
above picture: BANK 10 YEAR REUNION @ ELEMENT, September 2009
Hi, My name is Jason. Like all of the early and original NYC Goth Scene DJs, I use my real name as my DJ name; DJ Jason.
I think my surviving flyer documentation (www.myspace.com/nycabsolution or less flyers at www.myspace.com/jasonledyard) of my past work speaks for itself, however an additional written Bio was asked for, so here it is :)
I've been a music enthusiast and serious collector since I was a kid. I started DJing in college. I had my first DJ mixer and Cerwin-Vega speakers in 88 or 89. I loved and still love sound equipment, lighting & of course, fog-machines! I organized parties in college. I regularly made mix tapes, organized and DJed music at dorm-house theme parties (300 to 500 people). Later in graduate school, I had my own radio show called Necrophiliac Relationship (named after a Rozz Williams lyric).
I loved going to concerts, shows and, later on, nightclub events. I met DJ Daniel and DJ Patrick before they were DJs, back when DJ David of Club Darkwave was the FIRST & only NYC pure Goth DJ (to be joined later by DJ Vanessa Miasma who later became the first all Goth DJ to spin at The BANK). In between College (BFA) and Graduate School (MFA), I managed an underground record store called Secret Sounds. Later, because no one else with as comprehensive of a music collection was available, I was recruited to DJ and reluctantly started spinning (and promoting) in Manhattan. I consider this to be my start as as a real DJ. Alchemy Mondays began in Sept. 1996 and ended in 2006. It was a weekly party at CBGB's Gallery. I was the only DJ during open hours. Most events then only had one DJ per room and our door girl/Co-promoter (the other DJ) only sometimes spun after the door was closed. Alchemy was a very big hit from the start. It fast became a pillar of the scene and innovated many later standard promotional ideas, tactics and themes. While, exceptionally successful and popular, Alchemy, New York City's longest running pure Goth Night, was also was in the NYC musical tradition of past short-lived "pure goth" nights like Darkwave6 w/ DJ David, Tocsin w/ DJ Daniel and some of DJ Patrick's solo nights, like the original version of Salvation (run by James Galus). In addition, it hosted between one and three live gothic, synth & industrial bands (at 11pm) almost every week. My Alchemy Co-promoter, Althea and I traveled to all of the biggest festivals in the UK and to (somewhat later) WGT in Germany yearly, so I was always able to play the very best cutting edge underground songs. No other DJ in the scene had as much specific music, old or new. Very few people guest DJed at Alchemy, but many wished to. Some of Alchemy's memorable events were "the Miss Gothic NYC Pageant" an annual event, "Bash Fat Bob" a Cure Tribute party, "Gothic Lipsynch night", a crazy competition & "Secret Satan" an annual gothic gift exchange. People loved the annual "Gothic Easter Hunt" we hosted too. Every Egg had a drink ticket in it.
I did a night with James Galus called Shadowplay (weekly) where I booked 6 djs to spin on the same day. This number of DJs in one room was unheard of previously. Later, in 98, I started the irregularly running multi-dj ABSOLUTION party. At first I only booked Goth DJs, but since it was so successful, Industrial and New Wave DJs were added to the 2nd smaller room (24 djs total at max). It was held in CBGB's basement, the Limelight, Flamingo East, Seho, Alphabet Lounge (only once, due to a disaster at the Limelight!) & recently @ Youth Palace, UC 87, The Annex & Fontanas. Absolution helped almost all of the current scene (then young) DJs by giving them a nice dance floor & big crowd to spin to, promote to and network with. It was the largest Gothic event in the city outside of The BANK's Saturday night, which was very commercial.
1997 also was when Wasteland (monthly, then weekly) at the famous Coney Island High rock & roll club started. It was the first "Classic Goth" themed night in NYC and was a precursor to the Death Rock revival movement in NYC.
