• Fiery Furnaces • DJ Krush• Year Future • Dieselboy • Tigarah • Belief • The Voices • Dakah • Danger Mouse

007 / FATNESS MONSTER

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NOFX Phat Bob interviews the legendary Fat Mike. Cut Chemist No damnit...he doesn’t wear a 40 The drunken duo shoots the shit about Sex, Drugs and Bush. 26 lab coat (in public)...it’s a parka for cryin’ out loud!!!

Rob Zombie The Demon Supreme of Monster Greg Palast Conspiracy freak maniac weirdo 34 Rock on creeping folks out by any means necessary. 22 pinko (and best-selling author) keeps it real. Mad real. Power pellets 04 10 Fiery Furnaces D.u.e. Your Homework 05 Violet chops it with Eleanor Friedberger while her Needy Bunny has a hare of fun at the singer’s expense. Tigarah 06 dakah 08 12 DJ Krush Japanese DJ saw a movie at the mall, and it changed his Baron Zen 16 life...and ours...and Japan’s...oh yah...and hip hop! The Weather Underground 18 Dan Mirvish 20 14 Year Future Lead singer and GSL Records founder Sonny Kay checks in A Handsome Profit 30 from the Road, and why he’d rather tour overseas (hint: Rachel Kann 38 it’s the food) The Lost Angeles Times 46 53 Danger Mouse AAron Axelrod 48 Haven’t you always wanted to get hammered with a cartoon character? Comics 52 Metales Y Derivados 54 56 Live Nation Resident hater of the much-despised Clear Channel Jake Ill-Literacy 58 McGee fills us in on the sordid nefariousness behind the BHL 62 ever-growing concert monster. Boom Boom Satellites 64 60 Dieselboy Belief 68 Why unleaded and super unleaded can help cure head- Blu Leaf 70 aches...screw that! Get down and dirty to top knotch Drum n Bass! Huh? Must be the drugs... The Voices 72 270° Reviews 73 65 Ecolibrium Apparently, Mother Earth did not go through with her sex Fun Time 79 change operation, but hot damn is it muggy in Ohio these DJ Dusk 80 days! TM MY TWO SENSE It was coming down to deadline you’re running around like a maniac.” crunchtime, and in addition to cursing the NBA for an unwarranted suspension Micah’s mother was recently diagnosed Editor-In-Chief Environmental Health of Jerry Stackhouse, I found myself with cancer. Micah and his siblings are Wasim Muklashy Coalition, Kristi Curtis, Nick [email protected] Taylor, Ill-Literacy, Thierry expressing to our Managing Editor Micah taking care of her 24/7 as you read this. Dudoit, Virginia Melin, Syd Lashbrook my concern with the incredible As I write this, I am being informed that Managing Editor Kato, Ernesto Rosinski, Scott insanity-inducing workload that we seem he is rushing to the emergency room Micah Lashbrook Mackie, Marlin George, James find ourselves dealing with. What he told once again to be by her side. We weep. [email protected] Sullos, David Obenour, Joe Russo, Mozie, Shuda, Cluz me as I deliriously sat there staring into Associate Editors the future will stick with me forever: This one’s for the Lashbrooks, especially Bob Freville Alicia...so we can all find the strength [email protected] “Hang in there and keep putting one to keep fighting the good fight! Jake McGee Micah would like to thank his [email protected] beautiful mama Alicia for her foot in front of the other. Any problems Simone Grey overwhelming love, support are hardly that unless you want ‘em Looking forward… [email protected] and unending inspiration to to be. Real problems will overtake you ‘think wide, and be kind. when they come around. Literally. Just Wasim Muklashy Art Director & Webmaster remember, these aren’t really problems Shadi Muklashy even though they feel and seem like it. [email protected] PLEASE SEND ALL Enjoy your day as much possible while CORRESPONDENCE, Marketing Director SUBMISSIONS, & Justin Smith QUERIES TO [email protected] KOTORI Magazine 3253 S. Beverly Dr. CONTRIBUTORS Events & Promotions Los Angeles, CA 90034 Director VIOLET FEWES JT Taylor or email Violet earned her artistic wings by scribbling dirty things [email protected] [email protected] on notebook covers and being the first person to ever make Marketing & for advertising sketches by taking hair and molding it into forms on shower Advertising Reps [email protected] walls. The steam has lingered ever since and now the fuse Jeff Cheema burns brighter than ever as Miss Fewes tears up the page, [email protected] Published by using everything from pastels and ink to crayons and ash, Justin Smith Kotori, LLC bringing us the haunting and remarkable. A flower and a [email protected] four-alarm fire all wrapped up in the body of a little girl. JT Taylor The views and opinions [email protected] expressed within these pages Advertising Animal do not necessarily reflect Shana Nys Dambrot [email protected] those of KOTORI Magazine, Shana Nys Dambrot is an independent art critic and author and vica versa. This is simply based in Venice, CA. Her fine art & design reviews and features Resident Artist a forum for free expression. have appeared in Modern Painters, ARTnews, tema celeste, Jason Mascow Artweek, Angeleno, Art Asia Pacific, Intersection, TimeOut LA, All claims and statements Lifescapes, Juxtapoz, One World, Set Décor, Fiber Arts, Venice CONTRIBUTORS made herin are nothing but Magazine, Hot LAVA and Coagula Art Journal. She is currently Aaron Axelrod, Shana NYS that...statements herein. Dambrot, Violet Fewes, Molly You can interpret them as the LA Managing Editor at Flavorpill.net and a Contributing Hahn, Daniel Kutner, William facts, you can interpret Editor at its affiliate publication Artkrush.com and at Artweek. Brofee, Amy Wallenberg, them as faction, all we ask Rachel Kann, Michelle is that you interpret them. Schwartz, Sonny Kay, Pierce Molly Hahn Jackson, Asha Azhar, Dan www.kotorimag.com Hello, my name is mollycules. I like to draw cartoons. I am Kutner, Mike The Poet, © 2006 Kotori, LLC Mindy Nettifee, Terence assisting Kazu Kibuishi with his latest graphic novel entitled Patrick, Scott Shapiro, Kazu AMULET, which is being released early next year. I become Kibuishi, Chris Applehans, volatile around certain substances such as cheese, pearl jam, boys, and other peoples ice cream. I spout words and doodles at www.mollycules.com and at myspace.com/neopolitanhat.

Daniel Kutner Daniel Kutner is your run of the mill angelino-slacker-nerdcore- hipster-mac-owning-photog-animatin’-writer with a penchant for bullshit, brief-relationships, hyphens, and Ford V8s. ASIDE - to the girl who wrote “I ❤ Dan Kutner” on the door of the first stall in the women’s bathroom at Barney’s Beanery – CALL ME, I like your penmanship. William Brofee William Vergil Brofee is a secular cult leader who works a very esoteric job in electronics. After hours Brofee toils as a nature-loving polygamist with a roster of pasty minions who all bring him Kool Aid at the drop of his hood. This is his first time writing since the ill-fated Vergil Manifesto of 1999 which, sadly, ended up at the bottom of the Long Island Sound. He is not happy, but then again, neither are you. Read his words.

P|O|W|E|R|P|E|L|L|E|T|S

Quite a few new faces will grace the lineup The web’s leading independent music Richard Linklater (Before Sunset) and writing, of Jam Cruise 5, including Derek Trucks Band, resource is confident that it will top anything producing and directing a sequel to his late- Drive-By Truckers, and Los Amigos Invisibles. they have done in the past. Line-up and 90’s underground hit Henry Fool. The They will join Jam Cruise favorites Galactic additional details are forthcoming. Make like follow-up, titled Fay Grim, marks the and Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Each artist will Alexander de Large and keep an eye peeled. second film for Hartley’s Possible Films play multiple shows during the cruise and (www.possiblefilms.com) that will will be accessible for autograph signings, be fully-financed by his production casual interaction, and music workshops. http://www.headcount.org/ company as well as self-distributed. For more details: www.jamcruise.com

Matt Friedberger, songwriting component of Uber-experimentalist bro & sis group The Fiery Furnaces, releases Harmony Korine his first solo album this summer. Friedberger (Gummo, Julien Donkey plans to drop this on us as a double disc Boy) is hard at work on entitled “Winter Women / Holy Ghost Language Mister Lonely, his first School.” If The Furnaces’ April release “Bitter traditionally-narrative Tea” was any preview of what’s to come, film. ‘Lonely’ finds a then we’re guaranteed to have our brains Michael Jackson scrambled and our feet turned to putty. impersonator living in a commune with disgruntled celebrity impersonators and falling No introduction in love with Marilyn Monroe. Korine, who swore necessary! Pink Floyd off any allegiance to his contemporaries and have announced the their techniques, is no longer working with release of their long- friends, lovers, and non-actors. ‘Lonely’ is set awaited two-DVD set to star a roster of It-personalities from Diego “PULSE.” The live Luna to Samantha Morton. Harmony is harmful performance of their once again. seminal recording The Dark Side of the Moon will be available July Travel in Style. Help the Environment. Enjoy 11th and documents the benefits. Global Inheritance and Hewitt/ their 1994 Division Bell Tour. Hey you! Look for Silva announce the Tour Rider program at the it! Hollywood Bowl. Tour Riders are individuals taking public transportation and using the Park N Ride services to attend Hewitt/ Gregor Kvetch, aka Captain Jackass, lead September 39-October 1st will see the Silva produced concerts at the Hollywood singer of Long Island-based punksters Captain legendary Weekend of Horrors spooking the Bowl. Not only will all Tour Riders save gas, Jackass & The Assholes, was released on solemn inhabitants of smoggy Secaucus, New money, and time, but you get a gift bag $300 bail on May 26th after stuffing a jar Jersey. Highlights include a screening of Lloyd too. Check www.globalinheritance.com for of beets in his rectum in the middle of Kaufman’s latest Troma entry “Poultrygeist” more info and upcoming Tour Rider dates. a public shopping mall. As he left lock- and a panel on “Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror” up, Kvetch looked down at his personal with Winston Zeddmore himself--Ernie Hudson. affects and reportedly hollered, “Hey, The monthly where are my canned vegetables?!” independent film Hitler returns from the grave, asks subscription service to be exonerated...claims Holocaust Ironweed Films has was a sociological experiment that David Lee Roth plans another released a DVD curated “admittedly went a little haywire.” with movies that comeback. Nobody pays any explore the Middle East attention. conflict in creative and Marilyn Manson will take the plunge into different ways. Each filmmaking with “Phantasmagoria: The Visions month, you’ll get a unique, members-only DVD of Lewis Caroll,” a quasi-fictional biopic Dudely nympho-rocker Peaches drops her third packed with award-winning independent concerning the warped life and imagination LP on us. With a title like “Impeach My Bush” documentary and fiction films that explore of the Alice in Wonderland scribe. Manson, it seems like it’s the perfect time to scoop important issues of the day. www. who also wrote the screenplay, will star as that shit up. Viva La Resistance! Caveat: We at ironweedfilms.com Caroll alongside god knows who else. This Kotori Magazine do not discriminate. Though isn’t the first time Manson has written a script we prefer our women to be trimmed or shaved, (he tried and failed to get funding for Holy we admire the modern woman who can rock July 29-30 will see Union Park, Chicago Wood, a script he based off of his 2000 concept the 70’s crotch ‘fro. And I like Peaches! overrun by radical fans of radical music LP) and, hopefully, it won’t be his last. His with the Pitchfork Music Festival kicks off. big top tricks will always make us happy! Noted music commentator Jim Derogatis said of this of the Festival: ”Easily the best Hal Hartley, the ever more self-reliant of indie “auteurs,” is taking a page from outdoor music festival I’ve ever attended.” Kevin Smith pitches The Weinstein Company on

 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com “Jay & Silent Bob Vs. Bill & Ted in the Menlo adds that it’s “pretty intense.” I know what Park Mall of Death 3000.” Harvey races to you’re thinking and, apparently, so does Mr. pick up the phone...balances his checkbook. www.davaginacode.com King. “It sounds like a damn Slayer record.”

G.G. Allin rises from the Description-defying Pittsburgh act Black Moth grave with mouth still Super Rainbow collaborate with The Octopus covered in shit...proclaims “I Project this summer on “The House of Apples & forgot to bring my Mentos.” Eyeballs.” Their won’t be a calm neuron left in your body once you’ve heard this kind of crazy. Check em: www.blackmothsuperrainbow.com

September 23rd, 2006 San Francisco, CA. The tip of the Peninsula is wet with lascivious gusto and the wind whirls around like a Dervish If you’re in the Chicago area on July 22nd as Adam takes to the tongue and people don and/or July 23rd, then you better MOVE! their fun beads. All in preparation of the It’s time for the 2006 Chicago International most beautiful beat-driven bacchanalia of House Music Festival, being held at the new the 21st Century. Yes, it’s that time again. lake-front Charter One Pavilion. MOVE! unites It is time for SAN FRANCISCO LOVEFEST: an International melting pot of people of all A DANCE MUSIC PARADE & FESTIVAL. races, ages, and sexual preferences as well as Once you go black, you’ll never go back...or aficionados of House music. Featured artists ears...or nose...or head...or...uh...Rude Man include: Derrick Carter and Danny Tenaglia. Big & Black soaps and gels for every hair on Revolution Mother (the new band fronted by www.chicagohousemusicfestival.org pro-skateboarder Mike Vallely) will release your body. You know you want it...yup yup! its debut EP, “Enjoy the Ride,” on August www.rudeman.com 8th through Vallely’s own imprint Mike V. The End of the World has officially been Revolution Mother offers up an arsenal of pushed back from June 6th, 2006 to Speaking of…Slayer are set to release their new blues-based overdriven riffs, punishing an undisclosed date. God was worried disc “Christ Illusion” that same date. Guitarist hardcore rhythms, dynamic vocal deliveries that the potential success of The Omen Kerry King described their first release since and an uninhibited thirst for raw energy. would hurt his box office returns. 2001 as a “good mix of fast, brutal music” and

By:D. WasimU.E .M uklashyYour Homework

In all my 15 odd years of attending shows and events, never have I come across such a ridiculously perfectly orchestrated success...on their first attemp! When we first got involved with Dive Underground Entertainment, I must admit, we were a bit leary of how they were going to pull it off with such intricate precision. But as soon as I walked up to the Hangar 1018 in Downtown L.A., I first thought I entered the wrong spot. It was 9pm and the place was already packed... that doesn’t happen in the city of ‘fashionably late.’ The diversity of the crowd was awe-inspiring...everything from punks to club hoppers to clod hoppers to cons.

With artists including Chase, Nathan Matthews, and Bue, and photographers such as P.R. Brown and Daniel Cristol showcasing their work alongside two stages of live beats and tunes courtesy the Weather Underground, The Spores, The Chills, Lady Sinatra, DJ Dan Merlot, and DJ Unconventional Science (and about 15 more) in an unusually comfortable and roomy space that accomodated well over 500 people without a single ding in the bumper, D.U.E. Your Homework proved a perfect blend of aesthetics, art, provocative thought, music, and people. Oh, the arts and crafts and the open bar certainly didn’t hurt.

Bravo to Avtar, Nicki, and the Dive Underground Entertainment crew. They’ve managed to tap into a successful format of future mingling, where all walks of life came together, left behind the pretention and kept their minds open... all in a hangar in downtown L.A. Wow. We were extremely proud to be a part of it and can’t wait for the next one!! “I think music is really the place to introduce culture, and that’s what I’m doing.”

JapaneseTigarah Kitty Says Hello To America By: Micah Lashbrook photoS: AMY Wallenberg

Japanese artist Tigarah is an enticing handler Mr. D, who’s currently in symbol of musical globalization the studio with Tigarah fondling Perhaps the 24-year-old Tigarah is at its finest. A torrid MC who raps her first album (stroll her website most akin to M.I.A., the Sri-Lankan in both her native tongue and for 8 streaming jammers to hold born political refugee turned musical English, she’s sauntered up to the you over). Tigarah met Mr. D a activist, in that before picking up frontline of a burgeoning baile few years back during consecutive the mic she studied sociology and funk scene stateside by embracing visits to Sao Paulo and Rio. This is poli-sci at Japan’s esteemed Keio rumpshaker vibes from a myriad of after she had heard her first baile University. Ambassador aspirations trans-oceanic sources – all without funk song and experienced her gave way to artistic revelry when a record contract or full-length subsequent epiphany at a house the “system’s” pervasive corruption album to date. Dubbed “New party in Tokyo with some Brazilian sullied her altruistic dreams, if Generation,” Tigarah discusses her and Japanese mix friends. “It was only for a moment. Luckily for us music in a socially conscious tone. big, and loud, and it made me soo she’s found another medium to dance! I’ve never felt that kind of make the world a better place. “I think music is culture,” she feeling to music before, so I thought “The media is powerful, more declares in her staggered yet I could write something myself and powerful than politics now. So I assertive English vocab. “My music is I’ve been doing it ever since.” thought music would be the way to a mix of many cultures; my beats are let people know that we have to hip-hop, UK grime, crunk, Baltimore Her songs are an amalgamation of change the situation of the world.” club, baile funk, and also Japanese, feminine rappers the likes of M.I.A. I’m Asian! And I love the Brazilian and Lady Sov, whom she cites as After all, who listens to music in my style too, so I mix it inspirations, while the music blurts the President anyway? all up to create something new.” blaringly, gyrating in similar sonic seduction. Yet Tigarah’s delivery “I think music is really the is all her own – on tracks like X listen to soundbites at place to introduce culture, “Roppongi-Dori” and “Girl Fight!” www.kotorimag.com and that’s what I’m doing.” her cadence is varied and fresh, i www.tigarah.net sometimes emoting goo goo ga The beats are the brainchild of her ga to me if only due to my uni- co-production partner and live deck language Americano tradition.

 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

“A 70-piece hip- hop orchestra? Watching them live is like tripping daKAH: LARGER THAN LIFE without drugs.” By: Rachel Kann, PHOTO: Michelle Schwartz

In an oil-slicked sea of Clear deeper. Where could you find so dreamer extraordinaire. He’s Channel doldrums, daKAH is a many skilled, experienced, clas- the conductor, the composer, You can see them live for free at gigantic homemade pirate ship, sically trained musicians with the creator of daKAH. A literally California Plaza in LA on July 28th. filled with happy chanty-singing tons of the funky stuff in their larger-than-life character, GG badasses. A 70-piece hip-hop souls? Sure, big cities. Like New conducts his crew in a tux with Their latest album, III X 13, will orchestra? That’s epic-huge. York…but then, where would you tails and basketball shoes, like hit the streets concurrently. GG Watching them live is like trip- get the rehearsal space? The this is what he was born to do. tells me he has recently found ping without drugs; it’s com- time? There is a magic inevita- himself deriving inspiration from plete sensory overload. You’ve bility that mixes with the rarity Sometimes GG lets me come and such disparate sources as Fibonac- got to appreciate the scope. of something like this, grown join the party. It’s transcendent, ci and The Beatles. Music to my from deep Los Angeles roots. uncontrollable in that good way, ears. Throwing math and magical daKAH is so much greater than the prompting moments like this: At mysteries into the mix can only be sum of its parts. In Los Angeles, Despite outward appearances, Disney Concert Hall (where daKAH a good thing, and III X 13 will dem- it can be rare to find people who L.A. is home to a loving family of was joined by Rahzel on stage for onstrate that in spades, no doubt. are down for creating something musicians and artists that I am their Roots set), daKAH emcee larger than themselves, who proud to count myself among, David “Leggo” Rojas came up to Meantime, check out their live are down for a project from the just under the surface, digging me backstage after he had been albums recorded at California jump. Putting thoughts of cash our way to the light of day. out there, looked at my awesome Plaza and The Palace of Fine Arts and self-aggrandizement on the super-high heels and said, “Lose in San Francisco, and their studio back burner. Here, you have 70. Here’s the thing about daKAH: the shoes. It’s so intense, you are album, Unfinished Symphony, all someone had to be the mag- totally gonna fall over if you walk available from Kufala Recordings. Simultaneously, daKAH evokes the net drawing all these shiny out in those.” So I did, and I’m also-rare discovery of an “only pieces into one harmonious glad. Barefoot at Disney Concert in L.A”-type project. Where mass. Someone had to dream it Hall? Better than a spastic swan else could daKAH even exist? up. A huge hip-hop orchestra? dive into the audience, right? Nature always creates a bal- Who’d attempt such a thing? ance. For all the falsity in L.A., Check out daKAH. Superdooper- the underground goes that much Enter GG (Geoff Gallegos), size your booty shaking music.

