Kultur Shock
Clock-Out Lounge
4864 Beacon Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108
Oct 6, 2023
9:00 PM PDT
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About this concert
2nd Bi-Annual Shocktober Fest Kultur Shock Acoustic Set (record/cd release party)Orkestar ZirkoniumDJ Darek Mazzone (Wo Pop, KEXP, Old Age Records) Friday Oct. 6th 8:30 doors 21+$22adv/$25 dos When singer Gino Srdjan Yevdjevich left the ravaged by war Sarajevo and settled in Seattle in the mid-90s, he brought along two essential things, his immense vocal and songwriting talent and his relentless ambition to create. Little did he know that after starting Kultur Shock in 1996, he would not only become the beating heart of one of the most influential genre-bending bands of the last couple of decades but also the de-facto grandfather of a movement that people casually refer to today as gypsy punk.For the following 25 years, Kultur Shock will embark on a never-ending path of experimentation, will mix Balkan folk melodies and bizarre meters with face-melting metal and blood pumping punk rock, will be lyrical, obnoxious, political, irreverent while respecting every influence theyve had to make the sevdah more sevdah, the rock more rock, and gypsy punk-metal what it currently is- a Kultur Shock.To describe Kultur Shocks style and sound, people usually refer to Gogol Bordello, System of a Down, Dubioza Kolektiv, Manu Chao, The Pogues, or Gang of Four. Unfortunately, none of that does the band justice because Kultur Shocks sound and approach to music is literally in a league of their own. The band released its first three studio records produced by Faith No Mores Bill Gould on his KoolArrow Records between 2001 and 2006. Since 2007, Kultur Shock has been self-produced and self-released on its label and has put out four LPs, one EP, and three live albums. Currently, a collaboration between the band and Jello Biafras Alternative Tentacles records is in the works, with the expectation of vinyl re-releases of some of their albums and a new record in 2022.Kultur Shock is now 25 years old. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, the band had to postpone its plans to celebrate that milestone on the road with its fans, including Europe and selected US cities. The band believes that only a club tour can deliver a close connection with the audience at such an important anniversary, hence their plan to embark on the road in the spring of 2022.With over 1000 shows under their belt, Kultur Shocks most essential festival appearances include: Bumbershoot (Seattle WA), Victoria Folk (Canada), Sziget (Hungary), Exit / Ritam Evrope / Arsenal (Serbia), Sayanskoe Kolco (Siberia, Russia), Festival of Peace (Kazan, Russia), Esperanza (Belgium), Fest am Berg / Wilwarin / FolknFusion (Germany), Senglar Rock / Castellbisbal / Iboga / Capdepera / Pireneus Sur (Spain), Fete de la Musique / Festival de la Boheme / Les Musicaves (France), Ariano Irpino / Arezzo Wave / Summer Lab (Italy), Lent / Rock Otocec / Schengenfest (Slovenia), INmusic / Pula film fest / Spancirfest (Croatia), Beerfest / Kaleidoskop / OK fest / Sarajevo Film Fest (Bosnia), LakeFest (Monte Negro), IRAF / Stufstock (Romania), Spirit of Burgas / Hills of Rock (Bulgaria), Nilufer Music (Turkey), Kavala and Earth festivals (Greece), Taksirat (North Macedonia).
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About the venue
The only live music venue in the Seattle neighborhood of Beacon Hill! We are all ages until 8pm every night and have delicious Breezy Town deep dish pizza 4- 10 pm every...
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Kultur Shock Biography
Kultur Shock are:
Gino Srdjan Yevdjevic (Bosnia)- vocals, djumbek
Mario Butkovic (Croatia)- guitar, buzuki
Masa Kobayashi (Japan)- bass
Val Kiossovski (Bulgaria)- guitar, vocal
Chris Stromquist (USA)- drums
Matty Noble (USA)- violin
Produced by Billy Gould. Such a mix of cultures, they are sometimes like S.O.A.D, sometimes like Emir Kusturica, sometimes like Zdob Si Zdub, a real "Kultur" shock. They are singing in Romany, Bosnian, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, Serbo-Croatian, English, Bulgarian, even French, mixing cultures, languages, using electronic features to make more fun sometimes.
Located in the great city of Seattle Washington.
Weird combination of punk, Balkan’s ethno music, gypsy folk and dirty rock named Kultur Shock are solid institution of Seattle’s underground scene for years now. The band’s members hail from Bosnia, Bulgaria, Japan, and the United States, but the complexity only begins there. Their hometown of Seattle seems to be one of the only things each of them holds in common with one another, yet somehow they continue to inspire as a unit. Defined, by American music journalists, as balkan punk rock gypsy metal wedding-meets-riot music, after many tours and sharing the stage with Gogol Bordello, Iggy Pop, Yerba Buena, The Wailers, Joan Baez, Gutbucket, Sky Cries Mary and many others, they are coming for yet another European tour.
