STS9 TO JOIN JAY Z AT PEPSI CENTER DENVER MONDAY MARCH 22
 Jay-Z |
STS9 have announced they’ll be supporting the one and only Jay-Z at Denver, Colorado’s Pepsi Center on Monday March 22 along with Young Jeezy, Trey Songz and more. STS9 warms up the spot with a full band LIVE PA Set at 7 p.m.
Ticket info available at sts9store.com/Store/ChooseTicket.
STS9 Tour Dates :: STS9 News :: STS9 Concert Reviews
Nateva Adds: STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Parliament Funkadelic, Felice Brothers
Max Creek, John Brown’s Body, Ryan Montbleau Band, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, and Greensky Bluegrass
 STS9 |
In addition to previously announced Furthur with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, The Flaming Lips, moe., and The Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band; Nateva has announced that STS9, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Umphrey’s McGee, Max Creek, John Brown’s Body, The Felice Brothers, Ryan Montbleau Band, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and Greensky Bluegrass have committed to the festival for the July 2, 3 & 4 weekend. Plus, as previously announced, Zappa Plays Zappa, Keller Williams, Lotus, and Moonalice will perform as featured artists.
Tickets on sale now! Advanced prices of $199 and $179 are available for just a few more days, until Sunday, March 14 at noon.
The Nateva Music & Camping Festival is a 3-day, multi stage outdoor camping event to be held July 2, 3 & 4 at the beautiful 100 acre Oxford Fairgrounds – 2 hours and 25 minutes from Boston and 45 minutes from Portland, Maine.
1320 RECORDS AND ArtNowSF PRESENT
1320.SF ~ A 1320 RECORDS SHOWCASE ON THURSDAY, APRIL 1ST
FEATURING MEMBERS OF STS9, NALEPA DUB ORCHESTRA, THE FLYING SKULLS
VIRTUAL BOY, SAVAGE HENRY & KNOWA KNOWONE
 The Flying Skulls |
1320 Records & ArtNowSF have announced the first ever 1320 Records showcase, 1320.SF. This inaugural event will take place Thursday, April 1st at Temple in San Francisco and will feature 1320 artists including David Murphy & David Phipps of STS9, Nalepa Dub Orchestra, The Flying Skulls, Virtual Boy, Savage Henry and Knowa Knowone as well as visuals by Kevlar. In addition to seasoned veterans STS9, these local 1320 artists represent the crème de la crème of the up-and-coming electronic music scene.
The intention of the 1320 Showcase is to celebrate music, bring to light local talent, and build an ever-expanding community and musical support system. Look for more 1320 Showcases around the country in 2010.
STS9′s boutique record label, 1320 Records (thirteentwenty) is STS9′s passion for music manifested, and it is quickly becoming the go-to digital label for in-the-know music addicts in search of new listening, and for underground indie artists looking to be heard.
This growing self-sufficient label, which recently released STS9′s 2009 studio effort Ad Explorata, delivers offerings hand picked by the members of STS9 including upcoming releases by John Hughes, Alex B, and Eliot Lipp.
Thursday, April 1st @ 9 p.m.
Temple
540 Howard Street, San Francisco
Ages 21+ Welcome
For more information and to purchase tickets please visit: sts9store.com/Store/ChooseTicket.aspx?sid=10341.
Words by: Jonathan Zwickel | Images by: Dave Vann
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) :: 02.18.10-02.19.10 :: Crystal Ballroom :: Portland, OR
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) :: 02.20.10-02.21.10 :: Showbox :: Seattle, WA
 STS9 :: 02.13 :: Oakland, CA |
There’s a bigger picture to STS9 than a song-by-song concert review allows. It’s an idea I’ve articulated elsewhere: STS9 is a barometer for the health of electronic dance music. When electronic dance music is vital and populist, STS9 swells with creativity. When electronic dance music chases its own tail into esotericism, STS9 strays, too.
Judging by STS9′s recent activity, everyone’s feeling fine.
Ad Explorata, the new album from the 13-year-old Santa Cruz quintet, is their best in years. Unsurprising, because it takes as sonic touchstone the cosmic beat orchestrations of Flying Lotus (an L.A.-based producer and former STS9 opening act with a new record, Cosmogramma, coming on Warp Records in April), Hudson Mohawke (a 24-year-old Scottish wunderkind who released his brilliant post-hip hop debut, Butter on Warp late last year), and Mike Slott (an Irish electro-futurist whose debut micro-album Lucky19 came out this spring on Scottish indie Lucky Me). FlyLo, HudMo, and Slott are the most exciting thing happening in music right now, live or otherwise, true auteurs crafting bass-heavy, deeply psychedelic, frequently beautiful songs from samplers and sequencers. They’re at the apogee of 15 or so years of evolution, from drum ‘n’ bass to trip-hop to glitch to dubstep to now and their still-unnamed music incorporating it all.
STS9 is on tour right now, doing just that: incorporating it all. The band has always tried new ideas and directions, sometimes to its detriment; over the last few years, longtime fans dropped out as STS9 bored deeply into cold, meticulous laptopism or low-key acid-jazz grooves. Now it seems they’re no longer trying new ideas – they’re no longer trying anything; they’re simply doing it, revisiting and refracting and refining trails they previously blazed. It’s a very good fit.