 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

By:G ettinViolet FewesG Baked: AN interview with eleanor friedberger

This past Memorial Day weekend, came Eleanor’s reply. “It’s just “Well, on one of your tracks Eleanor was happy to report that after the beer went on ice but very beautiful. It’s very green…it’s you mention Metro North, the songs held more meaning for still hours before the first would seven o’ clock at night.” Aquaduct and LIRR.” her now that she had performed be cracked, I spent some time them live, something of a delayed smoking two bats of hero hashish— “Everything’s purple and sticky “Oh, right,” she said. “No, pay-off. As for the tour… one for me and one for my fallen where I’m at,” I said. “Yeah, that’s pure fiction.” Homeboys—and with my needy we’re baking in the sun at two “It’s not very theatrical. There bunny at my side, I was ready to over here.” I took a hit and The Furnaces had just wrapped a was a while there where we were go ear-to-ear with one Eleanor waited for her response. three week tour that ended in an playing a medley-style, performing Friedberger (no, the other Eleanor All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival, for fifty minutes without stopping. Friedberger; see: the vocally- “There’s been sun showers an hour south of London. The Now we’re playing whole gifted and decidedly sweet co- all day so the sun is shining tour was resuming the following songs…there’s no dramatic light pilot for the Fiery Furnaces). Along yet it’s still raining…It’s nice. week and Eleanor had stayed on show or anything.” Then she with brother Matthew, Eleanor has I’d like to get back to it.” for the remainder. She mused added, “Maybe next time we’ll delighted and distracted, dazed about the difficulty involved in have some special costumes.” and dazzled countless bipeds Her voice was soft and their latest recording endeavor of all sorts and stripes (count deferential…a far cry from the and the set-up of the latest tour. The thought of the Furnaces in both of our mothers as fans). haunting, crestfallen vocalization matching capes or day-glo spandex of the Furnaces’ music. “It was a really hard album to led me to my next question. “If The band’s newest album make…the longest we’d spent in you guys were comic characters Bitter Tea dropped in April “Where are you?” she asked. the studio. It was hard for me what would yours be about? Would and a little crow told me that because Matt had written most of you guys be in one together or Matt’s solo album is due at “Long Island. Actually, I think the songs beforehand and didn’t would you have your own?” the end of the summer. you’ve been here.” I laughed. make demos. So I had to sing them for the first time as we were “Are you really into comics?” “Where are you?” I asked. “W-w-what do you mean?” doing it. Tough to make something she asked suspiciously. She seemed bewildered. out of stuff that I didn’t know.” “…I have no idea.” “In the Galaway part of Scotland,” “Matt would love to spend the whole year in the studio...this was the longest we had ever spent on a record.”

of the FIERY FURNACES

Fair enough. “Do you guys have much. Matt did a solo record any crippling addictions?” “Yeah, they’re harmless, they’re “Most of it is totally made up,” that’s coming out. As long as it beautiful. Just a little scary. Eleanor admitted. “Nevers is doesn’t interfere with The Fiery “Not yet,” Eleanor intoned. “Matt Listening to it makes me jump about France, but Matt wrote Furnaces. Or if it does, whatever! is addicted to chewing gum. up and down mentally.” that and he’s never spent any It hasn’t been an issue yet.” Maybe I’m just being conceited…I time in France…Matt tends to don’t think I have any. Finding I fell silent for a moment and just not write from personal “Pardon the heavy,” I said. “But whole foods wherever we go, Eleanor heard the bedlam. experience at all…Borneo, where do you think you want to that’s become an obsession.” “Everything okay?” she asked. we’ve never been to Borneo. be when the glaciers melt and the lights go out in the sky?” Another is Matt’s obsession with “Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m outside. “Matt’s such a great writer,” she the music. Although their last LP We’ve got an Air Show…I have continued. “He’s written children’s “Right where I am at this (Rehearsing My Choir) was done a needy bunny at my side.” books...and books of prose that moment...about two hours quickly, Tea was recorded over a he should have published. I’d south of Glasgow…I was just month. “Matt would love to spend Needy Bunny: Ask her about love for us to do more music for looking at a rainbow. I can see the whole year in the studio…he’s the truffles, darling! children…I think that would be a the end of it now. It seems like into working long hours,” Eleanor good thing to do in old age. It’s so a pretty good place to be. I explained. “This was the longest “What was that?” Eleanor asked. much better than performing for don’t think it’ll even be affected we had ever spent on a record.” adults because you see so much by the end of the world.” “It’s my needy rabbit. more of an honest reaction.” “I listened to it since I got Sorry about that.” it,” I said. “And I’ve had “What if you guys want to do X listen to soundbites at some beautifully horrible Needy Bunny: I need some tea! something separate? Do you www.kotorimag.com nightmares since then. I discuss that or do you go to blows? i www.thefieryfurnaces.com gotta say, ‘Thank you.’” “Shut up,” I hollered at him. Do you have an understanding?” The interview resumed. “Nightmares?” Eleanor “You use some really specific “Yeah,” Eleanor said. “We asked, again confounded. places in the songs…” don’t really talk about it

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 11

“It’s like having two knives in your hands… and you’re chopping up your children…” DJ Krush: The Hideaki Ishii Remix By: Pierce Jackson and Asha Azhar

“It’s kinda scary you know. It’s that I could make to them.” this album gives Krush a chance English speaking rappers posed a like having two knives in your to look at what he has done. “I’m bit of an issue. Although there is a hands…” says DJ Krush as he The Album opens symbolically looking at steps I walked in the translator present when he works shakes himself from a near with the dark warning of Only past and steps I’m going to walk in the studio, it is still hard for lethal dose of Tokyo - NYC jet the Strong Survive. Futuristic in the future.” But this album is him to understand the rapper’s lag. “…And you’re chopping up tribal drums, a looming synth, not about second chances. Krush message. “When I work with your children to make something and a Japanese flute screaming doesn’t need any. He’s pushed his American rappers I still have to new.” The ringleader of Japanese out in the distance sets the eerie pulsing, space-orbiting beats from translate it to understand it,” he Hip-Hop has carefully retraced ambiance while CL Smooth’s voice the ground up and has shown us explains. But when “collaborating his steps of the past 15 years to weaves itself harmoniously in that Hip-Hop doesn’t always have with Japanese rappers, it is simply bring us a ‘Best of Compilation’ and out of the instrumentation. to be what everyone else is doing. interesting because it’s all in with a twist. Stepping Stones Japanese…everything [the rapper] – The Self-Remixed Best, a two With an 8 CD discography under His first encounter with Hip-Hop says goes straight into my head CD package, revisits classic his belt, each production has was at a mall where he found a and I can really relate to it.” tracks from Krush’s extensive been a building block, eventually live action WildStyle (the movie) catalogue and sends each groove molding him into the force he showcase displaying the different As Krush has gotten older he’s on a ride back to the future. is now. “One step at a time” as elements of Hip-Hop. There included more Japanese elements Krush puts it. “I can create the were B Boys, graf writers, MCs in his music. “I think I’ve become For Stepping Stones, he has world that I want to create.” and DJs. The very next day, he more down to earth,” he offers. challenged himself to rework While 1995’s Meiso was the first purchased turntables, a mixer, and “For Japanese kids, when you turn a consortium of his favorite of albums that included vocals, he a sampler, and hasn’t looked back on the radio, you don’t really hear productions from the past so purposefully stacked vocal tracks since. Krush worked exclusively Japanese music, it’s all American. that they stand-alone from and instrumentals back-to-back producing instrumental tracks and Including Japanese instruments their original counterparts. to prove that they could stand up is recognized as the first Japanese with Hip-Hop was something Artists like CL Smooth (“Only to one another. But on Stepping DJ to work with live musicians. fresh to me, cause you know, you the Strong Survive”) and Mr. Lif Stones he decided to separate don’t normally bang your head to (“Nosferatu”) remain, but while the two. “One thing I wanted In a 1997 interview, Marc traditional Japanese sounds.” the names of the tracks may be people to know is that Hip-Hop Wiedenbaum compared DJ Krush familiar, the sound they carry is could be Hip-Hop without rappers. to influential French film directors The completion of Stepping anything but. “I wanted to do It could be an instrumental Goddard and Truffaut. It is said Stones coincided with the M3 something more,” he explains. and still be Hip-Hop.” of the two that due to their poor (Miami Music Multimedia) summit, grasp of English, rather than focus a showcase during the Winter Krush has worked with an As his career established itself, on the dialogue, they watched and Music Conference in Miami, where unbeatable line-up of artists so did Krush’s confidence in focused on the film techniques Krush performed a set featuring from Black Thought of the Roots, his beliefs. He explains that it and styles that were employed. his new material. Following M3, to Guru of Gang Starr, Mos Def, has less to do with time and In Krush’s case, he was unable to Krush has had a busy tour schedule DJ Shadow, and many other context but has more to do with understand the lyrics in Hip-Hop taking him through Japan, Europe, esteemed hip-hoppers, but this personal growth. Strongly. “Hip- or the explanations from people and the Americas. When asked time he worked without any Hop should be open, wide open involved with the culture, so what keeps him motivated, of their input. “Usually when I to accept different elements. instead of focusing on the products Krush laughed and replied, work, there’s nothing painted. People tend to think this is what of Hip-Hop - the dance moves, “It’s the only thing I can do!” I start from scratch and work Hip-Hop is or this is what Hip- the songs, the scratching - Krush with [the] artist. But this time Hop should be. I like to look concentrated on the processes Good enough for me. it was different. I already had at it the other way around.” and what it takes to produce everything in my hands and I these elements. This allowed had to do something with what I Krush jumped from Japanese him to spend more time on fine- X listen to soundbites at had.” He admits that the process gangsta’ to bedroom DJ before tuning beats rather than simply www.kotorimag.com of morphing his own work was at finally falling into the coveted emulating the aesthetics of Hip- times difficult. “I felt sometimes category of internationally Hop that the US already created. that the tracks were so complete acclaimed ‘global DJ.’ A lot has that there were really no changes changed since the beginning and Krush found that working with Welcome to America, Now Drink Up and Leave By: Sonny Kay, Lead Singer of Year Future & Founder of GSL Records

Year Future just returned from a 5- do. It’s not like we’re talking about touring here. Here, in the United immaculate mansion-like squat, week tour of the U.S. After covering much money, anyway; a good night friggin’ States, where logic would or a massive empty garage filled all our expenses and paying our was five or six hundred dollars to suggest it can be “afforded” more with clean mattresses, fresh booking agent 10% of all the money split between us, and there were than anywhere else. Sure, you sheets and piles of clean towels. we were paid for playing, we came not that many good nights. To a might each get a ten-dollar cash In the morning someone will have home with $84.00. There are four European, I can only imagine how “buyout” for dinner upon arrival made you a hot breakfast, or of us and it hardly seems worth needlessly penny-pinching and at a venue, or if you’re lucky the maybe you’ll get a pile of fresh- dividing, but honestly, I’m just selfish everything, even “punk” place might even have a restaurant that-morning baguettes and half a grateful we broke even. I’ve been or “indie” culture, must seem in that’ll hook you up. But once the dozen things to stuff in them. This touring almost every year for 14 or this country. Don’t get me wrong, bar’s closed and you’ve been paid, goes for pretty much ANY touring 15 years and the economics of it none of them nor any of us have you’re on yer own. band. And you’re usually getting have never been as meager as they delusions of grandeur or any paid at least 100 Euros (about seem to be in 2006. unrealistic expectations. We met a In Italy, as with everywhere else $110), just for showing up, in most number of kind-hearted, hospitable we’ve traveled across Europe, cases quite a lot more. Of course, Part of the problem, money-wise, and sometimes even inspiring touring bands are treated like there are truly punk, community- was that two of those five weeks people on this last tour, and saw a visiting 4-star generals or long-lost minded - dare I say anarchist were in the company of the Italian lot of friends from previous trips, relatives. Load-in and soundcheck - people, venues, etc. in the U.S. hardcore band, With Love, our old bands, etc. Some of those are typically followed by a meal of underground, but they’re typically invited friends whom we paid great people were even promoters what we here would consider white associated with one or more usually exactly half of what the “package” or club managers, and some of tablecloth quality and variety well-known, road-seasoned bands; earned each night. Seeing as how them even put us up for the night. (this usually after you’ve gorged bands who’ve been to Europe and the workings of the “underground” But, overall, they were few and yourself on exotic cheeses, fresh- are embarrassed to invite their touring circuit in the U.S. are far between. Hospitality – the baked breads, fruits, chocolates new friends in Sweden or Holland essentially a cold and mean-spirited real meaning of the word, not the and crates of beer and mineral here to suffer the alternative rock- insult compared to the genuine icebox full of Bud nor the hummus/ water in the dressing room). It is club circuit and its indignities. hospitality afforded American bands veggie tray (both of which are a routine for the venue or promoter These bands too, are few and far in the vast majority of European comparative luxury, at times) – is to arrange accommodations for between. countries, it was the least we could simply not a part of the culture of you for the evening, be it a hotel, “Our government promotes racism, fundamentalism, and ecological devastation globally... never mind horseshit like the arts.”

The real difference, of course, any band a handsome day’s wage being here.” Considering just how an alternative to the mainstream, between us and them, is that for recording a Peel Session! Where few Italian punk or any other bands self-serving, war-mongering, all- most European countries and the fuck were their priorities? make it over here, it’s certainly consuming monoculture only to governments are still in the something of an accomplishment. wind up being a microcosm of, or a business, if you’d like to look at The whole point of touring is But, if their tickets hadn’t been breeding ground for it. We want to it that way, of supporting culture. supporting records, in our case supplemented by their government be part of something with a wholly By culture I mean a real, active, a new album, Year Future’s first. (not to mention certain prolific different set of values and ideals, dynamic, and in many, many cases Sure, on this tour we played for members’ lucrative art-world grant- something permanent and alive. a thoroughly non-profit culture. some decent-sized audiences and sniffing), the tour would have been I’m not talking about support for A non-television, non-corporate managed to sell a few CD’s and a total wash for them financially. punk music, per se, but for punk culture visible in almost any t-shirts, which just about covered I imagine it probably was anyway, living. And, yeah, while we’re at European city with a population breakfast and lunch every day for what with rental car, speeding it, we want bed and breakfast, of, say, 30,000 or more, sometimes the four of us. However, the vast tickets and all, but still. At worst, too. Imagine what’s possible much less. A culture for culture’s majority of the almost $7000 we it was a cheap vacation around the when your country’s not invading sake, for the (gasp!) people’s sake. were paid by the venues went to U.S. and a disappointing crash- others, wasting every conceivable We here, of course, are a proprietary pay for gasoline. The irony (OK, the course in DIY economics, American penny and every available life society based on private ownership humor) of our situation is that our style. There just isn’t the support on destruction. Imagine what and State’s rules. Our government record, First World Fever, couldn’t or interest in the underground here people might discover for and promotes racism, fundamentalism be more critical of the kind of that there is, per capita, all over about themselves if they weren’t and ecological devastation globally mentality and “values” powering Europe. It goes in and out of fashion endlessly distracted… with our tax dollars, never mind the U.S. and controlling, amongst in this country, and it doesn’t really “Liberal” horseshit like the arts. a vast sea of other systems, the require much of a commitment as Bands from Norway and Italy arrive prices we pay for gas. The reason it does in many other places around X listen to soundbites at to tour the U.S. with plane tickets for the tour, in essence, was to the world. Not that this was really www.kotorimag.com and even equipment paid for by promote the ideas that inspired news to me, but seeing it through i www.yearfuture.net their governments, cash doled- the content of the album, both the Italians’ eyes really made the i www.goldstandardlabs.com out as artists’ stipends or grants. musically and lyrically. The reality disparities obvious, not to mention Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and of the tour, however, was that in newly disappointing. others have vast networks of youth order to accomplish its purpose, centers that allow local promoters we were forced to betray its ideals. Anyway, my point is, we, the to book even the most obscure Ah, freedom. traveling bands of America, aren’t American emo band with very low expecting much and we don’t think overhead and thoroughly pro sound, Anyway, With Love did their we deserve special treatment. lights, you name it. Shit, even the two weeks with us and from all We’d just prefer not to be part of BBC paid every single member of indications had a total blast “just something that pretends to offer

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 15 Flippin’ Lids With Baron Zen Art: Violet Fewes By: William Vergil Brofee

People will tell you that there is no even knew about back in the day.” At the Mall is the conglomeration of a fondly recalls playing pranks on people Baron Zen. They will tell you that he series of recording sessions that took with Steve before he was the Baron. is the product of a warped mind, a “If your album was a casserole, what place between 1988 and 1992. “The bizarre alter ego created out of one kind of casserole would it be?” earlier songs were more drum-machine- “Where is Freedom located?” I queried. DJ’s desperate musical explorations. influenced punk,” Steve says. Take These people will direct you to a “More like a pizza,” The Baron, track 4 for example, “Fuckin’ Bored”, a “Freedom is all in your mind. Sure, phantom website where you will nay, Steve explained. “It would be fucking classic before its time. Back-to- we may hate the government read about a certain DJ Sweet Steve some sort of combo, a meat lovers back turntables were implemented for and all the Big Brother things it from San Jose and how he recorded deluxe. One song is pepperoni, Baron Zen to loop beats on tweaked-out is starting to do lately. But we do an album called At The Mall under another is sausage and another is numbers like “Burn Rubber” and “Turn have the freedom to record an the Baron Zen moniker. Here, a few salami. It’s all over the pie charts.” Around.” Then he adds seriously, “I was album like At the Mall, so no words with Señor Sweetness, a gifted really into Joy Division at the time.” complaints from me.” DJ whose carny tunes blend funk, “What was the name of the techno, alternative and hip-hop into a first song you ever recorded “Right after we recorded At The Mall To tour the dark and foreboding smorgasbord of reverberating jingles. and what was it about?” I brought it down to San Jose’s radio recesses of the Baron’s Mansion, visit us station, KSJS, and it became part of online at www.kotorimag.com for the “Progress and what it means to “The first song as Baron Zen is ‘At The their rotation. It helped that PB Wolf full skinny on Zen and how he created you in twenty words. GO!” Mall’ which is basically about teenagers and I were DJ’s on the station.” his own Creature Chorus in his cellar. hanging out at the mall. The setting “If today’s music, especially rap, is is Eastridge Mall in San Jose. Sitting For the uninitiated, PB Wolf is President progress, then progress is scary to me,” by the flowerpot near Sears, checking of Stones Throw Records, proud home X listen to soundbites at Steve pauses to ponder. “Progress is out girls and drinking Orange Julius. to Baron Zen’s LP, MF Doom and the www.kotorimag.com the Internet where I can find hundreds It doesn’t get any better than that.” late J Dilla among others. He is also of 80’s electro-funk songs I never Steve’s high school chum; a guy who

photo: Chris Hipolitto

The Weather Underground By: Dan Kutner

Everything you ever really need two people in the room unaffected to say Herpes is ‘spready’ (sorry our attraction to a group of to know about a band you can tell have their shirts tucked into Gwen, call me?). Melodic but people that were enabled by an from the way their singer jumps their jeans and are staring at sweet with sharp vocals that articulation of ideology and an into a crowd. Some plummet their Budweiser. Smiles, the range from a playful fervor to full- agency of revolution to strike out Eddie Vedder style, others ride splits, break dancing, prodding, blown hurrah, the sound adroitly against oppressive structures that inside giant inflatable balls pleading - anxiety manifest; embodies the bands philosophy. essentially sought to squander a – Wayne. Axl Rose once clobbered a few girls edge away at the Of note, the band’s name. freedom of thought and movement a fan, cancelled the show, and impending attention but change it felt to be divisive. The name is then fled from the ensuing riot. their minds and approach him. In The Weather Underground an expression, not a designation.” Anyone who’s witnessed the short order the stage is filled with Organization were a radical, standard fall-in / crowd-surf / clapping, embarrassed, smiling militant offshoot of communist The sound backs it up. How get-molested-by-the-fans (sorry friends. You drive home trying to revolutionary New Left – a late do just four young men Gwen, call me?) can recognize understand what you just saw. 60s / early 70s youth movement go about creating such a the beauty in this approach. out of Chicago, born out of forceful resonance? Somewhere, a god is opposition to the war in Vietnam. Harley Cortez of The Weather missing his fire. Notable for their rejection of “Through the laws of moments Underground takes this his own non-violence, the groups name is and time and space. We are direction – yours. Blink and he’s The bands recorded tracks a reference to the Bob Dylan lyric all the greatest of friends. We off the stage, blink again and (available now as a 3 song sampler “You don’t need a weatherman sing and create songs about you’re looking him in the eye. from an upcoming EP) hum with to know which way the wind what is going on around us He engages the crowd, lip to the same intensity and passion, blows.” Art and politics nipping and we do it passionately.” microphone to lip: all spirit and the same level of engagement. at one another’s heals. Here, pulse and passion. He provokes, The energy isn’t contagious, it art is snarling, teeth bared. pushes, begs, and convinces; the isn’t electric: it’s PERVASIVE. To audience feels it and they’re along say The Weather Underground Harley explains, “Our choice for the ride. It’s sport. The only sonically careen through a set is in the name is reflective of

