Kid Ginseng

Kraftjerkz-010 DJ Quest & DJ 2 Fresh / Luke Eargoggle & Johan Inkinen

2011-12-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

12" vinyl for sale: DOWNTOWN304
search "Kraftjerkz"
audio preview clips are there.

Various Artists

Kraftjerkz Number Ten

DJ Quest & DJ 2 Fresh / Luke Eargoggle & Johan Inkinen

Electro Pilot/ Pray To Belong

KJ010

Features DJ Quest and DJ 2 Fresh of San Francisco's Mission Cartel with fast scratching and edits, electrofunk megamix style. Plus purist electro from Sweden by Luke Eargoggle and Johan Inkinen of Stilleben and Kust labels. The record also features dub versions on side B to create your own remix using two copies.

DJ Quest of Bullet Proof Scratch Hamsters/Space Travelers set multiple standards for what would become the 90's turntablist movement including pressing the first battle record tool with DJ Eddie Def and DJ Cue in ‘93.

label design: Leslie Burnett

2011-08-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

Luke Eargoggle/ Johan Inkinen/ 240 Interceptor "Autopilot" by Kraftjerkz
get it at Clone.nl

Luke Eargoggle/Johan Inkinen/240 Interceptor/Kid Ginseng

2011-05-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

purchase 12" vinyl here:
DOWNTOWN304
there is a streaming audio player there

search "Kraftjerkz"

Aviators V/A
Kraftjerkz-007

Label Design by Tiffany Pilgrim.

Flight 007 will be arriving on schedule. The Kraftjerkz Aviators meet as Sweden’s Luke Eargoggle, Johan Inkinen, 240 Interceptor, and the American Kid Ginseng. The first order of business is the Swedish “Autopilot.” Let the bassed-up crowd find delicate layers a la Faceless Mind amidst of our favorite “Numbers” beat. Kid Ginseng makes a 150 bpm “Computer World” turn with “X-1 Speed of Sound.” There is a bonus beat on side B, stripped, drums-only. When recently aired on Intergalactic FM, The Hague’s I-F slipped when he said the record was probably from Gothenburg etc. We enjoyed that. Flying private, commercial, or government aircraft becomes a mere subject when the launch of Flight 007 affirms that this soundtrack is, in fact, both below and above the clouds. Don't be late.

Kid Ginseng "I Said I'd Take You to China, 2011"

2011-05-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

Kid Ginseng "I Said I'd Take You to China, 2011" by Kraftjerkz

Free Download
brand-new version

Kraftjerkz Megamix '11

2011-02-26T16:35:00.000-08:00

Kid Ginseng "Kraftjerkz Megamix '11" by Kraftjerkz

Free Download.

Kid Ginseng mixes, cuts, and scratches together a brand new five minute megamix with vinyl from the Kraftjerkz label. 133 bpm turntable production. some ghetto robotics in the house with electrofunk for 2011.

contains samples from:
Kid Ginseng "Stun Gun"
Yellow Beach Balls "Funwave"
Entro Senestre "Ride The Faderz"
Kid Ginseng "I Said I'd Take You to China"
Mike Dextro "Dirt Rock"
MANASYt "Enemies of Reality"

Tom Tom Club on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

2011-01-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

photo: Lloyd Bishop/NBC

it was a really refreshing experience. I've been the turntablist for Tom Tom Club since '02. Jimmy Fallon was a gentleman and knew the groove in his head and body. The Roots were very appreciative and supporting. I heard from a friend that it was strange watching from the audience without the camera zooms and pans that make for TV magic. I wasn't very nervous since I didn't drink as much coffee as usual and I thought to myself about the really laid back people I know, without looking dead (ha!). and stared at my band-mates to make sure my cues were on point, in the 2 tracks we played. especially "Wordy Rappinghood." NONE of the music gear was broken or anything:) phew...

best wishes for the rest of the new year:)

:)-Kid Ginseng

Kraftjerkz 005 Entro Senestre/Kid Ginseng/MANASYt

2010-11-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Entro Senestre "Ride The Faderz" by Kraftjerkz

purchase 12" vinyl here:
DOWNTOWN304
there is a streaming audio player there

label design by Tiffany Pilgrim

The fifth release from Kraftjerkz is the deepest by far...an ass-shaking cross between Kraftwerk and a John Carpenter soundtrack featuring drum rhythms ala Computer World. This 12” features a roster of artists such as MANASYt, who’s austere sounds have been featured on labels like The Hague’s Bunker, and Entro Senestre of W.T. Records. Senestre’s track is even influenced by New Orleans producer, Mannie Fresh as well as New York’s latin Freestyle. Tom Tom Club’s Kid Ginseng made his vinyl debut in 2007 with his “Gift to Connect” ep which was circulated mostly around France and the UK. All three of these artists have been played by the Dutch west-coast’s Intergalactic FM. Kraftjerkz-005 will planet-rock any size room it’s played in.

