Music: Kid Koala

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Sekondhandprojects

Kid Koala

Kid Koala is no ordinary DJ. The Canadian artist otherwise known as Eric San has opened for the likes of Bjork, Radiohead and the Beastie Boys. He used his classical music background and comic-artist skills to produce Nufonia Must Fall, a 350-page graphic novel that was accompanied by a soundtrack he composed on the piano. He illustrates all his own album artwork and usually includes a multi-page comic with his releases. In addition to his solo work, he performs with three collaborative groups — the hip-hop centric Deltron 3030, ambient trip hoppers Lovage (with Dan the Automator, Mike Patton and Jennifer Charles), and groove-funk-oriented Bullfrog. And he pioneered a spinning style that uses the turntable like a melodic instrument, creating different pitches by dragging a long, single note under the needle at different speeds. These unique, wavering and bending notes can be found peppered throughout his funky, hip-hop-beat-driven music along with all manner of bizarre and oftentimes humorous samples, which he's appropriated from old commercials, spoken-word and self-help recordings, old comedy sketch routines, cartoons and whatever other treasures of sound he happens upon. In the land of DJs, not all are created equal, and there are few who have the chops of Kid Koala. See him in action at Crowbar this Thursday night with support sets provided by DJ Jester The Filipino Fist, Blac Soap, Kush Wonder and eFFeX. Thurs., May 8, 1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City, $10 in advance/$12 day of show, 813-241-8600, aestheticized.com.