 Hunter Brown – STS9 :: 02.13 :: Oakland, CA |
A week after a reportedly disappointing concert in Oakland, CA, they played two shows at Portland’s Crystal Ballroom, and two more Saturday at the Showbox in Seattle (Friday’s Crystal and Saturday’s Showbox shows were sold out). All four performances saw the band involved and sparring and juggling, the crowd responsive and willing and dancing. Short version review: They ripped. Long version…
Maybe it’s the band’s veteran status, maybe it’s my own longstanding relationship with the music (my first-ever published article was an STS9 album review for JamBase back in 2000) but there was a welcome, middle-aged comfortableness in these shows, in the band’s relaxed onstage demeanor, in its accessibility via pre-show charity meet-n-greets. No thousand-dollar rare, crystal shrines onstage, no fire dancers or flower arrangers – yes, longstanding ally/performance painting innovator J Garcia onstage; yes, dynamic two-hour shows; yes, a band warm, professional and ready to rock.
Of course, comfortableness and professionalism can be a problem, signs of a band settling – into old age, into a job, into predictability. But for a group usually predictable in its unpredictability, it might be a good thing. And judging by the makeup of the crowds – tweens, teens and college-aged fans jammed the all-ages section of the Crystal – STS9 appeals to eager rave-revival kids 20 years their junior as much as pleasure seekers their own age.
Over these four nights, STS9 sounded like a band again, tightly interwoven as usual but daring to foray into solos via guitarist Hunter Brown and keyboardist David Phipps. Old songs were played with fresh tempos and strange changes. New elements have surfaced – Neu!-inflected motorik grooves via drummer Zach Velmer and bassist Dave Murphy; guitar-heavy “post-rock dance band” vibes, as STS9 themselves have put it; wonky, propulsive, post-dubsteppish low-end via their new material. Not that these elements weren’t there before but they were brought into sharper relief.
 STS9 :: 02.13 :: Oakland, CA |
Hard to name single-song highlights (always is with STS9) but Portland’s second night “Circus” was the gorgeous, glorious pinnacle. Seattle’s first night was the most relentlessly hard-rocking; Seattle’s second night-closing “Heavy” the best moment brought up from the new album. Setlists spanned very old and very new material. Each night the crowd was in full-blown dance party mode, even Sunday in Seattle, which was sparsely attended.
The new lighting situation reflects the creative middle ground the band occupies. Over the years, from video projections on a white bed sheet to seizure-inducing swirling strobes to elaborate narrative storyboards, STS9′s lighting design has burned through as many formats as light bulbs. Last year they took a new direction by letting go of longtime lighting tech Saxton and switching to a modular LCD backdrop, customizable to the size of the venue. It’s a far subtler experience – more passive, abstract animation, less in-your-face spots – plus a couple Pink Floyd-worthy lasers (!), at least at the second Portland show. Like the plain black t-shirts the band members wore each night, it’s a more subdued, conventional approach that focuses audience attention on the music (though not without occasional retina-searing surprises).
The gripes about STS9 – too glitchy or too smooth – applied during a few moments throughout the run. At times the transitions between songs were utterly smooth to the point of lulling (during the first night encore in Portland, for instance – never lull during an encore!). STS9 operated by their own mathematics, a build-up-to-payoff ratio of their own devising. As with all good electronic dance music, patience is essential. What sounded like a malfunctioning laptop was the lead-in to a glorious crescendo; what began as low-key interplay ended up as impossibly locked-in group improv. By design, there were no rough edges to the music. It was streamlined, almost unconscious, until it reached a point of ecstatic release, over and over but via a different route each time. This is the way of good electronic dance music.
(Case in point, Four Tet, aka British producer/auteur Kieran Hebden, who slayed a packed Chop Suey in Seattle two days after STS9 was here. Check out “Love Cry,” a nine-minute electro-Afro-jazz masterpiece of slowly shifting repetition from his recent album There Is Love in You, another smooth-edged gem. This is another electronic producer dude I’ve written about in the Seattle Times who shares an aesthetic sensibility with STS9.)
Again, STS9 has always been a band on a mission of evolution. They showed a renewed sense of purpose last weekend, though perhaps not as lofty as past ambitions – “healing through music” and all that. Now they’re trying to entertain while fostering community and growth. They’re older, more practical, more understanding of their powers. This is not to say that those powers have diminished but that their relationship to them has changed. Many of us have changed along with them. Just as many have just now joined the ride.
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) :: 02.18.10 :: Crystal Ballroom :: Portland, OR
Set I: One a Day, Hubble, 118, The Rabble, Crystal Instrument, Music, Us, Metameme, Circus
Set II: Really Wut, Beyond Right Now, Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist, Move My Peeps, Aimlessly
E: 4 Year Puma, Peoples
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) :: 02.19.10 :: Crystal Ballroom :: Portland, OR
Set I: Arigato, Kamuy, Satori, New New 4 U U, Empires, The New Soma, Ramone and Emiglio, EHM
Set II: Peaceblaster, F Word, We’ll Meet in Our Dreams, Be Nice, Atlas
E: And Some Are Angels, Monkey
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) :: 02.20.10 :: Showbox :: Seattle, WA
Set I: Shock Doctrine, Glogli, Tap-in, Hi-Key, Untitled New Acoustic, Tooth,
Evasive Maneuvers, Moonsocket
Set II: Lion, Tokyo, Wika Chikana, Rent, The Unquestionable Supremacy of Nature
E: Lo Swaga, Inspire Strikes Back
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) :: 02.21.10 :: Showbox :: Seattle, WA
Set I: Somesing, Hidden Hand Hidden Fist, Metameme, Mobsters, Surreality,
EB, Oh Little Brain, Grow, Abcees, Beyond Right Now
Set II: Once Told, Crystal Instrument, Instantly, One A Day, Heavy
E: re:stereo, EHM
Check out our exclusive feature/interview about the new album Ad Explorata and the band’s recent evolution here.
Continue reading for more of Dave Vann’s pics of STS9 at The Fox in Oakland…
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JamBase | Tribal
Go See Live Music!