retailers visit downtown161.com

Kid Ginseng "Eat em til I Die"

2010-08-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Kid Ginseng "Eat em til I Die" by Kraftjerkz

Yellow Beach Balls "Babak Sabouri EP" 12" on Kraftjerkz

2010-05-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

purchase Yellow Beach Balls 12" here:

DOWNTOWN304.COM

there is an audio player on the site:)

Kraftjerkz KJ-004
label design by Tiffany Pilgrim with drawing by Haley at breadofmany.blogspot.com

People from all around the world produce beautiful tracks using vintage gear. Yellow Beach Balls, a dance producer from Washington DC, is one of them. He is obviously absorbed in a time period before the end of the 1980’s when people were still into their classic Roland gear. Not only the sound, but his composition skills are finely developed as well. On his 12” “Babak Sabouri EP” he provides three italian influenced, banging club tracks as well as a more contemplative, melodic track which still maintains a driving beat. To preserve this style, please play these tracks to children after they’ve heard Limal’s “Neverending Story” Moroder production.

:)-robin KG!

( JAPAN ) Tom Tom Club Aug.8/9 Summersonic fest

2009-08-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

Playing in Japan in the band, Tom Tom Club in Tokyo and Osaka (took my shirt off.) ha. I love feudal Japan. I love modern, urban Japan(clean streets with anime-ish,earthquake-proof skyscrapers.) I feel like like my life is complete and can be content with dying now. Our interpreter, the lovely Ayumi took care of us and so did the stage techs. they swarm the stage like bees making everything ideal. There were also autograph sessions which I couldn't believe. The fans were using their best english possible and we were so happy to do it. Tokyo. Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku. J-pop. all types of food. soba noodles. chewing gum that makes your nose burn. bean flavored snacks. Osaka. Kyoto. Temple of a Thousand Budda's. green tea ice-cream with NO sugar in it, just tea. HEATED TOILET SEATS. There was even a small TREMOR... of the EARTH. no, really, it's true. here's the pix. quite a few of these were taken by my friend, Ray Palagy.

Anime City

Neon Shinjuku

Tha Streetz

Harajuku

Harajuku/Shibuya fashion girl

NUDY BOY! Harajuku shop for men's accessories.

I am a coffee snob (2 morning mug-fulls of esspresso) and these coffee cans were completely strong:) I drink Peets and Gimme.

the crowd was right into the groove.

autographs? RAD.

our touring group photo. 15 total. right before we got on the Bullet Train to Osaka.

Leiah and KG!

temple in Kyoto. Feudal era mania.

right after the 14 hour plane flight. sleeping sitting up.

it was unbelievably humid, as if you could cut through it with a knife. the Japanese had more smiles than I've ever seen in my life. and now I am trying to do it too:)
that's it.

:)-r KG!

2009-01-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

Luke Eargoggle: Interview by Robin KG!

2008-08-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't been following the DIY electro scene in The Hague, Gothenburg, Helsinki, UK etc. I got the pleasure of interviewing one of the most notorious of the electro scene known since the 90's. I could go on and on but let's talk to Luke Eargoggle from Sweden, who has released records on STILLEBEN, BUNKER and many other high quality core labels he has allied with.

myspace.com/lukeeargoggle

hello lukas,

I have been aware of you for a few years and think you have some of the deepest hardware tracks in the world:)

* What can i say. THANK YOU very much! (:

I know you had a hiphop background with graffiti. in my late teenage years I was collecting alot of electrofunk. did you collect old electro vinyl too?

* Thats correct. I started with writing and doing some electro boogie until i decided to dedicate my time totally to bomb the trains in the city of Gothenburg/Sweden where i live. It was really really great back then. My friends were djing alot then aswell so they bought all the old school classics which acctually was brand new at that time ofcourse in the mid 80´s. Back then i didnt collect i just loved it. The collecting started for me arround 95 i guess,

I notice you love the kraftwerk “numbers” drum rhythm. is this a special rhythm for you?