I spun the main floor for one the earliest big NYC Vampyre nights, Flesh and Blood at The Bank, and later (a solo room weekly) at Long Black Veil at Mother through to it's death and rebirth as Xorvia at True nightclub. After Xorvia ended, I DJed and co-promoted a weekly called Electra-City at the same club with Ian FFord and Hal Gould (The BANK). I spun in place of Patrick at Albion/Batcave and later at Albion every month including Albion's last night.
I spun my own floor for DJ Father Jeff's return to the nightlife at the weekly Radio Deutchland (run by DJ Ash) @ the Pyramid and later for his weekly Ward 6 party.
I was the only DJ at the monthly party The Court of Lazarus from it's time at Jeckle and Hyde (2002) through to 2007 at the Slipper room.
I spun in my own room at the mega-clubs, in the Limelight for Communion weekly, and the Tunnel for The Prophesy . Overseas, I was invited to spin at Cafe Noir at the original Batcave space, Gossips, in the UK, but chose to only spin at The Slimelight in "the Goth room". btw, I also spun at the NYC edition of Slimelight. There were a great many other brief club nights I worked at also, but the previously mentioned were all long running or very important to the scene.
I have had near countless special appearance DJ spots too, such as Click and Drag, Exedor, Heroes, Sanctuary, Church and many, many more. I was spinning in clubs 4 or 5 nights (4 to 6 hours each) a week on average and promoting at the rest. For ten years, Ian FFord and I were the only 2 truly "professional" DJs in the industry. We had no time for other work at all. I was the most popular and in demand Pure-Goth New York DJ for over ten years. I am by far the most experienced Goth DJ in NYC.
For personal reasons involving family, I had to leave NYC for a year and a few months. I insured that my nightclub and promoting jobs would go to friends and associates.
Thanks to the love and support given by DJ Xtine, a fellow veteran promoter, I returned to NYC and resumed doing the scene favorite party, ABSOLUTION (for more info: www. absolutionnyc.com) in an effort to breathe some life and class into the surprisingly weakened NYC Gothic Industrial scene. Right now, we are doing the one of the only 3 current weekly NYC scene parties (DefCon and Dark Water are the other 2, both of which I guest spin at) and we are optimistic about NYC's Gothic rebirth!
DJ JASON
MUSIC GENRES: Only GOTH
for Bookings only, contact: jasonledyard@gmail.com
BIO:
-Early DJ and Music Activities in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER FROM OPENING-NOW
1987-1991: DJed and organized on-campus theme parties at BENNINGTON COLLEGE
1992-1993: Managed SECRET SOUNDS, an underground record store in Black Rock, CT
1993-1995: DJed and hosted a weekly Radio Show called NECROPHILIAC RELATIONSHIP at BENNINGTON COLLEGE
-DJ Residencies and Productions
1996-2005: DJed, produced and promoted weekly ALCHEMY MONDAY at CBGBS GALLERY
1996-1997: DJed, produced and promoted monthly FACADE WEDNESDAY at ZBAR
1997: DJed, produced and promoted SHADOWPLAY Friday with SAINT JAMES at ACME UNDERGROUND1997-2001: DJed Thursday LONG BLACK VEIL at MOTHER
1998: WASTELAND at CONEY ISLAND HIGH goes Weekly
1998-2010: DJed, produced and promoted ABSOLUTION, NYCs Original Multi-DJ Goth/Industrial Event- ONGOING, SEE HOMEPAGE
1998: DJed and promoted weekly SABOTAGE Wednesdays with SAINT JAMES at CONEY ISLAND HIGH
1998-2003: DJed, produced and promoted the annual MISS GOTHIC NYC PAGENT
1998-1999: DJed, produced and promoted monthly NIGHTSHIFT Sunday at KOROVA LOUNGE
