The Disco Biscuits are a trance fusion jam band from Philadelphia. The band consists of Jon Gutwillig (guitar), Marc Brownstein (bass), Allen Aucoin (drums), Aron Magner (keyboard). Former drummer Sam Altman left in 2005. Magner replaced original keyboardist Ben Hayflick in 1995. They differ from many jam bands in that they infuse electronic elements into their music. This style is referred to generally as trance fusion or livetronica.
History
The members of The Disco Biscuits met at the University of Pennsylvania and left before graduating. Once Brownstein joined the group, they began to play at college frat parties and bars throughout Pennsylvania. Disco Biscuit set-lists consist of mostly original songs that can be played inverted, unfinished, or "dyslexic". They played their first shows as the Disco Biscuits at Smokey Joe's Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over the 4th of July weekend in 1995.
In 1999, the first Camp Bisco was held in Pennsylvania, which would grow to be their flagship festival, hosting such artists as Snoop Dogg, MSTRKRFT, The Roots, STS9, Thievery Corporation and Umphrey's McGee. In early 2000, Brownstein left the band. During this time Marc Brownstein played with other bands, one being Electron. For a few shows the bands were dubbed the "Triscuits" due to their lack of one member. During this time the band experimented with their sound by switching up the instrument line-up for many songs as well as inviting DJ Mauricio to a few shows including 04/15/2000 where "Crickets" was debuted. For awhile they also hired bassist Jordan Crisman. On July 12, 2000 at the Crowbar in State College, Pennsylvania, a show where new bassist Jordan Crisman wrote the setlist for what turned out to be his last show with the Disco Biscuits. On that night the band announced that Brownstein was back in the band, stating simply that "There is no Disco Biscuits without Marc Brownstein".
After another year on the East Coast, the band then relocated to Santa Cruz, California. Their 2002 album Señor Boombox charted on two Billboard Magazine entries — Top Electronic Albums at #13 and Top Independent Albums at #46.
In 2009 lighting designer Johnny R. Goode III (R. Goode) joined the organization. A long time fan and friend to the band, R Goode was previously Lighting Designer for the Skydog Gypsy (Aucoin's former band).
Marc helped create the HeadCount organization in 2004 when the Biscuits were not touring regularly, and was involved in every facet of the organization. Marc continues to be involved in all key decisions related to HeadCount and serves as a liaison with other HeadCount-affiliated artists.
In 2006 at Camp Bisco IV in Van Etten, New York, at the Skyetop Festival Ground, Altman left the band to attend medical school and in the following fall, Allen Aucoin, former drummer for bands Skydog Gypsy, Juiceman, and 922, was announced as Altmans replacement at drums.
The band has toured nationally as well as played at major music festivals such as Jam on the River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee, Gathering of the Vibes, All Good Music Festival in Masontown, West Virginia, Lollapalooza 2006, Jam Cruise, Rothbury in Rothbury, Michigan, and a New Years Eve show with support by Keller Williams, Questlove and Shpongle at the Tweeter Center in Camden, New Jersey, and the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
In 2007, the band co-headlined the D.U.M.B. (Disco-Umphrey's McGee-Biscuits) tour with Umphrey's McGee.
Drummer Allen Aucoin has also played a few shows in a project with Brock Butler from Perpetual Groove throughout 2008. Allen also has a solo side project known as "Dr. Fameus".
The band has been in the studio for the past year changing gears a little. They have been drawing on influences from high profile hip hop Philly producers like Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry, who recently wrote beats for Ludacris, Fantasia, Chris Brown and Beanie Sigel. "We've been sitting in the throng of the hip hop community," said Brownstein. Their upcoming album is said to be mostly pop and hip hop oriented.
During live performances and interviews the band has released small amounts of information regarding the tour and release of their fifth studio album Planet Anthem. The band plans on releasing several EPs before the January 2010 release. Each EP will feature new tracks as well as unreleased material, remixes and video content. No date for the album has been released yet.
On September 11, 2009 The Disco Biscuits are starting their "Planet Anthem" tour at The Hippodrome in Baltimore, Maryland. This will be followed by an extensive tour covering coast to coast. Their NYE 2009 run has been announced for 5 nights at Nokia Theater for the second year in a row.
On October 2, 2009 the band announced the release of their first EP titled "On Time" would be on sale at shows as well as digitally online a week after the news. The EP was released for sale at their merchandise table on October 8, 2009. The band is choosing to celebrate by hosting an EP release party show at The Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y. on October 11, 2009. Everyone attending will be receiving a free copy of the EP as well as getting two full sets.