* Yes it is! For me its the utlimate beat ever. Cant help it makes me go crazy everytime i hear it. The song looking for the perfect beat is about that beat. Atleast for me. This weekend i was visiting some friends in stockholm and i found numbers 12" in his collection so i put it on (ofcourse to loud) and they just smiled at me like... " -Here we go again.... " (:

do you have any favorite synths for your many basslines? how quickly can you finish a good track? is this secret information?

* Well its no secret but its more fun if people find their own sounds/synths rather then me mention what i use. It depends, but i guess my personality and soul love certain sounds so naturally i look for same "worlds" all the time in sound/synth. Making a track usually takes few hours to one day. I think flow is a keyword for me and also a track is just a track. So for me its not nessecary to try to get all ingredients into one song. Enough is enough. Then i make a new song or concept with ideas. Perhaps i dont like it to much today but in 3 years it might be my best track ever.. Who knows (:

tell the people in the US about your label, STILLEBEN, and who are your favorite producers?

* My label been arround since 98 and focused on electro musik and some electro disco. For me it was very natural to start an own label instead of starting sending demos and let other people decide if its good or not. I / We liked what we did so it must be ok, worst thing that can happend is that you loose some money but that is not loosing because aslong you try and do something you belive you win. Money is just money. Its a nice tool but feelings are stronger! So just do it instead of wait for others improval... They dont get it anyways (:

My favorite producers are to many to name but i really like many oldschool producers. Man Parrish, Gerald Donald, Juan Atkins, Kraftwerk etc i could make the list long but it would just be boring reading. These days you hear nice stuff every now and then but most lack personality and interest for me in todays musik. Lately i founded really many nice Italo producers that made most beautyfull music so that makes me really really happy!

I notice you are having many ELECTRO DATABAHN parties up there in sweden. tell us about them. when did you start doing them? I have seen some footage on youtube

* Yes there been some stuff going on here and still is. Soon comes autumn and its electro time again! I love this music and people here do aswell so its nice atmosphere to make some things for me, us, and the people! If i dont do them who will make them... ?! I say like the Lonny & Melvin title of a record... " If you want a job done. Do it yourself "

ok, the CBS is finished, which made me sad for 2 days. have you talked to I-F? where do you see the future of actual hardware -made electro?

* Yes thats kind of sad but in some ways very natural perhaps. Ferenc had this station for som many years and really made most of us spoiled i guess. People think of CBS like a really big thing but its just some really beautyfull loving souls tryig to live their own life with quality. Now when it stopped maybe others should start their own stuff instead of get to sad or depressed. CBS will always be the best Music channel ever i guess. Too good, too much quality...

I think hardware is the best! But with software combination it perfekt, Most important is to have concept or ideas. Then your musik will get strong... People can buy all the machines in the world but without vision/drive it will not be so interesting... Hmm I think (:

what is your advice to musicians who make “do-it-yourself” underground labels?

* Just belive and do it. Simple as that. Have fun and you will get more fun!... Remeber..." ITS MORE FUN TO COMPUTE"

which of your new records are available to buy and where can people order them from? btw stilleben 031 sounds bangin’!

* Well there are pretty much in the making. Last year i worked much with a new little group called " Faceless Mind " Its together with my close friend Johan Inkinen who also run the Electro label KUST from Gothenburg aswell. New Eargogggle album is almost ready and is being released on Miami Based Transient Force later this year. Will be it different but same.

Yes the stilleben031 is really banging record with only producers from 031 area ( Number of our region ) There are some really good and pretty many producers concentrating on electro here. You can get it from smaller shops since stilleben have no exclusive distribution anymore... just search on internet or discogs and you will find stilleben records.

ok, changing the subject: Im sure you are a fan of US west-coast electro. my favorite track is “breakdown” by Unknown DJ. which is your favorite?

* Ohh another hard uqestion! But for me its the Egyptian Lover productions that influenced the most. " My House On The Nile " One of my best west coast tracks ever.

wow! I almost forgot to ask how you met egytpian lover and how you made a 12" with him. how did the two of you meet?

* Well we met in Stockholm at a gig after having some mail contact. Spoke some and later on we came up
with this idea of making something together and it bacame the Projekt " Egypt Ear Werk" Werk of art 12" KUST002. Future is here... data data data...

any last words?

Yes... Its a new day and soon coffee is ready... Can it get any better !?

Electro regards

Luke Eargoggle

thank you very very much! that’s all of my questions.

:)-robin KG!

"Planet Rock" graf by Eargoggle himself!

NIN at Mohegan Sun 8/7/08

2008-08-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Trent, Tina, Kid Ginseng, Josh Freese

The high budget light show was alot more than I'm used to seeing:)

enjoyed the whole thing.

