego.  Those of you who can hang will have been to Dirty Birdy electro edition at Taste & Thirst on Friday 5/3, but this is the main event as far as I'm concerned.  Spin is one of the few clubs in San Diego that's grandfathered in to a clause that allows it to stay open until 4am, and Drumz has thus packed the lineup full of massive talent!
Evol Intent's set will undoubtedly be awesomely nasty, but also playing will be 6BLOCC (RAW, BBOY3000), Havok Mega, The Beatkillerz, Dysphemic & Miss Eliza, Mr. Vandal, Peacemaker, Uncut, MK Ulltra, and Gum-B just to name a few.  For the full line-up, visit the I Like it Dirty event page, and you can get pre-sale tickets directly from the Elev8 Fan Page.  I believe there will be 2 rooms of griminess, so wherever you go, you shall be bombarded by bass!  There will also be the best art in the biz by Spectr, way more coolness than most of you even deserve!