*"DJ Krush":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Krush has been a much respected figure with my friends in the same age group.* We share the same fondness for 90's trip-hop/hip hop and a youthful nostalgia we hold dearly and intimately from our twenty-something friends. Ah, the beginnings of life as a 'trentenaire' !The famed Japanese DJ would be playing on a renovated barge that has had trouble finding it's place amongst other well known boats that line the Rhone river here in Lyon. Since it's conception, no DJ/Theme night could sustain the mass popularity of the neighboring barge's success and history. Luckily though, "La Plateforme":http://www.la-plateforme.fr/ is owned by the same patron and if DJ Krush's night was any indication, I believe the venue has found it's niche.Before heading to the snow lined __Quai de Rhone__, we began our evening at my local haunt. A trendy downtown bar, "Le Voxx":http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/bars-et-boites_lyon/le-voxx_22904/Profil-Lieu has always represented music and holds many 'amateur' and working DJ's/musicans in it's circle of friends. I first discovered this place in my late teens so you can imagine how much this place has been a part of my growing up and eventual making of Lyon as my home. A Canadian friend of mine (I was convinced she brought the snow) was also visiting so it added to the pleasure in meeting my friends again and re-discovering the city.The evening slowly took hold as more friends, old and new, joined our table and the open mic night was about to begin. Every Thursday, local bands play in the corner of the retro style bar and we were treated to 4 young bands in French rock/folk style. Time passed and our bilingual discussions flowed easily and cheerfully like the multiple bottles of red wine. The tickets stated 10pm, we left the bar past 12AM!Seeing the frozen contours of the barges was absolutely beautiful. The normal queues of disappointed people were gone and the boat faced us naked with the hum of what was going on inside. We slipped in as DJ Krush was already working up the crowd downstairs. A smell of 'smoke' floated freely and the barman was dancing and serving amicably.Over an hour passed in this good vibe as we danced, the full house swaying in the Quai. Back for an encore, DJ Krush graced the crowd with a dimpled smile. A great musicmaker still capable of being so humble and appreciative endeared the crowd as he slipped into his encore set. How often do we see such modesty and how great it is to see it!As I sit here now thinking back to that night, it wasn't a setlist or name that marks my mind but the evening in it's warmth of our first snowfall, the comfort of friends and the joy of sharing something so simple...at 44 years old, Hideaki Ishii still does not disappoint and like my experience in finally seeing "The Roots":http://mog.com/LadyC/blog_post/30413, it was worth the wait if not better.*Video*"Kemuri - Untouchable Mix":http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1437889102651125678&hl=fr*Links*"DJ Krush Official Site":http://www.mmjp.or.jp/sus/krush/"Fan Site":http://www.djkrush.net/
Zeroskilz says
Man, it seems like everyone had a great night of music. I hope my upcoming concerts go as well. I really love DJ Krush's album Jaku. I just think it is a beautiful album from start to finish (and should ideally be listened to that way). I've been to Lyon (even stayed the night there). Unfortunately, it was just a quick stop on the way from Nice to Zurich. I remember walking some beautiful tree-lined streets that reminded me of home. Thanks for sharing. This was beautifully written.
Jonh Ingham says
Thanks for sharing a wonderful night with us. That barge reads like a good place to be. You wrote on my Sid post about stories to tell. OK, here's another. In the late 80s I lived in Tokyo and along the way became good friends with a lovely Japanese-Italian/American lady called "Monday Michiru":http://www.mondaymichiru.com/. She was an actress but because her mother is a famous jazz pianist her management company wanted her to make an album. Fine with Monday because that's what she wanted all along. I got brought in as Executive Producer, not because of any producer skillz but to fight her corner with the record company so she could make the album she wanted, not the one they did. One song was a rap, one of the first in Japanese - so that was fun to defend! One night she brings in a fresh guy and his posse that she's discovered in some backstreet basement club - it's DJ Krush. It's his first time in a studio and he's nervous but he lays down the backing track and Monday and I just start grinning because it's a lovely fusion of beats and jazz loops. This is before Gang Starr etc, so we were buzzed. Then MC Mota, who's maybe 20 and looks like one of A Tribe Called Quest gets on the mic and lays down the coolest flow. Japanese is a lovely fluid language made for rapping and he did it justice. What struck me most about Krush was the quiet, commanding way he controlled his crew and the modesty. I felt really good a few years later when someone gave me a DJ Krush tape, telling me I needed to hear this guy. It sounds like we still need to hear him. And he's still modest. But you can see that in his face.