:)-r KG!

Kid Ginseng shirts have been out for a little while. hand-screened with love by Kelly Gilleran on American Apparel shirts:) check myspace.

June Tom Tom Club shows lookback 7/6/08

2008-07-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

Boston June 27th

left to right: Fuzz, Tina Weymouth

I am the DJ for TOM TOM CLUB and we were happy to get to play some really posh shows with Devo, Gang of Four, and DAN DEACON. we played in Fairfield,CT then London (for 3000 seats), Brooklyn, and boston. london's meltdown fest was put together by Massive Attack where we played with Gang of Four. the Massive Attack guys were really cool. Brooklyn was june 26th and boston was the 27th with Devo. Tom Tom's were deep in the groove pocket thanks to Chris Frantz, the funk metronome.

in williamsburg, Dan Deacon's energy with the audience at McCarren Pool was more than impressive. the kids were ready to have a serious good time, just like for some of my favorite bands. even with such a big space he got the crowd moving. he was cool. traded Kraftjerk-01 "12 for his Crystal Cat "7 and some other stuff.

Dan at Mccarren pool

I met this guy named Benny from Baltimore who told me about his 8-bit project, ADVENTURE he mentioned he was about to play cake shop in manhattan. I think his stuff sounds rich with cool panning, good composition, and some sweet rutger hauer blade runner samples on "poison diamonds." His US tour starts in late august and his record will be out too:)

a great website from this baltimore artist collective WHAM CITY

that's all for now,
thanks,
:)-r KG!

Salut to the Liege scene! 5/14/08

2008-05-22T03:16:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing time in Liege, Belgium,thanks to my hosts, Nell, and Shaken. I Played with Brussels' Velvet Underwear and Leviathan. Then, a rad DJ set with Nell mixing 130bpm planet-rock beats, as Atone joins to add fast, but grooving skratching. Shaken also did a set with dubstep at the very end. Earlier that night, I walked with Shaken to the radio station for a promotional spot, thanks to Shaken's friend (please tell me your name again.) The show at la Factory was a blast and I spent the night at R-Mit's appartment. He makes hard, 8-bit influenced tekno. The next day I went to the Timeless Network shop and hung out with Bioxyd. Some of the other DJ's I met were Shore, who is part of Party Harders, and Symptome who loves music to be "dark and darker."

LIEGE IS A VINYL CITY!

KG and Nell!

on stage

venue

train sation:)

sold 15 records, not bad:)

thanks to Nell and the people reading this:)

best,

:)-r KG!

flyers: 1st part of '08

2008-05-21T09:39:00.001-07:00

live Kid Ginseng show with DJ sets from Lauren Flax
, Chris Frantz, and buddy, Mike Dextro

SUNY Purchase art school DIY party (OFF THA CHAIN!) sorry, sadly nobody took pictures. it was just packed to the walls with drunken college kids dancing to KG and Greg Dog's DJ set w/ electro/miami bass/dirty south/dubstep. a great time with great memories:)

Pianos party including Chicago's Alexander Bassett and New York's Ole

KG rocking:)

thanks folks. next blog= KG performing in Belgium 5/14/08

best,

:)-r KG!

VINYL IS OUT:)

2008-01-02T17:06:00.001-08:00

get it in your hands:)

TOOLBOX E-STORE
you can stream audio samples or hit up my myspace

WHOLESALE BY TOOLBOX, PARIS (visit them if you are there)

if you live in new york city:

KIM's Video and Music
6 St. Mark's Pl.
NYC
ph: 212-598-9985
mondokims.com

ETHEREA
66 Ave A
NYC 10009
212-358-1126
etherea.net

VINYL MARKET
241 E 10th St.
NYC
10003
212-539-1203

look for it soon at :

and la la land (shop) The Hague, Netherlands

timeless-network (shop) Liege, Belgium

OH, final note: Go See RUINER the next time they come to New York. They are soo melodic. nothing brutal. I went to see them with Paul (SIGNS OF HOPE) in a restaurant basement in Brooklyn. that was Dec. 2nd. some of the other bands I liked were TRASH TALK on malfunction records. and ENVISION. those young kids are on my top friends. I would post some of ruiner's pix but dance music heads might not care so much about the hXc. ha:) I still love it

best wishes and happy new-year to ALL!

:)-robin KG!

The Deep, Chicago (a few weeks back)

2007-11-19T11:06:00.000-08:00

HA!