1999: DJed one floor of WARD 6 at THE PYRAMID
2000-2001: Produced and promoted weekly SANCTUM GOTHIC LOUNGE Fridays at CBGBs Basement
2001: DJed SLIMELIGHT NYC at Planet28
2001: DJed XORVIA weekly Thursdays at TRUE
2001-2007: DJed monthly Saturdays at ALBION and ALBION/BATCAVE, replacing DJ PATRICK
2001: DJed weekly INCARNATION at TRUE
2001: DJed and produced THE RED PARTY at LIMELIGHT by FATHER SEBASTIAN TODD(SABRETOOTH), 1 room
2001: DJed and produced THE BLACK PARTY at LIMELIGHT by FATHER SEBASTIAN TODD(SABRETOOTH), 3 rooms
2001: DJed, produced and promoted weekly ELECTRA CITY Thursdays at TRUE
2001: DJed weekly COMMUNION THURSDAYS at LIMELIGHT
2002: DJed THE COURT OF LAZARUS monthly Sundays at JECKLE AND HYDE
2002: DJed, produced and promoted monthly ABSOLUTION Fridays at FLAMINGO EAST
2002: DJed monthly LONG BLACK VEIL Friday at FLAMINGO EAST
2002: DJed, produced and promoted monthly WASTELAND at PYRAMID
2002-2007:DJed THE COURT OF LAZARUS monthly Sundays at THE SLIPPER ROOM
2002-2003: DJed, produced and promoted GOTHIC NEW YEARS EVE with VOLTAIRE
2003-2005: DJed, produced and promoted SUNDOWN FRIDAYS weekly at FLAMINGO EAST and SEHO
2003: DJed, produced and promoted WASTELAND at OPALINE
2003 and 2004: DJed, produced and promoted GOTHIC NEW YEARS EVE at CBGBs Basement and CBGBs Gallery
2005: DJed, produced and promoted BODY & GHOST annual at RAVEN CAFE
2010: DJed, produced and promoted weekly AELFHEIM @ FONTNAS
2010: DJed, produced and promoted monthly GOTH with DJ IAN FFORD at BOULEVARD TAVERN
2010: DJed, co-produced and co-promoted SATURDAY NIGHT FIXE @ IDENTITY
SPECIAL APPEARANCES:
1996: THE NOW(Egg Crates) with DJ DANIEL and DJ PATRICK
1997: The New York Edge party, private loft at Astor Place
1997: Brit Night at CHARLIE THE SLUT'S SANCTUARY THURSDAYS with DJ VANESSA MIASMA(original Bank Gothic DJ)
1997: GOTH FEST at CONEY ISLAND HIGH
1997: EXEDOR at THE PYRAMID
1998: CLICK N DRAG at MOTHER
1998: THE PROPHESY at TUNNEL
1998: MORS SYPHILITICA at CONEY ISLAND HIGH
1998: FLESH AND BLOOD, THE BANK main floor
1998: EXEDOR at THE PYRAMID
1998: MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE at DOWNTIME
1998: BOUND at DOWNTIME
1998/1999: EXEDOR'S NEW YEARS EVE at PYRAMID
1999: DARK FRENZY at COLLECTIVE UNCONCIOUS
1999: HEROES at MOTHER
1999: THE FAERIE TALE BALL at MOTHER
1999: THE INTERIM at LIMELIGHT
1999: GITANE DEMONE at CBGBs
1999: An Evening At McGurk's Suicide Hall at CBs 313 Gallery
1999: THE NUN'S DECAPITATION BALL at SHINE
1999: Halloween at CBGBs
1999: GENE LOVES JEZEBEL at CBGBs
2000: REVENGE at RUBBER MONKEY
2001: STRAIGHTJACKET at BELLEVUE
2001: THE FOOL'S BALL at MOTHER
2001: NEMESIS at LE NOUVELLE JUSTINE
2001: INDEPENDANCE DAY BASH at ALBION/BATCAVE
2001: VOODOO-A-GO-GO at RAVEN CAFE
2001: SIN CITY at TRUE
2001: SLIMELIGHT in LONDON, UK
2002: ELECTRA CITY at FLAMINGO EAST
2002: WHAT IS FETISH V at CLUB SHELTER
2002: ALBION at THE BANK
2004: NOCTURNE at KARMA
2004: LEGION at DARKLIGHT
2005: ALBION'S WALPURGISNACHT at DOWNTIME
2006: CHURCH at AVALON
2009: WARD6 at LA POISSON ROUGE
2009: UNDERWORLD at SULLIVAN ROOM
2009: CYBERTRON at DON HILLS
2009: BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL at DELANCY LOUNGE
2009/2010: NECROMANTIC New Years Eve @ BOWRY POETRY CLUB
2010: CIRQUE DU ROCK- HYPOTHERMIA @ HIGHLINE BALLROOM
2010: DEFCON @ PYRAMID
2010: DARK WATER @ OTTOS SHRUNKEN HEAD
2010: SANCTUARY REUNION @ LUCKY 13 SALOON
2010: P.O.V. @ KARMA
2010: THE COURT OF LAZARUS @ MADAME X
I am missing some years, but this is a list of most of the Gothic Industrial singers and bands that I have DJed concert support for in NYC.
