01-16-2007, 12:30 PM
Garth is a royal pain in the arse.
At his San Francisco parties - Wicked, Come Unity, Full Moons, Roots and Back2Back, he's been bringing the house down for 16 years. In reality, he just tapped into the city's unique energy and helped reignite the flames of conscious hell raising that existed here in generations past.
Those Full Moon parties ushered in an era of Acid House hysteria that ripped through the west coast and spread into the heartland. The Wicked crew are credited widely with having kick started the city's dance scene in the early '90s adding to it's reputation as the red-headed step child of disco.
From his highly coveted 10 year residency at Come Unity, where he'd have early morning revellers all join hands in ecstatic abandon to Wicked's 13 year odyssey as the city's rulin' sound system; a bloody good time was had by all.
Wicked shot for the sky. So scoring a custom designed Turbosound rig and a 1947 Greyhound bus, whose previous owners were a gospel choir, they set about spreading their own gospel to seekers far and wide.
The same bus provided Garth with the inspiration to start his own label in '98. With over 50 singles under the belt, Grayhound has been a constant thorn in the side of easy listening House. His breakout anthem Twenty Minutes of Disco Glory shook things up internationally and he now has 40 singles to his name, many on his own label. He has remixed the likes of The Glimmers, Perry Farrel (Janes Addiction), Yabby You and Tribe Called Quest. He has recorded mix CDs for Om, NRK, Thrive and Grayhound.
Fueled by an ungodly appetite for irreverent dance music of all persuasions ... acid rock, disco, dub reggae, house and electro, he keeps himself and others awake doing his damndest to mix them together on weekends. He travels the world like a refugee lugging a crate or two of his favorite vinyl to Japan, Spain, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Singapore, even Indonesia and Malaysia - crashing parties upon request.
On the home front he throws an intimate monthly shindig called Back2Back in San Francisco with Wicked comrade Jeno. Nobody gets hurt.
-How long have you and the Wicked crew been doing things in SF?
We started in 1991 throwing free Full Moon parties on Baker Beach. We wrapped things up as a crew in 2004 after 13 years. Now Jeno and I do a monthly together here in town but mostly pursue solo interests.
-What is it that draws you to the music?
It's the only thing you can trust. Music has saved me many, many times. Pure artistic expression is the closest humans can get to spiritual source.
-How is the scene in SF right now?
Quite exciting actually. The parties are popping off after a long lull.
-Where are you and Greyhound heading in the next couple of years?
I am putting all my eggs on the DJ train. When I was focused in studio mode a few years back playing records became secondary. I've rekindled my passion for DJing at Back2Back and am truly loving vinyl again.
-What are you using in the studio nowadays?
I've made around 40 records in my analog outboard gear studio (Soundcraft mixing console, Nordlead keyboard, Mackie monitors, Roland Space Echo, Joe Meek compressors, Emu e64 sampler). After a 2 year hiatus I remixed the glimmers recently for diskimo records using only Reason 3 and my G4. It was very liberating and I think the track 'bubble gum' smokes.
-To help us get to know your musical influence, could you give us your top five all time favorite EDM/non-EDM tracks?
My taste changes with the seasons but...
1. Kool and the Gang "Summer Madness" 2. Alan Parsons Project "Eye in the Sky" 3. Stevie Wonder "Contusion" 4. James Brown "Give it Up or Turn it a Loose" 5. Shock "E.R.E.B."
-Any weeklies or Wicked shows that our readers should know about?
Jeno and I have first fridays at 222 Hyde for Back2Back where Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Dave Brubeck all recorded live albums in the '50s. Heavy vibrations!
-What are your intrests when you are not on the decks in the studio?
Hiking, snowboarding, road trips, world travel, food and wine, interior design, books, history.
-What's your favorite spot to play?
Right now it has to be Club Mago in Nagoya, Japan. I play 5 hour sets on an awesome sound system tuned all night by a seasoned pro. They go nuts on the dancefloor and are wonderful hosts. You can't ask for more.
-Any other new products we should know about?
Unleash the Hound is my latest mix cd comprising all Grayhound material. Grayhound is my record label - since 1998.
Doug and Rachel from VisionaryUrbanTactics.com would like to thank Garth for spending the time on this interview.