STS9 Tour Dates :: STS9 News :: STS9 Concert Reviews
By: Kayceman
 STS9 by Paul Addotta |
Last December, STS9 quietly delivered their seventh album, Ad Explorata. Other than a website announcement accompanied by a pretty wild press release (which we’ll get to), there was very little hoopla or publicity surrounding it. Most outside the band’s fervent fan base don’t even know it exists. That’s partly because the Northern California quintet never intended to make this album.
“We weren’t really planning on releasing a record this year, aside from the [Peaceblaster] remix record” says guitarist Hunter Brown. But after a summer of hard touring the band did what they always do when they get off the road: they hung out in the studio. “We had like three or four songs that we just felt like recording on our off time, and it just kind of ballooned into this bigger thing, where we just couldn’t sleep or eat and some things happened which really inspired us.”
Much of the inspiration for Ad Explorata was included in an unorthodox press release (which you can read in full here). The story goes that keyboardist David Phipps‘ young daughter was messing around with a shortwave radio when she landed on a women’s voice repeating numbers. Intrigued, the band searched for more voices and found one other, which they actually sampled on the song “Central.” STS9 came to believe the numbers might actually be coded messages used to communicate with spies. From there the band enlisted the help of a “crypto-hacker” and eventually found themselves inside an abandoned bunker at a military base near Big Sur, California, where they discovered passports, documents, a picture of two men standing over a map of the Middle East (which became the cover of the first single “Atlas”), and a couple of patches, including one of a strange symbol which they used in the album art. After more research, the band learned that the piece of cloth was a ‘black ops’ military patch from a secret unit that used satellite transmissions to gather intelligence from other countries during the Cold War. It’s rumored that the team also received signals from life in outer space. This unit’s motto was, “Ad Explorata (Forward into the Unexplored).” And that is how STS9 came to name the album.
 Ad Explorata cover art |
Sounds like a made-for-TV spy movie or maybe an upcoming episode of “Lost.” When I say this to drummer Zach Velmer and Hunter Brown over the phone and ask them if the story is sincere and meant to be taken literally, they sort of downplay the whole thing, but Brown confirms, “Yeah, it did play out that way.”
After reading about bunkers, spies and communicating with aliens, I was armed with explosive questions; but neither Brown nor Velmer took the bait. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but there would be no elaborating on the story laid out in the press release.
“I can’t tell you how many questions we’ve gotten about this” says Brown with a slight hint of annoyance. “And [what's written in the album announcement] is kind of what we want to say at this point about that. It’s something that we’re still kind of reflecting on; it all happened so quickly and was a part of the creation of this record. It’s not something we want to beat to death, or let become the only focus of this record.”
Those familiar with STS9′s early years might recall the band’s association with the Mayan calendar and crystals. You don’t have to look very hard to connect the dots behind Ad Explorata‘s inspiration. But as much as some may want to read about “STS9′s crazy new obsession” and as much as I may have showed up looking to write that story, it’s just not the case. Instead, what I found was a healthy, thriving band that’s not afraid to embrace change. The five members of STS9 (which has never experienced a lineup change) still love what they do and who they are doing it with.
 STS9 by C. Taylor Crothers |
As we discuss some of the New Age tendencies the band has entertained during their career, I ask how they deal with skeptics, of which there are many. “I think skepticism is healthy, crucial and essential,” says Brown. “We’re our own skeptics.”
“For years and years people have wanted to put STS9 in a box,” adds Velmer, “but we’re just STS9. I’ve been doing this since I was 17; I just turned 31 years old.”
The Mayan calendar, cryptic numbers, giant crystals, the healing properties of music, charity work, New Orleans, carbon neutral tour buses, they’re all just points of interest for the band; none of it defines them, it just colors the backdrop. While fans and press might get caught up in the static, the only thing that defines STS9 is the music, and when I speak with Velmer and Brown from their recently rebuilt studio in Santa Cruz, that’s really all they want to talk about.
Continue reading for more on STS9…
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Photo of STS9 Acoustic Set | 12.29.09 from digital.1320records.com
It’s right before New Year’s Eve and the band is busting with excitement as they rehearse for their first acoustic live set ever, (which was very well received by fans and is available for download here). For a band known for their use of electronics, synthesizers and computer generated sounds, going acoustic is a very big deal. “I don’t think we’ve ever really felt like this as a band” says Brown. “There’s just something different. It’s something new.”
But, sometimes something new just looks and feels new when in fact it’s actually quite old.
 Zach Velmer – STS9 by Casey Flanigan |
“I feel like for the first time in a long time we’re not looking ahead so much as we’re looking back and kind of taking some of the elements that we may have started with and left behind,” continues Brown. “That’s partly me playing a lot of acoustic guitar. That’s all I’ve really wanted to do for the last couple years on my off time, and I think that’s just naturally seeping into what we do.”
Pausing to think about all that’s happened in the past couple years, Brown continues, “We’ve scored a movie and a documentary and done all these musical projects kind of away from STS9 that a lot of our fans haven’t heard. With a lot of this acoustic music that we’re playing and a lot of the music we’re doing now, some of the inspiration is coming from that.”
Since arriving on the scene in the late ’90s, STS9 has been many things to many people. Initially an instrumental jam band with winding improvisations, soon the band was thought of as a drum & bass act, then a live electronica outfit, then a laptop band, then soon afterwards a quintet focused on compositions and soundscapes that mix funk, jazz, down-tempo, hip hop and psychedelic rock. The band has been quoted as describing their music as “post-rock dance music” and that might be as close as one will ever get to pinning down their sound.