18 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

House Humping with Dan Mirvish By: Jake McGee

The film Open House is a hilari- thought had certainly occurred people would think about it on of a house, and you are being ous one, starring Anthony Rapp, to me,” he says, “which is what their own. I think someone has chased by the realtors, cops, Kellie Martin, and James Duval led to the movie. I certainly written in to GQ already, saying depending on which house it is. among others. Martin and Duval tried. I did break a skylight in how they had done it 20 years ago, And the goal is to find the James are a couple who go “sexy swip- a house. I didn’t go through it, and they bought the house, and Duval character, and then you ing,” a spin-off version of “house but it was kind of a low skylight, their marriage is still fine. People have sex with him, and then you humping” (going to an open house, and I was trying to look behind having sex in strange places is steal something from the house, regardless of honest intent to buy, it, and it fell down and broke. hardly an original concept. and you go to the next house.” and getting jiggy), where after they make whoopee, they steal a “But as far as ‘house humping’ “Even stranger than that, in the trinket from the house, and then itself, I tried to get my wife to go LA Times there was a huge cover i Open House is available on DVD, take it to the next house to drop for it, but I don’t know how close story in the Real Estate section, at stores all over the New World. off, and continue the cycle. we ever actually came to it.” and it’s all about people steal- For more information, check out ing things from open houses, and www.openhousemovie.com. The movie is hysterically cre- It’s a shame, for this trend is specifically stealing prescription ative, an original musical where an exciting one, and one that drugs from medicine cabinets, everything was sung live on set. has been growing through the which we sing about in the film. And the DVD is packed tight with years, gaining considerate ex- more additional material than posure with the release of Open “So, yeah, it is funny how life is the feature itself, with a bunch House. “It been kind of funny,” apparently imitating art, in the of How-To tracks, such as “How Mirvish laughs. “There was an case of ‘house humping’ and peo- to Win an Award,” “How to Make article in the March issue of GQ ple stealing prescription drugs.” an Indie Film,” and so on. about it, and there’s a bunch of discussion groups online. There’s even a video game based Dan Mirvish, co-founder of on the film, where the point of it Slamdance, directed this flick, “Some of it has happened by is “‘sexy swiping,’” adds Mirv- even though he’s never truly itself, with the rise of the real ish. “You play Kellie Martin’s been “house humping.” “The estate market, it’s inevitable that character, you go through a maze

20 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

“Stuff marked Top Secret... Confidential... I LOVE that Greg Palast stuff!” By: Wasim Muklashy

Guantanamo’s Orange Suit wouldn’t make it without Valium,” those from where he magically City is America’s 8th largest Palast confesses. Damn good manages to acquire a seemingly “What we have in America is metropolis, we have 11,000 thing he has a sense of humor. continuous stream of dizzying ‘silly news’ which is done in this TV stations all programmed inside information are the weird serious solemn style... by Rupert Murdoch’s wired Sure, you can write him off as a World Bank, the FBI, the State we’re telling you fluffy bullshit brain preserves, and President “conspiracy freak maniac weirdo Department, ExxonMobile, and about the President...he’s at his Jeb Bush is buddy buddy with pinko,” but the fact of the matter the Pentagon. “A lot of reporters ranch, he’s just a regular guy, he President bin Laden of Eurasia. stands, he’s a ‘maniac’ that has won’t take it. It’s a lot of hard just fell off his bike...whereas won more distinguished journalism work to go through this stuff, I’ll do some funny offbeat crap This is Greg Palast’s report awards and accolades than he verify shit, figure out what a lot about some really heavy serious from the future. can find room for in his cramped of it means,” Palast tells us, “but stuff about Iraq. It’s also more NY office, and a ‘freak’ who has I will. Stuff marked Top Secret... fun for me, because I would Far fetched? Maybe. But after been one of the most coveted Confidential...I LOVE that stuff!” otherwise go insane,” Greg reading Greg Palast’s latest correspondents for some of the explains. “If you talk to people better-be-bestseller Armed world’s largest and most esteemed This brings up a couple of in weird language about anti- Madhouse, it’s hard to think news outlets, including Harper’s, important ethical points. One... imperialism and stuff like that... anything other than ‘we could the BBC, The Guardian, and The there is actually someone out if you use that kind of twisted only be so lucky.’ The facts and Observer. Yah, many of those there willing to do the work language...well, two things are details and reports that he offers are British outlets, but really... that their job description calls going to happen...you’re not going are so much more disturbing than would any domestic mainstream for: investigate. Two, people to convince anyone, and you’re the scenario described above, news outlet be stupid enough truly exist...from within the not going to get laid.” Sold me. it’s sure to make you wonder why to print any sort of stories that system itself, who believe it we don’t all just get our tubes might provoke a bit of thought? imperative enough to make Palast may be the only person in tied and pipes smashed before Their families need to eat for certain incriminating information the world to claim that “I had clocking out of work today. Yet, as cryin’ out loud (not to mention public that they are willing to two writing teachers...Charles vile as the contents may be, this those darned Lexus payments)! risk their careers, and in many Bukowski and Allen Ginsburg” is undoubtedly one of the most But that still didn’t stop his last cases, their lives. “For personal after studying finance under free- important books of our time. If we book, The Best Democracy Money decisions or moral reasons, they trade luminary Milton Friedman. “I were truly focused on liberty and Can Buy from popping up on the put themselves in the line of fire. didn’t go to journalism school,” he justice for all, this would become New York Time’s bestseller list. But I’m telling anyone that wants confesses. “That’s probably why required reading in our nation’s to hand me documents, I’ll go my brain isn’t fuckin’ twisted in a classrooms. But it’s not. And it Not only that, but he’s a ‘weirdo’ to prison before I give you up. pretzeled bullshit careerist knot.” never will be. It’s too depressing. that has earned enough respect Like the shit I get from inside the His work only validates that point. In other words...it’s too honest. to warrant the attention of some World Bank, it’s fantastic shit!! “Considering the stories I have of our country’s highest level But if any of those people got He was the first to break the in Armed Madhouse, if it was all individuals from the world’s caught, their careers are toast, Bush voting scandal of 2000 and done in a serious grim style, you highest level institutions. Among so I would never give them up.” describe in horrifying detail their methods (and no, it wasn’t faulty turned to 15 second ‘news’ reports You don’t want to see anymore means he didn’t win. Score voting machines), and he was centering more on how large about the depressing huntas one for the American people,” the guy that snuck his way into the reporter’s rack is or splashy and corporate regimes that he explains matter of factly. Tony Blair’s inner circle, exposing motion graphics that flash ‘HOT’ control our lives and our futures him to his biggest scandal, where one would normally expect without a single breathe of our “The question is...are people “Lobbygate.” Now, among other a fahrenheit figure, Palast remains consideration. You’re tired of going to un-stupid themselves? things, Palast is the first to report hearing about the I think there are signs of it. We the story of the voting scandal corruption and start out with the ability to do a of 2008...but wait...that hasn’t the scandal. And few things,” he continues. “We happened yet...or has it? “If we’re chanting the exponentially can organize, we can march...” growing front in With Armed Madhouse, Palast the class war? At that very point, his wife walks comes at us armed with down the street ‘no Fuggedabit! What in, inquiring about putting their information from within the very you (well, at children to bed, prompting him to establishments he criticizes. In blood for oil,’ most least I) want to add “we can have lots of babies addition to the proof that the know is, is there so they can’t get rid of us!” 2008 election is already fixed, and Americans think anything we can the names and circumstances of do about it? So It’s this very demeanor and those responsible for drowning that’s a bargain!” that is precisely presentation that has made New Orleans, Palast has acquired how I approached him so effective. The sarcasm, both of Bush’s plans to seize him on a the wit, the humor. Iraq’s oil (yes, both). Surprisingly recent evening one of the few still willing to put enough, it wasn’t so they can in Manhattan. His “Listen.” He gets serious. himself in harms way to gather sell it...quite the contrary. The immediate response? “Every action that’s worth and expose real and relevant reports reveal that we went into a shit starts at the fringe. It truth. “Look, we’re made stupid,” Iraq “to make sure we don’t get “Well, there are simple starts off as marginal, then it he shouts. “All this shit about the oil. The oil companies love solutions like ‘kill the rich.’” becomes the center. Even when ‘they’re coming to get us’...if it. They’re getting 70 bucks a frickin’ Nixon was President, it’s not the Muslim hordes, it’s barrel. 3 bucks a gallon. That’s Uhh... you got this shit scheming little the Mexicans crawling over the mission accomplished. I mean, bastard and he still passes border to get us. It’s this whole if we’re chanting down the “But really, we haven’t been the Environmental Protection thing to make us afraid, and when street ‘no blood for oil’, most doing too bad. Did you expect Agency law, the Occupational you’re afraid, you get stupid.” Americans think that’s a bargain... Cheney to come out of his bunker Safety and Health law... blood for oil.” Makes sense in with his hands up saying ‘you there was a lot of progressive But if you’re like me, at this a disturbing way doesn’t it?! got me’ so we can read him his action that happened.” point, you don’t want to hear rights? And I mean, yah, Bush anymore about what is happening. In our A.D.D. society that has stole the election, but that “New Orleans should have been

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 23 our rallying cry. Why didn’t You buck the system by creating people march and gather there “You’ve got to vote, just like you music they don’t understand, by He pauses. by the thousands? For the most have to wipe your ass. It’s just a having clothes and language they part people were like ‘oh well, part of life. Don’t let them take don’t understand, by not taking “But remember, it was all fringe we lost a city,’” Palast laments. that away from you. They can shit-dumb-stupid-brain-dead-fuck- shit until it became mainstream.” “We should NEVER LET THAT steal some of the votes some of up jobs that destroy you and eat GO...that a government can let the time, and all of the votes your life and then you’re dead. Here is where our interview a city drown...bodies floating some of the time, but they can’t You don’t want their music that’s session began to draw to a in the streets...that city was steal all of the votes all of the picked out by Sony and EMI. You comfortable close. Duty called. drowning long before the levees time. If you’re a black person, don’t want the food that’s been Our future was in his hands and he ever broke...economically. 1927 you’ve got about a 1 in 7 chance packaged for you by McDonald’s. had to attend to it. In this case, it is when the entire American that if your ballot will not count. You don’t want the movies that took the form of twin 9 year olds. political system changed, when Does that mean you don’t vote? they have chosen for you. You the levees broke in New Orleans. No, that means, you better get don’t want your job as a way of Before I turned to walk out, The nation was horrified. At the your brother to vote too! For thinking, or the candidate they I couldn’t help but chuckle time, the local Public Service God’s sakes, fuckin’ vote! If you have chosen for you. I think it’s to myself as his dog ran off Commissioner, Huey Long, rose can’t do something that dipshit a question of total resistance with his wife’s shoe, and he up and said ‘screw this...these simple, then take the Che Guevara from morning til’ night on all went chasing after it. The rich guys are drowning us!’ He poster off the wall, get rid of fronts cultural and political.” genius mind behind some of literally began a revolution, then the fashion statement, and just the world’s most important he became governor of Louisiana, bag it. Do the basics man!” He stops and looks out the window information is human after all... and then Roosevelt picked up upon 2nd Avenue for a brief the line as the New Deal.” “One way to bust through the moment. A touch of nostalgia ...and so are we. electronic Berlin wall is through glimmers in his eyes. He begins “You have to bring the war home music. I mean, to me it’s pretty fondly reminiscing about his Check www.kotorimag.com for to people, the concepts home to significant that my stuff’s been days as a working class child a complete transcript of the people. All I know is that suddenly introduced in spoken word form growing up in Los Angeles’ San enlightening interview session you hit people’s points...their kid by Jello Biafra, that Eminem did a Fernando Valley. “We were the with Mr. Palast where he talks has cerebral palsy and they have video, ‘Mosh,’ that was inspired... loser class,” he softly utters. about how Hugo Chavez almost no goddamn health insurance... whatever the hell that means... “We were ready to be shipped got him killed in Venezuela, and someone asks ‘why is that?’ by my work. So they can tape my off to ‘Nam. And here were these about Bill O’Reilly and Hannety No matter what we say, we still mouth and keep me off Fox, but people playing this weird guy crank calling him, about the had 59 million people that voted they can’t take me off the dance with a weird voice...Bob Dylan. Kotori wing at Guantanamo, for this guy. They didn’t care that floor. That’s no shit important!” I remember his first album.” and what it is about Boots Riley they didn’t have health insurance, and the Coop and Anti-Flag that he just told them he’d make sure “Use the music and the full He smiles. he just can’t get enough of. boys don’t kiss boys and that we concept of the counter culture,” can have the 10 commandments he passionately continues. “Not “That’s when it started at the courthouse door.” everything has to be political. busting apart.” subscribe to now... M a g a z i n e

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“There was a time when we were all together like a West Coast Native Tongues. There’ll never be another time like it.” How Much Cut Coulda Woodchuck Cut If a Woodchuck Could Chuck D? By: Mike The Poet

Lucas McFadden is the L.A. Native of the legendary Darkleaf crew. that continue today, including, the inner city’s musical matrix. best known as the world famous but not limited to, the Root Down, DJ CUT CHEMIST. Listening to “The free spirit of Darkleaf is Breakestra, and Funky Sole. DJ “I sold DJ Dusk J5’s first record Cut talk about music and his in The Audience’s Listening.” Red Alert mixtapes were a major out of my trunk in1994 in The hometown gives a lot of insight For those itching to catch up, influence. “Skatemaster Tate Good Life parking lot.” The two into his sound. Dude’s hilarious. Darkleaf were contemporaries of schooled me on funk 45’s at the became friends when Dusk called He’s got a razor sharp wit. It’s Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship, Gaslight.” Looking back he says, him shortly afterwards. “I met him easy to see why he’s called and J5 in the early 90s. “The most “I can’t seem to get away from as Tarek Captan. He had a camera Cut Chemist, because he not bugged out music from that time night clubs, it’s been a long time.” with him. Somewhere early on I only cuts up records, he dices was Darkleaf. Darkleaf never got realized he was more than just up conversation with a slew of their proper respect,” adds Cut. Cut was also childhood friends a fan, he was a head. Before poignant one-liners. When you “Darkleaf made me say it’s OK! with renowned artist Keith you knew it he was DJ Dusk. see him, ask about his favorite They blew up the barometer. Tamashiro who’s produced Dusk’s level of commitment line in Blazing Saddles. Long Their live shows were complete cover art for Cut, DJ Shadow, was incredible. He led so many known as a member of Jurassic chaos. I remember one of the and Herbie Hancock to name different lives. He put it down. 5 and as one of the greatest DJ/ shows at Highland Grounds. It was a few. Cats like Wil-Dog from I’m so proud of him.” R.I.P. Producers of his generation, he’s wild, but somewhere in there it Ozomatli were also in the mix. DJ Dusk (tribute on p.80). finally managed to find the time was brilliant.” Blackbird, former They all grew up together. to release his first official solo member of Darkleaf, remains one As the 90s went on Jurassic 5 built album The Audience’s Listening, of his favorite MCs. Cut Chemist “There was a time when we were up a large fan base and began on Warner Brothers Records. loves the new album, Bird’s Eye all together like a West Coast incessant touring. Simultaneously View avail on Alphapup Records. Native Tongues. St. Mark, The Cut’s DJ career was taking off. “It’s short and sweet,” says Cut. “’Outro’ is just retarded!” Unity Committee (they became When it comes to superstar DJs The album’s 12 tracks hit fast. 47 J5), Dark Leaf, Volume 10, that bring the noise, Cut Chemist minutes of genre-bending joints. The early days of the LA Pharcyde, and the Heavyweights is up there with the big dawgs. “Science fiction and fantasy underground are mythical who became Freestyle Fellowship. He’s rocked hundreds of epic are major influences,” he adds. folklore. Cut Chemist’s website It was an incredible time in parties the world over. Scratching, Ethereal hip-hop, swinging beats, is one of the best records of the early 90s. There’ll never mixing, and matching beats sound bytes, old funk, gritty some of the early fliers and be another time like it.” effortlessly, he was a monster samples, nobody can turn back photos from that era. “Many on the decks. Not only that, the calendar and turn the page people don’t know that David Those were also the glory days but his production and remix simultaneously as well as Señor Arquette wrote graffiti as ‘SUM of the Good Life Café in South credits are included on over 50 Chemist. As hip-hop as he is, ONE’ and he was very good. So did Central LA. The weekly open mic projects to date, not only for many of the tracks fall somewhere Chali 2na, he wrote Chicagoism. was homebase for a generation J5 but DJ Shadow, Lyrics Born, just outside the box. “The His friend was a fresh kid named of emcees. “Seeing Mikah 9 for Blackalicious, Steinski, Invisible Garden” features a bossa nova Jack Frost. They met at Bancroft the first time at was incredible. Skratch Piklz, and many more. style and Portuguese vocals from Junior High School along with He was a jazz musician with Astrud Gilberto’s Brazillian tune Mear (One) and DJ Rob One.” words like a verbal Charlie Cut is also famous for having over “Berimbau.” Hell, only two of the Parker. Scatting, rapping, with 30,000 records. He says, “It’s songs have emcees kicking rhymes. Back in 1991 Cut and Mixmaster a trumpet, he led me into more not how many records you have, “The Storm” features Mr. Lif and Wolf DJ’d the Peace Pipe event. In jazz,” Cut remembers. Density it’s how well you know ‘em. We Edan and “What’s the Altitude” many ways this jam was a big seed entwines webs of parallel used to have a homie that only features Hymnal, former member for multiple musical manifests existence thick in the heart of had 2 crates of records, but he

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 27 still made the best beats. stores in New York City and an exercise in monumental size up and step through that Otherwise it’s a dick measuring Philadelphia. Needless to say, inspiration. When it comes inevitable fork in life’s road. contest.” Cut knows his records he bought a ton. “In Philly, to sampling, mixing and like no other. The man’s been the bellboy told me to go to arranging compositions they The audience is listening to Cut buying vinyl since age 7. His Funk-O-Mart on Market Street. are both sound pioneers. “I Chemist. Whether he’s rocking a first digging experience was I lost my mind. They stayed was digging earlier, but he was rooftop party of soul children or in ‘86 when he went looking open late for me. Tapp Money digging deeper. Shadow was you have his music on your I- for “Funky Drummer.” “I went laced me up with some Bob overseas and had Keb Darge pod, he’s gonna make your head to Tower on Sunset. When I James drum breaks. Many schooling him in the UK.” nod. saw the words ‘Bonus Beats’ years later I went back on the 12”, I knew I found there with DJ Shadow.” With both seminal DJs what I was looking for.” releasing highly anticipated X listen to soundbites at DJ Shadow is usually mentioned new albums this summer, www.kotorimag.com Around the same time in middle in the same breath as Cut for it’ll be quite entertaining to i www.cutchemist.com school, he went on a trip to many reasons. Their legendary experience, debate, nitpick the East Coast with his family. “Brainfreeze” event at the and revel in their flourishing He looked up all the record El Rey a few years back was individual music paths as they

ART: Nathan Matthews ABy: BOB FREVILLEHANDSOME PROFIT T h e P r o f e s s i o n a l S w i t c h - u p s o f P o r n ’ s F i n e s t & T h e E m e r g e n c e o f t h e N e w I n d e p e n d e n t W o m a n i n t h e W a k e o f t h e R e - T r a m p e d A m e r i k a

There’s an expression in the Real Pornstar of the 1990’s whose al- performances in Gina Lynn Produc- plied curtly. “No pseudonym.” Estate game called “flipping hous- mond eyes and pouty lips went tions, Inc. and Top Notch Bitches es.” A house is flipped when an oft-ignored due to her voluptuous Dot Com; she’s now trying to open The fact of the matter is, Stacey Agent personally buys up dilapi- mammaries, silver dollar nipples her own chain of Subway sandwich Hirsch and Raylene are but two of dated property on the cheap, puts and healthy back door. This was shops and an adult video store in the many personalities of Stacey. time and money into its improve- Raylene. her hometown. ments and sells it for twice what Stacey B. Bernstein was born in it was worth. The Agent bought it From the looks of her at the time, Expanding your monetary potential Glendora, California, in February at an undervalued price, spent less one would probably guess that Ray- is expected. The hard part to un- of 1977. She started straddling for than the house was worth on fixing lene broke into porn for the same derstand is the need for anonymity. money and fame under the stage it up and made back all his or her reasons a runny-nosed guttersnipe My old friend Tabitha Stevens was moniker Alexis Fontaine. Fon- money on the re-sale…plus a hand- might break into a suburban home. in the business for years when she taine was dropped for Fontayne some profit. Therefore, said Agent Her eyelids were heavy and adum- decided that she wanted to be a and then, albeit briefly, for simply has flipped the house. brated and her early Gonzo videos Chiropractor. And she did it, quite “Stacey.” All these switch-ups may painted her as a jaundiced drug successfully in fact. But she didn’t explain why she felt the need to This isn’t the only shrewd or shady whore of one type or another. Lat- use a different name and made no skirt my question. Sure, it’s not a scenario that turns big bucks and er in her career, she would change attempts to conceal who she was. pseudonym. Perhaps Ms. Bernstein sucks your luck in the Real Estate this up, either consciously or as the On the contrary, she continued to had it legally changed. Not my world. But it is a luminescent ex- result of kicking a nasty dependen- write a column for Hustler’s Busty business. ample of how the customer gets cy; she would become the happy Beauties for years to come. fucked. pothead with the Cheshire grin who There Goes The ‘Hood runs around praising quirky movies So the question arose. In a liberal The Madame Becomes and Cali bud. and hedonistic climate like that Getting back to business, Stacey The Mogul of California, why would Raylene tells me about 50% of her sales Somewhere between 2001 and keep hush about her roots? have been generated from the “I have been working in Real Es- now, Raylene disappeared. Branch- adult industry or from contacts she tate for three years,” says Stacey ing out is not abnormal in adult “Why the name Stacey?” I asked made while she was in it. “I do a Hirsch, of Pinnacle Estate Proper- entertainment. Asia Carrera was our curvaceous Hispanic-Israeli lot of marketing that is geared to- ties. Stacey is a realtor. That is who perhaps the first when she became subject. “Is that your real name or ward helping people in the industry she is. But she was also someone the Queen of the Dow Jones. Gina a pseudonym?” invest tier money in real estate.” else. Red-blooded American jerk- Lynn has been all over the place, This could mean that a significant a-holics might recall a brunette investing the money from her sex “My name is Stacey Hirsch,” she re- number of the big dogs in Porn are

