Shanghai Bananas

Bummer

2011-03-10T01:10:00.000-08:00

So I finished up my dreary, depressed winter mix, "Bummer" just in time for beautiful spring weather here in Shanghai. Typical. Anyways, it's real long, and you can listen and download here:

Bummer by elnomo

That's my word. Here's the tracklist:

The Dude - "Bummer"
Wanda Jackson - "Funnel of Love"
Massive Attack ft. Hope Sandoval - "Paradise Circus"
Jimi Hendrix - "If 6 Was 9"
Tremor - "Caracol"
Flying Lotus ft. Dolly - "Roberta Flack"
Gil Scott-Heron - "Me and the Devil"
Cee Lo Green - "Bodies"
Jose Llaralade (Chancha Via Circuito Remix) - "Quimey Neuquen"
Massive Attack ft. Marina Topley-Bird "Babel"
Cary Ann Hearst - "Hell's Bells"
The Beatles vs. Diplo - "Eleanor Rigby" (Dan Battle Re-edit)
Santogold - "Starstruck" (Diplo Remix)
Barrington Levy - "Why Did You Leave Me?"
Tennesee Ernie Ford - 16 Tons
Gang Gang Dance - "House Jam"
Caribou - "Odessa" Junior Boys Remix
Kritical Audio - "Krup"
La Roux - "Bulletproof" Nacey Remix
La Roux - "Bulletproof"
Organized Konfusion - "Stray Bullets"
Joanna Newsom - "Esme"
Nosaj Thing - "Aquarium"
Mum - "Green Grass of Tunnel" Belle and Sebastian Remix
John Lee Hooker - "No Shoes"
Phoenix - "Fences"
Four Tet - "Love Cry"
Beck - "We Dance Alone"
Miike Snow - "Animal" Mark Ronson Remix
Caribou - "Jamelia"
Barrington Levy - "Send a Moses"
Grauzone - "Eisbär"
Underworld - "Dirty Epic"
LCD Soundsystem - "Home"
Bob & Gene - "Don't Leave Me Girl"

Best DJ Request Ever

2010-12-29T03:19:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season here in Shanghai... and for freelance dj work, that means it's time to rack up as many gigs as possible and sit back on January 1st, counting my money, hoping it floats me through until March or April when people once again leave the house, start buying drinks and paying my rent...

So anyways, around this time of year I get a lot of weird, random, fancy and lame gigs. A few weeks ago I got to dj at a "Beef and Burgundy" wives club dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria. Needless to say, it was fancy pants. Everyone was dressed in tuxes, drinking fine wines and eating dinners that cost as much as my apartment does for one month. The request playlist the organizer gave me was not too shocking (Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Rihanna, Madonna, etc. etc.) until I spotted this one nestled between "Like a Prayer" and "I Gotta Feeling"

Soft Cell - Sex Dwarf

Totally mind blowing! I think it's safe to say this is the best DJ request I've ever gotten, and an inspirational reminder why I got into this racket in the first place. Happy holidays!

The Party Formerly Known as Bananas

2010-09-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

First, there were no fun parties in Shanghai... then there was Bananas, and that was rad... then Bananas kinda started to suck, and that sucked... so NOW there's "The Party Formerly Known As Bananas" which is rad again.

Androgenous Disco, Naked Hip Hop, Gender Bending Electro, Freaky Deaky House

Pop Pop Pop!!!

Featuring the Dj's previously considered respectable:

Dj “Raspberry Beret” Razor, Dan "Purple Rain" Battle, Irresistible Trix

Visuals by ArtError

Plus extra special "All the Critics Love U in New York" guest:
Michna (the aritst formerly known as Eggfooyoung... seriously)

ghostly.com/artists/michna

What: The Party Formerly Known as Bananas

When: Friday, Sept 17th 10pm-late

Where: The Shelter 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu

Cost: 50rmb

Let's Go Crazy!!!