After close to 15 years of constantly pushing to find new ways of expression, STS9 is finally taking a deep breath. As we enter a new decade, they’re taking stock. Like a painter who’s been collecting colors and learning new techniques, STS9 is slowing down and looking at all the buckets of paint and thinking about new ways of combining them. Perhaps for the first time ever, the band isn’t as concerned with breaking new ground as they are with mastering what they already know.
“We feel like we’re creatively coming full circle while at the same time going back a little bit to where we kind of started with each other when we first became a band,” says Brown, “how we used to play together, how we used to write music.”
“I think it’s going back to playing more guitar, more piano; playing less synthesizers, less of the sampled elements,” adds Velmer. “Not that we’re not gonna continue to do that, it’s just the pendulum is always swinging back and forth and it’s just kind of starting to swing back the other way a little bit.”
 STS9 by C. Taylor Crothers |
This idea of coming full circle has created a renaissance of sorts for the band that’s not only found in their music but perhaps most profoundly in their relationships. Any band that lives on tour buses and in airports as STS9 does is bound to stress their friendships. Such cramped arrangements can crush a band or turn a passion into a job, where one learns to play nice long enough to get through each show and get their paycheck. This is not how STS9 operate.
“We feel blessed to be able to keep doing this, just creating and having fun,” says Velmer. “We’ve been through [hard times] but we’ve always come through better for it on the other end. We’re true friends – we stick through it all – and it comes back in our art. We’re able to get through those times and express some kind of feelings that are often hard to express through instrumental music.”
Where most bands can’t wait to get away from one another after a tour, STS9 still really enjoy just hanging out.
“It’s coming back to the days when we used to go camping all the time together,” reflects Brown, “and we would just have these parties and sessions where it was just for the sake of doing it and just because it felt good. There was no kind of intention behind it.”
Many have tried to write STS9 off and the band has found great joy in proving critics wrong. Embraced by hippies and jam fans as much as they are hip hop heads and the dance crowd, STS9 play the big stages at festivals ranging from Bonnaroo, Rothbury and High Sierra to Coachella and Lollapalooza. With music that shows few boundaries and fans that flock from every genre, it appears there’s no wall STS9 can’t climb.
“We’ve been around since 1997. We’re not the new thing. We will never be the new thing again. We just really enjoy each other’s company. We enjoy each other’s art,” says Velmer with pride. “We go on hikes together. Like Hunter said, it’s coming back together for some amazing reason. It’s very relative to a soul mate or finding your wife. It’s like the five of us found each other and we just get to do this, and it’s fucking fun and we enjoy it.”
STS9 has just begun a massive tour. Complete STS9 tour dates available here.
JamBase | Tribe
Go See Live Music!
SUMMER CAMP MUSIC FESTIVAL SECOND ROUND OF ARTISTS ANNOUNCED
 Summer Camp 2009 by Smith |
Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment and Jam Productions, Ltd. are proud to announce the second round of artist announcements for Summer Camp 2010 Music Festival for May 28, 29 & 30, 2010 at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL.
This will be the 10th Annual Summer Camp Music Festival and will feature over 55 bands on 5 stages over the course of 3 days. Taking place at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL (just 20 miles north of Peoria), the festival also features a kid’s camp, an extensive representation of non-profit organizations, on-site camping, lots of unique arts & craft artisans, a variety of good food and plenty of ice cold beer.
New artist announcements for Summer Camp 2010 Music Festival include:
- STS9
- Pretty Lights
- Steel Pulse
- Victor Wooten
- Railroad Earth
- The Hood Internet
- ALO
- Hot Buttered Rum
- Dumpstaphunk
- My Dear Disco
- That 1 Guy
- Zach Deputy
- The Macpodz
- Papadosio
- Steez
- The Bridge
- Dangermuffin
- Heatbox
- Waterstreet
- Chicago Farmer
Tickets are on sale now by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX or online here. Early bird tickets are sold out, and 3-day tickets are currently $150, including primitive camping. A limited number of tickets will be sold at this price, and once the allotment is sold out, the price may go up without notice. Tickets are also available now for Thursday Pre-Party passes, electric & primitive RV spots. Information on VIP Upgrade tickets will be available soon.
Summer Camp is also proud to announce the Your Facebook, Your Festival contest. Each week through early March the festival will be hosting a poll to see what bands you want to see at this year’s festival. On the final week, each previous week’s winners will go head to head and the biggest vote getter will get a slot at the Summer Camp 2010 Music Festival. For more info, go here.
For more on Summer Camp see our 2009 coverage here.
STS9 Live Acoustic Video
STS9 celebrated NYE with three shows in Denver, CO. The band played the first show at Gates Concert Hall on December 29 in what was billed as “Axe The Cables.” The band dressed to impress and performed their first ever acoustic set. Here’s a video of the band going acoustic:
And here’s another video of the band rehearsing for the acoustic set:
STS9 NYE After Shows at Denver’s Gothic Theatre
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Euphonic Conceptions and 1320 Records are happy to announce the Official After Parties for STS9‘s Denver New Year’s Run. All three nights will be held at the Gothic Theatre in Denver. EC will be working with the organization Bus to Show to make available safe and sober shuttle bus rides from the STS9 shows to the Gothic and back, all night/morning long.
December 29 features Brainfeeder founder Flying Lotus. The bill also features the second ever appearance of Bluetech‘s five-piece live band, with vocals, keys, percussion, and more. Nalepa of 1320 Records starts things off, moving into the Dutch-born Martyn‘s tech-house fueled take on dubstep. The meditative rhythms of 1320 Records artist Emancipator, accompanied by live violin, will be closing the evening out.
