| Konkrete Jungle is the
longest-running Jungle drum and Bass weekly in the world. Nearly
everyone who is anyone in New York City got their start here, and
without it, Jungle Drum and Bass would eventually cease to exist in
this city. From it's humble beginnings in a little bar on Chrystie
Street in the Lower East Side of New York City to hosting events in
some of the hottest clubs in the City and the nation, Konkrete Jungle
has been the proving grounds for Junglists of every discipline. The
history of Konkrete Jungle is a story of triumph, defeat, and rebirth;
a story of memorable times and times where the extreme pressure of a
fascist mayoral regime nearly spelt disaster for the foundation of NYC
Jungle Drum and Bass.
It
all
began
in late 1994. With rave staples such as N.A.S.A. tweaking peoples'
interest in electronic dance music and a tune by Smith and Mighty.
Kathe knew A Guy Called Gerald. Helen Doyle helped create the scene
through her diligent work and public relations. E.G. "Mac" MacFarlane
felt a need to cater to those interested in a burgeoning sound that was
to be known by us to today as Jungle Drum and Bass. As his time with
the legendary Giant Step's acid jazz massives began to wind down,
Cassien of Legend approached him with the idea to start up a weekly
event strictly dedicated to Jungle music. It was a daunting task, to
say the least, considering the fact that Jungle was perhaps the least
popular form of electronic dance music in the City. Throwing caution
into the wind, Konkrete Jungle was born on November 10, 1994 in Club
205, with original residents Cassien of Legend, Delmar, Panik,
Darkstar, and Dara.
As
interest
increased, so did the need to provide the adequate space for the
growing masses. This move was to be the defining factor in Konkrete
Jungle's success by leaving their cozy bar and taking over the historic
Wetlands, providing ample dance floor space and a sound system to boot.
Since then, Konkrete Jungle has held residencies at several clubs
including Coney Island High, Mantra, Acme Underground, and our current
residency at the legendary Pyramid club. There have been several
offshoots of Konkrete Jungle in cities such as Philadelphia, Los
Angeles, and Atlanta over the years. Aside from the weekly events,
Konkrete Jungle provided the blueprint for what a New York City jungle
massive is, with legendary performances in spaces such as the Bank and
the world famous (but now defunct) TWILO, as well as several
out-of-state collaborations with local promoters.
During
the
mid
1990's,
New
York City's mayor Rudy Giuliani began imposing his famous "Quality of
Life" campaign that made it nearly impossible to operate, let alone
open, a dance club in the City. For this reason, Konkrete Jungle had a
seemingly nomadic existence from 1996-2000, explaining the multiple
residencies around the city. While other weekly events were forced to
reside in bars, shunning those under the age of 21, Konkrete Jungle
stuck through thick and thin to provide a foundation for those who
would have otherwise never heard of Jungle Drum and Bass. In the
darkest of times, when others proclaimed, some proudly, that "Konkrete
Jungle is dead", we've always proven them wrong.
Join
us
as
we open up a new chapter in the history of New York City Jungle/Drum
and Bass.
Konkrete
Jungle in Love Club NYC!
Information
paraphrased from the
Konkrete Jungle website
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