LadyC says
thank you for your wonderful contribution to the dj krush love jonh, a great story for sure. your memories and experience serve a great value to this intimate community.
zero, thanks for sharing, i still want to buy you drink etc etc. rawk, crashpryor definitely has the goods more often than not!
Zeroskilz says
When I'm lucky enough to make it back to France, or you are unlucky enough to find yourself in Indiana, we will definitely have that drink. My plans for this year involve a wedding in London and then a side-trip to Amsterdam.
I must say John, you have lead what sounds to be a varied and interesting life so far. May it continue that way. Your stories are great.
spaceling says
Years ago I found a track by dj Krush, "Matsuri," on an orphaned vinyl disk without a sleeve in the stacks at 611 records in Philly. On the other side was a track by Swing Slow (Haruomi Hosono) and Doctor Y.S. and the Cosmic Drunkards. So good. I searched around for over a year to find the album it came off of. Turned out to be this interesting compilation called Pacific State vol.2. What are your favorite tracks by dj krush?
Nixne Svix says
nice post , i love the barge - when i was in Holand my favorite coffe house was on a barge.........si felt like i was there with you ms.C
glammerhammer says
dj krush is truely an artist. It's hard to pick a favorite song, because each cd takes you up and slowly brings you down just right....I love them all and worship all his full lengths...oh..have you heard the dj Krush & toshinori kondo titled KI-OKU? One track is the phattest remake of "sun is shing" by BOB MARLEY.
*"DJ Krush":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Krush has been a much respected figure with my friends in the same age group.* We share the same fondness for 90's trip-hop/hip hop and a youthful nostalgia we hold dearly and intimately from our twenty-something friends. Ah, the beginnings of life as a 'trentenaire' !The famed Japanese DJ would be playing on a renovated barge that has had trouble finding it's place amongst other well known boats that line the Rhone river here in Lyon. Since it's conception, no DJ/Theme night could sustain the mass popularity of the neighboring barge's success and history. Luckily though, "La Plateforme":http://www.la-plateforme.fr/ is owned by the same patron and if DJ Krush's night was any indication, I believe the venue has found it's niche.
Before heading to the snow lined __Quai de Rhone__, we began our evening at my local haunt. A trendy downtown bar, "Le Voxx":http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/bars-et-boites_lyon/le-voxx_22904/Profil-Lieu has always represented music and holds many 'amateur' and working DJ's/musicans in it's circle of friends. I first discovered this place in my late teens so you can imagine how much this place has been a part of my growing up and eventual making of Lyon as my home. A Canadian friend of mine (I was convinced she brought the snow) was also visiting so it added to the pleasure in meeting my friends again and re-discovering the city.The evening slowly took hold as more friends, old and new, joined our table and the open mic night was about to begin. Every Thursday, local bands play in the corner of the retro style bar and we were treated to 4 young bands in French rock/folk style. Time passed and our bilingual discussions flowed easily and cheerfully like the multiple bottles of red wine. The tickets stated 10pm, we left the bar past 12AM!
Seeing the frozen contours of the barges was absolutely beautiful. The normal queues of disappointed people were gone and the boat faced us naked with the hum of what was going on inside. We slipped in as DJ Krush was already working up the crowd downstairs. A smell of 'smoke' floated freely and the barman was dancing and serving amicably.Over an hour passed in this good vibe as we danced, the full house swaying in the Quai. Back for an encore, DJ Krush graced the crowd with a dimpled smile. A great musicmaker still capable of being so humble and appreciative endeared the crowd as he slipped into his encore set. How often do we see such modesty and how great it is to see it!As I sit here now thinking back to that night, it wasn't a setlist or name that marks my mind but the evening in it's warmth of our first snowfall, the comfort of friends and the joy of sharing something so simple...at 44 years old, Hideaki Ishii still does not disappoint and like my experience in finally seeing "The Roots":http://mog.com/LadyC/blog_post/30413, it was worth the wait if not better.*Video*"Kemuri - Untouchable Mix":http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1437889102651125678&hl=fr*Links*"DJ Krush Official Site":http://www.mmjp.or.jp/sus/krush/"Fan Site":http://www.djkrush.net/
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