New York based DJ, MIKE DEXTRO went on a rant, a few times about this Chicago warehouse party he played. About how the floor was in danger of caving-in:) He spun indie-techno.

sweaty pix:

Mike Dextro, far right.

ask mike for his track "The Agony" it's nice and melodic, and buzzy.

:)-r KG!

Melt Banana/ Vaz @ Club Europa! BK

2007-11-17T14:44:00.000-08:00

photo: Daniel Corrigan, Minneapolas 6/24/07

I went to see MELT BANANA on Nov. 11th at Club Europa, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It was a posh place! Melt Banana hit the stage hard with rapid double-time drumming, short, fast guitar riffs, and cute-as-hell shouting. The voice cut so sharply and guitarist, Agata, created sounds which ranged from a recognizable hardcore punk to moments similar to Thurston Moore's. Except these sounds were executed faster and tighter. The opening band was called VAZ,who have been playing with Melt Banana. The vocals are pretty sparse at times and are not verse/chorus/verse, which isn't needed anyway. All three guitarists were playing telecasters. twangy as fuck. They had a sound which reminded me of THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES, or The Minutemen. If you check them out, Vaz's recordings are great. The dirty drums don't intrude on the guitars and all of the instruments are warm sounding. Over-all the night was fun and not boring at all.

Check out this youtube. it's the best sounding version I found from that night. You can easily hear the guitar.
MELT BANANA ENCORE AT EUROPA (youtube)

Here are some bad cell phone pictures from that night. They look sort of like impressionist paintings. I'm a blogger without a camera. what are you gonna do:(

And here is a pic from a VAZ show.

I'm going to get a camera:) definitely check out the youtube!

and best wishes,

:)-r KG!

Kaiju in BROOKLYN nov. 9th!

2007-11-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

More Better Fighto match from KAIJU BIG BATTLE was held at The Warsaw in Brooklyn last week on Nov. 9th. I interviewed Nick de Jardins who works on Kaiju, earlier in this blog. It was my first Kaiju show and I didn't know the plot but the play-by-play narrative from the announcer was really entertaining. If you haven't seen it, those monsters slam eachother! Im glad my introduction was a live show and not a DVD. Cameras weren't allowed, although everyone had them.
here is a pic I found from that night .

The Kaiju champ for that night was Call-Me-Kevin.
The after-party at Matchless was fun.

:)-r KG!

HOT CROSS: RIP

2007-09-02T05:18:00.000-07:00

I'd be happy to credit this photographer if I knew who. sorry, someone fill me in.

“It is with a dream and a heart that we proceed; not a thought to leave behind not another lifetime we need”- Consonants

All the fans know already, that HOT CROSS is indefinetly inactive. They thank their fans for 7 years of support and say that they need to spend time on the rest of their lives outside of the band. 7 years is a long time. longer than Joy Division was around. Hot Cross have left a good amount of recordings behind them. all of them on the relatively non-mainstream, Level-Plane, besides the latest. The run-on sentences of Billy’s lyrics provoke thought. The music creates an overwhelming mood which is pleasurable to us. They also challenged themselves musically and didn’t get stuck. That should command the utmost respect for an artist(s)

“and so we’re aimless caught behind and left without, it’s worse than morbid and less than funny the way it turned out” - Between Minutes and Miles

Thank you Josh, Billy, Greg, Matt, and Casey

best wishes:)

LEVEL-PLANE.COM/HOTCROSS

MYSPACE.COM/HOTCROSS

Their Level-Plane releases can be found at 29north records HERE

The best shirts they have are available from Shirt Killer HERE

order their latest, Risk Revival from MERCH NOW or Equal Vision.

I only got to see them twice, damnit. and they were right under my nose:(

:)-r KG!

WE SLEEP ON FLOORS + SHOWS...

2007-09-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

First of all,
the Kid Ginseng track "We Sleep On Floors" is mixed and mastered. The whole track went through Neve eq's from the 1970's for a warm-as-hell sound quality. you can listen to it HERE

Kid Ginseng, Den Haag '06 w/Chicks on speed

no, I'm not in a metalcore band:) I make electro influenced by the west coast of holland sound (BUNKER RECORDS). also electrofunk from new york and california 1982-1989. some italo disco. and the way Suicide was recorded. recent influences include MAGAS from ADULT.'s old label, Ersatz Audio. a few years ago I found out about DJs like Stel-R. he holds down the entire Bruxhell electro/punk scene is Belgium. other influences of mine include a few types of hardcore. my favorite bands right now are SIGNS OF HOPE, DEAR TONIGHT, MODERN LIFE IS WAR, and Im about to order the new RUINER record from Bridge Nine. I stress again, check out Dear Tonight from Brooklyn. also check out this band FLAGS similar to City of Caterpillar, Saetia. they are cool guys and don't live too far from me.

