This Crazy Trip
Written by Mr. Kowalsky
November 2010

I started my relationship with music by going to local punk shows in San Jose, Costa Rica back in the middle of the nineties.  I didn't know that I wanted to form a band at that time but I really enjoyed going to concerts. In November of 1995 I formed my first band with a group of my high school classmates.

My first band was called "Pollo Frito" (Fried Chicken).  We played in high schools, friends backyards, underground festivals and a few gigs at some venues in San José. I played with this band for almost 3 years and it was an adolescent punk band that sounded really bad.

Then in 1998, Pollo Frito changed its name to 13 Millas de Libertad (13ml). Many of Pollo Frito’s songs such as "Mejenga", "Problemas" and "Un amigo nuevo" were recorded in 13ML’s first CD which has a strong ska/punk style that defined the group during the course of its existence. This first album was recorded in Panamá in 1999 and launched in 2000. The public’s positive response and subsequent criticisms made the group feel welcome. That same year, we produced the music video of the single "Galán Skunk" and started to promote the CD in Panama and Mexico.

In 2001, we signed a contract with the Indie label DDM and recorded a second disc in Panama called "RUMBA AL PACÍFICO" which was distributed in Central America and in Mexico. We began to have concerts on Costa Rican beaches, surf and skate competitions and festivals such as the ROCK FEST. We also shared the stage with Ataque 77 and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs from Argentina.

In 2003, I left 13ML, making ROCK FEST my last concert with the band. I wanted a change and eventually to start my solo project after having played for several years with 13ML.

2003 was a slow year for me. After leaving the band I didn't play any gigs or compose any songs. I had an idea to produce a radio show called “The Dr. Kowalsky Show” that unfortunately didn’t get any air time.

Musica Levantaste al Muerto (Music- you raised the dead) was my first solo single. At the time the ideas of starting another band or recording an album were far fetched. Nobody had heard any of my new compositions until a BBQ with some friends during a trip to Argentina. Someone brought a badly-tuned guitar and asked me to play for them. I played “Musica Levantaste al Muerto” which we proceeded to sing all night. That's how my first solo performance happened by accident.

At the beginning of 2004 I started to rehearse with a band playing my solo stuff, and it was during October of that same year that I went to Los Angeles, CA. There I met up with Evan Rodaniche, friend and producer, who I had worked with in Panamá on the two discs for 13ML, and recorded demos of three songs: Música Levantaste al Muerto, Live Free or die y Soy Un Cabrón.

I spent the next few months composing, almost always in front of the beach, and in November of 2005 I went back to Los Angeles, CA and recorded my debut album “LIVE FREE OR DIE” which would be launched in Costa Rica a few weeks later.

After several gigs in Costa Rica and Panamá playing the new album, I flew to Europe in 2007 to promote my music and tour in Germany and France which I called The Cabrón Eurotour.

In 2008 I moved to Boston, MA to improve my music career. Starting from zero was not easy, however Boston was a great city to look for musicians to play my music. In the few years I've lived in this city I've recorded three singles and I've had some good gigs in venues such as the Middle East Downstairs and Tommy Doyle's among others. Now I'm in the process of recording a new album and spreading my music to other cities in The United States, Canada and Europe.