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 31 now property entrepreneurs. In most states, getting your “I currently market in the realm Real Estate license only takes R A y l e n e a k a s t a c e y of Porn.” By her own admis- a couple hundred bucks and sion, from the jowls of slaves. forty-five hours of your time. A h i r s c h a k a P O R N S T A R “I do a lot of work with the AIM salesperson’s course takes a few Foundation.” And there’s that days and the only thing between a k a R E A L E S T A T E 50% generated from the busi- you and that piece of card stock ness. And, according to Stacey, paper is a 190-page book and an A G E N T a k a S T A C E Y B . she’s only sold one house to instructor on autopilot. a fan. So there’s that “one” b e r n s t e i n a k a a l e x i s house. Add it all up and di- That is not to say that Raylene vide it by a knee-deep heap of didn’t bleed, sweat and bare- f o n t a i n e a k a hogwash and you’ve got your knuckle her way into getting answer. her license. I don’t live in San m r s . r a y l e n e n b a u m Fernando Valley and don’t plan I got my answer. I no longer to visit that gorge. But as Ray- care about names or occupa- lene states it herself, “There tions. As I stumbled out of my was no jump from Porn to Real house and searched for a dark Estate. I retired five years ago culvert to hang my heavy head when I got engaged.” in, I decided that it didn’t matter. Somewhere out there She continued dancing for an- a tiny spermboy is emerging other 3 years and her image from fresh batter, ready to continued to flap across TV lunge out into this world and spots for Spice Channel and come to find that his mother’s surface at AVN Awards ceremo- a treacherous whore. He won’t nies. be the first and he won’t be the last. Freud’s wet dream—a MAMA’S GOT A whole batch of children he can SURPRISE COOKIN’ relate to long enough to blub- ber with a little bit—has always Modern entertainment, from been here. the teen sex romp to the Reality TV show, has shocked Americans Only now the money for those in every possible way so that Pampers that will carry the now we need Porn more than boy through grade school until ever. Adult film has grown into he finally gets to college and the last bastion for something shits himself at the sight of his forbidden. We are now a society moms on a TV screen, taking a taking our eight-year old daugh- wet and steamy across her nose ters to buy slut costumes for and eyelashes, that money will Halloween. Tweens have traded come from a dirty place. Not in their Barbie dolls for scant- that Porn is a dirty place and ily clad Bratz and we encourage not because it will, in large them to idolize bubblegum pop part, come from the money whores selling them adolescent that Mom has invested from her sex appeal every time they turn days when she got guys your on the tube. age off in Handicam flicks. No, because it comes from that pit To see a pearl necklace or a of lies, that guilty conscience close-up of goosebumps across cauldron that has clearly taken a pubic bone. This is where it’s a toll on the sassy mujerzu- at. We’ve got nothing else left. ela who proclaimed on her My Space page that she is, “Young, This is a fact of life, but one dumb and full of cum.” to do so far…I have my first baby on rounded by pink peckers, getting that Raylene, who was seemingly the way, so that’s a start.” a face full of splooge. All without randy all these years, can’t seem If anything’s for sure, it is that Sta- a parental debriefing no less! Not to appreciate. “Retiring from adult cey Hirsch never has to worry about I advocate or espouse many things, fair. film was a goal since I entered,” identity theft. Nobody is stealing even a good degree of filth among she tells me in our second round. her name. And if they did, she’d the pack, and a woman’s body is FROM THE HORNDOG SHILLS have no trouble tracking it down. most certainly hers. Except my TO BEVERLY HILLS It is probably worth mentioning that She’s been able to get it back sev- girlfriend’s body which, of course, Stacey Bern…nay, Stacey Hirsch is eral times. belongs to me under dogmatic law. Mrs. Stacey Bernstein-Fontaine- the shark that has to press on or But it takes a batty chick to ignore Hirsch (now married?)-Alexis-Ray- she will sink. “There’s nowhere It’s time to build taller fences. the ramifications a decision like lenenbaum is making a new life for to move for me but forward,” she this makes in the kid’s long-term herself. This much is clear. The part explains. “The long-term goals will life. He gets to junior high, may- that boggles the mind is her active come in time.” be high school, and his friends or involvement with the industry that roommates rent a DVD and he sees she apparently never wanted to be Then she adds…wait for it! Wait for the woman who gave him life sur- in from the word Blow. it!! “I have achieved what I set out

32 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

“You can all watch a movie, and kinda get the same thing from it. But music really hits people in different Meet the Creeper ways.” By: Jake McGee

Rob Zombie needs no introduction. taking four or five guys, and saying, horror movie, you always have the He’s not just the growling madman ‘Hey, everyone live together as if With Zombie, there is no reason to heroine mouthing off to the killers, who started the groundbreaking you’re a family.’ And it’s hard for think he can’t pull it off. Where and I always try to picture it more White Zombie, changing the face people to get along. House of 1,000 Corpses was at real. Like, what was Sharon Tate of heavy metal and rock in general times just as funny as it was bru- saying to Tex Watson? How was the with that project, and then even- “What happened with the band at tal, Devil’s Rejects is a much more reality of the situation? tually his solo efforts. He’s not that point was it was just starting rounded and dramatic tale. Bring- just the writer and director of the to degenerate, people weren’t get- ing Sheri Moon and Bill Mosley back “And I like the idea of making wild, horrific romp House of 1,000 ting along. And once people stop together as Baby and Otis, the sis- William Forsythe’s character turn Corpses, which instantly became getting along, it’s really no fun. ter and brother are on the lamb worse than the people he’s hunt- a cult classic, only to be followed Traveling around the country in from the law and vengeance, as ing.” up by one of the most creepy and closed quarters with people that Sheriff John Quincy Wydell- played unnerving yet compelling films in can’t stand each other, it really by William Forsythe- hunts them Throughout this all, Zombie has recent years, Devil’s Rejects. He’s starts affecting your mindset and down for their crimes, particularly helped transform Sheri Moon into not just the visionary comic book the music and everything.” for killing his brother. an icon of her own. Moon has been illustrator, whose work adorns a longtime muse and inspiration for not only his albums, but films and And now, “I’ve met some new Devil’s Rejects is an unpredict- Zombie- having graced album cov- books as well. people, and we kinda got it all able tale, which alone makes it ers and videos- but with her role back together. I’m not saying that stand apart from other movies. as Baby, now people are growing Rob Zombie is an icon in many couldn’t happen again; I don’t live “I wanted to fuck with the audi- just as fascinated with her as they worlds, one that rocks out like no- in a phantasy world. But right now, ence,” Zombie notes, “and make are Zombie himself. “It’s good,” body else, on many different lev- we get along great, everything’s them side with the wrong people. he says of her celebrity. “There’s els. He’s worked with sundry cats, cool, and we’re having a blast, so I knew how the movie was going to nothing I love better than if we go from Mike Judge to Howard Stern it’s all good.” end, and if at the end of the movie, someplace, and someone talks to to Paul Reuben to Mixmaster Mike the whole audience is just feeling, her and not me. It’s great. to Lionel Richie to P.M. Dawn to In the few years he took to re- ‘Good, shoot ‘em, die, fuck you,’ DJ Lethal to The Dust Brothers to group, he released House of 1,000 then you’d feel like, ‘whatever.’ “The big moment for her was the Ozzy Osbourne to Charlie Clouser Corpses and Devil’s Rejects, as well But I knew, little by little during scenes with William Forsythe, to Todd McFarlane and beyond. as put together a comic book series the course of the movie, I would where she really made a big break- called Spookshow International. have to needle the audience, so through, kicked it all up. Especial- He recently released Educated He’s even entertained the notion toward the end, they would be ly working with Forsythe, because Horses, after a break from new of making House of 1,000 Corpses conflicted on the ending. And also his off-screen persona is not that albums since 2001’s The Sinister into a stage show. “I was thinking too, I always wanted to play those different from his on-screen one. Urge. In addition to touring in sup- when I noticed John Waters’ Hair- characters as a family, and if you’re He’s a very intimidating character, port of the album, he’s also work- spray went to Broadway, I thought watching your brother and your fa- and for her to just step in there ing on several other projects, such I could see House of 1,000 Corpses ther essentially being tortured to with him, and get face-to-face. as an animated film called The being turned into a musical,” he death and that character doesn’t He really liked working with her, he Haunted World of El Superbeasto. says. “I think 20 years from now have some kind of breakdown, then had a good time and they got along would be about the right time. It that character wouldn’t have that well, so it was good.” For Zombie, it’s all about having a sounds ridiculous as I say it now, much of a character. good time. If it’s not fun, he moves but Little Shop of Horrors? Think Next up for Zombie is likely to be onto other things. “Towards the of the original movie. If someone “If they’re just like, ‘Fuck you!’ The Haunted World of El Super- end of The Sinister Urge tour,” he would have said, ‘that’s going to that to me seems like a fake mov- beasto, “an animated movie based admits, “I definitely had stopped be a huge Broadway hit,’ you’d be ie moment, like tough guy stuff. on a character from Spookshow having fun. Bands are very un- like, ‘you’re out of your fuckin’ When I see that in a movie, I’m International Comics, El Super- natural creatures. You’re basically mind.’” like, ‘Yeah, right.’ ‘Cause in every beasto. That has been in the works

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 35 for over a year, and it’s a the- think a lot of musicians get very I need people to walk away with hear new things and think of new atrical, full-length, animated, self-important, and get very ex- this message,’ ever. Even if a ways to think about music. monster superhero sex comedy. planatory about their music,” he song is specifically about some- It should be out sometime near laments. “‘It means this to me thing really, I don’t care if they “I listen to everything, just the end of 2006, maybe. I’m and to you.’ AH! You’re ruining get the point.” whatever is in the mood for me. not exactly sure. But it’s pretty it! Shut up! I don’t wanna hear I like finding things I never even nuts, people are gonna be really about it. I had so much deeper When asked if he’d kick Dick knew existed. Like, I’ve been freaked out by this one.” meaning, and you just made it Cheney in the balls if given the listening to these French pop sound stupid. chance, he laughed, “Shoot ‘em. records from the 60’s. They’re At the same time, he responds You can shoot him in the balls, just different, it’s cool.” to rumors that have been circu- “Music is one thing, more so than right? Just a little shrapnel. If lating about him starring as the anything else...you can all watch you can shoot someone in the There’s even a remote chance next James Bond. Setting the a movie, and kinda get the same face, I guess it’s not that bad.” that the new album (Educated record straight, “I’ve taken the thing from it. But music really Horses) will get a taste of Zom- role, because I felt that I was hits people in different, differ- Maybe not. But what kind of bie’s legendary remixing, as he very much appropriate, and I’ve ent ways. And that’s what I like depraved music does Rob Zom- did with his two albums before been working with a vocal coach about it. bie listen to in order to produce The Sinister Urge. “I really liked on my British accent. I believe such insane sounds of his own? them,” he says in reflection. “I that hits summer of 2008. You “I write in such a fragmented “I hardly ever listen to hard might do one with this record, Only Live Twice, Three Times. way, that things will start off rock, truthfully,” he confesses. and include stuff from [The Sin- It’s gonna be good.” about certain subjects, and end “I tend to not listen to what I ister Urge]. I liked doing them; up on other subjects. It’s really do a lot of times, because you they’re fun.” Until then, Zombie seems to be a weird way that I write. I don’t get so bombarded with it. And enjoying the life of an icon, not really write songs like, ‘I want you also get no influences; you taking himself too seriously. “I this to really be about this, and always wanna be open to try to

Rachel Kann By: Mindy Nettifee / Photo: Terence Patrick

Rachel Kann always wanted to be a rock- started producing co-lab:ORATION, a the production of Rachel’s first album, Like all genre-tweaking geniuses, Rachel star, but couldn’t sing. She could perform, ragingly successful show that brought word to the WHY’s, which featured her Kann’s work adds a perspective to the however, and she could sling comebacks together incredible music and spoken inspirational poetry laced with hip-hop aesthetic landscape we didn’t even know like nobody’s business (a talent most of word talent to spontaneously collabo- beats. The work attracted the atten- was missing. And like all great new art- us would have gladly traded our passable rate in front of a live audience. Often tion of the Non-Prophets (Sage Francis ists, now that she’s here she seems obvi- Deborah-Harry singing voice for). With an times there is a Texas-sized gap between and Joey Beats) who sampled the track ous, even essential. Her current projects English Professor father and an inner dra- concept and execution with a show like “skin listens” on their album Hope. Her include a podcast “Eat Bird” that she ma queen producing emotional-pop-hits on this, but due to Kann’s personal brand of sophomore effort, Ptolemaic Complex co-hosts with Ragan Fox, touring with the daily, it was only natural she would fall magic, co-lab was consistently mind-blow- followed soon after, and she has been the higher-beings of GirlFest, and work- into poetry and theatre. She moved from ing and garnered a huge following both wrapped in its momentum ever since. She ing with the daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra, San Luis Obispo to New York City, fell into at L.A.’s influential Knitting Factory and has performed with a huge diversity of a 70-piece music collective headed by the Poetry Slam scene via the Nuyorican, the Temple Bar. If you’ve never seen her artists and emcees, including Rahzel (The conductor and composer GG (Geoff Gal- sharing a stage with the likes of Saul Wil- in action, she has the heart of a Califor- Roots), Kid Beyond, Tre (Pharcyde), Nikka legos). She has also been working with liams. Standing out as a hip-hop/goth-poet nia Central-Coast hippy, the mouth of a Costa, Kim Hill, Medusa, Antipop Consor- producer Tack-Fu and appears on the hip hybrid, Rachel Kann became synonymous Brooklyn working girl, and the energy of a tium, and others. One of her standout hop album Tack-Fu presents the produc- with proud, funny, riot-inciting feminist Buddhist monk hopped up on pixie sticks collaborations has been with Enduser, tion team: The 85 Decibel Monks. You ranting, and the rest is poet-girl history. and rum. Needless to say, over the years whose dark, distorted atmospheres and can check out her books, albums and Rachel has become a beacon of good-vibes heavy break-beats mesh seamlessly with upcoming shows all at inspirachel.com Kann moved to Los Angeles and began and sanity in the LA artistic wasteland. Kann’s darker, more fractured narrative surrounding herself with as many killer works like “Familiar Taste of Blood.” musicians and deejays as possible. She All this musician-love inevitably led to

38 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

Chewin’ the Cud with Fat Mike The NOFX That YouR PUNK ASS CAN’T HANDLE By: BOB FREVILLE for Violet fewes

My lady-friend Violet was a die- in my Loft. This was the result of Fat Wreck Chords, I knew that I And there are many things that hard fan of NOFX for the better an evening I had spent intoxicating had to get us an interview with one could not deduce from part of her life. Her passion the youth of our fair hamlet. At Fat Mike. Something this big looking at the Massachusetts- for their music had only grown some point, one or more of the would not come along again. born punker with the spiked stronger after being singled out little hellions must have tired of hair and wild vocal outbursts. in a crowd by frontman Fat Mike throwing knives at my wall and The date finally struck and Violet Not only a happily married at a Warped Tour performance decided upon destroying harmless was stuck in a flooded backyard, troubadour with an inimitable before getting a boot in the skull. cassettes, no doubt for fear of the unable to doggy paddle quick vox and his own record company, The stomping wasn’t the worse tape format that their generation enough to reach my abode. Mike is also a devoted father. thing to happen to her in the had missed out on. What is But the show must go on! Time name of punk rock. More recently, this thing? We better kill it. to rock the fucking Casbah! The interview had been set for she discovered that her homemade 5:00 pm Pacific, but Fat asked his collection of their songs, an aged I had felt guilty about this horrible There are many things that PR peeps to move it ahead to 5:30 audio cassette tape, had been orgy of violence for awhile. When people do not know about Fat in order to play with his daughter cracked and smashed into pieces I got an email from Vanessa at Mike, aka Michael John Burkett. after being gone most of the day. kotorimag.com kotori magazine 41 asked. “Where you were going to So after I got my license, she do it after four years?” “Gotta give the two-year old go a different route. Like maybe says, ‘You know what, it just what she wants,” he explained. I’m gonna be in politics, pre- fell apart so why don’t you go “A lot of the anger I had with the Law or something like that?” back and play in your band.’” Right wing, the Conservatives This was not the only shocker and the Republicans, kind of that would manifest itself “I went to college,” he said. “I Mike’s commitment to the band switched over to Christians and throughout our conversation. A majored in Social Science and and the support of his loved religious zealots,” Mike replied. fierce and ever-expanding flotilla minored in Human Sexuality. ones has seen the band reach an “There’s people that bug the of female fans are certain to get And I also went to Real Estate enormous musical zenith that has shit out of me. They care about clammy at thoughts of bedding or School and got my license so I spanned more than two decades. their relationship with God wedding Mr. Fat, but very few of could have done that too.” The band recently released their more than they care about them know what his occupation tenth full-length album Wolves humanity. It’s no way to be.” could have been today… He got his Real Estate certificate in Wolves’ Clothing. It’s their in ’89 fresh out of college. “That first LP in nearly four years. “Not to mention,” I chimed in. “I probably would have same year,” he said. “The market “That everyone’s so goddamn self- gone into sex therapy.” burst and my Mom was doing “Where were you at mentally righteous with the whole ‘My God’s so good in Real Estate that she when you made this,” I better than your God’ thing.” “Was there a point like that,” I said, ‘You gotta get into this.’ asked. “What drove you to “Yeah, people like me and you you give more tax cuts?! I’m a Mike was moody and steeped better than this guy. I don’t are self-righteous too, but I don’t fairly wealthy guy and every in the folly of our times. This have a lot of hope for this think my God’s better. I think my time a tax cut comes I make may have been a consequence planet or the world at all.” world view is better. I think in our money and it makes me sick. I of our drinking and the fact society we treat women pretty don’t understand how people that while I nursed the first of “Would you say that your message well. And Muslims are fucked when with so much money feel better many beers by candlelight and is to do whatever you can?” it comes to that. That’s one reason when they get a tax break.” watched the rain crashing against why you can’t have Democracy blacktop, Mike nursed a hangover “Yeah, do whatever you can. in these countries when half “You think about it,” I said. from his afternoon with Matt If you do nothing, that’s not the population can’t vote.” “The only kind of mentality that Skiba of Alkaline Trio. Despite good enough. But you don’t could be behind something like the inebriation, our back and have to do all you can either. Jesus freaks aren’t the only that is just generations upon forth was rich with lucidity. You should do something. Some mutants chapping Fat Mike’s ass. generations of horders hording.” people think recycling is kind Bush’s richest five percentile “Do you think that there’s of bad because people recycle are also on trial here, not just “Yeah,” Fat said. “The any hope to be held out their garbage and they think with Mike but with me. trickle down. It doesn’t for 2008,” I asked. they’re really doing something. work. We’re all horders.” And they’re really not but they “Bush wants to give more tax “Well, I’m almost positive that can feel less guilt. They’re not cuts. I mean, how the fuck can Much of my conversation with whoever gets elected will be doing something substantial. People re-using is a lot better for the planet than recycling.”

For a cat who wrote songs like “Moron Bros.” back in the day, Mike seemed very astute and well-aware of the plight that mankind faces. Which prompted me to ask how much different he is than the Fat Mike the world knew ten years ago.

“I started doing drugs when I was thirty-two and I started getting tattoos when I was thirty-four. I was a lot straighter when I was twenty-nine…still kind of building Fat Wreck Chords and the band was still growing. I’m just having a lot more fun now.

“I talk to so many bands and it eventually turns into a job. I can’t let this turn into that. I love it too much. I love getting obliterated on stage and not knowing whether I’m going to be able to play the next song right. That’s punk rock to me. It’s not about how big you are, it’s about how much fun you have.”

“What do you do for Punk Voter in the off-season,” I asked. “Are you gearing up for 2008?”

“We have a new Voter’s Guide for the Warped Tour for the 2006 mid-terms. First we need to get the House and Senate back. That’s a start and then Bush can’t do anything more.”

