DJ Q&A: ESP Woody McBride readies for Friday's raver reunion (MP3)

By Jen Boyles Thu., Jul. 9 2009 at 8:17 AM

Categories: DJ Q&A

Photo by Denis Jeong Plaster

Let's just get this out of the way: DJ ESP Woody McBride is famously weird. Not the creepy Steve Buscemi kind of weird but the coolly endearing Christopher Walken kind. To hear the undisputed local godfather of techno music spew his ideas on the art of wellness and (somewhat conversely) psychic experimentation and the true spirit of his insane parties from the early 90s is always a slightly mind-twisting ordeal, and he prefers it that way (example: last I saw him, he revealed he would soon become a licensed Aveda stylist). McBride's irreplaceable presence in Minneapolis tapered off in 2001 after deplaning from Mile High (a party promotions trifecta between himself, Jack Trash and expatriate Rich Best of Compass Entertainment), when he retreated to his "dome" house in the sticks and continued to tour the rest of world playing records and live sets for fans of his Communique label.

Now, 15 years later, an evolved McBride gently bubbles to the surface of the scene that upheld his vision for a time but never fully realized his worth -- a scene of diehard dance music enthusiasts that has downgraded to a tight-knit clique in recent years. He'll be appearing at Ecstatic Music's "Old Skoolin'" reunion of old school techno lovers at the 7th Street Entry -- a place McBride called a church to the pre-rave scene of the early '90s. He'll be joined by Midwest compatriots Terry Mullan and Hyperactive -- two equally hard hitting mixtape heroes of yore -- as well as a swarm of nostalgic former party kids who'll forget for one night about the "real jobs" and properly fitting pants they've since acquired and remember that special feeling summoned only by four straight hours of dancing to crazy beats.

Gimme Noise: First, the question we always ask: what are your new projects and what are you excited about now?

Woody McBride: Hi everyone. Best wishes! I am still soaring through the sky spreading love and inspiring transformation through my music, words and images. This summer I am touring solo for my dynamic four-hour mix album of original material due out in September, touring with two legendary Midwest DJs, Hyperactive and Terry Mullan. And thanks to encouragement from a great festival promoter in the Ozarks, I'm doing a mystical meditation and ambient music performance art piece with two women shamen (the incredibly talented singer and good witch Thea Ennen and her daughter Amelia) and two live ambient musicians (Tim Donohue and Charlie Erickson). The program is called The Eyes of Darshan (graphic below). It is a two hour relaxation, meditation, movement and mystical pilgrimage to a magic Fairy God Mother set to a beautiful soundtrack performed by The Eclectic Ensemble. I am the gatekeeper.

GN: Describe what you think will be the scene at this raver reunion of sorts.

McBride: A lot of big smiling faces on the heads on the knecks on the shoulders on the spines of the bodies of people who know how to boogie. The reunion was created to be light hearted and fun and [for people] to dance a bit in unison. it was always much more of a group meditation back in the day; we did not take the music for granted. All we had were DJ mixtape cassettes, nothing on the radio or TV, and there was no Internet to speak of... it was our church. The 7th Street Entry was this kind of electronic dance music church several years before the rave scene hit in the early 90's, so it is a fitting venue. Minneapolis Old Skool Raver Reunion Facebook page really got me thinking about the show and their participation and ideas really made it fun for me. My friends at Ecstatic Music, to me, represented what was really fun about the old days (and they are still having fun and being creative) and so they were a perfect partner. Much love to everyone.

GN: What do you feel your role was back in the 90s and what is it now; how has it changed?

McBride: As a musician and promoter, I tried to give people the music experience of their life and hope they find themselves and move on to have a magical life! I got into the game at the right time so it was natural to be promoter, DJ, live performer, liason avec les authorities, philosopher. Now I have my own magical life with my wife, kids and my career as an artist, musician and wellness worker. Big thanks to First Avenue for hosting this special event. They, among others, have helped to build a great music scene in the area.

Photo by Denis Jeong Plaster

GN: What was your favorite venue (legal or otherwise) to play back in the day and why?

McBride: The early warehouse events like Vegetable, Stairway to Headphones, Stampede, Paradise were the most intense pure events when the scene was fresh and new. And before that Kevin Cole's Depth Probe on an occasional Wednesday night in the Mainroom at First Ave was where it all first really broke open -- this was the pre-rave scene. Has there been magic like that since in the 00's? Just flickers here and there, and big respect to the promoters and performers who helped make that happen. This reunion show should be nothing less [as] we have booked 5 pivotal artists that played a huge part in the evolution of the local scene. They are all very friendly.

GN: What's your godfatherly advice for old ravers still milling around the techno scene today and feeling unsatisfied?

McBride: Get on the web, take a peek at some events around the world, save up your money, get a friend or two to come with and fly to an exotic or sparkling location somewhere in the world to what looks like a killer festival or dance event and rave your brains out for a week. Take in another culture. During that time, take notes of your psychic journey into yourself. read those notes when you get home and put them into action!!!! Then, of course, occasionally go out and dance during the rest of your life. You will appreciate the world and your own home turf a lot more after the trip!

Click here to download Woody's recent all-vinyl set in Milwaukee (link expires Saturday, so get it now!).

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