December 30 finds the ground-breaking Tipper, who is leaving his retreat in Hawaii, joining late night veterans The Glitch Mob – edIT, Ooah, and Boreta. The night also features wobble phenom Mimosa and Dave Seied firing things up early.
New Year’s Eve features a true legend of hip hop, Madlib, who will be performing a very special DJ set for the first time in the state of Colorado. Madlib has been described as being in a “perpetual haze of psychedelia,” which could fit the atmosphere at the Gothic over the weekend perfectly. Opening up will be Ras G of Brainfeeder, while after Madlib’s invasion will be the Philly-based dubstep all star Starkey and the west coast hero of wobble-breaks Heyoka.
Colorado favorites Future:Simple:Project will also be performing on NYE, featuring a live violinist, MC, and aerial dancers; and the Sub.Mission crew of Rumblejunkie, ServOne, Dayquill, Zeno, and Subliminal will bring the raw dubstep throughout the course of the early evening.
DECEMBER 29
 Madlib |
FLYING LOTUS (Brainfeeder)
BLUETECH (Live Band)
Emancipator (1320)
Martyn (Brainfeeder)
DECEMBER 30
THE GLITCH MOB (edIT, Ooah, Boreta)
TIPPER
Mimosa
Dave Seied
DECEMBER 31
MADLIB (DJ Set, Stones Throw)
STARKEY (Seclusiasis)
Heyoka (Sunrise Set)
Ras G (Brainfeeder)
Future:Simple (Family Moons)
Sub.Mission
3-night passes available now on STS9.com for only $85.
STS9 2010 Tour Dates
STS9 is pleased to announce a slew of 2010 dates as they take on the next decade of this millennium with full force! The entire list of confirmed dates is below. All shows will be going on sale this Saturday exclusively at the STS9STORE.
STS9 and 1320 RECORDS have also announced the release of the third and final single “Oil & Water” from the upcoming full length release AD EXPLORATA. The track is available for free streaming via STS9.com, and for purchase via iTunes and 1320 RECORDS right now. The official release of AD EXPLORATA is set for Tuesday December 8.
STS9 Tour Dates
| STS9 |
12/29/09 Tue Gates Concert Hall Denver, CO
12/30/09 Wed Wells Fargo Theatre Denver, CO
12/31/09 Thu Wells Fargo Theatre Denver, CO
01/02/10 Sat Revolution Live Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/03/10 Sun Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/04/10 Mon Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/05/10 Tue Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/06/10 Wed Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/07/10 Thu Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/08/10 Fri Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
02/11/10 Thu House of Blues San Diego, CA
02/12/10 Fri The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA
02/13/10 Sat Fox Theater Oakland, CA
02/14/10 Sun Grand Sierra Theatre (Reno Hilton) Reno, NV
02/18/10 Thu The Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
02/19/10 Fri The Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
02/20/10 Sat Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA
02/21/10 Sun Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA
02/22/10 Mon The Wilma Theatre Missoula, MT
02/25/10 Thu The Depot Salt Lake City, UT
02/26/10 Fri House of Blues Las Vegas, NV
02/27/10 Sat Marquee Theatre Tempe, AZ
02/28/10 Sun Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ
03/03/10 Wed George’s Majestic Fayetteville, AR
03/04/10 Thu Lyric Theatre Oxford, MS
03/05/10 Fri Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa, OK
03/06/10 Sat House Of Blues Dallas, TX
03/07/10 Sun House of Blues New Orleans, LA
03/10/10 Wed The Music Farm Charleston, SC
03/11/10 Thu Amos’ Southend Charlotte, NC
03/12/10 Fri The NorVa Norfolk, VA
03/13/10 Sat 9:30 Club Washington, DC
03/14/10 Sun 9:30 Club Washington, DC
03/17/10 Wed Mr. Small’s Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
03/18/10 Thu Madison Theater Covington, KY
03/19/10 Fri The Pageant St. Louis, MO
03/20/10 Sat The Pageant St. Louis, MO
Images by: Brad Hodge
STS9 & Maserati :: 10.31.09 :: War Memorial Auditorium :: Nashville, TN
STS9 I: Frequencies 2 > Frequencies 3, Trinocular > Vibyl, Squares & Cubes, The Unquestionable Supremacy of Nature, Inspire Strikes Back, Heavy, Shock Doctrine, Abcee’s, Mischief of a Sleepwalker, One A Day, Hidden Hand Hidden Fist, Arigato
Encore: EHM, Rent, Atlas
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STS9 tour dates available here.
JamBase | Nashville
Go See Live Music!
Pigs on the Wing: A Pink Floyd Tribute
Featuring & Conceived By: David Murphy (STS9) & Matt Weiss (Collective Efforts)
Pigs on the Wing is a Pink Floyd tribute that was created by childhood friends David Murphy (STS9) and Matt Weiss (Collective Efforts). A project that started earlier in the year with shows in Atlanta and Athens is something the two have been working on making happen for years and finally were able to put together this all star eight-piece band featuring Coley Dennis (Maserati), Mike Albanese (Cinemechanica), Timi Connely (Kite to the Moon), Stanley Walker (Velveteen Pink), Alfredo Lapuz (Immuzikation) and Count Kellam.
The show consists of two sets, one being the album Animals from start to finish, and the other, mainly all B-side and Floyd anthems including “One of these Days,” “Shine on you Crazy Diamonds” and “Comfortably Numb.” Please check this video for a sense of what to expect:
Pigs on the Wing is performing three shows in the first week of November, details below.
Pigs on the Wing Tour Dates
11/05/09 Thu Fox Theatre Boulder, CO
11/06/09 Fri Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver, CO
11/07/09 Sat Belly Up Aspen, CO
STS9 To Release Ad Explorata This Fall / Tour Starts October 2
 STS9 |
STS9 and 1320 RECORDS have announced the pending release of STS9′s new studio album AD EXPLORATA later this fall. Keep an eye out for details in the coming weeks.