Find out more about Garth here:
Myspace
http://www.grayhound.net/
At his San Francisco parties - Wicked, Come Unity, Full Moons, Roots and Back2Back, he's been bringing the house down for 16 years. In reality, he just tapped into the city's unique energy and helped reignite the flames of conscious hell raising that existed here in generations past.
Those Full Moon parties ushered in an era of Acid House hysteria that ripped through the west coast and spread into the heartland. The Wicked crew are credited widely with having kick started the city's dance scene in the early '90s adding to it's reputation as the red-headed step child of disco.
From his highly coveted 10 year residency at Come Unity, where he'd have early morning revellers all join hands in ecstatic abandon to Wicked's 13 year odyssey as the city's rulin' sound system; a bloody good time was had by all.
Wicked shot for the sky. So scoring a custom designed Turbosound rig and a 1947 Greyhound bus, whose previous owners were a gospel choir, they set about spreading their own gospel to seekers far and wide.
The same bus provided Garth with the inspiration to start his own label in '98. With over 50 singles under the belt, Grayhound has been a constant thorn in the side of easy listening House. His breakout anthem Twenty Minutes of Disco Glory shook things up internationally and he now has 40 singles to his name, many on his own label. He has remixed the likes of The Glimmers, Perry Farrel (Janes Addiction), Yabby You and Tribe Called Quest. He has recorded mix CDs for Om, NRK, Thrive and Grayhound.
Fueled by an ungodly appetite for irreverent dance music of all persuasions ... acid rock, disco, dub reggae, house and electro, he keeps himself and others awake doing his damndest to mix them together on weekends. He travels the world like a refugee lugging a crate or two of his favorite vinyl to Japan, Spain, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Singapore, even Indonesia and Malaysia - crashing parties upon request.
On the home front he throws an intimate monthly shindig called Back2Back in San Francisco with Wicked comrade Jeno. Nobody gets hurt.
-How long have you and the Wicked crew been doing things in SF?
We started in 1991 throwing free Full Moon parties on Baker Beach. We wrapped things up as a crew in 2004 after 13 years. Now Jeno and I do a monthly together here in town but mostly pursue solo interests.
-What is it that draws you to the music?
It's the only thing you can trust. Music has saved me many, many times. Pure artistic expression is the closest humans can get to spiritual source.
-How is the scene in SF right now?
Quite exciting actually. The parties are popping off after a long lull.
-Where are you and Greyhound heading in the next couple of years?
I am putting all my eggs on the DJ train. When I was focused in studio mode a few years back playing records became secondary. I've rekindled my passion for DJing at Back2Back and am truly loving vinyl again.
-What are you using in the studio nowadays?
I've made around 40 records in my analog outboard gear studio (Soundcraft mixing console, Nordlead keyboard, Mackie monitors, Roland Space Echo, Joe Meek compressors, Emu e64 sampler). After a 2 year hiatus I remixed the glimmers recently for diskimo records using only Reason 3 and my G4. It was very liberating and I think the track 'bubble gum' smokes.
-To help us get to know your musical influence, could you give us your top five all time favorite EDM/non-EDM tracks?
My taste changes with the seasons but...
1. Kool and the Gang "Summer Madness" 2. Alan Parsons Project "Eye in the Sky" 3. Stevie Wonder "Contusion" 4. James Brown "Give it Up or Turn it a Loose" 5. Shock "E.R.E.B."
-Any weeklies or Wicked shows that our readers should know about?
Jeno and I have first fridays at 222 Hyde for Back2Back where Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Dave Brubeck all recorded live albums in the '50s. Heavy vibrations!
-What are your intrests when you are not on the decks in the studio?
Hiking, snowboarding, road trips, world travel, food and wine, interior design, books, history.
-What's your favorite spot to play?
Right now it has to be Club Mago in Nagoya, Japan. I play 5 hour sets on an awesome sound system tuned all night by a seasoned pro. They go nuts on the dancefloor and are wonderful hosts. You can't ask for more.
-Any other new products we should know about?
Unleash the Hound is my latest mix cd comprising all Grayhound material. Grayhound is my record label - since 1998.
Doug and Rachel from VisionaryUrbanTactics.com would like to thank Garth for spending the time on this interview.
Find out more about Garth here:
Myspace
http://www.grayhound.net/