Please note that this does not include the live music events at Downtime's Albion Batcave or Albion, where monthly I spun the majority of the night in a smaller upper floor room far from the live music stage.
Figurehead
Hollerwell
Own
Voltaire (x23)
Gravedance (x2)
The Changelings (x2)
Bell, Book & Candle (x2)
Nomanclature (twice)
Backworld (x2)
Erotomechanics (x3)
Furniture
Sabot De Venus
Dead Leaves Rising (x5)
Judith (x3)
Sofia Run (x10)
Raw Kinder
Glod
Devil Doll
Digitalis
Caledonia (x4)
Advent Sleep
Dorian James
The Missing
Resist
Bitter Grace (x23)
Inertia
Das Ich (first NYC Performance)
Ash Wednesday (x3)
Black Atmosphere (x2)
Dark Motive
KHZ (x3)
Faith and the Muse
The New Creatures (x3)
Divine Silence
Falling Janus
Holocaust Theory
Thy Spirit Deceived (x2)
Piker Ryan's Folly (x7)
Y Front
Dream into Dust
Masochistic Religion
The Order of the Dying Knights
Sabot
The Cruxshadows (first NYC performance)
Mindless Self Indulgence (x2)
Tapping the Vein (x5)
Mors Syphilitica (first performance) (x2)
One of Us (x2)
Bella Morte (first NYC performance) (x8)
Kristeen Young (x6)
Paris by Night's Jeanine
Unto Ashes (x13)
Reflecting Skin (x2)
Babylonian Tiles (x3)
My Beloved Christ
Narcissus Wept
Murder in the Dark (x5)
Colder thy Kiss (x2)
NegativeHate
Spiritual Bats
Vampire Nation (x3)
Beauty for Ashes (x3)
Godhead
Miss Lonelyhearts
Crackhead (MSI)
Purience
Spy Society 99 (x2)
Plastic Letters
Pizza Whore (featuring En Esch of KMFDM & Trixi of Chrystal Method)
Side 3 (x2)
In Between Blue
Persephone's Veil
The Brickbats (x4)
The Deep Enyde (x4)
The Xecutioners
The Ginger Boys
Margot Day (x2)
Nekromantik Sunshine (x3)
The Changelings
Out of Oz (x2)
Glampire (x3)
Ash Wednesday
Aros
Nova Moturba
Grave New World
Signal to Noise
Sacred Confinement
Otto's Daughter (x8)
The Serpenteens
Dorian James (x2)
In Memoriam
Seraphim Shock
X-Possibles
Daisy's Chain
Sanctum
Mr. Monster & the Serpenteens
The Chickletts!
