Artist description After years of playing with various groups (Sluggos, Winking Spaniard, Sunshine Family, Carganza, Jones Six) as well as solo, Michael Carmody (aka DJ Karma D) continues to crank out quality pop music in a wide range of styles.

Music Style Smart & wacky pop-rock, folk/country, psychedelia and hip-hop

Musical Influences Velvet Underground, Phil Ochs, Black Sabbath, Run-DMC, Butthole Surfers, Johnny Cash, Sonic Youth, Willie Nelson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Beatles

Similar Artists Beck, Replacements, Syd Barrett, De La Soul, Black Sabbath, Phil Ochs

Artist History Michael Carmody grew up in Kansas, suckled at the teat of 70s AM radio. Through a number of popular regional bands, he and his numerous musical cohorts have explored Byrds-like folk rock, post-Sabbath wah-wah sludge metal, experimental noise jazz, straight-ahead pop-rock, bluegrass, psychedelia, and hip-hop. Songs from all eras of Carmody's musical output are available on the "Pop Machine! Michael Carmody's Decade of Obscurity 1989-1998."

Group Members Now solo, Carmody's past bandmates include Wayne Gottstine, Jeff Eaton and Kirk Rundstrom of Bloodshot Records' hot hillbilly combo Split Lip Rayfield, Alberto "Slop E. Phil" Alfonso of Pipe the Mike Productions (ULU, URUBU, Skid Marx, etc.), Moore Greer of Apostasy, and longtime musical partner Reverend Thomas Page IV (Grandpa's .38, Blue Grass Spiders, Toptone Records). When working as DJ Karma D, Carmody frequently collaborates with MC Lightbub.

Instruments Electric & acoustic guitars, organ, electronics, human beat box, loops, found objects, lots more

Press Reviews ON POP MACHINE: "These few low-fi recordings -- with their hints of country twang, layers of urban noise, acknowledgments of American violence and yearnings for a pot-induced American dream -- are a pretty damned close approximation of the man himself. If you ask me, that's all rock 'n' roll or any other form can hope to accomplish." -- Bud Norman (Wichita Eagle), from "Pop Machine!" liner notes. --------------- MORE PRAISE FOR POP MACHINE: "I can say with all honesty that one of my favorite 3 records of 1998 was "Pop Machine! Michael Carmody's Decade of Obscurity 1989-1998." Why? Because I used to listen to this thing constantly and walk around all day with these great songs running through my head. I still do. Unfortunately, this masterpiece had a very (VERY) limited run, so I suggest you visit this man's site and listen to some of these tunes via RealAudio until this record is available again. What does it sound like? Well, the record features several of Michael's Bands (Sluggos, Sunshine Family, Carganza, solo recordings) and each combo is quite different, however, despite the various arrangements, I kept thinking that this is what it would sound like if Syd Barrett were in The Replacements. A great record from a great songwriter." -- Dogbowl (King Missile co-founder, aka Stephen Tunney), from his great website (www.dogbowl.com).

Additional Info Please check out Carmody's online mag, SEEN!

Location Wichita, Kansas - USA

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