Eaton Canyon Royal Ensemble - When Doves Cry (Prince Cover)

Grandmaster Flash in the Pan

2010-05-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

Been a while. I've been wanting to post about my experience opening for Grandmaster Flash (in April) for a while now, finally getting around to doing it. The basic statement I want to make is "Grandmaster Flash is a washed up jerk face." Ok, ok, dude like invented djing and shit, is now 60 years old and I guess deserves some respect for his contributions to hip hop, but that doesn't mean homie has to be a total prima donna punk. From what the promoters told me, their whole experience with him focused around his complete lack of respect for them and outlandish demands for superstar treatment. So not keeping it real. I was told two weeks before the show that I was only allowed to play house music, so I tried to prepare a total mind-blowing house set for the night... then an hour before getting to sound check the promoter told me that I could play hip hop, but just not the songs on GMF's "Do Not Play List" (see picture above). Seriously?!... I would think after 40 plus years in the game he'd be comfortable enough with himself and his accomplishments that he wouldn't be fazed by anyone playing anything before him. Like I'm going to steal his thunder or some shit. Whatever. Anyways, I played a pretty sloppy unprepared set of hip hop and disco that wasn't on his list, and half way through my set his entourage of two dudes (there to set up his equipment) came into the dj booth and basically just acted like they had good reason to hate me. Awesome. Finally I was told to finish playing, and while helping to do the switch over these two dudes (who's claim to fame is being Flash's roadies/cousins or whatever) gave me much attitude about breaking down my gear quickly so that Flash could get on. After clearing out the booth for him, they proceeded to play Gangstarr's "Take it Personal" on loop for like twenty minutes while the man of the hour was busy relaxing in his tour bus outside the club and everyone in the club lost interest. Boring. Finally, finally finally, Flash got on the decks and proceeded to rock it pretty much like any frat party I've ever been to (except his scratching was worse and he did a lot more obnoxious yelling at the crowd). I know ten dj's in Shanghai alone who could have played a better set than he did. Dude didn't even mix two records together once. Every transition was him yelling over his baby scratches and then bang, into the next Naughty by Nature song. What a disappointment to find someone who's earlier musical contributions to hip hop were so inspiring is now so washed up, plateaued out, grumpy and simply bad by modern day standards. Did anyone out there hear his latest album? Terrible. This guy has not pushed the envelope at all since the 80's. Meanwhile, here are a few tracks by a few people who continue to rep it (and if I had to guess, would be a lot more fun to hang out with than Mr. Grandmaster).

Afrika Bambaataa - Metal (ft. Gary Nauman and MC Chatterbox)

Datashat - Stop the Message

Take Away Bananas Photo

2010-04-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is also happening soon!

2010-04-01T02:52:00.000-07:00

Bananas is back from the afterlife and dishing up all the platers that matter...

Try out specials!
From Kung Pao Pop to Egg Foo Funk, 1000 Year-Old Hip Hop, Eight Treasure Electro, Diced Disco Delicacies, Sweet & Sour Soul and Braised Spicy Breaks our menu has something to delight every palate.

Please to enjoy the mysterious local feast from the comfort of your own Shelter (5 Yongfu lu near Fuxing Xi lu). 30rmb delivery (entrance) fee.

On the Woks and Twos:

Kamikaze - Stinky Tofu

elnomo - The Drunken Shrimp
Choyce Kutz - Chop Sticks

Ten minutes after it's over, you'll be hungry for more!

And here's a song we'll play:

Malente&Dex - Gipsy Kings

This is happening soon!

2010-04-01T02:47:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's right, me and Mr. Tsang acting our age on the turntables, playing wacky Funk Disco and Hip Hop from when most internet users weren't even born yet.

Like this one:

Melba Moore - Love's Comin' At Ya'

I'm still feeling this hip hop shit

2010-04-01T02:42:00.001-07:00

Not much to say, just want to post some more music:

Kool G Rap - Ghetto Knows

Oh yeah, hip hop's still good.

