Washington City Paper Interview

Without warning, it's the Washington City Paper's superficially revealing inquiry into the musical mind.

"Why doesn't D.C. music get put on the maps like all the other major cities?" asks KIDGUSTO. The DJ, musician, producer, and artist asks a fair question, and he's here to do something about it. "Collaboration is key," he says. "I feel all of us artists and musicians in the D.C. area need give props to each other and try to pull each other up when one of us manifests on higher plains!!" Absolutely. States the Kid: "With the inexhaustible drive to create projects though collaborations with other artists and musicians lining my path, I will never stop creating and learning down the road." And we don't want you to stop! You can hear selections from Kidgusto's forthcoming CD on the TrueGrooves label, Inspired by Burlap, here. I ran into KG as he was DJing at Visions Cinema Bistro Lounge, where you may find him on Saturdays, or swirl to his sounds Thursdays Bossa Organic Bistro and Lounge in Adams Morgan.

What equipment do you use and what's your favorite smoke?
KIDGUSTO: I have a pretty crazy makeshift setup, but I'll try to list as much as I can. By the way, I name every piece of equipment that I own; all their names are Betty and they give me much love. First off, my most prized possession, my piece-of-crap Ludwig Rocker II drum kit. The true definition of burly. I have had this piece for about 13 years now (been playing drums for 15) and I still play it close to two or three times a week. The only thing that changes on this kit are the cymbals and heads; everything else is from back in the way day. But, I still can hang with the sounds that Betty produces...where were we? Oh, yes, the rest of my equipment: A Fender five-string Jazz bass; A Fender '62 Jaguar remake; a Yamaha classical nylon-string guitar; an Akai 1983 analog AX-80 keyboard; many hand drums. Just recently, I acquired a Persian hammered dulcimer called the Santoor. She's a beaut! A Hohner melodica; two Costa Rican flutes; my Technics 1200s; a Vestax PMC 05; an outboard digital recorder; many PC applications, which I create with; an Ensoniq ASR-X; and, well, that's all I'm gonna name at this point. A man's gotta have some secrets, ya know.

I do not smoke cigs...though, dabbled de sensi.

What kind of drums do you play and what pets do you own?
KIDGUSTO: Ahh, about the drums; fine question. If you read the above answer you will find out about Betty the 13-year-old Ludwig Rocker II that has ebony pinstripe heads and Sabian cymbals. She receives the true burlap award!

No pets now, although I used to have a black cat named Cali when I lived with me bandmembers. She ran away...I wonder why? Oh, yeah, I remember now. My drunk roommate dropped his lit cig in a box of fireworks that we had in the living room. (Don't ask why we had a box of fireworks in the living room because I do not know the answer.) All I know is that I was awakened at 4 in the morning by a couple of stray bottle rockets that made their way down the hallway to my room. Ahh, those were the days.

What's your favorite D.C. hangout and your favorite automobile? KIDGUSTO: I would have to say that Bossa in Adams Morgan is definitely the coolest and most comfortable spot that I have hung out in lately. Great music, great art on the walls, and great organic food.

Ah, and my favorite car has gots to be a 1961 Cadillac coupe. Oh, yes, it will be mine. I also dig the '58-to-'64 Impalas and also the 1960 Chevy Nomad. But then again, I can appreciate all classic cars.

What's the worst place you've crashed and the worst haircut?
KIDGUSTO: Worst haircut...umm, back in sixth grade, I had a graduation out of elementary school and looking back at the picture, I noticed that I freakin' looked like Ralph Macchio from The Karate Kid. So, yeah, that would have to be the worst haircut. And no, I will not post that picture....Next question!

Worst place I've crashed was in the nurse's office in fifth grade. The school nurse freaked out because she thought I passed out on some illness, when in fact I was just really tired. I know you were expecting some party story, but, no...no soup for you!

Worst roommate and best audience?
KIDGUSTO: Well, he wasn't really a roommate, but back in the day this dude that one of our friends knew had just gotten out of jail and he somehow found his way to my band's apartment. He was cool (for the first couple of days), but then we noticed that he wasn't leaving our house. He just kept on hanging out and hanging out. We couldn't find a way to break it to him easily and without pissing him off. (I mean, come on, he just got out of prison...I'd like to see you kick out an ex-con.) I think we got our friend who brought him in the first place to kick him out for us. Ahh, don't you love passive-aggressive actions?

Best audience was two years back at one of the last infamous House of Pain parties on Lamont Street. We (the Northwest Collective) had the sound system in the back yard, and their house and back yard was packed. When I came on to spin, the crowd was moist and wanted to dance, so I had to drop a Backyard Band track (in respect to D.C. go-go). Then followed with "Da Butt," followed by "The Humpty Dance." After that, the crowd was in the palm of my hands and the rest was a piece of cake. Great night!

Explain your band name and define your sound.
KIDGUSTO: I used to be the drummer in a lot of different bands, ranging from hardcore to punk rock to funk to jazz bands (with the same members, more or less) We ranged from names like Subliminal Anger to Pork and Poultry to Thred. I then had to branch off and venture onto making my own projects and working with other musicians in the city.

I presently DJ and play percussion on the freelance styles at different venues in the city. My DJ crew is called Funk DC and they are a fine group of fellahs to spin with. Our style is heavily based on beats, so anything from hiphop to acid jazz to downtempo, to world grooves, to rare groove funk to dubbed-out beats is a good description. If you are interested in hearing the sounds for yourselves, check this link.