When not directing Shakespeare for prisoners, or babysitting developmentally disabled sex offenders, Sarajevo native Gino Yevdjevich sings for the strange phenomenon known as Kultur Shock. With a resume like this, it seems only fitting that he should describe the history of the band in his own words:
KULTUR SHOCK BIOGRAPHY by Srdjan “Gino” Yevdjevich
Kultur Shock was formed in 1996. It was at first an acoustic band. It started as a joke, on the party, during the jam session where the future members (in somewhat rather over-excited, party mood) made fun of their own tradition and culture (folk music from the Balkans). People liked it (!!). In summer 1997, Kultur Shock joined a long time friend, Joan Baez, on Lodo Music festival in Denver CO, as well as on some other shows on her tour.
After the tour, Kultur Shock started playing in typical acoustic venues with typical acoustic values. The personality match was less then perfect. The audience did not appreciate Kultur Shock singer’s comments (and the attitude problem), Kultur Shock’s singer did not appreciate the audience’s eating in the middle of his performance (so his comments got more and more explicit), the waiters and stuff did not appreciate loud non-English speaking clientele (who didn’t tip well) and finally police and Christian society did not appreciate girls jumping on the tables and taking their bras off, wildly screaming from the top of their lungs. Somewhat less excited (pissed off) venues kicked Kultur Shock out, not just of their venue, but the “World Music” world in general. This might be the best thing ever happened to the band. Life is never going to be the same, for both Kultur Shock and the “World Music” as we know it.
Kultur Shock plugged in and started playing punk rock clubs in Seattle. The music changed a bit. Band’s attitude problem wasn’t a problem any more. New in the area, Kultur Shock did it the old fashion way (at first Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and finally weekends). Kultur Shock self-released the first album Live In Amerika. Album is recorded live at The Crocodile in 1999.
Old friend (from the old country), Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) came in one night with his old friend (of his new country) Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), who liked Kultur Shock. Jello then called his other old friend (still from the same country) Billy Gould (Faith No More), who signed the band for his record label (Koolarrow Records) and produced the new album Fucc The I.N.S. This album (with the name like that) came out in September 2001 (talking about coincidence!!!!) and got trashed by newly aware US patriots. Some went as far as breaking the disks in half and sending it back to the label. The others actually liked it. Kultur Shock’s music on this album really changed. Whatever was in their sick minds they actually did it. This album gave Kultur Shock international recognition. Kultur Shock got invited, first to Spain then Germany and then the rest of Europe.
In 2004 Kultur Shock released Kultura Dictatura. This album was also produced by Billy Gould and released on Koolarrow Records. The unique music style is at the same time a reason for numerous of reviews and media recognition as well as an obstacle when in stores. Compared by many with the Pogues and Frank Zappa to the System Of A Down, this album is once again moved from the shelve to the shelve and at the same time excepted and rejected from both “Rock” and “World” sections.
In the last 5 years Kultur Shock made 8 European and 4 US tours. So far they have played in Spain, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, UK, France, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Canada and USA.
Album We Came To Take Your Jobs Away with the same producer came out in Nov. 2006. This recording is, so far, the closest to Kultur Shock’s live sound. What you see is what you get.
The new album Live In Europe, recorded in Traffic club in Sofia, on Dec. 1st 2006. will be out in Feb. 2008. and it'll be followed with European tour in March/April '08.
After eleven years Kultur Shock have had two major revelations that are somehow captured on those records. First is about the artistic integrity; somehow succeeding to be more truthful and honest now to themselves then ever in the past, including the very beginning. This is something Kultur Shock is proud of. Things usually do not go this way. The second revelation, the thing that bleeds through out the whole album, is that we are a live band of blue-collar immigrants. It’s not that sexy (doesn’t get you laid), but it was important for Kultur Shock to realize that and start enjoying being themselves, belonging nowhere, got ripped from their old worlds and never became a part of the new one.
And loving every second of it.
Read MoreGino Srdjan Yevdjevic (Bosnia)- vocals, djumbek
Mario Butkovic (Croatia)- guitar, buzuki
Masa Kobayashi (Japan)- bass
Val Kiossovski (Bulgaria)- guitar, vocal
Chris Stromquist (USA)- drums
Matty Noble (USA)- violin
Produced by Billy Gould. Such a mix of cultures, they are sometimes like S.O.A.D, sometimes like Emir Kusturica, sometimes like Zdob Si Zdub, a real "Kultur" shock. They are singing in Romany, Bosnian, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, Serbo-Croatian, English, Bulgarian, even French, mixing cultures, languages, using electronic features to make more fun sometimes.