2010-03-18T00:27:00.000-07:00

I've recently hit a wall with blog house, fidget electro and all that stuff the kids are into these days. If you ask me, Crookers can bite it man. I'm over it. I feel like the genre peaked like a week after I heard my first Justice song and now it's a bunch of people trying to cop that style and not doing it very well. Sure, the Ed Banger phenomenon was interesting and there's a lot of talented cats putting out electro records, but is that really what I want to listen to in my headphones on the subway? No. Meanwhile, I had the realization that people are still making dope hip hop records.
Case in point:

Tanya Morgan - Alleye Need (Ft. Piakhan)

Another Rainy Day

2010-03-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from nearly two months in sunny, friendly, fun, beautiful and tropical Thailand to cold, rainy, mean, stressful and generally unpleasant Shanghai... and I've been wondering why I subject myself to life here. Today's another rainy one. Fortunately I have a pile of records to listen to that Onra dug up in Guangzhou and left at my place in Shanghai after his show here at the Shelter last year. This joint from Singapore has been particularly helpful in me accepting my fate of living in a huge city with crappy weather, many unpleasant locals who spit on your shoes and a complete lack of awesome curries.

1) Peggy Tann - Kan Ku Bawa Pergi

2) Peggy Tann - Rentak Bunyi Hujan ("Rhythm of the Falling Rain" cover)

Shanghai No.1 Taoist DJ Party, every Thursday @ Dada

2009-12-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

I somehow got a weekly gig here in Shanghai... it's been a while since anyone's allowed me back in their establishment to play within a month of my last dj fiasco. But, the guys down at Dada know what time it is, so they threw me a bone. Here's the press info, if you're into that kind of thing:

EVERY Thursday after 10pm...

- "Shanghai NO.1 Taoist DJ Party"

- Resident DJs Dan Battle (elnomo), Blaise Deville, Ozone, Steve
Bamford, Trix, and friends heat up Thursday nights with smart but carefree eclectic music -- using ancient Taoist wisdom to help select the perfect tunes -- from rock to disco, from funk to electro, from trip hop to tech-house and global rhythms. Free entry.

每周四10点以后

"上海NO.1 Taoist DJ Party"

上海常驻DJs Dan Battle (elnomo), Blaise Deville, Ozone, Steve Bamford, Trix, 还有其他的朋友，他们会用电音将周四晚上沸腾起来。用道教的智慧去选择完美的音调--从摇滚到disco，从funk到电音。

And here's a song you might hear this Thursday:

NYGz - Giantz Ta Thiz

Old News

2009-11-12T00:27:00.000-08:00

Yeah yeah yeah... the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been around for a while now, and their latest album, "It's Blitz!" came out in, like, January, not last week or something; so it's not like I'm hipping you to anything mindblowingly new or so underground you'd never find it by yourself. But this albums been on my mp3 player for months now, and pretty much every song is the jam. Here's the one that strikes the "awesomest" harmonic with me:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Dragon Queen

Oh yeah... I have a blog.

2009-10-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

My friend Maile just reminded me, I have a blog! I had pretty much forgotten as the Chinese government has blocked all blogspot sites (as well as facebook, twitter, youtube... god forbid the citizen's of China get to see that new Britney Spears video, they'd probably rebel against society and demand big gulps and sweatsuits for every citizen). Anyways, at one point I thought I could work around it using a proxy server, but the people running the Great Firewall of China are in a constant arms race against netizens to keep them from accessing information, and they figured out that proxy servers were allowing people to do just that: inform themselves of what's happening in the world. At any rate, now I have a VPN, so for the moment I can blog again... who knows how long it'll be til someone figures out how sabatoge VPN's and we're back to the stone ages again. Whatevs. My main point is, for now at least I can incessantly rant online again, and if you don't live in China (or you've become and internet tech dork in order to keep downloading porn in Beijing), you can easily read it.

Thanks Maile for reminding me I should upload music again. Miles and I used to rock out to Black Sheep's first album in middle school in like 1991, and that's still probably one of my favorite-est ever hip hop albums. I think "The Choice is Yours" was the first song I ever did the freak train to so, obviously, I have a real soft spot in my heart for these guys. They sort of quietly came out with a second album, "Non-Ficiton" three years later that was also great, but slept on, and then released "8WM-Novakane" in 2006 or 07. Also slept on. I wonder what the hell Mr. Lawng and Dres were up to in the 13 years in between albums. Anyways, these guys are like a fine wine, getting more complex and subtle as they age; though nostalgia wins out and I'll always like their first album the best. That said, this is my jam at the moment, gotta play it like 3 or 4 times every time I hear it. So, with out further obnoxious ado, this one's for all you Shorties out there, especially Maile:

