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Promoter ToolsKultur Shock bio
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Kultur Shock was formed in 1996 in Seattle, brainchild of singer/ frontman Gino (Srdjan) Yevdjevich and his Sarajevan band mates- Amir Beso and Nedim H. Hamzic, who were invited to tour the States with the theater play Behind God's Back. The band performed with Joan Baez and was dedicated to presenting the little known Balkan and specifically- Bosnian folk music, to the american public.
In 1998 Gino reformed the band, which included Borislav Iochev (Bulgaria/ USA), Mario Butkovic (Bosnia/ Croatia), John Morovich (USA) and Brad Houser (USA). Seattle's jazz and avant- guard musicians noticed and got involved in the project.
In 1999 the band recorded “Live in America”, on Gino's Pacific Records- an album which featured traditional Balkan songs performed with a refreshing irreverent attitude. The album was introduced by Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) to Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) - both staunch supporters, who recommended it to Bill Gould (Faith No More). Bill offered a collaborative record deal to the band for the next release on his own KoolArrow Records.
The collaboration between Bill Gould and Kultur Shock resulted in 3 releases- FUCC the INS (2002), Kultura- Diktatura (2004) and We Came to Take Your Jobs Away (2006), which introduced the band to American and European audiences alike and brought critical acclaim by Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, FRoots, Village Voice, El Pais and many other mainstream, underground and fan- zine publications on both continents. Kultur Shock embarked on series of European tours and one – offs in the US in support of the albums, and in the process became one of the most exciting and rewarding bands to see live, ever. The explosive ninety minute show takes the audience on a sweaty and loud, mosh and dance trip that goes from punk- metal to lyrically painful breakdowns, a roller coaster of rumba and odd meter rock spiced up with fast Balkan dance parts. It is funny, engaging and totally participatory experience where band and audience unite. The band jokes that it plays like a heavy metal band- precise, tight and multi layered, while performing with a punk rock attitude- irreverent, politically charged and socially engaged. Lyrics push many buttons and comment on war, peace, love, sex, partying, social justice, anti -religion awareness, sometimes is just plain goofy for the sake of simply being so.
Always misclassified by the “industry” and asked what kind of music they play, the band frequently answers: the best one. Half joking, half serious, the band stands behind this claim by “ playing every show as though it is the last one we'll ever do.”
The band's roaster between 2002- 2008 included Gino Yevdjevic- vocals, Mario Butkovic- guitar, Val Kiossovski- guitar, Masashi Kobayashi- bass, Chris Stromquist- drums, Amy Denio- saxophone- she was replaced in 2004 by Matty Noble- violine.
In 2008 Kultur Shock released “Live in Europe”, on Kultur Shock Records, their own label. Kultur Shock was determined to reign full control over it's creative process and shorten the distance between it's music and the audience, which they lovingly calls “our people” and who the band credits freely and honestly as the “purpose of our existence”. The album was recorded in Sofia, Bulgaria and mixed in Seattle by Jack Endino. Happy with the result, Kultur Shock invited Jack to co- produce their next release- “Integration”, which the band finished in the Spring of 2009 and is due for release in the US, Japan and Europe- distributed by Cargo Records and it's regional partners- on September 15th, 2009.
“integration” is probably the best album the band has ever created. This is partially because the band undertook yet another internal changeover, and both ex and new members of the band had a chance to contribute to it's sound and musical substance.
After years of relentless touring, Mario Butkovic and Masa Kobayashi departed the band, focusing on their personal life and musical explorations of their own, while Gino, Val, Chris and Matty invited Paris Hurley- violine, Guy Michael Davis- bass and Kultur Shock's own Amy Denio- saxophone, to join the band, finish work on the album and embark on touring in support of it.
This combination of diverse musical tastes and influences along with everyone's insane personalities has contributed to the sound of “Integration”- a rock album, in which Balkan folk elements seamlessly “integrate” with punk and metal guitars, thunderous rhythm section and adventurous saxophone, clarinet and violin riffs and solos. The band just completed a festival and open air tour in Russia and Europe in July 2009 and is gearing up for continent wide CD release tour in Europe in October/ November 2009.
Distribution:
Poland – Isound
Benelux – Suburban
Germany , Austria & Switzerland – Cargo Germany
France – Differ-Ant
Spain – Locomotive
Italy – Goodfellas
Sweden – Border
Norway – Indie
Finland – Supersounds
Denmark – Target
Portugal – Compact Disc Services
Greece – Minos EMI
Ireland - RMG
UK - Cargo
USA - Redeye Distribution "Integration" Overview
Three studio and two live albums later, Kultur Shock returns with their fourth studio release- Integration, a genre defying album, product of a long time collaboration between the band and producer Jack Endino.
Along with the well known in- your- face, fast, aggressive, thunderous Kultur Shock sound grounded in the seamless fusion of rock, punk and Balkan folk, the band has crossed yet another stylistic boundary. Exploring the art- rock realm with violin and horn lines bouncing between lyrical and completely neurotic, and gelling it all together with the signature all-inspiring vocal performances by singer Gino Yevdjevich and company, Integration is undisputedly a rock record with supercharged folk influence.
How the band succeeds to make their progressive political stands part of a fun and exciting medley of sounds, beats and solos is a secret only they know, but no matter how it’s achieved, the album promises yet another amazing experience for everybody who appreciates the honest, sweaty ninety minutes of pure excitement the band dishes out on the road. Press Quotes:
“Kultur Shock is what punk rock should sound like.” Jello Biafra
“It’s System of a Down finally consumed by their folkisms; it’s a Romany campfire gathering where gypsies turn amps up to 11. It’s six languages spilling over rock, hip-hop, samba, balladry and punk. But most of all, it will rock your world” Kerrang! (4star review)
“Kultur Shock are the very model of a multi-cultural punk rock band…some of it wouldn’t sound out of place at your local kebab shop, but it’s the sort of thing that would upset our WOMAD friends because it isn’t ‘pure’ or ‘authentic’ enough..” Metal Hammer 2004
“I’d compare Kultur Shock to crunk, which gets party music out of similarly doleful minor-key melodies, has the same undertone of Euro-Eastern menace, and is fronted by similar blowhardiness and rah-rah.” Village Voice Current high resolution press photos: http://ibdbooking.de/v1/?page_id=158 Click on download Press Images.
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