“What we need in this country is run-off elections…you vote not for just the person you want ‘cause you vote for who you want first and who you want second. Like, for instance, you vote for a Green Party member first and if he doesn’t make it to the primaries, the vote goes to the second guy. You vote for Ralph Nader, he doesn’t get a get, the more depressed you are. you’ve come with your music?” certain amount of votes, then “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but your vote goes to Kerry.” I think we won both elections.” “The world’s a shit place. You “I couldn’t be happier to have kind of have to accept it. You a twenty-three year career and “Shit,” I said. “It’s funny you said “Yeah, it’s American Idol on have to try and help out your I’ve been in my band longer that, man. ‘Cause I get harped a governmental level, in the neighbor, your fellow man. than half my life. Our crew has on constantly by my girlfriend sense that it’s not the common But you can’t live life in a been with us for an average of because she was a strong Kerry man that’s really deciding depression. I mean, shit! In the about fifteen years. Every couple supporter, for the same reason all this…so how well do you Sixties we were a half-hour away months a year, we go on tour with that so many people were. know Drew Barrymore?” from all-out nuclear war.” our best friends. We do it right, She’ll rail on me for voting for we only do short tours and we Nader ‘cause of the whole ‘A “She interviewed me for some “But people were still living and make sure to golf and have good Vote for Nader is a Vote for show she did on MTV! We had enjoying every breath,” I added. parties. We have a lot of fun.” Bush’ argument. But if you had a couple drinks together.” run-off elections, you wouldn’t “Yeah, and those were a lot have to worry about that.” “Did she show you her Poison Ivy?” worse times than what we’re i www.nofxofficialwebsite.com facing now. Global warming…it’s i www.punkvoter.com I inquired about his relationship “Nah,” he laughed. “No, but fucked and if we don’t do i www.fatwreck.com with PETA. “PETA sets up tables she’s super-cool. Cool chick.” something about it, hundreds of at our shows,” he explained. millions of people are going to “We did a compilation to raise “How do you sleep? How many die. And the world’s gonna be a money for them. I don’t work hours do you usually get?” lot different, but it’s still better with them that much ever since than all-out nuclear war.” Bush won. I just realized, ya “I take sleeping pills,” Mike said know, there’s bigger problems. without a note of hesitation or Mike and I share a muted I spent a shit load of money on shame. “There’s too many fucking laugh. This is true. the Rock Against Bush comps.” problems in the world not to drink and do drugs. I take sleeping In the end, I copped out of “Hey, you have to shift your focus pills ‘cause, uh, like my friend our heavy and importunate in terms of what needs to be in Propagandhi is half-suicidal. conversation in favor of something focused on the most,” I replied. He just can’t fucking handle the I could go to sleep with…after “People are gonna continue to state of the world. All he does taking a healthy dose of NyQuil. wear fur, but there’s something is read books. And the more you we could actually do about Iraq.” read, the more information you “Are you happy with how far

44 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

The Los t^ Angeles Times VOL 1, ISSUE 7 Lost Angeles, Friday, February 31, 2006 BY SCOTT SHAPIRO

don’t worry. I’ll be back” And judging from polling numbers Celebrity in California, politicos surmise that to be sometime in mid-No- Baby vember. As questioning turned to Sylvester Stallone, his knowl- edge of the enemy was tested, to Pictures: which he responded, “All I know is that they’re the disease. And Part Deux-dy I’m the cure”, to which Bruce Willis added, with a smirk, “Yip- pee-kay-yay-mother-fucker!” TomKat to sell pictures of newborn’s dirty diaper Immediately, conservative talk show hosts flamed the air, ques- tioning why the White House by Schimp Bayless a multinational force that will would leave the nation’s defense White strike fear in the hearts of vil- in the hands of the predominant- “Everyone’s been asking for lainy, armed with with years of ly left-leaning Hollywood task the inside scoop and now we’re House Goes combat training, from the moun- force, Rush Limbaugh quipping, prepared to give it to you,” Tom tainous terrain of Afghanistan “Honestly, why stop there? Why Cruise beamed today while to the jungles of Australia and not get George Clooney to lead announcing to the world that he Hollywood even to the cyber-world before this group of misfits?” Press and Katie Holmes have decided America On-Line. Today I give Secretary Tony Snow scoffed at on selling pictures of their new- President Bush unveils to the world a gift, and promise: this notion, “George Clooney? born baby’s feces to the highest Operation: Last Stand Operation Last Stand”. Then, That’s just being silly. We’ve bidder. in a moment straight out of got Commandos, Green Berets, by Scott Shapiro Hollywood, the curtain fell, re- and Delta Force leaders. We’re Not to be outdone by Brangelina vealing: Arnold Schwarzengger, certainly not looking for any (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), As the latest installment of the Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Peacemakers. And when you on the heels of the disappointing wildly successful X-MEN series Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck look at the President’s current box-office returns ofMission Im- shattered box office records over Norris, Carl Weathers, Paul situation in regards to the public, possible III, sources say the the the Memorial Day weekend, one Hogan and Max Hedroom. the administration needed to not 4.1 million dollar price tag on thing one was abundantly clear only demonstrate that it is still the rival celebrity couple’s baby about the much-ballyhoed slump Much of the press conference serious about the War on Ter- pictures spurred a jealous Cruise Hollywood has been in the last revolved around the fear that ror, but it also needed to show to join the tabloid fray. However, two years. Americans are going none of these leaders, aside from that they are not going it alone, people from the TomKat camp back to the movies and now, it their Hollywood exploits, had which is why we’re reaching out say that’s hardly the case. appears as if the White House is any real military experience. to the left to try and accomplish going with them. Bush snickered at this notion, that mission. Bottom line, with “This is an opportunity for Tom responding, “I think experience most of these great American and Katie to pull back on the In a press conference yesterday, is highly overrated. People said I heroes’ recent box office returns supposed shroud of secrecy that President Bush explained to the wasn’t really all that experienced as low as the President’s current surrounded their baby’s birth world what he believes will be in the ways of the world before approval rating, this is a match into this world and to be able the key to bringing terrorism I came to the office of the Presi- made in heaven.” to give back to those who have to it’s knees, revealing the final dency and we’ve seen how that’s supported them through the step in the War against Terror: turned out.” As the press conference came years,” said Cruise’s sister and Operation Last Stand. to a close, President Bush knew publicist Lee Anne DeVette. The President then turned the that such an unorthodox plan Standing in front of a large presser over to the task force, would be met with skepticism, Chief amongst those support- curtain, the President started, where Gov. Schwarznegger but he believes that very reaction ers has been L. Ron Hubbard’s “Ladies and gentlemen, I present was asked how he’d be able is the key to entire operation. “I Church of Scientology, who to you the leaders of the most to balance serving the state of hope that’s what the terrorists Cruise has said will be the ben- ambitious military mission any California while maintaining a are thinking. I hope they think eficiary of any and all proceeds country has ever seen. A coali- leadership role within this unit. this is all a joke, because if they from the sale of the pictures. tion of the willing comprised of Schwarznegger replied, “I will are, I’ve just got three words for “The great Xenu (continued on be going back to California, but them. Bring it on!” page 112)

The Attack of Mr. Squiggleman By: molly hahn

You may find him tagging the noteworthy pieces he produced 18, he was commissioned to do walls at CalArts in Valencia, was for Radiohead three years Not too long ago, Axelrod was an Angel for the Community of CA or in his studio sandblasting ago. Axelrod impressed Thom stirring up at a lot of trouble Angels Sculptural Project - a 40oz glass bottles. Yorke with the sculpture of a at Beverly Hills High. “I got joint venture of the Los Angeles head, made out of mosaic tiles kicked out of Beverly. I was all Convention & Visitors Bureau and Meet Mr. Squiggleman, and finagled to look like it was about getting in trouble for a the mayor’s Volunteer Bureau. otherwise known as 22-year-old shattering though a glass window. quick laugh.” He ended up going Selected artists create Angels experimental artist Aaron Axelrod. to Grant in North Hollywood, that are installed at various This year Axelrod created even where he met more “real kids public spaces around the city. Axelrod is swarming in ideas more spectacular pieces. For that didn’t have the money that and delivering work at an Kanye West, “I painted him fucked with their heads.” Axelrod’s Angel was particularly extraordinary pace - bountiful on platinum records, but with unique. He used chameleon in carnal, disturbing, raw, and silver paint so it looks like In terms of childhood inspiration, car paint that changed colors seductive images. His increasing it’s engraved in the platinum Axelrod thanks Dr. Seuss and when looked at from different notoriety for innovative portraits records.” For Madonna, “I another unlikely source - the worst angles, and finished it with a and sculptures created especially painted her in a bubble bath, teacher he ever had at Beverly glossy mirror coat so that when for the headlining acts at the with the bubbles coming out of High, Miss McConnel. “She hated each person looks into the Coachella Music Festival has the canvas, and I painted it on me and was so horrible to me. I Angel, they see their reflection. landed him a recent spotlight in tape so it was blingy. She was thought I would never paint again For nighttime ambiance he the L.A. Times, and even personal stoked and was like, ‘I’m taking because of her. But looking back, used fiber optic lights. recognition from some of his this on tour with me everyday.’ it made me strong.” Axelrod told biggest musical inspirations. himself that “I’m going to make Growing up in the San Fernando “That’s the best feeling - I do it big just so I can call her out.” Valley exposed Axelrod to a Hired to do portraits by art for bands that I’ve listened more erotic side of life that Coachella’s concert promoters, to all my life and look up to, Axelrod received attention for heavily influences his work (80% Axelrod chooses his medium and they really like it. On the his incessant doodling not only of the world’s porn is produced in relation to how each artist back of each piece I write, from his disciplinarians, but also there). Currently, he’s working inspires him. One of the more ‘thanks for the music.’” from the city of Los Angeles. At on a large oil painting that mimics

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 49

“scrambled porn”- unique to our generation as xxx entertainment you could only find late at night on analog television. Using one frame from actual porn as his reference, Axelrod imagined what the distorted version of that image would be. The colors are incredibly vibrant, the contorted mouths and phallus quite humorous. This commentary on the shift from analog to digital technology evoked a sense of nostalgia even from yours truly.

Not all of Axelrod’s pieces convey such sensuous feels, and in fact some are utterly shocking. I came across a painting he did of a baby getting eaten by two dogs. “I wanted to paint the most disturbing image I could think of. If you are able to extract raw emotion - good or bad - it’s great if you can do that in a single image. Even if they’re really disturbed by it, you did your job well. It’s part of life – not everything is happy.”

As a student at CalArts, he has had the opportunity to hone his artistic technique and philosophy. Initially he used airbrushes, and his style conveyed a more absolute sense of reality. “I thought that making things look realistic is what determined if you’re a good artist or not. The more I do art the more I realize that can’t be any further from the truth. I think when people see an ultra realistic image, you’re just pointing out the obvious. It’s more powerful when someone can point something out that not everyone can see in terms of stylizing the way you view the world.”

This revelation evolved from Axelrod’s fearless approach to experimenting with various mediums, including but not limited to: duct tape, band aids, packaging tape, blunt wrapper boxes. “If you keep using the same material all the time, it gets repetitive and you don’t like doing it anymore. I think it’s a good thing to always be changing.” One of his favorite juxtapositions is packaging tape and gauche paint, “gauche is opaque, unlike acrylic; you don’t see brushstrokes and it doesn’t reflect any light whatsoever so it looks like velvet when it dries. That’s why I like to put tape on the background, because it’s shiny.”

“Mr. Squiggleman” is the nickname he acquired from his peers and the administration from CalArts, because he tagged a number of cartoonish-like drawings of a squiggly looking character all around campus. Typically known for its liberal atmosphere, CalArts appears to be tightening down its policies - so much so that Axelrod had to do 80 hours of community service, including painting over every character he had tagged.

Axelrod plans to finish school, come back to Coachella for round four, and of course continue working on his endless supply of inspirations. “A painting to me is an idea; I have so many more paintings in my head that I can’t get out. Looking at all of them together again gives me a brand new thought just because of the old stuff I’ve done, that informs me about the new shit.”

Keep pumping it out, Mr. Squiggleman.

kotori magazine 51 Ä COPPER | By: Kazu Kibuishi | www.boltcity.com

Ä FRANKANDFRANK | By: Chris Appelhans | www.froghatstudios.com on gorillaz: parents just on the grey album: “i didn’t understand why, don’t understand: “i was sent the acapellas for the based on the grey album, “my parents were like ‘so black album as a promo because from that damon albarn let me get this straight. my website, they knew i did remix work would want me to do you took this pErson’s and stuff like that. one day i was cleaning this record.” music and you took that out my room and ran across the white person’s music and your album, and it just hit me like...wait a name is this other cartoon. minute...i have an idea i want to try to what are you doing?’” see what happens. it was kind of an art project really...never once for a second did i think it would get big.”

on gnarls barkley: “all the music was made first, then cee-lo would go in and finish it off vocally. with ‘crazy,’ he did that in one take.”

on mf doom: “his words, his references, his phrasing, he just spends so much attention to detail. you finish listening to a song and you gotta Danger Mouse gets Hammered google half of it to see what he’s By: Wasim Muklashy saying. you know that’s he’s got you, but you don’t get half of his lyrics and references. so we The first real internet generation is all growz up. started working on that record.” They find themselves at a point where society has Brian Burton is best known as DJ Danger Mouse. no choice but to accept what they have to offer. He’s the guy who, just two years ago, mixed together Jay-Z’s Black Album and The Beatles’ UCLA’s Hammer Museum finds itself in a position White Album into The Grey Album. This not only to merge popular culture with aspects of the garnered unprecedented attention from fans, global subculture in such a way that presents but more importantly from those who despised both of them as indispensible parts of each what he did…copyright attorneys. To their dismay other. They’ve tapped into this age of edge by and surprise, it all helped cement his position as truly ‘seeking’ out quality rather than simply a personified ‘hero’ and today one of the most ‘settling’ for what we’re commonly given. To sought after producers in the hip-hop world. find such notable aspects of our future culture, one has no choice but to cut up the cookie Since then, he has been nominated for a Grammy cutter and relish in the surprising satisfaction for his production work on The Gorillaz’s Demon that comes with the process of discovery. Days, has further proved his eccentric tastes by joining legendary emcee MF Doom in last year’s Dig into the underground. Danger Doom, and most recently, has lit up the global charts with his work with former Goodie With their Conversations at the Hammer Mobster Cee-Lo in this year’s insanely acclaimed Museum series, which take place in the Gnarls Barkley. Mention the track “Crazy” to 10 museum’s airy and sunny courtyard, the people and you’ll get 12 favorable responses. museum’s goal is to ‘pair creative thinkers from a range of disciplines for engaging He joins founder of Quango Records and provocative discussions of culture, science, KCRW and KROQ DJ Jason Bentley (who has and the arts.’ Furthermore, ‘the conversations also served as music supervisor for countless are meant to be organic and spontaneous.’ films including The Matrix) in this fine summer afternoon conversation covering everything Judging from their first session…they’re onto from music to film to cartoons and beyond. something here. Who better to usher in the series than Brian Burton and Jason Bentley, two men who have benefited quite tremendously > www.hammer.ucla.edu from the globalization of information? > www.dangermousesite.com

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 53 Metales Y Derivados By: Environmental Health Coalition

photoS: Kristi Curtis Metales y Derivados is one of the 66 documented toxic waste sites along the U.S.-Mexican border. The maquiladora, which recycled batteries imported from the U.S., was shut down in 1994. That year, an arrest warrant was issued for the owner, José Kahn, after the community reported health problems and the Mexican government documented repeated violations of environmental law. The owner fled Mexico, and left behind 23,000 tons oftoxic waste.

In a sample of children living near the site, all had elevated blood lead levels.

The Metales y Derivados case shows how a community can successfully call attention to an injustice. Metales y Derivados became Mexico’s number one priority for toxic cleanup by January 2004, due to effective organizing. The Metales y Derivados case is also exhibit A for the failure of the NAFTA model of free trade to protect public health and the environment. The NAFTA petition process documented the Metales y Derivados case, but without an enforcement mechanism, could not compel cleanup. NAFTA fails to hold corporations accountable for their toxic waste. The owner of Metales y Derivados has never disputed responsibility for dumping toxic waste at the site, but has not contributed a penny to cleanup. NAFTA also failed to provide environmental defense resources for Mexico’s disproportionate burden of the impacts of trade. At the start of the Metales y Derivados cleanup in summer 2004, only about 10% of the funds required to satisfy the terms of the cleanup agreement between the community and the government had been set aside for the project.

> For more information on Metales Y Derivados and maquiladoras like it, contact the Environmental Health Coalition at 619-474-0220, or visit www. environmentalhealth.org and www.maquilapolis.com Art: Nick Taylor By:Live Jake McGee Nation is a Minion of Evil

round the turn of the cen- With Clear Channel’s supremacy over their companies seem like theyonly 2,311 in ticket sales. “[They]ground sensations TheLocust, refuse tury, large monitors began the radio and advertising industries,weren’t as connected as they are. are removed from the ticket mani- to play anyL ive Nation show, no mat- popping up at concerts. their competition was no match; inT hus was bornL ive Nation, in De- fests, and not shared with me.” ter how hard it makes things.T his Sometimes they would sup- 2004, they generated more revenuecember 2005. C lear Channel Execu- righteous attitude costT he Locust Aplement the performance, but morethan their 24 leading rivals com- tive Vice President andCFO Randall Even worse, in 2003C lear Channel several prime dates in their 2005 tour often they would flash advertise- bined. Furthermore, they exploit Mays is theC hairman ofL ive Nation, bought the patent for technologywith Fantamos. “urningT down shows ments in the down time between acts. every chance they can to make an- ex while the title ofCEO and Director that enables concerts to be recordedwith our friends the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Eventually, they became a disgustingtra buck, raising vendor prices, plac- was given toM ichaelR apino (who was instantly and then sold directly - fol or Fantomas at theF ilmore isn’t the part of the concert landscape. ing numerous advertising monitors atalready in charge ofC lear Channel’s lowing the show.F or decades, many easiest thing to do,” the band stated, venues, tacking on all sorts of weirdamphitheaters and global concertbands have condoned recording their“but instead of it being a thorn in our For example, atG uitar Center’s DJ service charges to ticket prices, andbusiness). shows, allowing for trading amongside, it’s more of like an early coffin Spinoff inC leveland,O hio, onA ugust jacking up the prices of tickets them- die-hard fans. But the quality wasn’tnail for Clear Channel.” 4, 2002, between every set, theMC selves. Between 2000 and 2005,- av In essence, all that changed was thealways guaranteed, and when slimy of the event said, “and now turn yourerage ticket prices rose from $44.80name. L ive Nation now owns or oper- cats started charging rates like $40C lear Channel has made the concert attention to the screens,” so thatto $55.18, while bands such asU2 ates at least 135 venues, and throughand more for these albums, musiciansexperience into expensive yuppie the crowd could watch ads for Dodgecommand an average of $138.02 perequity, booking or similar arrange- figured they should hop in galas,on the where lattes are sold at punk trucks. ticket. ments, they have the right to bookgame, not just to make money, butrock shows. A nd there is little the events at more than 30 additionalmoreover to ensure the best soundaudience can do to stop them, unless Obviously, this intense commercial- This conglomerate has been undervenues. possible. everyone who truly loves music com- ization is to make more money, butpersistent criticism for its business pletely boycotts their concerts all- to for who? C oncert promoters claim it’s practices. One of many instances “The business has become a lot morePearl Jam was the infamous catalystgether. E ven then, they would thrive just the cost of business, to help paywas in 2001, when Denver promoterabout customization,”R apino was for this trend, when they offered- re somehow. Indeed, recent Pollstar for the events. But as ticket pricesNobody In Particular Presents filedquoted in USA Today in September cordings of every show from theirEu- figures show that while the number of continue to climb, it seems that it’ssuit againstC lear Channel, claiming ‘05. So, what Rapino has done is ropean tour in 2000.W ithin months tickets sold in 2005 dropped to 36.1 simply about milking the events for asthey illegally reduced radio airplaybrought in pricier vendors to con- there were more than 70 differentmillion from 37.6 million in 2004, much scrilla as possible. for artists who booked concerts withcerts, like Legal Sea Foods, Au Bon titles, and the band sold more than 3concert revenue continues to climb, competing promoters. W hile they Pain, Starbucks, and Ben & Jerry’s, million copies. from $2.8 billion in 2004 to $3.1 -bil At the top of this food chain lieseventually settled out of court,- re as well as instigated variousVI P pro- lion in 2005. Live Nation, the concert leg ofClear cords showed that emails sent fromgrams, where if you pay the rightBut when Clear Channel seized con- Channel Communications,I nc. For- the Director of Programming forClear price, you can get a seat on stage,trol of this too, suddenly fans and -art It seems to be up to the artists at this merly known asC lear ChannelE nter- Channel’s Denver radio stations - at access to backstage parties, photoists found the tradition almost - pro point, to avoid playingL ive Nation tainment,L ive Nation dominates the tacked management atR eprise Re- opportunities, etc. hibited, regardless of the musicians’events at all costs, and opting for the concert industry with control of overcords for going with someone else. wishes. Now, the only way to get a smaller venues. W hich would prove 70% of the nation’s live shows. “We are out of business with you,”Now, at first it appears that livebands recording at anyLive Nation show a nice thing, going back to the days they said, “and you can go fuck your- like the Rolling Stones- who charge is to buy it throughInstant L ive, Clear when musicians played at one venue In February 2000, Clear Channel self as far as I’m concerned.” more than $450 for VIa P ticket- are Channel’s live concert burn-and-sellfor several nights, rather than hop- bought SFX Entertainment- a collec- the greedy ones.T hen you take into company. ping from state to state every day. tion of regional concert firms andT here have been similar cases throughaccount that these tickets are taken This would give fans a chance to see venues- for about $4.4 billion. “Thisthe years sinceC lear Channel was from the stash that performers usedN eil Young put it best aboutLive Na- their favorite musicians in a more transaction,” saidC lear ChannelCEO founded in 1972.T he biggest catch to be given per show.S o, where 10 tion andC lear Channel, when he told intimate setting, and give the musi- Lowery Mays, “allows Clear Chan- is, you have to have a lot of moneyyears ago it was up to the musiciansthe Chicago Tribune in 2003, “They cians a chance to relax a little more nel, throughSFX , to gain immediate to go up againstC lear Channel, and who got theVI P tickets, it’s now up to are anti-music, and they don’t getwhile on tour. leadership in the highly attractiveso musicians and promoters often findthe corporate promoters. the spirit of it.” live entertainment segment, whilelittle choice but to roll with the -pro Sure, we’d be losing the opportunity taking advantage of the natural rela- gram, or be run out of business. “Corporations have been sold all theT hankfully, Young,M iller, and many to pay $5 for a bottle of water, but tionship between radio and live music good seats,”S teve Miller told Roll- other artists have started denounc- such is life. events.” Because of all the controversy,Clear ing Stone in 2004, recalling a concert ing Clear Channel for what they are, Channel felt it best to try to makewith an attendance of 18,166, butwhile some musicians, such as under- ill-literacy iLL-Literacy is smirking. Only five years ago, most would have scoffed at the idea of spoken word rocking a crowd. Nowadays, especially in the Bay Area, things are a lot different. iLL-Literacy’s the new crew around these parts…and it’s nothing to go dumb about.