Black Sheep - Shorty

Workaround

2009-07-15T00:54:00.000-07:00

So it's been months since I posted here, because I'm in China, and the great fire wall has blocked all blogspot websites. I recently just found a way around this, so hopefully many more musical posts to come. For now, here's one:

Northend - Tee's Happy

Chino Latino Seis, tonight @ Hamilton House

2009-05-13T23:43:00.000-07:00

Did I mention I'm sorry for only posting event listings lately? Well, here's a song then, too:

Dj Negro - Lluvia

And here's the event info:
Chino Latino returns to Shanghai's chic Hamilton House for the sixth installment of this smokin hot Latin dance party. Put the “P” back into Picante as you shake your culo to classic and electro-Cumbia, super Salsa gems, Brazilian jungle sounds , and Afro-Caribbean and Latin soul. Globetrotting Hipster dj's elnomo and the Melkman (aka. el Lechero) select South American flavors with visuales fantasticos provided by Arterror.

Details:
40 RMB Entry includes Free Drink
Thursday May 14
9pm til Late
2 for 1 Mojitos from 9 to 11
137 Fuzhou Road (Corner of Fuzhou Road and Jiangxi Road) 福州路137号，近江西路

Shanghai Millionaire, in like three hours

2009-04-29T03:15:00.000-07:00

(click on picture for biggerness)

Sorry to keep just big-upping my own events, but, well...

Tigerstyle (feat. Bikram Singh) - Nachna

Meanwhile that track kills cobras.

2009-04-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

'Nuf Said

Chino Latino Cinco esta noche!!! (Tonight)

2009-04-02T03:07:00.000-07:00

Don't be tarde!

Toy Selectah - Bumpin Time! (Sistema Local Mexmix Vesrion)

Juan Atkins tonight at the Shelter

2009-03-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but this is where I'll be tonight (Saturday, March 7th). Free the Wax and Void coming together on an unprecedented night out in Shanghai with Juan Atkins. Looking forward to this one.

Endless Winter Mix

2009-03-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

Last year I tried to throw a party called "Malcontent" based on the emotions sad, depressed, stressed and/or angry, a backlash against all the happy fun time partying we're always doing these days. We organized "Malcontent" on a Tuesday night (worst day of the week ever) in late February at this bar called The Hut, and it sucked. It was cold and rainy and five people showed up. I now realize the fatal flaw in my thinking; a downer party has to be held alone, in your room, preferably in your pajamas, probably drinking or chain smoking cigarettes. So this year I've updated the concept with an Endless Winter mix that can be downloaded alone and listened to in the solitude of your own cold Saturday afternoon. If you're in Shanghai right now, you know what I'm talking about, right? Anyways, here's the mix, recorded in one shot on turntables on a miserably cold dark and rainy Thursday afternoon.

elnomo - Endless Winter Mix

More Music

2009-03-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

My friend Willie told me to post more music on my blog, and honestly, what the hell else do I have to do? So here are two songs that have nothing to do with eachother, or anything really. Just good music I recently heard. No pictures, no interesting tie in, no nothing.

Easy Going - Do It Again

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Deja Vu

New Weekly at the Shelter

2009-03-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

Free entry, and free booze til midnight. Can't beat that, not even with a stick.

Putting the "holler" in "alcoholic"

2009-02-28T22:02:00.001-08:00

That's right, I've been drinking... a lot. It's fun, sort of, sometimes, and it's a great way to make winter go by faster, and stay warm, or at least numb out the cold. Also, booze makes me talk to people. Anyways, here's one of my favorite odes to having a few too many:

John Lee Hooker - One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer

Comment, god damn it.

2009-02-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

Seriously,
If your reading this, if you're downloading the music, if you're looking at the pictures... whatever! Leave a frigging comment. What, you think blogs grow on trees or something? Every action necessitates an equal and opposite reaction. You don't comment = I don't blog anything interesting anymore.
So, there.