STS9 kicks of their autumn trek across America with a post festival performance at Stubb’s BBQ in Austin TX as part of the Austin City Limits Festival Friday October 2 in addition to STS9′s festival performance on Saturday October 3. The tour then heads to the Midwest with stops in Lawrence, Omaha, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Louisville, Columbus and Grand Rapids, before continuing to the Northeast for gigs in Buffalo, Albany, Bridgeport, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, and then ends in the South in Knoxville, Asheville and Birmingham leading up to Halloween at the War Memorial in Nashville.
Complete STS9 tour dates available here.
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STS9 is pleased to announce they will be celebrating New Years Eve 2009-2010 at Denver, Colorado’s Wells Fargo Theatre on December 30 and 31. Located in the heart of downtown Denver and part of the city’s incredible convention center, Wells Fargo Theatre is a state of the art masterpiece that boasts over 5,000 seats without one of them being farther than 150 feet from the stage. Its stage will be the biggest STS9 has ever had the pleasure of performing on and is located smack in the middle of one of America’s greatest cities with tons of hotels, restaurants, clubs and cultural attractions just footsteps away.
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE VENUE RIGHT HERE.
In addition to the two nights at the Wells Fargo Theatre, folks should plan on an intimate and unique event on December 29 to kick off this year’s New Years celebration.
Also, for those looking for an extended holiday trip, the best skiing, snowboarding and mountain playgrounds in the U.S. are just a short drive away to spend a few extra days enjoying the outdoors while you are there for STS9.
Keep an eye out for more specific information, including ticketing and travel packages, next week.
NOTE: Wells Fargo Theatre will be general admission with a large GA PIT.
STS9 perform this weekend in Chicago as part of Lollapalooza. Complete STS9 tour dates available here.
Words by: Justin Gillett | Images by: Michael J. Mullady
STS9 – Day Out of Time :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO
 Day Out of Time :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
For multiple cultures around the world, time has been a thing not measured by clocks or the passing of days but by the seasons and changes in nature that dictate how all living-things interact. For several of these non-Western world civilizations, both past and present, the 13-moon calendar is used to help determine the specific stage of a season. This measurement of time sets the year into 13 months of 28 days and 52 weeks of seven days, thus creating a 364-day year. The 365th day, considered “The Day Out of Time,” is not a day of the week, month or year but a day that’s outside the understanding of the time spectrum. This unique day, which coincides with the astrological rising of stars and planets, is observed by many as an opportunity to celebrate life, art and culture. The Day Out of Time falls on July 25 and is the last day of the year for the 13-moon calendar. The day is a new year’s event of sorts and is celebrated by over 90 countries around the world.
It’s no wonder Sound Tribe Sector 9 decided to play their annual Red Rocks show on this illustrious day. To capitalize on the celebration, STS9 invited some musical friends to play this special event at the fabled amphitheater on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. The combination of natural energy, emitted from the monolithic red rock pillars, combined with music and astrological timing was something to truly appreciate. People turned out in flocks to witness this spectacle and be a part of something that was bigger than an ordinary concert experience. The weather of the day was formidable, with on and off rain bursts. As concertgoers started showing up at Red Rocks, congregating in the lower parking lots to get their pre-show party on, the communal excitement of the day’s festivities could be felt throughout the crowd. Occasionally the heady residents of the lot would burst into rowdy applause and cheers in anticipation of the music that was about to come. The lot scene was full of debauchery, as usual, with seedy characters sporting guilty looking grins as they roamed through the parked cars. Even though the music started at 4:15 p.m. many choose to spend as much time in the lot as possible, soaking up the unique vibe that’s so characteristic of the Red Rocks lot. But for serious music lovers, the lot was abandoned in favor of the dual stage music venue inside.
 Day Out of Time :: 07.25 :: Red Rocks |
Performing on the main stage during the soft light of late afternoon, The Album Leaf was able to capitalize off the fading sun and play a set that worked perfectly with the crowd. Their soft, ethereal rock worked as a nice introduction to the intensity of some of the bands/producers/DJs to come. Coming from the shores of San Diego, the five-piece post-rock outfit has been around since 1998 playing a signature brand of ambient rock that’s soothing yet somehow hard hitting. The musicianship of many of the band members was quite impressive. Sometimes drummer Timothy Reece would ditch his trap kit in favor of a keyboard. This switch in instruments added a more distinct, low profile sound that lacked a persistent driving force. This switch-up let the band concentrate on subtle musical arrangements and delicate solos. It’s interesting that The Album Leaf does not have more notoriety within their respective sub-genre. They’re a band that plays like they’re at the top of their game yet they have no real prominence or a strong following. Even though the band didn’t do a lot of singing, when they did it seemed to take away from the overall construction of their songs. If they stuck to their instruments and concentrated solely on the musical constructions the band might command more respect with potential new followers.
 Daedelus :: Day Out of Time :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks |
At the top of Red Rocks, a smaller second stage was set up to accommodate musicians (mainly producers) that might not need as much room as the main stage bands. Playing to a clearly enthused crowd, the great showman/musician Daedelus, dressed in some Victorian-era coach-driver’s-suit, worked a Monome with impressive skill. As one of the leading innovators of this unique futuristic instrument, Daedelus has mastered the flashing board. His theatrical hand movements, as he ran his fingers across the switchboard, along with his unique 19th century costume, made Daedelus look like an eccentric composer reminiscent of Beethoven or Mozart. However, Daedelus’ musical prowess does not lie in the rich orchestration of chamber instruments, but rather in the layering of electronic beats and noises emitted from his Monome. For his set at Red Rocks, Daedelus choose to play an all-out electro jam. There were no distinct build-ups or climaxes, just an unrelenting progression that seemed to be as pleasurable for the crowd as it was for the artist himself.