Individually, Dahlak Brathwaite, Nico Cary, Adriel Luis, and Ruby Veridiano-Ching hold achievements under their belts that include performances throughout the country, dozens of publications and recordings, features on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and MTV, and poetry slam championships in the youth, college, and adult circuits. Collectively, the four poets compose a family that blesses audiences everywhere with its highly acclaimed stage shows.

This is not your everyday snap-your-fingers-in-berets poetry. In fact, iLL-Literacy’s unique fusion of spoken word with elements of hip-hop, experimental theater, and visual arts has landed the crew among crowds over the United States and Europe, sharing the stage with such heavy-hitters as Common, Black Star, Goapele, the Beastie Boys, Dead Prez, Saul Williams, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And this is just the beginning. With a new album and full-length stage production in the works, it can only get iller. iLL- Literacy’s coming…stack up on the Airborne. i Find out more at www.ill-literacy.com photo: Andri Tambunan

Dieselboy Gets His! By: Asha Azhar

All of Dieselboy’s works, everything from the actual imprint on the CD to the album cover design, are linked to one another. Dieselboy now offers The Human Resource, a two CD compilation released on the Human Imprint la- bel. CD 1 is an unmixed label compilation and CD 2 is mixed by Evol Intent. When asked how the name for the album originated, Dieselboy answered with youthful gusto. “As with most of my CD projects, the name just popped into my head! I felt that it was cool in the sense that it means the CD is an actual resource for label material as well as a tongue-in-cheek use of a well-known phrase. It just fit!

“For the most part I was just waiting un- til I had enough material to truly flesh out the CD properly,” he explained. “When I had finished signing some new mate- rial, I sat down and thought about how I wanted to make it the best it could be.”

Never content to wear only one hat, Die- sel went the extra mile in preparing the project, coming up with the concept, designing the title font and art-direct- ing the whole album. “My good friend Joel Savitzky at System handled the work side of it and provided essential input.”

“I lined up some special remixes to commemo- rate this project and to add some value to the album. I chose Counterstrike to remix the KC 12-inch because he is great at working with metal riffs in drum and bass. The Upbeats were a fan of the Subculture remix I did with Kaos so they were a perfect fit for that. The rest of the CD was chosen by me. Kinda like the best of the best of Human.” The second CD features Evol Intent, a Georgia-based industrial jungle group. “I really like the Evol Intent boys on a personal level and had already lined them up for a 12-inch on the label. I knew that they would take the mix to the next level.” Die- sel was right. E.I. went beyond just putting tunes together and actually re-edited tracks.

“I gave them every tune, released and un- released, on the label. I gave them a short list of tunes that I definitely wanted them to include in the mix. The rest of it was up to them. I like detailed drum and bass

60 KOTORI MAGAZINE “After years of battling with labels like Moonshine and Palm Pictures, I wanted to be in complete control over my projects..”

and those guys are the kings of putting in crazy minute details in their music.”

Human Imprint was founded in early 2002. “After years of battling on certain levels with labels like Moonshine and Palm Pictures I wanted to be in a position of com- plete control over my own projects. Start- ing Human Imprint allowed me to do that. My goal has always been to try and make every release special in some way. I want people to see a Human release and automati- cally know that it is going to be quality.”

Like Durst at Flipside (have you forgotten who was responsible for Puddle of Mudd already?) Dieselboy is his own A&R guy. “So everything that is released on the label is stuff that I per- sonally love and play in my sets. I think that Human has its own sound compared to other labels,” he said. “The name Human Imprint is my own...it had a nice ring to it…I like what I can do it with it on a conceptual level for proj- ects, logos, names, etc.” Currently without an exclusive roster of artists, Human Imprint is still growing. Dieselboy reminds us to look for one-offs from artists down the road like Ewun, Tetradin and Infiltrata. Some of the releases under the label include Dieselboy’s last two mix CDs, Project HUMAN and Dungeon Master’s Guide, the label compilation Human Resource and many 12”s. Dieselboy has the next 8 re- leases for the label lined up until the end of 2006. These include 12”s from Sasha, Evol Intent, The Upbeats, Demo and Define. Ad- ditionally, he is currently wrapping up a Planet Of The Drums tour with AK1200, Dara, and Messinian. He now plans to write some original music and begin work on his next mix CD in between intermittent international DJ dates.

Final summation? Dieselboy spreads him- self around more than an acrobatic nym- pho-maniacal Indigo child on Spanish fly.

Huh?

Exactly.

X listen to soundbites at www.kotorimag.com i www.djdieselboy.com

kotori magazine 61 BHL:

Bernard-Henri Lévy, or BHL as he is known, is a rare man in contem- porary culture – a famous philosopher. His career spans more than 30 years as a journalist, essay- ist and diplomat, not to mention one of the most photographed figures in Parisian high society. BHL was previously best known in America as the au- thor of the controversial 2003 best-seller Who Killed Daniel Pearl, where he put forth the argu- ment that it was not the murdered Wall Street Journal reporter’s Judaism that got him killed, but the simple economics of a league of internation- al government, business and criminal elements eliminating the threat posed by a gifted journalist who was getting too close to the truth. His latest book American Vertigo: Traveling in America in the Footsteps of Tocqueville addresses the socio- economic situation in contemporary America, as BHL retraced the route that 19th century French philosopher took through this land in search of its true character.

But an often-overlooked work, 1977’s Barbarism with a Human Face offers what are perhaps the most salient of BHL’s insights into global geopoli- tics. It was written as an argument against the po- lemic violence of the European left; but its vision of progressive ideals devolving into Communist dogma and the subsequent rise of the right, or worse, the amoral specter of rampant capitalism in Europe and its urging of the left to pull itself together and take up the task of revitalizing its ideas and practices seem prophetic in their cur- rent relevance. His dire predictions about rising forces of totalitarianism within democracies, the proliferation of new gulags and attempts at si- lencing dissent and instigating religious strife have sadly more than been borne out by history. But as Kotori’s Shana Nys Dambrot soon discovered, his hope for the ultimate triumph of progressivism is alive and kicking.

photo: Thierry Dudoit/L’Express/Editing TBy: Shanahe NYS Dam brotKotori Interview

SND: So it’s 30 years since the pub- hard to stay optimistic on the left. and day now. They know that rac- rism, they’ll have our lives in their lication of Barbarism. For better ism is not an opinion they can ex- hands one of these days. Are they or worse, it seems that everything BHL: One of the conclusions of my press. So you can consider the Bush ready? about the way international power book American Vertigo, one of the movement, the conservative mo- is organized, distributed and ma- results of my foreign eye on your ment, as the last spasm of the old. BHL: My feeling is that they express nipulated has come to pass as you country is that there might be less It is my bet that in the next ten or exactly what is happening in the had predicted. How do you feel reason to be demoralized than you 20 years history will see the time of country. I remember one thing that about that? think. I am a pessimist, but one of this administration in this way. happened in Austin, Texas, the day the things about America, when after the re-election of Bush, in a BHL: When I see this book, I re- you try to see it from a broad point SND: Can you talk a bit about the high school class. The whole story member the harsh polemics with of view, not so much with an eye role that art and culture have to is in Vertigo – but basically I dis- which I was involved 30 years ago; toward the reality of the day, but play in the so-called culture wars covered that the majority of them and I recall there was something from the point of view of a few unfolding now? would have voted for John Kerry; absurd in it. But at the end of the years you can have quite another the majority of them believe in the day most of what I have said in reading of the Bush story, of the BHL: I haven’t changed my mind in right to abortion; the majority of here has been revealed to be just conservative wave, of the moral 30 years. The last page of the book I them believe that creationists are in advance of what was going to values campaign and so on. You can remember well, about the Dante of kooks. I learned that the youth of happen; it’s even to my own eyes view this less as a wave, impos- our time. [Reaches for book, finds this country is that blue tide, the difficult to believe, but all that I sible to stop; less that than as the passage on The Gulag Archipelago progressive tide that will in the predicted, all that I learned, all last pearl of the old rightist oyster. and reads from it…] I have learned long run be the dominant current in that I wished for in the book has You can see things as a long term more from reading this book than the country; the civil rights move- been what has happened. It makes battle and a victory of the demo- from the political commentaries… ment, the democratic revolution. you full with melancholy and of cratic ideals of the Sixties getting The importance of art, I deeply be- The George W. Bush administration course also joy. What I said in this deep into American society - and lieve that artists give the most im- is not the end of the world. book is that of course I spoke from this as a sort of rear-guard battle, portant and influential messages. the point of view of the Left, and a last spasm of the old beast re- I realize that more than ever. And I have kept on thinking the same fusing to surrender without a last I think here in Los Angeles, where way. I criticized radicalism in or- fight. Take for example this story we are celebrating the anniversary der to reinvent the Left as another of the anti-abortion movement in of the Beat Generation, about the sort of Left, whose masters would South Dakota, of course you have huge importance of in this case po- be the dissidents more than Stalin a governor who signs these things etry. George Herms is more impor- or Lenin, and I remain faithful to but he knows that it means nothing tant than any politician. There was what I plead for in the book. as long as the Supreme Court and Kerouac, Burroughs, Ferlinghetti federal law are as they are. And if – they changed our perception of SND: But when you look at the situ- you look at the polls all over Ameri- the world, they were at the origin ation with the Bush administration, ca, 70 percent of women are really of the cultural revolution which is terrorism, fanaticism, right wing not ready to abandon this right. All still taking place 40 years later. religious zealots in every religion, of the South of this country which politics of fear, corruption, the as- provided until the middle of the SND: What about the power that sault on human rights, individual 20th century all the battalions of young people have to shape Amer- freedom and the environment – it’s racism in America – it’s like night ica’s future? As you said in Barba-

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 63 Boom Boom Satellites By: Pierce Jackson

In March, Japanese rock band The Boom Boom Satellites touched down in Miami to perform at the M3 summit and cel- ebrate the US release of their latest album, Full of Elevating Pleasures. This album expands their sound by pairing guitars and heavy drums with analog synths to create electronic-infused rock unparalleled in the annals of Ameri- cana. This was both their first U.S. per- formance and release in 7 years. Since then, they’ve toured the world with artists like Moby and Prodigy and have rocked out at music festivals in Europe.

“The overall experiences of these events lead to the creation of this album.” In a recent phone interview conducted through a translator, Nakano Masayuki (half of the two man crew) tells us the album title was dubbed by Kawashima Michiyuki (the other half). “We want to take listeners on a journey like when you’re at a live show…we want to ex- plain the different moods and ups and downs that you go through.” And Full of Elevating Pleasures does just that. The first track explodes with crash sym- bols and drum rolls but levels off on the second song to let its listeners catch their breath to a more disco-influenced sound. From there each track builds in intensity before quieting down for a few laid back cuts, closing out the record on a pleasantly docile note.

The last time the Satellites were here was in 1999, when they were on tour with Moby. With a band like Puffi Ami Umi having their own show on Cartoon Network, “I suppose it’s not so uncom- mon for Japanese groups to perform in the States anymore,” says Masayuki. But nevertheless, “to be back in America after seven years is one our career high- lights. It’s interesting for us to see how things have changed,” Michiyuki adds. “We love touring. It gives us the chance to perform in front of different audi- ences.”

But sometimes, it’s not always about the music. “Our favorite part is to try the food at each place that we play…our favorite food in the States is Burger King.”

Uh…someone get these guys to a Johnny Rockets!

>> listen at www.kotorimag.com >> www.bbs-net.com

64 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com E c o l i b r i u m

Convert your Band Van to BioDiesel By: Virginia Melin & Mollycules

Are you a touring band looking for wider use they were adapted substitute derived from virtually cost effective and environmentally to burn a less expensive and any vegetable oil, including soy, Biodiesel is made through a friendly transporation? Or just polluting petroluem based fuel corn, rapeseed (canola), peanut process called transesterification: plain sick of being reliant on - petrodiesel - a lower grade by- or sunflower — as well as from a reaction of the vegetable foreign souces of oil? A diesel product of the gasoline refining recycled cooking oil, animal fats oil with an alcohol (ethanol or vehicle powered by biodiesel process. Petrodiesel produces and even algae! Biodiesel works methanol) initiated by a catalyst and/or Straight Vegetable the nasty carcinogenic sulfur in ANY diesel vehicle with little (sodium hydroxide or potassium Oil (SVO) may be for you. emissions that cause smog and or no engine modifications, has hydroxide); the byproducts are are linked to global warming. excellent lubricating properties, is biodiesel and glycerin. If you Innovative? Not quite. In 1895, free of lead, and contains virtually are a do it yourselfer, please Dr. Rudolf Diesel invented The overreliance on foreign oil no sulfur or toxic compounds - visit www.journeytoforever.com, the diesel engine and ran it (especially the Middle East) is resulting in significant reductions because the ingredients must be initially on vegetable oil and becoming increasingly expensive in in the release of unburned handled with extreme caution and infamously stated, “the use of terms of money, the environment, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, instructions followed carefully. vegetable oils for engine fuels and human lives (NO BLOOD and pariculate matter (soot). It may seem insignificant today. FOR OIL!). As oil consumption is the only alternative fuel to You can simply buy biodiesel, But such oils may become in increases and fossil fuels dwindle, have fully completed the health which is blended with petrodiesel course of time as important alternative energy sources are effects testing requirements - the most common blend is as petroleum and the coal tar garnering more and more support. of the Clean Air Act. 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel products of the present time.” (B20). Willie Nelson, a founding Biodiesel, aka “LIQUID SUN”, is And you can make it in member of Farm Aid and As diesel engines came into a clean burning renewable fuel your own kitchen! celebrity troubadour of the LINKS i http://www.lovecraftbiofuels.com - Professional Conversion business based in LA i http://www.wnbiodiesel.com - Willie Nelson Biodiesel i http://www.greasenotgas.com - Piebald Tour Website

66 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com “Biodiesel, aka “LIQUID SUN”, is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act.”

BioDiesel movement, sells his and more in depth details about is LoveCraft BioFuels, a co- $10 dollar a day trailer rental, so B20 concoction aptly named the biodiesel movement. op located in Los Angeles at negating the price of gasoline is a “BioWillie” at fuel outlets 4000 Sunset Blvd specializing strong incentive to make the one- throughout the United States. “Free” fuel in the form of WVO in converting diesel powered time investment in the conversion. (Waste Vegetable Oil) from vehicles to run on new and waste One band, Piebald, drove from Europe is the global leader restaurants is an attractive vegetable oil, “We’re working Boston to LA (2999 miles) and, in biodiesel production. option and there is fringe group with people from all walks of life. according to their website, spent According to Greg Pahl’s book, of “greasers” that use SVO/WVO Our customers include truckers, only $0.02 per mile (saving over Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy to power diesel vehicles directly. activists, liberals, conservatives, $846 - the price of a conversion). Economy, “Germany, France However, SVO/WVO IS DIFFERENT and anyone interested in and Italy combined produce FROM BIODIESEL, hasn’t gone clean burning, free fuel from Whether you decide to go the nearly eighteen times more through the transesterification renewable resources produced biodiesel or SVO/WVO way, biodiesel than the entire United process, and often thickens during in the US.” Visit them on the both are a movement towards States. Biodiesel has been cold weather which can clog fuel web at www.lovecraftbiofuels. energy independence and manufactured on an industrial systems! Because SVO/WVO is com - they have great forum less reliance on fossil fuels. scale in Europe since 1992.” linked to engine problems and providing tips for do it yourselfers, Using alternative fuel will not often confused with biodiesel, fueling stations, and general immediately cure our world of The United States has a ways to many in the biodiesel industry networking with other greasers. environmental problems and go, but grassroots and mainstream are afraid will give them a bad political turmoil, but it is a support is increasing, “Biodiesel name. Therefore, a conversion kit So how can a touring band, with positive part of building the is the future,” says Willie Nelson. ($300 to $1500) is reccommended long hauls, tight deadlines, tons of foundation for a new and more “Our family farmers can grow our to avoid engine damage. This band equipment, and potentially sustainable infrastructure. fuel right here at home, reducing typically includes a heating grumpy and inebriated band- our dependence on foreign oil system, a second fuel tank, an mates use this to their advantage? and at the same time provide a extra fuel line to the engine, a Joey Weltcher, tour manager for clean burning fuel for America’s filter, and a control that switches LA Devo-inspired punk rock band truckers.” Check out Nelson’s back between the two systems. The Mormons, said that on their website at www.wnbiodiesel. last road trip their expenses com for the latest news, links, One such SVO/WVO proponent were basically gasoline and the photo: Syd Kato

belief By: Bob Freville

“Who do you trust?” I asked. level in order to keep learning. mean time, better believe my That’s the other thing about this 2000XL will do the damn thing.” “George Bush,” came his reply. “And maybe make some mysterious cat. Even if you were That is the enigma that is Belief, real money.” to lift a direct quote from him “One of your long-term goals is Brooklyn’s prolific hip-hop out of some magazine that he to write film scores. Where does music maestro. Is he serious? For some reason, whenever I think was interviewed in less than a that aspiration come from?” Is he joking? Has he gone bat of money, I think of a gargantuan year ago, Belief seems like the shit and joined Halliburton so clock necklace which, naturally, type of dude to sit quiet and “I may be wrong about this, but as to ensure that his music will leads me to think of big hats and fastidiously craft a way to re- it seems like doing scores might be piped in to Air Force One? fake noses, the kind that are work what has been said into a be a more mellow lifestyle, only usually sold in corner stores with new package. “The idea was to cuz there isn’t any back and Belief chose his words carefully, plastic eyeglasses attached. move to New York to get it into forth with artists. I feel like that taking time to sculpt his answers. my subconscious,” he said. “The would be a nice thing to move on I hung back and chewed on my “What was it like working music I make isn’t necessarily to later in life when I don’t have knuckles until blood gave way with Humpty Hump on Risky the product of the place I’m the energy to deal with artists to bone. It was all worth it. Business/Brotherly Love? Does at during its conception, but or record labels any more.” he still wear the nose?” more the things and places I’ve “Your first full-length [Dedication] experienced throughout my life. “Where does the sun is in the works,” I said. “Now “I actually didn’t produce Risky Like I could be up in the country hide at night?” you’ve worked on a lot of Business and, unfortunately, visiting my family and come up projects, but never before haven’t gotten a chance to with some real Harlem shit…” “The West coast.” have you made your own LP. work with Humpty…but I sure Why has it taken you this as hell can do the dance.” “When you walk out into “And where do you get long to get down to it?” the New York City night, your head cut?” For the express purpose of what are you expecting?” “I had been thinking about pro-creating a healthy future “Actually,” Belief replied with and collecting song ideas from generation of Hip-Hop, we “To come home inspired.” a sheepish grin. “My girl cut work on other people’s projects certainly must hope that it, but don’t tell anyone.” for awhile,” Belief explained. Belief is telling the truth. “Alright,” I said. “Dopest “One day I realized that I had machines with which to make been through the experience of “You’ve mentioned your people’s ears bleed…” X listen to soundbites at doing songs on other people’s conscious decision to try and www.kotorimag.com albums enough times and I inject your music with the New “I feel like it might be the SP1200, i www.beliefmusic.com needed to push it to the next York experience,” I said. but I don’t have one. In the