Style
The Disco Biscuits often run long sets together like other jam bands, seamlessly playing one song into the next (ie. I-man > Orch Theme > I-Man). The band sometimes play their songs backwards or break them up into separate parts that are played at different times during the set. These are called "inverted" and "dyslexic" versions. Their style is dubbed "Trance Fusion", which is a mixture of Electronica and Rock and Roll with some Classical and Jazz influences. They slip seamlessly between Rock beats, Trance beats, Jungle beats, etc. The band also has two rock operas as part of their catalog — the Hot Air Balloon (written by Jon Gutwillig) and the Chemical Warfare Brigade (written by Marc Brownstein). Band members also refer to their music as a "super jam band," though they go to great lengths to distinguish themselves from traditional jam bands. Guitarist Jon Gutwillig was recently quoted by a music mag called as saying: “The jam bands are kind of like the old school dudes like Phish and Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers – just anyone who isn’t really computer savvy in their musical way.”
Side projects
The members of The Disco Biscuits have kept active with a multitude of side-projects, many of which have become staples in The Disco Biscuit set list rotation.
Electron
Electron is another band put together by Marc Brownstein during his break from the band in 2000. Marc returned to The Biscuits before Electron's first show, so Magner took over as keyboard player (originally, Steve Vidaic from The Motet was slated to be the band's keyboard player). The first Electron show took place at the Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia on August 18, 2000 and featured the first complete performance of Brownstein's rock opera "The Chemical Warfare Brigade".The original band lineup included Marc Brownstein (bass), Tom Hamilton (guitar), Aaron Magner (keyboards), Joe Russo (drums) and DJ Stitch (turntables). Marc closed that show with a rendition of M.E.M.P.H.I.S. that began with him on acoustic guitar. (As Marc took the stage he joked, "Don't worry, I know how to use this thing.") It then progressed as the rest of the members of the Disco Biscuits joined him during a loop of "It's Good To Have You In The Band", followed by the rest of Electron joining them to close the show. This trend continued, as Electron and the Biscuits played interlocking sets again on August 19, 2000 and April 16, 2001. Electron still plays shows and tours occasionally.
Conspirator
Conspirator is a side project consisting of Marc (bass), Aron (keyboards), and DJ Omen (beats and turntables). Guests with the band have included Jon (guitar) and Allen (drums), as well as Jake Cinninger (guitar), Brandon Bayliss (guitar), Joel Cummins (keyboards), and Kris Meyers (drums) of Umphrey's McGee. They have also released an album, The Key , in December 2005. The album includes the tracks Macina Verde , Commercial Amen , Boom Shanker , Orch Theme and Liquid Handcuffs , all of which have been played live by the Disco Biscuits. Over the course of 2009 Conspirator had special guests David Murphy of STS9 on keyboards and Lane Shaw of Pnuma Trio on drums.
Tractorbeam
Tractorbeam is The Disco Biscuits all instrumental band name for their secret shows. It was conceived as a different concert experience...something more akin to a DJ club set than a traditional rock concert. As Tractorbeam, The Disco Biscuits play completely instrumentally and reinvent their songs by removing the vocal sections. This year at Camp Bisco 8 there was a Tractorbeam Vs. Perfume set on Saturday July 18, 2009. Tractorbeam has also played 04/20/2007, 06/26/2007, 08/30/2007, 10/25/2008, and 09/12/2009.
The Perfume
The Perfume is a The Disco Biscuits cover band with the members of The Disco Biscuits. The live shows were secret shows played when Sammy was in the band. Since The Perfume was during Sammy's era with the band it was only fitting for him to sit in for Sound One (Honkytonk Style) at Camp Bisco 8 in 2009. It was Sammy's first time at Camp Bisco since 2005 when he left the band.
M80 Dubstation
M80 Dubstation is Jon Gutwillig's dubstep side-project which is just Barber and his MacBook. Aron Magner, Marc B
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A fan based site with set lists, lyrics, tour dates, tape trading information, as well as other information relating to this Philadelphia-based jamband.
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Disco Biscuits - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Disco Biscuits are a trance fusion jam band from Philadelphia. The band consists of Jon Gutwillig (guitar), Marc Brownstein (bass), Allen Aucoin (drums), Aron Magner (keyboard ...
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Disco Biscuits Tour Dates 11/27/2009 Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA, USA ($) 11/28/2009 Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA, USA ($)