Mixer, producer, and event-promoter
DJ ESP (aka
Woody McBride) did much to bring the sound of acid-house and rave to the upper Midwest in the late '80s and early '90s. Born in North Dakota, he moved to Minneapolis in 1988, discovered a burgeoning house scene, and began spinning at clubs and raves around the area.
McBride quickly acquired a trademark for his Wall of Bass speaker set-up at DJ gigs, and began recording as well with a trio of hard, dark acid EPs from 1993-94 (
Interference, Amplification '94, Bad Acid-No Such Thing) that inaugurated Milwaukee's Drop Bass Network. He also co-produced tracks with
Freddie Fresh (another transplanted Minnesotan) and recorded for Detroiter
Alan Oldham's Generator Records, establishing himself along with fellow hard DJ/producers like
Adam X,
DJ Hyperactive,
Damon Wild, and
Delta 9.
McBride also founded his own label, Communique Records, that released his own tracks plus those by frequent Drop Bass culprits. (An array of Communique sublabels -- Head in the Clouds, Country Western, All Ears, MakeOut Music, Sunsuist, Party Rock, Tape -- kept him busy as well.) Despite his relentless release schedule,
McBride has never attempted a proper full-length.
–
John Bush, Rovi