68 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

D.J. and the case of the Blu Leaf By: Ernesto Rosinski

Growing up in the Watts section of Los reflects. “When I first came up with the “with the artists and producers all over. black-owned company at that, coming Angeles, DJ “got into the lifestyle that name I made a couple tees with a heat We work at helping a lot of the ‘New in trying to do things from the ground was all around me,” and molded his transfer, which had a blue leaf on the West Movement’ rappers at getting up. Big established companies fear any attire accordingly. But the older he front and a small blue weed leaf on the themselves as a ‘business’ right and new company coming into the game, got, the more he yearned for something back. Every time I was out people were getting all the small details worked out. definitely when that company has such more than just an urban appearance. asking me where I got it at and how they We’ve worked with rappers like Glasses strong ties to the streets and music “The problem with the majority of so- could get one, so from there I really got Malone- Sony Music, Cashis- Shady Recs, artists, well-known and up & coming.” called ‘urban clothing’ companies,” it crackin’.’” Frontlinerz, etc. West Coast Reputables he says, “is that they’re owned, ran Mixtape Vol. 1 is dropping this summer, Between the guidance of DJ and Chief and designed by people who have no “Blu Leaf is about TRUE urban style, and the Reputables from all the other Operations Officer Cliff “Big Heat” clue about what urban really is. At the and reinvesting in the communities that regions best get at us to get on the next Jordan, Blu Leaf is becoming a lasting same time, these companies collect our it represents. At the company level Volumes.” force. “Most urban retailers, such as money and put nothing back into our we reinvest a minimum of 8% of all Sheikh Shoes and Bad Boy Clothing, communities.” proceeds into inner city programs and Starting a business like this from scratch carry Blu Leaf tees. You can always donate our time at teaching kids basic is simple, right? “Hell muthafuckin’ find the full collection at www.bluleaf. So he started his own clothing company, business skills. We try to run Blu Leaf no,” he declares. “Things ain’t easy com. The mixtape is available on there, donning the moniker Blu Leaf Clothing. as an example to kids and adults alike these days, unless you’re the majority as well as www.wcreps.com and www. “It started because of my love of clothing on how to run a business, and yourself instead of the minority. We have run hiphopwest.com.” and trouble in finding true urban style as a person.” into many walls trying to set ourselves on a top quality product.” up as a company that is self-reliant. Naturally, Blu Leaf is connected to Certain groups that run these different “Blu Leaf started at the end of 2003, but music as well as clothes. “We’re real divisions of the clothing industry do not didn’t start growing strong ‘til 2005,” he heavy in the music industry,” DJ notes, like to see a new player, especially a

70 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com

Not Getting Rid of The Voices In Your Head By: Scott Mackie

The radio station I DJ on has strict policies slide like radiant mind-screws in and out of also known as heaven on earth for people with concerning the number of times you can play swank and creamy clouds of electric guitars a fondness for such ultrasonic majestaphon- a band – only one song and never in consecu- played the way electric guitars were meant ics like Epic45, Telescopes, Oppressed by the tive shows. But a little three-piece from Wales to be played: shimmering showers of fried-as- Line, Sambassadeur, Amusement Parks on Fire, has totally transformed me into a big bad f*ck feedback bringing on the wah-wah moans and Ulrich Schnauss (who regularly DJ’s at the radio outlaw. On almost every show I fly my coaxing angel sighs and demon groans. Yes club). Which brings us to my particular motive freak-flag right in the face of the man and Emily you can attain higher consciousness and in writing this essay: if enough of you buy their play 2-3 of their songs in a row. It’s really satisfy carnal desires at the same time. Le- CDs, maybe they’ll come to the States and save scary sometimes, but living life on the edge gally. For only $10. www.karmadownload.com me the expense of flying halfway across the can be exhilarating. And the listeners don’t globe to see them. www.lostinconfusion.com seem to mind either – in fact I’ve been us- And the situation is about to improve: an- ing their songs as a diagnostic tool: to see if other full-length is on the way. Based on the anyone is listening to my damn show. Halfway un-mastered version I’ve heard, it seems the X listen to soundbites at www.kotorimag.com into the first song the phones will invariably dosage has been slightly adjusted: 10 mg less light up with people asking: “Who’s play- MBV, substituted by 5 mg JAMC + a Spiritual- ing right now and where can I get it?” ized protective coating to prevent tummy aches (and provide me pharmaceutical analo- The answer to those burning questions – and gies). Is it better than the first? Buy both and to be honest, almost all of life’s deepest ques- decide for yourself. www.tonevendor.com tions – is the Voices, and www.my-kung-fu.com. The Voices have not yet played outside the UK, Things that happen during the course of the where it regularly wrecks PA’s at such venues self-titled first full length: slippery-sexy vocals as Club AC30, a bi-weekly social in London 270° SOUNDS ferociously sexy here, a confidently beautiful voice on The Kajmere Sound, Vol. 1 par with Patton’s unlimited vocals. (Kajmere Sound Recordings) (JLM) Colette & DJ Heather House of OM A lot of these soul grooves are OM Records fresh out of the 70’s ala Earth, J DiMenna Wind, and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Awkward Buildings This double disc set is straight- at times mixed with today’s (Exotic Recordings) up sickness! I’ve heard both beats and “Native Tongue” lyrical underground flows. of these divas play live many The Kajmere Sound is a collection of up and coming Very thoughtful and rhythmically times, so I know what to expect. This is why I was artists on the Kajmere label as well as artists already complete, at first listen the somewhat disappointed in Colette’s set, well actually familiar to most, such as Chali2na and The Rebirth. almost Beatle-esque Awkward in her track selection. Now, don’t get me wrong, The Kajmere label was created by the underground Buildings comes off as a perfect companion to a lazy Colette’s voice reigns supreme as always and her soul group and KOTORI favs’ The Rebirth to serve as an day at the beach. But the more you listen, the more blending skills are top notch as you will hear in this outlet for up and coming talent. Some of that talent you realize that the record as a whole cradles an all around solid recording, however, I think the more featured here is Choklate, an artist from Seattle. She undertone of anxiety...like something ugly hiding under serious househeads are bound to keep Heather’s disc in is featured on “Waitin’,” a hot track to start off the the surface of something uneasily pretty. Don’t get me rotation. This set of Heather’s brings me immediately CD. Choklate is also featured on track #6, “Bigger wrong, it’s a very rich and lush record that seems to fill to the dancefloor, like a train laid chugging smoothly Than You,” another highlight. Other highlights include all the proper frequencies with just the right amount of on it’s tracks, which in this case, are some mighty “Sum Same” by The Rebirth, “Tread Lightly” by NBE aurally pleasing sound, yet, it’s fundamentally simple tunes from top producers such as Inland Knights, featuring Jon B, and “Our Time to Shine” by Modern enough to be...eerily timeless. Still, something about it Trademarq, Dopeheadz and even some of her own Groove Assembly featuring Sy Smith. I’ll bet you’ll be exudes a sense of beautifully melancholic disturbance. collaborations with E.C.B. and Brett Johnson. Her take seduced to invent a new dance for “Hidden Gem.” The haunting oil field fairground cover art seems to on the Boompty sound is nothing short of body-jacking only amplify the feeling. Yah, I know, I’m talking about bliss. Nuff said, two needles up and look out for these This compilation is how one should be. To paraphrase what is essentially a ‘singer/songwriter’ record, but Lady Jane Allstars while they’re on their international Big Boi & Raekwon – if you listen closely you’ll realize it’s very intricately promotional tour. “All types of flows and flavas designed and structured across the board...lyrically, (jt) innovative - new and creative musically, and mentally...effectively tapping into more spine tinglin’ with mad styles and crazy dangerous than just your 5 senses. Ocote Soul Sounds and I mean, bust ya shit open beats!” (wam) Adrian Quesada (Drumacide) El Niño y El Sol Bronze Nazareth Eighteenth Street Lounge The Knife The Great Migration Silent Shout Babygrande Records El Niño y el Sol is a collaboration Mute between Martin Perna (Ocote The story of this Detroit native Soul Sounds) and Adrian Quesada. They are founding Electronically integrated, taking the Greyhound 15 hours members of two of the world’s most successful and infused with a irksome vocal to reach New York in the hopes progressive afro/latin/funk big bands, Antibalas back drop…categorization is of meeting The RZA of the one and only Wu-Tang Clan and Grupo Fantasma, respectively. After kicking off nearly impossible…Who are these people?? Skerige is isn’t that dazzling…The fact he had to try 3 times to the album with a lush instrumental sound-scape in where they call home. (That’s Swedish for Sweden if succeed, it’s the conviction and the desire to succeed “Tamarindo”, these guys smash you in the face with you were wondering) Each track brings you on a journey that makes this story…Make your breaks happen, some top-shelf funk in “Dedication TV”. Pretty soon into the deepest and darkest realms of computer made that seems the motto of this up and coming hip-hop you find yourself drunk from their intoxicating “Afro- music. This bro and sis duo make music that transcends heavyweight. The lyrics are deep, the beats are tight… Latin” jazz rhythms mottled throughout the rest of the what our culture is used to be. Leave it up to those “Hear what I Say!” got the beats and powerful lyrics… album. This joint definitely passed the boot-knockin crazy Europeans…Listening to this album is in close genuine and intense. “Detroit” is a collaborative work. test with flying colors and is sure to be the first of many contention with an outer body experience. “Neverland Don’t let the engaging beat throw you off; Detroit ain’t collaborations between these two. “ is electronically imposing one it’s own…throw in the going down like that. The lyrics speak volumes about (JTizzle) vocals and the prophetic story the tell…likes like they the inventive originality that this young cat has in his a painting with sounds…“Silent Shout” is more up arsenal. And being tied into WU, you know it’s got the Barry Adamson tempo…almost trance with electronic steal drums…the killer bee references… Stranger on the Sofa sounds are just all over the place...the are cluttered (the dirty j) Central Control and jagged, but that’s the way it has to be!! to try and alter the spasmodic sounds would take away from the Bradley To know him is to love him. allure of the music. It will be like nothing you have The Hustle Original member of fan ever heard before...a farfetched fantasmo!! favorites Nick Cave & The Bad (the dirty j) Grooves that lay back in the Seeds, hailing from our generation’s soon-to-be Atlantis cut and silky smooth production (Long Island, NY), Adamson has time, talent and taste Peeping Tom imbue this SoCal hip-hop album backing him on this LP. Some songs are complicated, Peeping Tom with a classic feel. Songs like confusing the (un)enlightened long enough to suck you Ipecac Records “In the Summertime” and “Pass to Paradise” are in and deposit you back where you stood…strangely - the perfect melding of song and lyric, painting vivid gratified yet suddenly bored with your Time. ‘Sofa’ After years of wild rumors pictures of a life lived strictly for fun, and the tracks jumps from one feeling to another, although by its end, and longing, Mike Patton has throughout conjure up some great vibes reminiscent you’ve stopped complaining about the change of tone… released what he claims to be of everything from Desmond Dekker (RIP brother!) you’re trying to sing the new song…which doesn’t have the first Peeping Tom album. Although it’s a departure to Van Morrison to some more gangsta-fied shit. The words. I was particularly drawn to a track entitled from most of his many projects to date, Peeping Tom problem is that although this whiteboy rapper has a “Officer Bentley’s Fairly Serious Dilemma.” The song, does conjure up memories and melodies of Faith No great delivery, his lyrics can be a little…off. On many concerning a character who hears a Nurse reading his More, but moreover it’s the closest thing to “Pop” that tracks the guy drops more pop culture references stats over a police radio in his head , is layered with Patton has unleashed to date. Of course, it’s “Pop” than a tweaked out Beastie Boy trapped in a Quentin conflict & emotion, echoing the intense situation of like only Patton could give. Tarantino movie. “Too Hot” is his excuse to name its theme. Barry appears on every two songs or so and every celeb who’s ever given him a boner. Jessica while his clever and soothing voice is missed on the Several tracks rock well, while others flow with mellow Simpson? Paris Hilton?? Dude, who cares?! I listen to instrumentals, the jazzy sections are smartly arranged grooves. Every song features a guest artist- from hip-hop to escape that fucking nightmare world. But rather than lacking. Take a seat. Get comfortable. Massive Attack to Kool Keith- but the most surprising where Bradley falls short lyrically, Ryan Williams, who (Violet Fewes) collaboration is “Sucker,” with Norah Jones. She is wrote and impeccably produced most of the songs on

kotorimag.com kotori magazine 73 the album, steps it up a notch and carries him through. with transcendental lyrics. Off to some tribal and conga had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that lead All in all, an impressive hip-hop debut. But don’t take grooves that’ll make you do the funky mambo. Halfway singer Annalee Fery is sexy as sin. (And we all know my word for it, check out some tracks for yourself at through, the album seems to lose some of the original how sexy sin is). Monsters Are Waiting play the kind of www.myspace.com/bradleyhiphop. energy it started off with, ending with a scaled back pop music that infiltrates your life- as you go to school, (The Mambo King) version of the opening track. Of course that may just do the dishes, whatever- and it can be hard to escape be their way of easing your way back down from the their catchy melodies and guitar-drenched choruses. Elevator Action peak, which, in that case, works out! Ahh...the suns Annalee’s vocals are too playful to be overtly sexual, Society, Secret up...... yet too sensual to be completely innocuous. Think (MoRisen Records) (mollycules) early Bjork and Blonde Redhead. She has the kind of effortless sexuality that Hollywood spends hundreds of Punk Rockers from North Strange Fruit Project millions trying to re-create, which is important because Carolina, now I’ve heard it The Healing onstage and on-record her presence dominates the all. Give credit where credit is (OM Hip Hop) band. This is not to say that the rest of the band is do, these guys and one girl are the real deal. This merely a supporting act. At their best, they alternate is the Charlotte trio’s second release. Front man Eric Sure, introducing a hip hop deftly between shades of Sonic Youth and the Pixies, Gilstrap has an exclusive style, while robust drummer imprint may have been a bit knowing precisely when to step it up and steal the James Donley has no problem holding his own amongst of a gamble for a traditionally limelight. It’s the best of 80’s pop/alternative with a drummers upper crust. And don’t forget about the dance music oriented imprint. Would OM’s audience 2006 edge thrown in and man, is it fun to listen to. bewitching bass siren Laurie Ruroden. A talented embrace their take on the genre? Well, if the Roots’ (The Mambo King) bunch who puts it all out there and lets the listener ?uestLove is into it, which he is, then they’ve got make their own judgment. “Call Me Transistor” to be onto something! Following in the lines of the Dabrye really displays their proficient ability to mix things success that Mark Farina’s “Mushroom Jazz” series, J- Two/Three up. “Breaking Glass Plans” is a more mellow approach Boogie’s sexy Dubtronic Science, and Colossus’ smooth Ghostly International to southern punk. It has more of a soulful feel, that live jazzy future hip-hop brought them, OM recently feeling you can only get from the south. signed acclaimed Waco bred hip-hoppers Strange Fruit Michigan-based beat pioneer (The Dirty J) Project. Dabrye offers up his promising first truly hip-hop record. North Coast Underground One listen to their debut The Healing makes it quite Following the success of his Ghostly International Cadillac Dreams apparent that the label has a penchant for singling released debut One/Three and the subsequent release out true forward thinking quality. With smooth down- of Instrumntl on Prefuse 73’s own Eastern Development, A lethal combination of hip- tempo soul-hop as the backdrop for a very deep and Dabrye began catching the eyes of prominent MC’s and hop, reggae and rock. Truly and mentally expanding lyrical journey, this album exudes after some serendipitous word of mouth networking, strain straight outta Nor Cal! an aura of playful intelligence and provocative aural recorded a collaboration with the late J Dilla on Game It’s like a hybrid. With 2 gifted engineering. Soul, jazz, Latin rhythms and rhymes. Over. Building on the buzz from that cut, Dabrye emcees blowing it up and 1 badass dropping the beats, Ahhh...the cross-breeding made possible by the internet reached out to some of the best underground talent these cats add a funky commentary to the problems that age’s wide array of ridiculously accessible influences... for the sessions of Two/Three, including Doom on plague our society. An intellectual anger portrayed if only everyone from Texas would let themselves think the boisterous epic “Air,” Beans for the brash beat through melodic beats. “Air Raid” brings it back to a bit (you know who I’m talkin about). driven lament of “Nite Eats Day” and Waajeed and the day when Cypress Hill was doing the rock/ hip-hop (WAM) Ta’Raach on the politically charged, sample heavy crossbreed. For more of a reggae feel, “One Thing” “Viewer Discretion.” Dabrye also included some will scratch that itch. With a Marley-esque feel, it will Evil Nine, Wiggle, & DJ of the instrumental tracks that got him where he is keep the head moving to a positive melody that will Format with “Machines Pt. I & II,” “Tell Dem,” and “Piano.” just echo through the dome piece. I’ve always been Fabriclive Versions Lyrically smart and musically sound, Two/Three is an a fan of Nor Cal…and this just reinforces my previous (Fabric) eclectic triumph. beliefs!!! www.northcoastunderground.com (David C. Obenour) (The Dirty J) Something about playing at Fabric that brings out the The Hylozoists fuckin’ best in a DJ. Goddamn, Quantic La Fin Du Monde here’s 3 more powerhouse Boompa An Announcement mixes in 3 completely different to Answer rights in the Fabric Live series. The Sadies’ Paul Aucion’s (Ubiquity Records) This energy is ridiculous. Every intricate attention to structure, thing from boom bap sex bounce composition and instrumentation After a year and a half traveling to deep dusty desert grooves the world digging for records for the songs on La Fin Du Monde might best be to hip hop turntable wizardry. surmised as neo-classical pop opuses. Along with and making music from a laptop, Will Holland is This package brings us Evil back at it again. Experimenting with new sounds and members from The Weakerthans, Broken Social Scene, Nine, Wiggle, and DJ Format and FemBots, the tracks come to their full realization techniques while still keeping it real with his trademark in all their well deserved glory. funkified feel, this album is sure to be a crowd pleaser. with each contributing part. Echoing of Portastatic, While Evil Nine brings us big Jon Brion and Badly Drawn Boy’s cinematic work, With guest artists Noelle Scaggs and Ohmega Watts it’s room broken beat and vocal cut like the sugar on the plantains. “Blow Your Horn” is the album reaches further than the music, drawing magic interspersed with booty on outside imagery. Starting off is the whimsical a legendary mix of hip-hop with a Far East pulse. In shakin’ bass breaks, Wiggle contrast, “Politic Society” is a blend of the soulful string, organ and bell play of “The Fifty Minute Hour,” comes in and holds it down in developing through the comical burlesque slide guitar Latina influences with a jazzy touch. The colorfully his minimally hazy-bass groovetacular house beats, and vivacious lyrics really accent the Latina style of music. on “Smiley Smiley” and concluding with the fanciful then DJ Format cleans up with his hip-hoppin’ funk and bombast of the album’s title track. Based around the With only 9 tracks, it leaves the listener wanting more! silky sample laden jazz infused sexiness (I mean, who Extremely smooth in every movement and sounds…. belief that all matter holds life, known by those in the has Mr. Lif in the same mix as Ella Fitzgerald??). Three philosophical community as hylozoism, The Hylozoists An amazing work for the Latin lover in all of us!! completely different styles of mixes that fall into the (The Dirty J) have packed as much of it as possible within this 3 ½” same genre...fuckin’ dope! plastic disc. (WAM) (David C. Obenour) Kraak & Smaak Boogie Angst Quango Music Group Monsters Are Waiting The Handsome Family Fascination Last Days of Wonder Dutch trio Kraak & Smaak hits it Carrot Top Records off with sexy energy and lots of Disclaimer: This review may funk. The first song, “Money in very well be tainted by the Just in time for lazy Summer the Bag” will make you want to thrust that pelvis back memory of their live show a afternoons the husband-wife and just get down and dirty. The journey continues couple nights ago where they duo of The with more bluesy jazzy trancey grooves and breakbeats wowed the crowd with their 40 minute set -- and it Handsome Family are ready to release their seventh 570223