COME TO THIS SHOW////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

LOVERS AND THIEVES are playing

also playing are:
CT's synth rockers WELCOME

more shows are listed HERE

Moving right along then:

This dude doesn't even get paid to look like a troll! ha

Here I am with my new friend at a medieval festival this summer at Moncontour, in the Bretagne area of France. This day was disneyworld for metalheads. ha!

here I am in france at a pagan site. large druidic rocks. sombre.

anyway... news: in order to have a vinyl release in europe Jonny Steady and I are pressing a "12 Kid Ginseng ep. we are putting it out on our own KRAFTJERKZ RECORDS with help from our friends, La La Land Records. it's going to be a while until we get the test pressings ect. but if you are a DJ who likes Kid Ginseng, bug us about it and we'll give you one for x-mas:) stay tuned to find out which fine mailorders and stores it will be in. it should be available in paris, brussels, den haag. why europe? vinyl is a great sounding alternative to the mp3 and they love it there. they hold electro down, more than anybody besides Detroit or Miami.
that's all for now... next up, Im going to write about the late, great Hot Cross.

:)-r KG!

Hilly Kristal CBGB founder dies at 75.

2007-09-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

On August 29th, 2007, Hilly Kristal, CBGB founder, died of cancer at age 75.

Tina Weymouth, founding member of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club Had this to say:

Hilly was the best of men in the worst of places. Humble -- we think of him tranquilly sweeping the front sidewalk after long hours of hardcore mayhem -- he was impossible to intimidate. He kept his cool, first with the Hell's Angels, then with the punks, and finally, to the end, with the little bourgeois landlord who, not content with milking the city of millions with a phony "hospice" operation (the flop house upstairs), opted to evict him in favor of even more lucrative rents from some corporate chain store that, with ironic justice, has never materialized. (And who would dare? That hallowed block bounded by Joey Ramone Way is still too sacrosanct.)

It's a little too early to make history but Hilly's CBGB's is already a legend. Like some uncannily knowing art gallery collector, Hilly got things to happen by allowing them to happen. He instated blessedly few restrictions (the strictly pragmatic to keep the fire department happy) and he never EVER tried to impose his artistic vision on the musicians. Virtually devoid of greed and totally unfazed by the powers that be, Hilly was never much tempted to cash in on the success he was instrumental in helping his bands to achieve. Akin to our great UK favorite, Tony Wilson, his art was the artless willingness to support us to grow better utterly without favoritism.

Hilly was super cool. He led the kids not by lecturing but by example. For years and years he kept his day job, a backbreaking piano and refrigerator moving business, so as to keep the ticket prices low for the fans and the profits and sound systems optimal for the bands. He had a dream and he fulfilled it. When he was made to leave the Bowery he took it all with him -- graffitti'd walls, the stiletto etched bar, the neon signs with the greasy dust an inch thick, the toilets (never mind what still clung to them!) -- he took it all to be rebuilt in the seediest part of that revolting West Coast mecca of the decadent, Las Vegas. He did it for the kids. May they mosh forever as Hilly's spirit carries on through their own inspired enterprises.

Hilly was a big guy with a big heart. Personally, we're going to miss him like water. Our kids are going to miss him, too. CBGB's was the last place their hip little underground bands could play in Manhattan. They'll have to cross the bridges to the boroughs and to New Jersey now, same as all the other young artists attempting to make their way in NYC today. It kind of makes you wish for a big economic recession like we ourselves had that made CBGB's possible for Hilly and the 70's so great for the Manhattan art and music scene.

"Pornography"w/Mike Dextro, Ole, DJ Duckcomb @ Pianos, June 27th

2007-07-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

middle: Mike Dextro

Here I am with LIGHTING BOLT’s second CD in the background. It’s distracting me from this review so I just turned it off. I went to Pianos on the lower east side of Manhattan and the music in the upper lounge embraced me. It was “Pornography” night, last wednesday, june 27th. OLE was spinning mash-ups and MIKE DEXTRO joined him for some 909 rave stuff. It was good laptop DJing. No “tan-man-with-spikey-hair” shit at all really:) Mike dropped a familiar Bucketheads (Kenny Dope Gonzales) house track, and also the JUSTICE remix of Daft Punk’s “human after all.” Mike makes his own tracks that you can listen to HERE. Next up after Mike was DJ DUCKCOMB spinning only vinyl. He spun some minimal disco that I hadn’t heard before plus some mainstream disco classics. Everyone listen to BANGKOK IMPACT on Holland’s BUNKER RECORDS. His sound quality is deep. Mike Dextro has his own parties (MAGAZINE MAGAZINE, HEROINE CHIC) and DJ Duckcomb has his SHAREGROOVE events with Shakewell.

