Honky-tonk DJ
The creative transformation of local tattoo artist Tom Kipp

Greetings, dear readers! Chances are you’ve seen this the bold, clean art of this month’s artist on the skin of a friend, heard his soothing voice on the KDUR airwaves or, lately, caught him behind a pair of turntables under the name 2-BitTom Kipp. A renowned tattoo artist and longtime local radio DJ, Tom Kipp has carved out a surprising new lane as a live DJ around Durango spinning honky-tonk, blues, surf, and classic country & western gems. His sets lean more honky-tonk dancehall than EDM dance club, filled with twang and grit, offering a reminder that country music’s roots can be every bit as electric as its modern counterparts. For Kipp, DJing isn’t just an extension of his creative life – it’s a counterbalance to tattooing’s intensity; a chance to alchemize joyful, communal vibes through music. I caught up with him recently to talk about his leap into live DJing, the sound he’s carving out and what he hopes people take away after a night (or morning) at one of his unique sets.

SS: You built a reputation as a highly respected tattoo artist as well as longtime KDUR DJ before turning to live DJ sets in town. How did that creative shift happen?

TK: Being a part of KDUR set the stage; live DJing sprouted from that. Sort of randomly, equipment started becoming available to me. A couple of turntables early on. When I had those, a friend said, “I’ve got an old mixer you can have.” It just seemed like a no-brainer to follow the signs. I had to purchase the rest of the equipment, but it all came together pretty quickly over the course of a few months.

SS: What parallels do you find between tattooing and DJing in terms of art, flow or audience connection.

TK: Not much. That’s why I like to DJ, both on the radio and live. Tattooing can be all-consuming, and I’m glad to have something to be passionate about that has nothing to do with tattooing. As far as audience connection, tattooing is one-on-one, and as rewarding and fulfilling as it can be for both people involved, it can also be painful and uncomfortable. Very intense sometimes. DJing generally evokes much more gleeful feelings.

SS: How would you describe your sound behind the decks as 2-BitTom Kipp?

TK: Twangy. The live sets are made up of all classic material: honky-tonk, blues, country & western, surf, etc. Mostly ’50s and ’60s-era tunes.

SS: Do your visual art influences carry over into your music selections or mixes?

TK: Not really. I for sure appreciate the design aesthetics of those classic albums, but the songs are the key.

SS: Which artists or genres shape your sets the most?

TK: You can always expect to hear the country legends, folks like Johnny, Patsy, Hank. I don’t even need to say their last names. But, I like to dig deeper than that. Ray Price, Connie Smith, Kitty Wells, Webb Pierce. Some folks may recognize those names, but perhaps they wouldn’t recognize their voices. I really like to give everyone equal billing, so to speak. On the non-country music side, I’ll always play Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, The Ventures, Link Wray. On the radio, I play mostly more modern artists. Perhaps as live DJing evolves, I may start incorporating some of them into the sets.

SS: Any rituals before you start a set?

TK: I do practice at home to come up with sets that flow nicely. I think sequence is very important in DJing, both live and on-air. When I play live, I set up my table with my various talismans, just out of superstition, I suppose.

SS: What’s been your most memorable gig so far?

TK: Actually the most memorable one was a slow Sunday morning at Durango Coffee Co. There weren’t many people there, so I was kind of disappointed at first. Because of the small crowd, though, the set turned out to be a lot more intimate. Folks were really vibing well and the response was immediate. The baristas were bobbing their heads, and a couple of patrons came over just to shake my hand and say they were really enjoying it. I thought that was really great.

SS: Where do you want to take your DJ career?

TK: I really enjoy DJing live and am open to seeing how it may evolve, but I don’t have any big expectations. I think there will be events that I will be a good fit for, and I would love to network from there. It’s kind of a quirky thing that I’m doing, and it seems to be a really comfortable vibe. I realize it’s not going to click with everyone, but I think to the folks that it does click with, it’ll click nicely.

SS: If someone only sees you once, what do you hope they walk away feeling?

TK: “I didn’t even think I liked country music, but that was great.”