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NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR I.D. ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAS. Earth Share - Magazine 7 x 10 4/C EFAF03-Z-10021-D “Prairie & the Penguin” 120 line screen Film at Schawk 212-689-8585 Reference #: 570223 Please discontinue use after October 31, 2004 album The Last Days of Wonder. As unrushed as the tapes. After a handful of transatlantic performance, one of the best albums of the year. growing grass, Last Days… is meant as a statement of Simon traveled to Brooklyn for a weeklong recording (Joe Russo) how we are teetering on the brink of self-destructing, session for what would result in Requiems…, an yet how paradoxically we always have been, turning ambient experimental post-punk record shadowing the YouInSeries the bleak statement into a docile lament. With guest seminal work of New York’s Swans and Germany’s Ash Outside We Are Fine appearances from Stephen Dorocke of Freakwater and Ra Temple. “Opening/Ice Rift” starts with a cymbal roll Equal Vision Records David Couiter of Tom Waits band, Last Days… brings to that later augments a Gregorian chant while “Costal mind echoes of Johnny Cash as well as contemporaries Breathe”’s brooding synthesizer lays a bed for franticly I’ll be honest and say that I such as The Lemonheads and Jayhawks. There are plucked strings and “Joyful Noise” is a dark and hectic have never been a big fan of dashes of Alt-country on “Flapping Your Broken Wings,” experimentation with indistinguishable vocal samples emo bands such as Taking Back gothic Americana on “These Golden Jewels” and that swirlaround its heavy bass line. Dense, dark and Sunday and Story of the Year. However, this ever- bluegrass on “Bowling Alley Bar,” without ever being difficult Cloudland Canyon’s intricacies come off as widening genre of music has expanded to include kitschy. It may not be a huge departure from their highly ambitious yet are incredibly rewarding. a darker, more reflective side. In the vein of bands previous work, but just because you can still remember (David C. Obenour) like Funeral For a Friend, YouInSeries seems to have last summer doesn’t make you long for the next any carved a niche for themselves. The guitar work of less. Aloe Blacc Chris Davilla and Logan Lanning combined with Cheyne (David C. Obenour) Shine Through Smith’s drumwork comes off like that of seasoned (Stones Throw) professionals. Kyle Lobeck’s vocals, restrained at Cordovan times and very forceful elsewhere, comes like a scream Highway 10 Blues Aloe Blacc’s Shine Through is in silence. Songs such as “The Watcher” and “Lose Lunaticworks Jazz one of those bleak yet ambient Faith in the Truth” are haunting while other songs techno-sexual offerings that such as “Often Too Much Thomas Kincaid” and “When This is the nu-future jazz makes you wonder whether it’s appropriate for you and Where A Real World Occurs” deal with changing movement, and Greg Reeves to be bobbing your head. The first track, aptly titled the conformity to which most people find themselves stands at the helm. In the vain “Whole World,” wraps its talons around your soul, or succumbing to. This is a mature album, something of Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and other influential jazz at least that part of your soul that appreciates Soul rarely found in this particular genre, as you really feel greats, Cordovan is back with their signature smooth and night-friendly beats, and it doesn’t let up until its that this band is taking a look not only at themselves, jazzy downbeats and rhythms. And while the harmonies plangent outro. The song encompasses much of Aloe’s but the world around them, and letting us know what and melodies evoke the emotions and sensibilities of gratefulness for his heroes and contemporaries while they see. the old skool, the structure and, especially, percussive reinforcing his own legend. “The world reminds me of (Joe Russo) elements hold their roots in the technologically fueled music and the music reminds me I’m free,” Aloe sings. world of electronic music. Even the process by which Tragically hip? Perhaps. But what’s good is good. Messer, Fur Frau Muller the record came together plays testament to the Triangle, Dot & DEVIL ridiculously convenient methods available to artists “Long Time Coming,” Aloe’s ode to Sam Cooke’s “Change AeroCCCP Records nowadays. Most all the parts for Highway 10 Blues were Is Gonna Come,” is another hot track that would be files that found their way through cyberspace from one that much more incredible if it weren’t for the first From Russia with love…??? What source to another. The best part...after all that, the thirty seconds or so of high-pitched obnoxiousness. the f@*k ?? Like an animated record was still mastered to analog tape. The result is Still, there’s no denying that Soul has been injected cartoon…high on acid!! Don’t an extremely pleasant jazz infused broken and break back into ethnic music and Shine Through is where you get me wrong, the level of creativity and originality are beat soundscape. All the structure of seasoned new will find it. genius!! There is no genre to compare this album to. skool musicians, all the freeform of the unconditioned Best thing to come out of Russia since vodka!! A lounge old skool jazz spirit. The titular track features some of the purest music type of feel infused with California surfer rock n (WAM) harmonizing to come out in ages and it will no doubt roll and an overall sinister vibe. Perfect for the night send some of us back to that untouchable hey-day of of entertaining guests dressed in smoking jackets and Blackline street corner music when the garbage can was burning silk pajama pants sippin’ on psychedelic. The album Blackline but not quite as bright as our souls. compels the mind to visualize the sounds emerging from Yellow Matter Records the various samples and instruments used in producing A spot-on LP for everyone from the Otis Redding camp this one of a kind work of artsanity. “Cherche le zavr” Get used to hearing this name to the Kanye West clan. Shine Through is funtackular, combines samples from different eras in time as well because the name will be baby. as vocal clips in different languages. The end product spoken with adoration and (Bob Freville) is a unique track that stimulates the senses. The rest exaltation for a long time a coming. These bad ass of the cuts are equally and pleasantly unnerving…in a Indie rockers from Bean Town (Boston, MA for the non The Killer good way. east coast natives) will not disappoint!! As a whole, Better Judged By Twelve (The Dirty J) they play with deftness, with a masterful command of Then Carried By Six the sound that radiates from their instruments. The Organized Crime Records French Kicks influence of Metallica can be felt throughout the album. Two Thousand “Armageddon Soul” is a manifestation of the collective I’m going to go out on a limb Vagrant Records genius that embodies BLACKLINE. “Superone” slows it and say, quite frankly this is the down a notch, but not to worry, they keep it hard and best hardcore album I have heard since Life of Agony’s Two Thousand, French Kicks’ powerful throughout. “Run” is just another avenue in masterpiece River Runs Red. Along with the grinding fourth album in 6 years, is a which these guys illustrate the countless reasons why guitar work and deep howls of anger, this album hip, pulsating, indie-pop work- Blackline will soon be as much of a household name as boasts a depth not seen in this genre of music in a of-art. The controlled and restrained rock, fused Metallica or Tool. Don’t take my word for it, listen for while. Standout songs on the album include “The True with the subtler grooves, creates a beautiful array of yourself…And I dare you to make an attempt to prove Failure,” “The Confession of an Escape Artist,” and songs. Unusually positioned, “So Far We Are,” which me wrong. “The King is Dead.” Raw and unrelenting, this band introduces the album, is definitely the highlight of (The Dirty J) combines the elements of old school Vision of Disorder these 10 winning compositions. While the melody and with the anger and social conviction of bands like guitar riffs are instantaneous, repeated listens expose Cloudland Canyon Minor Threat and Black Flag. A real treat on the album layers of supporting instrumentation, rhythm tracks, Requiems Der Natur is the outstanding cover of Twisted Sister’s “Burn in and counter-melodies. Lead singer Nick Stumpf’s 2002-2004 Hell,” changed to fit this band’s taste and it does not engaging voice carries the soulful but poppy album Tee Pee Records disappoint. with help from Josh Wise (guitar), Lawrence Stumpf (bass) and Aaron Thurston’s solid and fluid drumming. Consisting of German multi- Included with the CD is a DVD of a live show. The gritty French Kicks make a successful return with this, their instrumentalist Simon Wojam DVD quality combined with the sound of this powerful latest and greatest. and Panthers’ psychcore guitarist Kip Uhlhorn, Requiems band make this a must have for any fan of great (JCH) Der Natur 2002-2004 is not the album you might initially headbanging music with meaning. It is one of the most expect. Over two years in the making Kip met Simon compulsively watchable live DVDs that I have seen in a on a European tour when the two began exchanging while. Keep your eyes on this band, my friends. This is

76 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com Hopelessly Devoted to You (Vol. 6) Hopeless / Sub City Records

It’s almost unfair to put out an album like this…It’s like having the freshman football team playing the seniors! An incredible compilation from the great people at Hopeless Sub City Records. From punk, to metal, to ska, to indie, this label covers it all. Good music can come from many different places, but it can all be found here. Disc One is all the new artists (Amber Pacific, All time Low, Royden), while Disc Two offers a glimpse into the label’s diverse history. The Guttermouth track “Hopeless” is responsible for the name of the label…Bet most of you didn’t know that!! It’s really a no brainer!! This collection of talented artists will keep the listeners bouncing off the walls for hours!! (The Dirty J)

General Malice The Final Takeover N2O Records

At the age of 24, with 35 vinyl releases already out on the market, General Malice finally released his long awaited first full length album The Final Takeover on N2O Records. The album features twelve original tracks and encompasses the various genres of ragga jungle, reggae, dancehall, and IDM mash ups. A three-piece vinyl set was also released to accompany the album. “I want to push the more undergroundforms of music up to the mainstream and cross a lot of different boundaries,” he professes. Using Cubase SX3, Korg Triton and a MPC, The Final Takeover plays impressive testament to that statement. (Asha Azhar)

Ferry Corsten L.E.F. (Loud Electronic Ferocious) Ultra Records

The Dutch Godfather of “Electro Dance” is back at it again ….With yet another piece of DUTCH GOODNESS !! (no I am not talking about the coffee shops!!) Electronic excellence fused with an almost 80’s like rock/pop twist…Energy fueled beats with a feel of dirty distortion…It’s almost like your doing something you shouldn’t be doing. L.E.F is sure to please the most cynical of critics. Although this engagement was initiated 2 years ago, the Final Product was well worth the wait. The single titled “Fire” has already seen a TOP 10 LISTING on Billboard’s “Hot Dance Airplay” chart. “Beautiful,” almost psychedelic by nature, has mischievous beats that just inundate the mind body and soul…”Prison Break Remix” resurrects the sinister madman we all know and love… (The Dirty J)

Kenn Starr Starr Status Halftooth Records

A rapper from Virginia? Did I hear that correctly? Sticking true to the state motto “Thus always to tyrants” Kenn Starr is slicing and dicing the would-be competitors with his verbal daggers. Lyrics are intelligent, everything just flows smooth. Witty and real, the tracks keep the head moving. Bringing his perspective on the experiences and fears and thoughts we all go through in everyday lives, “Middle Fingaz” is a soon to be classic street anthem. A powerful display of Starr’s mic skills. “Back At It Again” is a collaborative work. The beats stay tight, the lyrics tell the story. A display of the talent Starr and his Halftooth homies bring to the table! (The Dirty J)

Silversun Pickups Carnavas Dangerbird Records

Silversun Pickups’ beautifully melancholic, debut album with Dangerbird Records, is subconsciously addictive. While it’s difficult to choose which track is better than the next, after repeat listens, Carnavas proves that this 11-cut collection is really just one, as each composition flows seamlessly into the next. The alliterative lyrics complimented by the enchanting melodic and atonal stream, aptly showcase translates energetic compositions with dream-like feel members from the Children’s Choir from Parkland’s the fruition of Silversun Pickups’ obvious talent. Brian and precision. School in Manchester, England (pay close attention to Aubert’s captivating voice unites his distorted guitar (MDL) the girl that couldn’t be more than 10 years old bustin’ along with bassist-singer Nikki Monninger, keyboardist moves you wish you could jock at 25), it was like a Joe Lester, and drummer Christopher Guanlao. This fantasy come to life for both the children and for the album is unquestionably, cruising down PCH with your FILMS adults reliving their childhood. It was beautiful. It windows down, worthy. basically looked and felt the way we strive to feel 24 (JCH) Neil Young hours a day/7 days a week. And the Gorillaz managed Heart of Gold to create that feeling for the kids, for the musicians, My Brightest Diamond Paramount Pictures and for the audience. The rest of this Live DVD, Bring Me the Workhorse DVD recorded live at the Manchester Opera House, is just as Asthmatic Kitty Records inspiring. This wasn’t just a live show; it was an epic Directed by Jonathan Demme, this production complete with guitars, bass, percussions, Shara Worden has a voice like no film captures Neil Young performing turntables, full cast of backing vocals, full string other. Unique and passionate, songs from Prairie Wind live for the section, adult and children’s choirs, and a lineup of emotional and gripping; she has first time, at the Ryman Auditorium guests that would attract the same attention on their an amazing talent. Blended opera and guitar with an (formerly home to the Grand Ole Opry), in August 2005. own. Together, it’s almost unfair! With MF Doom and elegant voice that sends chills down your spine. The It has an organic feel, more like a presentation than a Ibrahim Ferrer (via larger than life video screen), Ike versatility in her vocal range enables her to transcend normal concert movie. And as a finale, Young gives a Turner, Neneh Cherry, Roots Manuva, De La Soul, and to a level of prophetic rapture. Soft and sweet, yet chillingly beautiful performance of “The Old Laughing humanity in tow, the Gorillaz present a DVD that made troubled and sad. “Golden Star” deftly combines Lady,” before walking off the stage. you feel that you were experiencing something quite dynamic guitar sweeps with powerful opera cultured special and historic. It was interesting to see a live vocals, whereas “Magic Rabbit” has a slower pace, a The DVD is packed with extras, from “making of” band, most of the time behind the guise of lighting-rig deeper darker pace. The voice of an angel echoing footage to Young performing “Needle and the Damage induced silhouettes, while the cartoons we’ve grown amongst the chords of our emotions. A commanding Done” on The Johnny Cash Show in 1971. There are to love show up intermittently through the massive presence that inundates your senses and grasps at your interviews with all involved, from Emmylou Harris, to video screens in the form of various cleverly impacting soul. A sexy seductiveness felt through the minds of Young himself. montages, cartoons, animations, and comics. The the listeners. Gorillaz, once again, take things one...okay, ten... (The Dirty J) This is a great testament to one of the many chapters steps further. in the life of Neil Young. (WAM) (JLM) Fusing Naked Beats Presents Outer Perspective Shakespeare Behind Bars WORDS Just Play Records Shout! Factory WENDY FONAROW Following up their incendiary What do you get when you put 14 EMPIRE OF DIRT debut Digital Asia, the dynamic hardcore felons into a Shakespeare Wesleyan University Press West London duo of Asif Ali workshop for The Tempest? Why, Gillani and Martti Sewell aka Fusing Naked Beats, drop Shakespeare Behind Bars you ninny! “The Professor of Indie Rock”…tell another electronic jewel titled Outer Perspective via This documentary plays out like a me that’s not a class you’d crash!?. their own label. Transcendental Asian vibes fantasy- low-tech, subdued episode of HBO’s OZ sprinkled with A riveting backstage pass spanning ride you in and out of 16 dance monster tracks by a Lifetime network tear jerker. There’s something for 13 years from the trenches of the showcasing gritty production skillz and homogenizing the whole fam here: kids will watch and wanna stop U.K’s Indie Rock scene. A diagnosis Indian Beats, D&B rhythms and funky house lines into running from the cops and chasing the dragon to avoid of the guest list…the underlying symbolic meaning one magically cohesive listen. these thespian lifers’ destiny, while Mom and Dad will of the guitar…and, of course, who can forget the (Shuda) relinquish their tears to the chronic soul-searching of “groupies”!! For any of us that wanted to be a rock each inmates struggle. star at some point in our childhoods (basically…all of Mr. Lif (Mozey) us), Empire of Dirt explores all the various aspects of Mo Mega the indie scene in terms that are directly relevant to Definitive Jux Billy Connolly: Live in New the everyone from the casual listener to the active York participant to the musicians themselves…she breaks “Fuck Clinton too, you ain’t RYKODISC it all down in…gasp…scholarly research driven terms. really down because you live Everything from the 3 zones of a gig in relation to the uptown bitch!” Mr. Lif has The British heavyweight of comedy stage…who sits where and why…who stands where and a bone to pick with our administrations’ past and takes aim at the one and only NEW when…the audience’s involvement in the gig and the present on Mo Mega’s “Brothaz” jam. “My target, the YORK CITY!! And who said the symbolic meaning behind it. Yes…there is. As a matter red carpet, the dead market, I’m a have to end this Brits had a dry sense of humor?!? of fact, it’s a psychological study into the psyche of shit the way that it started.” Hmm, seems Lif’s 9 year Delivery is everything…. With Billy and his animated each individual based on what they do and how they MC career hasn’t tickled his high-fashion bone either actions combined with that infamous thick accent, handle themselves at any particular show. Kinda crazy. on “Murs iz my Manager”. Aided by the magnanimous it’s sure to leave your stomach mussels sore from Even crazier is that it all makes perfect sense. Who’d a El-Producto puttin’ the rootdown, this cd confides and laughter. A stage presence that demands attention, thought? Such an insightful approach to sex drugs and compels the listener. Favorite lyric? “And I know there that longhaired hippie look...A perfect blend of witty, rock and roll…now where’s the bar? listening so P.S. Fuck The Feds!” intelligent and often off color humor…. He opens up (The Dirty J) (Cluz) cracking jokes at his own expense, the old age jokes. But when the right person tells them, the age jokes LYN MILLER-LACHMANN don’t get old. His theory on war and sex in the Middle DIRT CHEAP Jeff Mills / The Montpellier East is borderline offensive for the thin skinned. And CURBSTONE Press Philharmonic Orchestra if those people out there can’t take a joke, well f#*k Blue Potential ‘em !! Something’s amiss in a small Uncivilized World (The Dirty J) suburban town in Connecticut. Mysterious illness and even death Prolific beat electrist Jeff Mills Gorillaz Demon Days LIVE at the has stricken several children. No, gets heaps of help from The Manchester Opera House this isn’t the next Steven King Montpellier Orchestra in bringing his hallmark ambient Virgin Records novel. This is an “eco-thriller,” ripped from today’s anthems to life beneath the grandeur of the Pont Du headlines, delving into one man’s crusade to bring the Gard bridge in France last summer. The Blue Potential Nothing could have been more corporations responsible to their knees. Taut, tense CD/DVD disassembles the cliché rock-meets-orchestra touching than the live rendition and timely, Lyn-Miller Lachman not only succeeds in fluff with an epic performance where Mills mainly drops of Dirty Harry. The DVD is worth it entertaining the reader, but she also makes them think the beats and some intermittent anecdotal intro’s just for that cut alone. With the as well. throughout the set, while conductor Thomas Roussel band being joined by well over 20 (Scott Shapiro)

78 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com Hangman 1 FunFun time Owl Fun Fact

The most prevalent and commonplace owl on the North American continent is the Great Horned Owl, a wise and fascinating beast that can endure temperatures dropping as harshly as forty below zero. The Owl issues a warning call when a predator is in its midst.

Art: Ric Stultz Fun Quiz

If George W. Bush were a character from The Wizard of Oz what character would he be?

A) Dorothy because he likes wearing a dress. B) One of the winged monkeys because he’s Symian.

C) The Scarecrow because he needs to find a brain.

Wizard of Oz because he cannot spell “Oz.” spell cannot he because Oz of Wizard

were looking for was D) He would not be in the the in be not would He D) was for looking were

are most definitely right. However the answer we we answer the However right. definitely most are

and should study Anthropology. If you said C, you you C, said you If Anthropology. study should and

in his Frat days. If you said B, you have good eyes eyes good have you B, said you If days. Frat his in If you said A, you probably spent time with Dubya Dubya with time spent probably you A, said you If

Hangman 2

Hint: Many vowels Hangman 1: OIL IS CRUDE Hangman 2: THE OWL RESTS OWL THE 2: Hangman CRUDE IS OIL 1: Hangman Homage to DJ Dusk By: Mike The Poet photos: Azul* amaral

“And I say One Time for your to get on the dance floor & After-hours parties have been JEREMY SOLE adds: “That was mind, Los Angeles! If you’re make some more of that happening weekly. An artistic DEFINITELY a magical night. feeling alright now make some ‘motherfuckin’ nooooiiiisssee!! His renaissance is flourishing in the When I was walking into that mutherfuckin’ nooooiiiisssee!!” sets were effortless mixes of hip- City of Angels. After jams like party, getting ready to mix right hop, funk, house, reggae, cumbia Firecracker or Soundlessons; away, I saw Dusk in the hallway Anybody that’s been to the & the unexpected. He spun everyone heads to some and asked him if he wanted to world-famous Root Down knows everywhere from Hollywood to undercover loft location and mix with me on my set. He said, those are the words of DJ Dusk. New York to the Bay Area, all the dances until the sun comes up. ‘I’m just here listening to YOU, Resident selector Tarek Captain, way to the Sundance Film Festival. Last month I was at one when brother,’ and then he walked aka DJ Dusk, died on April 29, Back in 2000, DusK even had his my old friend DJ Dusk comes away and I got ready to play. 2006 in a car accident. Only 31 own radio show on KPFK called up to me in the middle of a I started mixing, then I saw years old, he accomplished a “The Bridge.” Not just a micstro, hallway and tells me to kick a him come behind me and look lot in a short amount of time. DusK was an ethnomusicologist poem. Suddenly it got real through my records. Dusk and I with an amazing record collection. quiet. I dropped verse in front went back to back, record for Over the last decade, DusK had Records, records, records. His two of about 30 people. Then DusK record, for the whole set. It was grown into a giant in the hip-hop, mix CDs show his genius selection kicked a flow. Right after that a highlight of my life, for sure. funk, and soul underground. Very & butter blends. DusK was a the visual artist Frowhawk Two- well respected by both casual fans meticulous dj with sharp skills. Feathers started yellin’ words. “At the end of the night, it was & veterans of the DJ community, just family hanging around, DusK knew how to set off a party… A protégé of legendary DJ Rob DusK, Frowhawk & I went back and it was so fresh to sit in the One, DusK was not just a DJ; and forth for over a half hour hallway w/ y’all, and speak on “Make no mistake he saw himself as a teacher, entertaining mad folks. J Sole some truths and lyrics until the there is no sound ambassador, freedomfighter. came outta the DJ booth and sun came up. Memories like in town He also worked with hundreds told us, even the skeptics have these are crystallized in my soul, like the of youth @ the Mar Vista Youth grown to accept it as known. and will reflect Light forever.” Mighty Root Down.” Center over the last 13 years. The spontaneity of it all was what made it so magical. Plus, DJ Dusk was just beginning DusK was the heart & soul of There are so many stories to no one knew that DusK or to hit his stride. In his short Root Down, a springboard for so share of his legacy. On the Frowhawk kicked lyrics. It life, he touched countless lives many West Coast hip-hop acts lines below are a few short was damn near 5am. People & shined a bright light. He like J-5, Dilated Peoples, Black paragraphs I wrote about a year were bouncing and beatboxing. will never be forgotten. Eyed Peas, Visionaries, Crown & half ago, hanging out with The energy was so awesome City Rockers & many more. At DusK @ an after-hours party nobody wanted to go home. “We’re not done. We’re the center of it all was DJ Dusk beneath the 1st Street Bridge: Nothing but music and poems. not done.” mixing records & reminding you

80 KOTORI MAGAZINE kotorimag.com RSE+/4/2)SUMMERADPDF0-

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