I also sit in on percussion with a jazz/bossa/soul group called the Improviso that performs at Bossa on Thursday evenings. Quite the talented group, as I would say.

Also , I have my own project called Kidgusto and Company, where I bring in different musical artists from the area and we put on a half-live, instrumental set and a half-DJ set, or all mixed together. Some of the artists who perform with me you have probably seen in the city at one point or another. Artists like Thadd Wilson (trumpet), Taylor Crews (vocals), Arya Saleh (violin), Soy Lopez (vocals, guitar), Truseeks (emcee), and Resyte (emcee). Best way to describe our sound is "eclectic groove" music.

What clothes do you like to wear onstage and what do you eat on the road? KIDGUSTO: I motto: If you're not comfortable, den don't sport it.

Food: Anything nutritious, but with flava.

What's the worst stage you've played and your best payday? KIDGUSTO: It wasn't on a stage, but it was at a venue, and it sucked. A couple years back, I got a spinning gig in fun ol' Bethesda. And, well, this spot was dead every time, except the first night where my people came out and rep'd. Thank goodness for that.

Best payday has to be when I performed with the group at the Redmaple in Baltimore. The owner, Pat, is probably one of the coolest club owners I have met.

What are your influences and worst equipment experience?
KIDGUSTO: Here we go, this is a long one...in no particular order: the Meters, James Brown and the JBs, Roy Ayers, Bill Withers, Sly and the Family Stone. Old school Chilis, Primus, Stark Reality, Poets of Rhythm, Desmond Williams, Fugazi, Nicola Conte, Brazilian samba and bossa nova—like Sergio Mendez, Emilio Santiago, Clara Nunes, Astrud Gilberto, Jorge Ben, Copa 7, Banda Black Rio. Indigenous Afro-Latin music from Peru, Bolivia, Cuba, and wherever else that Africans settled into. Susana Baca, Bob Marley, Yabby You, the Gladiators, Jacob "Killer" Miller, King Tubby, King Jammy, Lee Perry, Toots and the Maytals, anything dubbed-out. Abyssinians, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Luciano, Ninja Man, Fela Kuti, gamelan music from Bali, Ravi Shankar, classical Persian music, Googoosh, Kruder and Dorfmeister, Fauna Flash, Thievery Sound System, Tosca, Sofa Surfers, Mo' Horizons, Catford Classics, Nightmares on Wax, the Rootsman from Third Eye Music. Dr. Israel, the Doors, Sepultura, Black Sabbath, Santana, Cymande, Jimi Hendrix, the Clash, the Ramones, Eastern Front, Money Mark, Beastie Boys, Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Rjd2, DefJux crew, Tru Thoughts label, Quantic, Codek label, Turntables on the Hudson, Browntempo, Aim, Blu Rum 13, Ninja Tune label, Luke Vibert, DJ Vadim, SoleSides, De la Soul, Prince Paul, A Tribe Called Quest, Run DMC, DJ Premiere, GangStarr, Saul Williams, the Gza, the Pharcyde, Hieroglyphics, Digable Planets, DJ Shadow, Jurassic 5, Ozomatli, Afu-ra, Aceyalone, Dilated Peoples, KRS-1, DJ'Krush, Clutch, RATM, Moose back in '94 selling his acid-jazz mixes for $2. There are many more but I am now drawing a blank. Other inspirations to help guide my path: tai chi and the Tao Te Ching.

I'm not even going to go into the worst music equipment stories because there are just too many.

What's your favorite tour memory and worst band squabble?

KIDGUSTO: Worst band squabble: Man, this was back in '97 when I was in a punk rock band playing at the Kaffa House. At the end of the evening, my guitarist (wasted, of course) by accident (or no accident) snatched a guitar effect pedal from one of the other bands that played that evening. And the guy caught him in the act. My guitarist had no remorse, but said sorry, anyway. The other band member wasn't having it. So they started arguing more and more until, what do you know, my guitarist pulls out his butterfly knife with the final word. The guys from the other band were like, "Uhhh...OK, you suburb kids are too crazy, get the hell outta here." Not a fun night!

As far as favorite memories, there are way too many of those, so I'll just say more good times than bad, praises.

What's your transpo and what's the worst place you've ever dropped trou? KIDGUSTO: I got my potato wagon...I have no idea what means....Next question.

What's the stupidest move your singer ever pulled? KIDGUSTO: Damn, potato chips, why didn't I throw them away that night? Next question.

Any shout outs?

Much love to: Washington, D.C., FunkDC, Northwest Collective, Rachid and Rob at Bossa, Pascal F, Tyler Johnson, Open Door Crew, Rhumba Cafe Thursday night salsa band, Desmond and Farid at ESL, Blu Rum 13, Resyte, Karl, Tim at Trividual Productions, the Washington, D.C. area sk8 and surf community, Surfrider Foundation, Dathan—I mean, Flex—Mathews, Innate, Harry and the Step Syndicate, Rhythm and Culture, DJ Hut, Daniel Gomez and crew, Sam Burns, Santimo, Taylor Crews, Digital K, Soylo y amigos, mOk. Praises!

Praise? Nays? Grade the quiz.

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Washington City Paper
Copyright © 2003 Washington Free Weekly Inc.