More Sad Music

2009-02-27T00:25:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's the weather (3 weeks of constant cold and rain), maybe it's the endless occasions for drinking and shallow conversations in Shanghai, or the irregular sleep patterns or whatever. Bottom line, sad music is my shit right now. I think I need to go out and buy myself some tappered, skinnly legged black jeans and frown a lot.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Oh, and some people here in China have told me that the download links aren't working for them. If you have a problem, I'd say use the rapidshare link, not zshare. Holler if you have any problem with the links.

Chino Latino featuring ZZK Records

2009-02-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

It's on like ping pong. Anna Browne, aka Annita Cumbia Selectah, just rolled into town from her whirlwind tour of the world (Starting out in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Rio and Salvador Brazil, to Paris, India, Hong Kong and currently Shanghai, finally ending up in Tokyo this weekend). Anna holds it down with ZZK Records, a fantastic label and club night that's based in Buenos Aires and putting out some of the most zany electro-Cumbia madness you've ever heard. She's here to see what Shanghai's got to say about this new movement of bedroom dj's and producers from Buenos Aires and beyond reappropriating old cumbia gems and using their brains, hands and laptops to make hot new dancefloor/club burners. Still not convinced? Here's a little taste:

Zonora Point - Huachita Rica (Douster remix)

Chino Latino Cuatro
Wednesday, Feb. 25th at Shelter (5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu)
20rmb entry, come early for free mix cd's, stickers and flyers from ZZK Records, y'heard?!..

Good Song, I Think.

2009-02-22T15:39:00.000-08:00

Not much to say at the moment, but this has been my jam of the week:

Supermayer - Hey Hotties!

Daft-er Party

2009-02-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

So the rumor on the street is that Daft Punk will be coming to Shanghai this Friday, but the whole thing is shrouded in mystery... like you have to shell out 500rmb to get a "ticket" which is a bar code on a piece of paper, and then you leave your phone number at the ticket office, and get an sms the day of the event telling you where they'll actually be playing. (This whole media hijnk is also especially rad for us Bananas kids, because we're doing our once-every-few-months party the same night, and guess who are target crowd is?... Pretty much the sort of people who are going to lose their shit about Daft Punk being in China for the first time ever... lucky us!)

Anyways, at Bananas we like French electro-house as much as the next hipster... so come join us after you've had your mind blown by probably the best/biggest electronic music act in the world. Venue kept secret until you look at the flyer. To buy tickets, go to the door of the Shelter and pay 30rmb... The door guy will show you the secret cave entrance to get to the party. Once you are inside the venue, you will not be able to send or receive any sms, so all further secret communication will have to be done by talking to people and gesturing through dance moves. Maybe it will be the guys from Bananas playing, maybe it will just be two french musical geniuses in robot masks... only one way to find out: show up!

Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (JoolsMF Bandwagon Remix)

p.s. This is an UNOFFICIAL (d)after party, to the party that no one in the city can confirm is real or not, but that doesn't mean it won't be totally rad... it will be. Rad.

Sharebee is the way to share

2009-02-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I've been wasting time uploading stuff with zshare when sharebee.com is faster and sends your files to like 5 different sharing sights. Don't get it? Then consider yourself lucky that you don't spend as much time as I do in front of a computer uploading crap onto the world wide web. Anyways, sharebee, it's my new shit. And here's the proof, another gem from the Santo Chino crates:

The Invaders - Latin Lips

If you're confused, you have to click on one of the links (zshare, rapidshare, megaupload, etc...) to download from that sight. Maybe I'm the big time luddite, but this is exciting news to me.

Santo Chino, you're my hero

2009-02-06T22:42:00.000-08:00

Meet Santo Chino, aka my friend Chris. He's decided to take a two month bike and train adventure around southeast Asia (this, after a solo motorcycle trip across China two years ago), leaving me in Shanghai, insanely jealous, but also happy to earn a few extra duckets covering his regular Friday gig at Glamour Bar. Right before leaving dude came by and gave me some music that he likes to play so the dj transition would be relatively seamless... and he totally sonned me on what it means to dig! Jeez, while I'm out looking for common denominator jams to get cash a paycheck with, he swears he's "not a party dj" and is quietly finding some of the weirdest and coolest shit I've ever heard and reminding me that pandering to the masses sucks. Can't really do justice to this guy's taste in music in a few quick links, but I wanted to share a few of the ones he gave me that I found to be most brain numbing-ly rad.