 The Pnuma Trio :: Day Out of Time :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks |
One of the more interesting and forward/futuristic sounding bands to emerge from the jamtronica scene, The Pnuma Trio showed the Red Rocks crowd that they truly are some preeminent up and comers. Comprised of Alex Botwin on bass guitar, Ben Hazelgrove on keyboards and Lane Shaw on drums, Pnuma definitely has the talent that’s necessary to establish a band in the diverse musical community that they typically plays in. While Botwin’s bass lines worked the groove, Shaw played his drums neck-deep in the pocket of songs on his simple four-piece jazz kit. To lend his part to the songs, Hazelgrove would add leading musical tones on his keyboard station. Even though the band lacks a guitar player, the strong musicianship of all members, especially Hazelgrove, make up for the lack of a guitar slinger. With the release of their most recent album, Character (JamBase review here), the Tennessee-based band has made a strong impression on electronica listeners. The time since Character‘s release has definitely given Pnuma the chance to master many songs off the album. The seamless transitions and communal musical direction that the trio displayed with their set at Red Rocks was ample evidence of a band that’s obviously growing into its own unique sound.
As the sun started to seriously fade, Flying Lotus took command of the smaller stage. Visually giddy with his wide-mouthed grin, Flying Lotus, aka Steven Ellison, busted out some serious, bass-intensive songs that kept the crowd dancing throughout the duration of his set. His sample heavy brand of electronic music was retro sounding yet clearly modern. The California producer made waves with his unique staple of multi-genre music, and the wide variety of styles he crossed while performing was impressive. And though some of his sounds seemed to conflict, it all fit in the confines of the music. The heavy bass that permeated his set overpowered a lot of subtle sounds that Ellison set up, but the bottom end definitely worked to an advantage for the producer overall, forcing everyone in close proximity to dance and move to the bass thuds.
 Pretty Lights :: Day Out of Time :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks |
For Derek Vincent Smith, the mastermind behind Pretty Lights, playing the main stage at Red Rocks must have been a sort of homecoming. Smith, who hales from Fort Collins, CO, has emerged this past year as one of the most talented producers willing to take risks on stage. Playing with live drummer Cory Eberhard, the duo displays unabashed talent when performing live, and their set at Red Rocks saw Smith and Eberhard rocking at the pinnacle of their game. Almost simultaneously as Pretty Lights took the stage, intense rain started to fall from the sky. The rain was not a light drizzle, and the large drops persisted throughout the duration of the set. But that didn’t deter the crowd from dancing in the open spigot of falling rain. The water definitely seemed to rile up the crowd. The audience was clearly relishing the bombastic blast of Pretty Lights’ brand of sample and drum heavy music. For Smith and Eberhard, this past year has been nothing short of amazing. Emerging onto the electro circuit, seemingly out of nowhere, Pretty Lights has been touring the country consistently, hitting up summer festivals and smaller clubs. Pretty Lights, for many, seems to represent the future of electronic music. All of the band’s albums are available for free on the group’s website, which eliminates the need for any sort of tie to a major record label. By doing this, Smith and Eberhard basically have the freedom to do almost anything they want to. By cutting out any sort of revenue intake from albums, though, Pretty Lights has been forced to hone its live show and tour as frequently as possible – a trend the industry is undoubtedly progressing toward. For a year as intense as Pretty Lights has had, the group’s show at Red Rocks was definitely a capstone performance. They played with such conviction and nuance that all in attendance could only marvel at the tonal constructions and dance uncontrollably to the lush music.
Sound Tribe Sector 9
 STS9 :: Day Out of Time :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks |
Almost as fast as the torrential downpour stared, it ceased as the members of STS9 took the stage. The band hasn’t had much of a summer tour; they’ve managed to play a few festivals and that’s about it. But, the lack of touring seems to work well for the Tribe. At Red Rocks the band cherished the hell out of the songs they played. STS9′s signature electronica sound has led the group to new musical boundaries that are consistently crossed whenever the band performs. The group has long been identified with the “jam scene” but their sound is anything but jammy. STS9 is a group that’s been together long enough to know the intricacies of their songs inside and out and still adds fresh layers to tunes that might seem tired.
The chemistry between the members of STS9 is astonishing, especially between bassist David Murphy and drummer Zach Velmer. Their on stage musical dialogue at Red Rocks proved without a doubt that their collaboration is consistently some of the most impressive within the confines of any band. With STS9 occasionally playing PA Sets (constructing songs with laptops) it’s refreshing to see the members actually playing instruments, especially keyboardist David Phipps. The mastery and ingenuity Phipps displayed while behind his work station at Red Rocks once again highlighted a musician that is not hesitant to experiment with new things and further progress the band’s musical diversity.
 STS9 :: Day Out of Time :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks |
To further enhance the crescendos and peaks of the concert, an impressive light show, a staple of the band’s live performances, was set up to add to the group’s overall appeal and heighten the experience. The sweeping, flashing, rotating illumination was well managed and mesmerizing. However, STS9 can’t simply be written off as an electro band with an amazing light show. They’re a group of musicians playing at the top of their game. The seemingly endless build-ups of many of STS9′s songs might turn some listeners off but are constructed in such a way that showcases everyone’s musical talents. While some listeners might point to the apparent lack of pervasive guitar, what Hunter Brown displayed at this show revealed a more talented player than some people give him credit for. STS9′s performance saw each musician displaying a respect for each other that’s impressive for a group that’s been around for as long as this band. Not nearly enough can be said about the role percussionist Jeffree Lerner plays in the group’s musical mix. The deep pocket that Lerner plays in might not be flashy or showy but without his seemingly undercover role the band’s sound would likely run astray and become frail.