Located in the great city of Seattle Washington.
Weird combination of punk, Balkan’s ethno music, gypsy folk and dirty rock named Kultur Shock are solid institution of Seattle’s underground scene for years now. The band’s members hail from Bosnia, Bulgaria, Japan, and the United States, but the complexity only begins there. Their hometown of Seattle seems to be one of the only things each of them holds in common with one another, yet somehow they continue to inspire as a unit. Defined, by American music journalists, as balkan punk rock gypsy metal wedding-meets-riot music, after many tours and sharing the stage with Gogol Bordello, Iggy Pop, Yerba Buena, The Wailers, Joan Baez, Gutbucket, Sky Cries Mary and many others, they are coming for yet another European tour.
When not directing Shakespeare for prisoners, or babysitting developmentally disabled sex offenders, Sarajevo native Gino Yevdjevich sings for the strange phenomenon known as Kultur Shock. With a resume like this, it seems only fitting that he should describe the history of the band in his own words:
KULTUR SHOCK BIOGRAPHY by Srdjan “Gino” Yevdjevich
Kultur Shock was formed in 1996. It was at first an acoustic band. It started as a joke, on the party, during the jam session where the future members (in somewhat rather over-excited, party mood) made fun of their own tradition and culture (folk music from the Balkans). People liked it (!!). In summer 1997, Kultur Shock joined a long time friend, Joan Baez, on Lodo Music festival in Denver CO, as well as on some other shows on her tour.
After the tour, Kultur Shock started playing in typical acoustic venues with typical acoustic values. The personality match was less then perfect. The audience did not appreciate Kultur Shock singer’s comments (and the attitude problem), Kultur Shock’s singer did not appreciate the audience’s eating in the middle of his performance (so his comments got more and more explicit), the waiters and stuff did not appreciate loud non-English speaking clientele (who didn’t tip well) and finally police and Christian society did not appreciate girls jumping on the tables and taking their bras off, wildly screaming from the top of their lungs. Somewhat less excited (pissed off) venues kicked Kultur Shock out, not just of their venue, but the “World Music” world in general. This might be the best thing ever happened to the band. Life is never going to be the same, for both Kultur Shock and the “World Music” as we know it.
Kultur Shock plugged in and started playing punk rock clubs in Seattle. The music changed a bit. Band’s attitude problem wasn’t a problem any more. New in the area, Kultur Shock did it the old fashion way (at first Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and finally weekends). Kultur Shock self-released the first album Live In Amerika. Album is recorded live at The Crocodile in 1999.
Old friend (from the old country), Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) came in one night with his old friend (of his new country) Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), who liked Kultur Shock. Jello then called his other old friend (still from the same country) Billy Gould (Faith No More), who signed the band for his record label (Koolarrow Records) and produced the new album Fucc The I.N.S. This album (with the name like that) came out in September 2001 (talking about coincidence!!!!) and got trashed by newly aware US patriots. Some went as far as breaking the disks in half and sending it back to the label. The others actually liked it. Kultur Shock’s music on this album really changed. Whatever was in their sick minds they actually did it. This album gave Kultur Shock international recognition. Kultur Shock got invited, first to Spain then Germany and then the rest of Europe.
In 2004 Kultur Shock released Kultura Dictatura. This album was also produced by Billy Gould and released on Koolarrow Records. The unique music style is at the same time a reason for numerous of reviews and media recognition as well as an obstacle when in stores. Compared by many with the Pogues and Frank Zappa to the System Of A Down, this album is once again moved from the shelve to the shelve and at the same time excepted and rejected from both “Rock” and “World” sections.
In the last 5 years Kultur Shock made 8 European and 4 US tours. So far they have played in Spain, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, UK, France, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Canada and USA.
Album We Came To Take Your Jobs Away with the same producer came out in Nov. 2006. This recording is, so far, the closest to Kultur Shock’s live sound. What you see is what you get.
The new album Live In Europe, recorded in Traffic club in Sofia, on Dec. 1st 2006. will be out in Feb. 2008. and it'll be followed with European tour in March/April '08.
After eleven years Kultur Shock have had two major revelations that are somehow captured on those records. First is about the artistic integrity; somehow succeeding to be more truthful and honest now to themselves then ever in the past, including the very beginning. This is something Kultur Shock is proud of. Things usually do not go this way. The second revelation, the thing that bleeds through out the whole album, is that we are a live band of blue-collar immigrants. It’s not that sexy (doesn’t get you laid), but it was important for Kultur Shock to realize that and start enjoying being themselves, belonging nowhere, got ripped from their old worlds and never became a part of the new one.
And loving every second of it.
Balkan Gypsy Punk Metal
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