Shakewell (left) Duckcomb (right)

Thanks to mike for the party pix:)

Also,thanks to XIAOTING for helping me find my way around that night, as usual. She is a music journalist (among other things) from China covering a large variety of rock. She has written for China's Rolling Stone and works for Annex, at the moment. She is constantly branching out in the indie music scene. she lives in new york and is illmad-rad, in general:)

:)-r KG!

Kaiju and Nick:)

2007-06-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

First hand experience working on KAIJU BIG BATTLE from NICHOLAS DES JARDINS, an integral member of the Kaiju force:)

"Really any live show is going to be fun. There is so much build up to them with writing scripts, matches and practicing, and building buildings, props, sets, and costumes, and so much stress over how the show will go. When it all begins and Louden begins his introduction, this adrenaline rush of calm washes over, and it doesn't leave till the fans do. I mean the calm doesn't mean that I'm not running around backstage yelling at people waving about monster hands and heads, as I shove them out into the spotlight, but a calm to my nervousness of... will the fans like us/get us."

"As for more in-depth sort of info, shows usually involve at least a month of set up before hand. On the day of we load in, set up the ring, set up backstage, have matches walk throughs and whatever other practice people feel they need, a final talk through and wait nervously as an opening band usually plays."

"My favorite monster is Gomi-Man. He is big, so impressive, he's a bad guy so more fun to play (you get to drench people in "toxic sludge"), and one of the few costumes that I feel have an expression on their face. He is also made of "trash" so the easiest and most fun to repair."

thanks for everything nick!

:)-r KG!

last friday, june 15th Rubulad loft party (brooklyn) + KG news

2007-06-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

ok, news update
The Kid Ginseng track featuring Paul of Hope has been recorded. we had a great time in the session and in addition to his voice, he contributed lyrics. The 3 layer, harmonized crew vocals sound illmad rad. expect it to be on my MYSPACE, mixed and mastered within the next 2 weeks:) take a minute and check out Paul's band SIGNS OF HOPE positive attack,GO!

Moving along,
The Rubulad party had a great ambience. it all took place in a multi-room, 2 story loft, plus a rooftop. at first, the ornate decorating made me think it would be a hippie party, but no. it was a diverse DIY, and fun crown. There were 2 rooms with stages for bands, and then 2 DJ rooms.

The main dancefloor seemed to start off with funk/soul, then disco. and around 2 or 3am some moroder stuff came on! That is when I danced:) sorry funk/soul, I need arpeggios. then around 4-5am there was techno. it sounded good and i danced but the deep quality of the italo vinyl definately won. in the other room, the DJ seemed to play punk/hardrock like joan jet or the Slits.

one highlight of the party was the "igloo." it is a structure near the main dancefloor which is made out of paper mache, and lots of pillows. there are little nooks that you can climb inside. there is a bottom-floor nook, a 2nd story nook, and then the top of the igloo where one can watch the dancefloor. This tiny chillout area is where you are forced to meet people, which is a pretty cool idea. I liked it:)

the DJs consisted of:
Gimme Gimme Dan
Marty Violence
Sports Casual
Catalyst
B Dub
Justin Carter

The party is located on:
Flushing ave. between Classon and Taaffee
L train to Bedford ave. B61 bus on Driggs to Flushing ave.
then left under BQE. Rubulad is on your right just past the gas station

you can find out about Rubulad and more at DJ SMALLCHANGE.COM

Crystal Castles FUN party @ Studio B 5/25/07

2007-06-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

photo by Stuart Pillinger

So, when I saw CRYSTAL CASTLES weeks ago at Studio B I felt very comfortable. I missed seeing ADULT. there earlier this year due to crunch-time recording:( Anyway, Crystal Castles had stage presence due to their singer (alice?) doing NON-STOP jumping/jogging. The syllables were spaced in a way which allows her to move her body while shouting. at this show it was a 3-piece with a live drummer. so he was there along with singer, and hunched sequencer/programmer dude (ethan?). the singer had on a "T-Ball" childrens shirt, along with stretch jeans, but MORE important was the strobe-light! I believe it was the Bangers spinning. I didn't study the DJ's hard enough but dancing when that shit dropped was really fun. there was a moment of loud disonance that I remember. so I had a great night. special even. I was with my friend KELLY HERESY. in '05 we put together a HONG KONG COUNTERFEIT and THE MR MOVE show. He's got some europian dates! sick bra.