As the music continued and the night wore on, it was clear that the band was starting to conclude their set. There was not to be a third set (as many in the lot claimed there would be) – two was enough. As STS9 closed it was clear the band was proud of their performance and what they were able to accomplish with the entire Day Out of Time celebration.
STS9 :: 07.25.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO
Set 1: Tap-In, Beyond Right Now, Empires, The New Soma, F. Word, Dem Be, Arigato, Heavy
Set 2: Twilight (sample), Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist, Rent, What Is Love?, Be Nice, Jebez, The Unquestionable Supremacy of Nature, Atlas, From Now On
Encore: Roygbiv, EHM
Continue reading for more pics of Day Out Of Time at Red Rocks…
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JamBase | Outside
Go See Live Music!
STS9 Autumn Tour Dates
STS9 have announced a grip of dates this fall as the band leaps out of the ACL Festival to hit up a good chunk of the eastern half of the country for a few weeks. Tickets go on-sale EXCLUSIVELY thru STS9STORE this coming Wednesday July 29 at 9 a.m. PST/Noon EST. Big Gigantic, Telepath and Eskmo will be joining a week of dates each.
STS9 Tour Dates
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STS9 |
08/07/09 Fri Grant Park Chicago, IL
08/08/09 Sat House of Blues Chicago, IL
08/21/09 Fri The Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
08/22/09 Sat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park Alpharetta, GA
09/04/09 Fri Bottom Line Japan Nagoya, Aichi, JP
09/05/09 Sat Metamorphose Festival Shizuoka, JP
09/06/09 Sun Poka Stadium Kashiwa City, JP
09/25/09 Fri Earthdance (Black Oak Ranch) Laytonville, CA
09/26/09 Sat Earthdance (Black Oak Ranch) Laytonville, CA
10/03/09 Sat Zilker Park Austin, TX
10/06/09 Tue Liberty Hall Lawrence, KS
10/07/09 Wed Sokol Auditorium / Underground Omaha, NE
10/08/09 Thu First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/09/09 Fri The Rave/Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
10/10/09 Sat Murat Egyptian Room Indianapolis, IN
10/14/09 Wed Brown Theatre Louisville, KY
10/15/09 Thu Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH
10/16/09 Fri Orbit Room Grand Rapids, MI
10/17/09 Sat The Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY
10/18/09 Sun Revolution Hall Troy, NY
10/21/09 Wed Klein Memorial Auditorium Bridgeport, CT
10/22/09 Thu House of Blues Boston, MA
10/23/09 Fri Terminal 5 New York, NY
10/24/09 Sat Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
10/25/09 Sun Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD
01/02/10 Sat Revolution Live Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/03/10 Sun Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/04/10 Mon Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/05/10 Tue Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/06/10 Wed Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/07/10 Thu Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/08/10 Fri Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
For more on STS9 check our recent feature/interview with Phipps here.
Official STS9 Late Night Events in Colorado
 Amon Tobin |
Surrounding Sound Tribe Sector 9‘s massive Day out of Time celebration in Colorado, Euphonic Conceptions will be presenting another round of blockbuster after parties on July 24 & 25 at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, CO. These shows feature a diverse array of some of the best and freshest in electronic music, with each performance continuing until 5 a.m.
On July 24, after STS9 and Lippservice play The Fillmore Auditorium, the party moves to the Gothic Theatre. Headlining the event is the widely acclaimed Amon Tobin, making his long anticipated return to Colorado. Joining him will be the San Francisco-based Eskmo, who recently remixed STS9′s track “Shock Doctrine.” This show also features the Colorado debut of up-and-coming Emancipator, and the wizardry of legendary producer Richard Devine.
Then, immediately following STS9′s massive July 25 Day Out of Time festivities at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a special event comes to the Gothic that has only been witnessed previously in London, Barcelona, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Brainfeeder, a new digital label launched early this year by the world-renowned Flying Lotus, features a revolving group of artists hand-picked by the brilliant producer. “Brainfeeder Colorado” will include sets from Brainfeeder mainstays FlyamSam (Flying Lotus and SamiYam), Ras G, Lorn and Teebs. There will also be the very special debut of a unique tag-team set with Alex Botwin of Pnuma Trio and Derek Vincent Smith, the mastermind behind the exploding phenomenon that is Pretty Lights.
Advance Tickets are available now at STS9.com.
Shuttle buses from the Fillmore to the Gothic will be available. Bus to Show Packages from Boulder, Fort Collins – Call 720.204.0408 to reserve.
Euphonic Conceptions and 1320 Records Present
Re:Creation the Official STS9 After Parties:
July 24 |Gothic Theater | Englewood, CO
Amon Tobin with Eskmo, Emancipator and Richard Devine
Music until 5 AM
limited $17 advance tickets available | $22 D.O.S.
July 25 | Gothic Theater | Englewood, CO
Alex B vs Derek Vincent Smith (Brainfeeder Colorado)
with Flyamsam (Flying Lotus and Samiyam), Ras G, Lorn and Teebs
Music until 5 AM
limited $17 advance tickets available | $22 D.O.S.
Daedelus 
Daedelus 
The Pnuma Trio 
Alex Botwin – The Pnuma Trio 
Flying Lotus 
Flying Lotus 
Flying Lotus 
Pretty Lights 
Pretty Lights 
Pretty Lights 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9 
STS9