So, electronic solo-beat-machine Eliot Lipp is coming to Buffalo this week (Nietzsche's, Tue 9/10). The guy, who grew up on rap and electro and jazz, is a mastermind of thoughtful bump beats, loaded with kraut motorik and swirling synth, like Detroit '88-meets-Compton '93-meets-Brooklyn in the zeroes. Any decent hip-hop artist could pick up one of his tracks and rap over it, but they'd almost invariably end up disservicing the material. Lipp's kept himself pretty busy over the last few years, releasing records, starting up a label, and moving and touring endlessly. He's on the road right now with El Ten Eleven, and was a consummate enough gentleman to answer a couple e-mail questions we sent, which are as follows:

buffaBLOG: You've cited a number of hip-hop artists as influences for your music - what other genres or styles are in the back of your head when you mix?

Eliot Lipp: Mostly Jazz, House and Techno. I really like playing club music and getting people dancing. A lot of my own tracks are somewhere between Funk and Electro. I'm trying to make an organic, human sounding version of electronic music.

bB: You've been super busy playing all over the place for years - have there been any highlights from this trip out on the road/things you hadn't experienced before?

EL: There are certain cities that stand out a lot and amaze me every time I visit them. New York was one of those till I moved there. I also love New Orleans, I've had quite a few adventures there.

bB: If you could eat only one food for every meal, every day when you tour, what would it be?

EL: Avocado.

bB: When was the last time you cried?

EL: Probably during a shitty movie.

bB: What is the worst part about touring with El Ten Eleven? You can tell us the truth, we won't judge.

EL: Their guitarist has about 100 stomp boxes up on stage, I gotta try not to trip when I'm going up there to play. But seriously though I really love the music they do and I'm stoked to be on the road with them.

Alright, don't be a bump on a log, be sure to check out the Lipp/El Ten Eleven sound machine at Nietzsche's on the 10th!

I am constantly using Pandora radio in the office while work and sometimes a song comes along that captures my attention enough to find out who it is.  This is has happened several times with the band El Ten Eleven. The band is only composed of two members, bassist Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty, but their sound is much larger. They are known for their skillful looping of guitar and bass over drumming which we have seen done before but they have a real talent at composition.  The duo has produced four full length albums and their fifth is releasing later this year. Their music is very universal in style and can appeal to almost all music fans. According to their show dates you can catch these guys live on Saturday at Camp Bisco. It will be a perfect soundtrack to the conclusion of your trip.