Anyway, here is youtube footage from the studio B may 25th show!

CRYSTAL CASTLES LIVE w/strobe!

so...more up-to-date info about artists, and KID GINSENG will be coming soon!

:)-r KG!

RANDOM:

KELLY

X0 !ALL-MINE! 0X

Favorite '07 hXc shows!

2007-06-12T17:29:00.001-07:00

Hot Cross

WOW! so much to catch up on! Im going to list some bands I've seen in '07, so far. I don't go to every show but I have my favorite bands. let's start with last january. I saw HOT CROSS at ABC NO RIO in manhatten. here is the link to Billy Werner's blog he does vocals:) I appreciate his love of dance music. I later saw them again at Cake Shop with TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR, because I couldn't get enough. as far as LEVEL-PLANE goes, I basicaly missed out on alot of innovative hardcore in the the 90's (while I was obscessed with DJ battling) anyway, Hot Cross replaced others as my favorite current band besides MODERN LIFE IS WAR It was my second time seeing them. I loved 538 JOHNSON. A brooklyn band that I've seen a few times is DEAR TONIGHT The track from the new record is recorded well:) the snares sound punchy.

you can see Dear Tonight this weekend june 16th at 538 johnson. it's a benefit for ABC no rio.

that's all for now:) next I am going to feature a few bands that I have played with...recently.

Richard Serra, KG show, and HNATIW!

2007-06-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

Yo bloggers,

I went to the Museum of Modern Art in manhatten last wednesday and saw the HUGE 15-20? ft. sculptures by Richard Serra, an american artist. the exhibit was displaying work from the 1960's to present, 40 years. one can walk around inside these huge pieces, and to me, the slant of the sculpture can upset one's balance slightly, plus again they are MASSIVE!

Check out the MOMA page for him and take the internet tour for yourself:) you can see a youtube video of them setting it up in the garden with a crane:) ch-check it!

Richard Serra at MOMA

here is a little flyer for a show I just played last sat. june 2nd.
DUTCH TRAIN: LA LA LAND, DEN HAAG, EXPRESSSSSSS!

the "dance kids" were slamming!!!

RANDOM:

what happend to the MASS. electronic duo, HNATIW? they have taken a long break and are apparently playing shows again:) I met tim and eric in northhampton mass, in '02. later on I traded shows with them a few times. they are fucking great! their myspace has been deleted but their website is up:

WWW.HNATIW.NET

you can even see footage of one of their performances here:

LIVE!

hands rocking the sequencers!

that's it for now, I'll keep you posted on shows and colabs!

-r KG!

5/15/07 blog debut!

2007-05-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hi,
This is my first blog ever. I'm finally joining the rest of the internet music and youth scene. I write and record electronic music and alot of it has vocals, sometimes instrumental. It is my outlet for the many compositions in my head:) you can hear my stuff on myspace at www.myspace.com/kidginseng

here is the website my label made for me Official Website

I play live:

This picture was taken in Jan. '06 in The Hague, Holland, opening for Chicks On Speed

Recently, on may 10th '07 I just got back from Paris and Bretagne, France. I was sitting at Cafe De La Marie, on the Place St. Sulpice, in paris, and I met Jarvis Cocker for those that don't know, he was the singer for Pulp, the best brit-pop band of the mid '90s (in my opinion.) you can listen to his solo music here www.myspace.com/jarvspace it's REALLY good.

here I am in port blanc in the french countryside. The land of druids!

right now Im about to play a bunch of Connecticut shows (see myspace) and teaming up on a recording with vocals by Paul of Hope. He is the singer for Signs of Hope
an amazing, melodic, youth-crew style hardcore band. a great band in CT and nationwide. Outstanding vocals. soo positive. I also have plans for september to record with Anat Ben-David. She will travel from england to the US. She was a member of Chicks On Speed for a while. you can look her up on my top friends on my myspace.

I have also been asked to collaborate with Hong Kong Counterfeit If you like italo disko, they are carrying the torch!

This is a logo for Kraftjerkz Productions which is myself with partner J Steady. He is the first on my top friends on myspace.

RANDOM IMAGES:

my mother taught me how to use this cassette 4-track in around '95 so I could record a casio. I used it's gritty sound up 'till '03.

here is the split EP I did with A Beautiful Lotus. "Her Best Days Outshine Me"