"Have you heard? Kid Koala is coming to the Satellite Ballroom!"
"Kid Koala? Is he coming with Captain Kangaroo?"
"Um, no."
"Well who is he?"
"He's, like, a DJ."
A DJ, turntablist and visual artist, Kid Koala is one of the most exciting names in hip-hop (and various other musical endeavors). Born Eric San in Vancouver, he is now based in Quebec and signed to Ninja Tune Records.
One of Koala's most recognized qualities is his exhausting productivity. Apart from his three solo LPs, he has worked with Dan the Automator's Lovage, made an appearance on Mike Patton's Peeping Tom, been a member of rap super-group Deltron 3030, scratched with acid-jazz group Bullfrog and written and illustrated his own graphic novel.
Koala's first solo full-length, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, was released in 2000 accompanied by a short comic book illustrated by San. The album was hailed as a masterpiece by critics who praised San for creating music that is both highly skillful and entertaining. His style is characterized by his odd selection of samplings, in which he scratches conversations and sketch routines, coughs, sneezes and Charlie Brown music. He combines his samples to tell a story, an interesting technique that sets him apart from the pack.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was followed by Some of my Best Friends are DJs in 2003 and Your Mom's Favorite DJ in 2006, both of which received highly positive reviews.
In 2003 Koala released one of his most ambitious projects, a 350-page graphic novel titled Nufonia Must Fall. The story concerns a lonely robot who uses music to try and woo a girl. Inspired largely by silent film, the novel contains no dialogue, but is accompanied by a soundtrack produced by San.
Recently, Koala has been doing solo touring and traveling with Bullfrog. It has been rumored that Deltron 3030 will be releasing a new album in the next year, which would be their first since their 2000 self-titled debut. Koala is also working on a new book, which deals with a young mosquito attempting to learn to play the clarinet.
Kid Koala is known for putting on highly entertaining live shows, often incorporating visual elements and setting up his turntables in the fashion of a live band. He wows audiences with incredible precision and has also been seen DJing with no headphones -- a sure sign of technical skill. (He is also known to always wear shorts and for being an all-around friendly guy.) The close quarters of the Satellite Ballroom should make for a great atmosphere where the audience can be as close as possible while he performs his magic.
The show is April 7 with doors opening at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
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