The Revenge - Night Flight
(stick with this one... it's a slow burner that get's interesting around minute 5)

Lunar Jam - Over and Over

Quince - Genetrix

Tallest Man On Earth

2009-02-04T04:55:00.001-08:00

You know, djing gets boring sometimes... real boring. I'm pretty sick of trolling blogs for the next booty-shaking dancefloor killer that's going to make everyone go nuts and hopefully get me laid. I'm also sick of listening to music that's supposed to make you happy. I mean, come on, it's February, its cold, spring is a long ways off still, the world is in crisis in so many ways, and I've got more issues that scottie's got tissues. Give me the soundtrack to that, eh? Enter "The Tallest Man On Earth" with the album "Shallow Grave." Nothing quite like a man just crooning over his acoustic guitar, and that's pretty much what this whole album is. The Tallest Man On Earth, aka Kristian Matsson from Sweden (no, not the guy pictured above) is probably getting compared up and down the blogsphere to early Bob Dylan which I'd say is a pretty hefty, yet surprisingly fair, compliment. The major difference is that this guy can SING... and the tradeoff being that he's not exactly the lyric/poet genius that Dylan was, but still a breath of nostalgic, sad air for a guy like me who spends my days combing the internet for sweet spot party jams that make the ladies say "Oooh"

The Tallest Man On Earth - Where Do My Bluebird Fly

Like it? Buy the album, "Shallow Grave" on the label Mexican Summer.

RM-Bananas

2009-02-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

RMBananas
In times of economic downturn, we turn it up.

Watch your pocketbook, 'cause BANANAS is back on the market and ready to sell out at rock bottom prices.
Friday, February the 13th is the day China's famous pink 100 yuan bill turns yellow as Bananas inflate the Shelter (5 yongfu lu near fuxing xi lu) again, leaving you wondering what happened to 40% of your gross net.

It's time to cash in those savings bonds forRMBananas, because that's the only currency that's going to matter in Shanghai for 2009! Get in on the ground floor with this musical investment, because we'll be going strong til the big crash.

Featuring: discount bin hip hop, corner cutting electro, price slashing dancehall, frugal funk, low budget bmore and liquidating discohouse.

On the ones, twos, threes and fours:

el no mo' money (www.myspace.com/elnomo)

and back by popular demand

DJ Kamikaze, aka Stack Bundlz (www.myspace.com/handsomeboyhensel)

plus special value-for-money guest:
DJ Passion, aka Supply and Demand (www.myspace.com/djpassion78)

10pm til you get your money's worth
30rmb entrance
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu

Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)

Lagos Jump madness

2009-02-02T22:24:00.000-08:00

So the guys over at the Strut label put out this amazing comp last year which followed up a 3 disc series in 2001 picking out some major gems from the Afrobeat scene in Lagos, Nigeria back in the 1970's. I'm not going to get all musicologist on that ass about the historical significance of these recordings or anything, I just know they're completely blwing my mind right now. This latest release, "Nigeria 70's: Lagos Jump" is a lot weirder and more psych/rock influenced than the earlier "Nigeria 70" which was more straigh up Afrobeat funk. Anyways, here's a little itsy-bitsy taste...

Ify Jerry Crusade - Everybody Likes Something Good

Go support this amazing label and buy the whole album!

Pictures from Hells Bananas

2008-12-17T12:57:00.001-08:00

A day late and a dollar short on this one, but here's some pictures from Bananas at Shelter a few weeks back. See a few more here.

Kid Fresh Reads My Blog

2008-12-17T12:44:00.000-08:00

F all you haters and non readers, who needs you anyway when I have the one and only Kid Fresh reading my enlightening tidbits of wisdom that I launch into cyberspace for eveyone?!

Shanghaiist Christmas Party

2008-12-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

Time to bust out those green tights and felt hats. Christmas is coming, and there's nothing you can do to stop Jesus from having his birthday party.

Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa

Newest Bananas Mix Up

2008-11-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

We Finally finished the mix off. Here's what's up at Shelter on Friday, Nov. 28th:

Hells Bananas Gang Biker Bar Blowout Mixtape

Old Mix From the Dusty Digital Crates

2008-11-22T07:39:00.001-08:00

So I just pulled an old mix I made off my hard drive and figured what the hell, why not put it on the blog, right? After all, that's what these blogs are for anyways. So now all two of you who read this thing can check it out. This was the mix I put together with Dj Facetico in Barcelona when we got to open for Jurassic-5 at Apolo back in 2004... or 2005? Anyways, a few years back. The mix here was the outline for the set we played live the night of the show. Anyways, check it out, if you're into that kind of golden era hip hop sort of thing.

elnomo - Gold School Oh, and this was a picture I took around that time too...

Hells Bananas Gang Biker Bar Blowout

2008-11-21T07:07:00.000-08:00

So Bananas is finally BACK!!!
This is going to be off the friggin' chain, y'heard?!..

Calling all Big Dog Riders, Fender Bunnies, Bettys, Ink Slingers, Chrome-Sluts, Gear Heads and even you Weekend Warriors out there!

It's time to break out your spiked leather vests, flaunt your tats and facial hair (if you're a big boss man) and get mean, because the Hells Bananas Gang are back from a long swoop on the superslab to bring you a night of shaft jacking beats, trick biker rock and dicing musical madness that will totally tweak your transmisson and blow your bandana covered mind!

Whether you roll a Hog, Rat Bike, Chopper, Rice Burner, Pasta Rocket, Yammahammer, Zook, Milwaukee Vibrator, or even just ride Sidecar,
DJs -

*Kid "Screamin' Night Hog" Fresh (3 x Daytona Harley Rodeo Champion, Outlaws M.C. Hong Kong chapter)

*Kami "Rebel Without A" kaze (Freedom Rock President, Macau Hells Angels Chapter)

*el "California roll" nomo (Gypsy Tour Ride Captain, Shanghai Bandidos M.C.)

will keep you at pucker factor ten until you're hanging on by a death grip, or it's time to bust out your brain bucket for some nipple surfing. So bring your hardbelly mama and your bronson rock and get ready to bump start yourself for a big night of hanging it out until you're totally hosed and ready for some love nudges or a fluid exchange.

This ain't no night at the bitch bar!

*Opening knucklebuster set by Santo "Bullneck" Chino*

10pm til late, 30rmb entrance, cheap ass drinks.
At THE SHELTER, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu

Limited supply free giveaway Hells Bananas Gang Biker Bar mix cd's at the door, so come early to get yours before the repo man snag 'em!

No Huggermuckers, Gremlins, Insta-Bikers or Cagers allowed.

Wanna little taste?

ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses

The Internet in Hong Kong Rocks

2008-11-08T08:33:00.001-08:00

So even though the British gave Hong Kong back to China way back whenever, it seems like those cheeky Brits somehow managed to avoid getting HK lumped in with us mainlanders when it comes to the Great Firewall of China. Internet is MAD FAST out here!... Comparatively, at least. How fast? So fast that I can upload a song before I finish writing a blog post, so that it's sitting waiting for me as soon as I'm ready to post this mo' fo. Ding! (That's the sound a toaster makes when your toast is ready).

Fast Life (Vinyl Reanimators Remix) - Kool G Rap & Nas

Pimpin' Is Actually Rather Difficult

2008-11-08T08:04:00.001-08:00

Thanks "A Milli" to our main men in HK, DJ Enso and Kid Fresh, for having the Bananas Soundsystem (sans Mr. Stokes, who's a geographer now, and doesn't have time for this dj tomfoolery anymore) and Dre Skull out for round #5 of Pimpin' Ain't Easy. Wow, that's a lot of links there, but all worth checking out. Anyways, the night was off the proverbial hook and we can all pat eachother on the back for being so cool and having great taste in music and talent at playing it. If you find youself in Hong Kong, definitely check for this monthly, as the PAE guys are really pushing the envelope for music/nightlife in HK. Anyways, here's a few of my pics from the trip down, many more soon to come from Kit, the standout PAE resident photographer (and my new photography Jedi master). Holler!