Inade
Ex-Order
The Mirror Reveals (x2)
P.T. Grimm & the Dead Puppies (x2)
The Skabs (x3)
Dead Voices on Air
Not Breathing
Platform One (x8)
Apocalypse Theatre
I Will I (x2)
Chromavoid
The Mystic Underground (x5)
Datura (x11)
The Penumbra
The Nuns (x4)
Mikaela
Asmodeus Spectre
Rasp (x5)
Cult of the Psychic Fetus (x4)
Count to Infinity
St. Eve (x8)
The Skabs
The Funeral Crashers (x4)
Glitch
Noisegate
Zipperspy
Gutterpoet
All the Pretty Horses (x2)
Gene Loves Jezebel (x2)
Bela
Damien Youth
Drop Dead Gorgeous (x6)
More Machine Than Man (x4)
Violent Fix (x5)
Love Alien
Acts Magdalena (x2)
Rhea's Obsession
Captured by Robots
Spaceboy
Amenpill
Empire Hideous (x3)
Basque
Johnny Indovina of Human Drama(x4)
Lorin Richards
Jenn Vixx
Low Sunday
Curse (x9)
Lapis (of Bitter Grace)
Bow Ever Down (x8)
Coven 13
Kundera (x3)
E-Craft
The Drowning Season (x3)
Lavish Blue
Kalma
Coup D'Etat (x2)
Dust DeDayne (x4)
Stendal
Vehemence Realized
Torsion (x7)
Sunshine Blind (x2)
Mindless Faith
The Thin Crawl (x3)
Job (2)
The Jamesons
Vampire Beach Babes
Infidel (x10)
Amber Spyglass (x2)
Charm School
Sins of Lust
Bitter Fall
+ Complex
Gitane Demone
Vulgarus (x5)
Tulip Sweet
Paul Murphy Band
Galvanized (x3)
Salome's Wish
Folk Fiction (x13)
Rosin Coven
Mantik
Untitled Art
Sabrina (x2)
Carfax Abbey (x5)
Package
Impulse
Thou Shalt Not
Nicki Jane (x4)
Chris Connelly & Meg Lee Chin
Killboxx
Anathema Device (x5)
Hate in the Box
Suture.Seven
Dorothy Does Drugs (x2)
Somna M. Bulist (x3)
Marian Nowottny
Chroma
Ego Likeness (x6)
Shredds
The Dirge Carolers (x2)
The Plastic Fantastics
Daisy Grace
Creme Blush
Compugoth
The Naked and the Dead
Secret Cervix
Split Me Wide Open
The Witching Hour
Sapphic Ode (x2)
Myke Hideous
Eisdrive
Autodrone (x3)
The Dresden Dolls
The Throes (x3)
Ninth House (x8)
The Brides (x2)
Morgan's Canon
The Trinity Project
Torn Paper Dolls (x2)
Ghost Orgy (x4)
Echomatrix
Dreamatorium
Conscious Structure
Turn Pale (x2)
Ebe (x2)
Second Skin (x2)
Shadow Reichenstein
Memphis Morticians
Incus
Godbox
Dirty on Purpose
The Color Guard (x2)
Xero-G (x3)
Dihedral
Vasaria (x4)
Armen Ra (x2)
Audra
Dead Emotion (x3)
Regret
The April Skies
Nerve Meter
desc
Thomas Truax (x2)
In Gowan Ring
Stellarscope
Losing Venus (x4)
Vibralux
Flesh Fetish
A Different State
Elenor Payne (x3)
SiMonsteRn
Halovox
Psychaesthetic
The Raygun Girls (x2)
Broken (x3)
The Vein
Dark Eden (x2)
Get Precious (x2)
Attics Noise
The Evolutionaries
VIRGO
Spielerfrau
Belaqcua
51 Peg (x2)
Violator
The Flying Buttresses (x2)
Polaris (x2)
Cylab
Liz Lysinger
The Animit
Halovox
Twilight Blue
Atomic Box (x2)
I, Synthesist
Revue Noir
Uncle Spooky and the Forgotten Monsters
Encounter Box
Baron Misuraca (x2)
Shattered NYC
Gothos
Pui