Dead ass ducks

Individually wrapped sushi's from one Hong Kong's bajillion 7-11's. Of course, why didn't I think of that? I always have the craving for just one piece of sushi, but don't know how to deal with the dilemma... Psyche!

Mad mad mad props to Joey, HK's #1 most awesome tattoo artist and DJ Enso's special lady friend, for letting me crash on the floor of her studio space for three nights in a row and making me feel like a super bad ass for being able to tell people that "yeah, I was just couch surfing it at this Hong Kong tattoo parlour, waking up to the sound of electric needles imbedding ink into human flesh... no biggie."

DJ Enso let the needle drop...

...and the crowd went ape shit!

Kanye Came to Shanghai

2008-11-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

So Kanye West came to Shanghai last Monday and put on a pretty underwhelming show. I was surprised that the world's "premier pop star" wasn't able to sell out the Shanghai Grand Theatre, and was also a bit disappointed by how one-dimensional his show was (completely focused on him, and his kind of bad singing and sort of ok rapping)... I was under the impression that Kanye's live show production value was off the charts. To his credit he brought out a full band, but then proceeded to completely ignore showcasing that band's talents (including dj Craze on the decks, wtf!...). But, the show wasn't without it's moments, and unfortunately for Mr. College Dropout, my favorite moment was when he left the stage and just let this song play out for the crowd.

Journey - Don't Stop Believing

Oh Kanye... Love your production, not feeling your live show. Also, what was Glow in the Dark about it?... I'm just sayin'

Internet Scares Me

2008-11-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

Somehow this is one of the first google images that comes up when I searched for "Charlie Brown Halloween"

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

2008-11-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

Halloween was yesterday, I know this. I was 2-pac this year, and though I don't think anyone got it (a skeleton with "Thug Life" tattoed on it's chest) it was a fun costume and people were nice to me. All good, aside from the white face makeup now stuck on my headphones. Anyways, I didn't get around to posting this before, but it's probably my favorite halloween related song.

Kid Koala - Tricks and Treats

The Game Done Changed

2008-11-01T01:08:00.000-07:00

If you're a dj dork like me who gets off on improved bug fixes with new versions of serato and stuff like that, then you may already know about these guys hooking up. I've seen the future, and it's a brave new world where all dj's look like they're just checking email. Technologically mindblowing, visually mad boring.

Ableton/Serato Partnership

Internet sucks in China

2008-10-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Jeez... Today has been one of those days where I feel like I'm watching the precious hours of my life pass by while I wait for web pages to load up. What the deal China?!... Can't we all just get down with some real deal high speed internet? This song sums up my feelings in a nutshell.

Fugazi - Waiting Room

This is going to happen...

2008-10-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

That's right! Bananas Soundsystem invades Hong Kong on November 7th for a night of difficult pimpin' with Kid Fresh, Dj Enso and Miss Yellow and super special guest Dre Skull. Don't forget to put a peacock feather in your wide brimmed hat!
This is going to be rad.

The Animals - It's My Life

Joe Strummer

2008-10-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen the documentary about Joe Strummer, "The Future is Unwritten" it's recommendable according to me. I can't say I've ever been hugely into the Clash aside from some of their radio hits, but this was just a great documentary with an awesome soundtrack of music played both by the Clash and on Joe Strummer's radio program that he used to broadcast internationally out of the U.K. Big up to Leo and Katrina from Free the Wax for hosting the "24 Frames Per Second" documentary nights on their rooftop and exposing me to new media and cool stuff and being generally great people.

The Clash - The Magnificent Seven

Test one two...

2008-10-19T00:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, seems that blogger.com has been unblocked in China. Meanwhile, free-bananas.com has been sadly lost by the Bananas Soundsystem (guess we didn't pay our annual dues) and is now a website about fruit, not fruity music and parties, etc... Anyways, I've never blogged before with blogger, so I'm just testing things out. Hopefully I won't be lazy about this and will actually keep this one up and moving.
Let's start it off with a classic hip hop joint that I just recently heard and remembered "Oh, yeah, this song is amazing."

Outkast - Spottieottiedopaliscious