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.
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THE DISCO BISCUITS TICKETS
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The Disco Biscuits Tickets 7/11 | Jul 11, 2024 Thu, 6:00 PM | | The Disco Biscuits Tickets 7/12 | Jul 12, 2024 Fri, 9:00 PM | | The Disco Biscuits Tickets 7/13 | Jul 13, 2024 Sat, 8:00 PM | | The Disco Biscuits Tickets 7/14 | Jul 14, 2024 Sun, 6:00 PM | | The Disco Biscuits Tickets 7/15 | Jul 15, 2024 Mon, 6:00 PM | |
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History
The original members of this Bisco Crack band met as undergraduate students at the
University of Pennsylvania and left before graduating. Once Brownstein joined the group, they began to play at college 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. On July 12, 2000 at the Crowbar in State College, Pennsylvania, the band announced that Brownstein was back in the band, saying 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 headlined the D.U.M.B.F. (Disco-Umphrey's McGee-Biscuits-Michael Franti) tour with
Umphrey's McGee &
Michael Franti.
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.
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).
Side projects
The members of The Disco Biscuits have kept active with a multitude of side-projects, many of which have become proving grounds for songs that would later filter into 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.
Tractorbeam
Tractorbeam is The Disco Biscuits all instrumental band name for their secret shows. These shows consist of no lyrics and are typically played with more Electronic influences straying away from the Rock element of their music. Sets are usually played seamlessly through to emulate that of a DJ set with more untz. This year at Camp Bisco 8 there was a Tractorbeam Vs. Perfume set on Saturday July 18th, 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 he sat in for Sound One (Honkytonk Style) at Camp Bisco 8.
M80 Dubstation
M80 Dubstation is Jon Gutwillig's dubstep side-project which is just Barber and his MacBook. Aron Magner, Marc Brownstein, Tom Hamiliton, Allen Aucoin and a few others have played with him as well on certain occasions as sit-ins.
DrFameus
DrFameus is Allen Aucoin's side-project consisting of just the acoustic drums, e-drums and his MacBook. He has played many shows since it's inception in 2001, most recently being Orchard Lounge Vs. DrFameus at Camp Bisco 8 in the VIP Tent. DrFameus is also playing the 4th night of Caribbean Holidaze this year from 2AM - ?. As well as playing for The Disco Biscuits DrFameus has played with Conspirator as well as M80 Dubstation on occasion as a sit-in.
The Maui Project
Playing only one show on April 8, 2000, The Maui Project was Brownstein's band formed during his time away from the Biscuits in 2000. It consisted of
Marc Brownstein (bass),
Jamie Shields (keyboards),
DJ Stitch (turntables),
Max Delaney (guitar),
Dave Hoffman (drums) and
Paulie Herron (percussion).
The show, at the historic Wetlands Preserve in New York City, was the debut of a number of Marc's songs that would be later played by the Disco Biscuits —
Triumph
,
Home
,
Home Again
,
Kamaole Sands
,
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
,
No Matter
(later turned into
Sister Judy's Soul Shack
),
Ulua
, and
Grass is Green
. Additionally, the band played a few new cover songs (the Beastie Boys'
Gratitude
and South Park's
M'Kay
) and a couple of Marc's songs that have yet to be played again (
Freedom
and the instrumental
Tension
). As it was Marc's birthday, Aron and Jon both came out to jam throughout the second set.
Sucker Punch
Sucker Punch is yet another side project featuring Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits and Jamie Shields of The New Deal. Debuting at the Endless Mountain Music Festival in Union Dale, Pennsylvania on July 19, 2003, the lineup included
Jamie Shields (keyboards),
Aron Magner (keyboards),
Zach Velmer (drums),
Marc Brownstein (bass),
Mike Greenfield (drums and E-drums).
From this project came the song
Macina Verde
, which has made it onto the
Conspirator
album. Moreover, it is rumored
Caterpillar
evolved from this project.
Jon and the Cookie Dusters
A side project of Jon's, The Cookie Dusters played a handful of shows in 2002, including Galapagos in New York City, The Conduit in Trenton, New Jersey and at Bisco Nights in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. The band lineup included
Jon Gutwillig (guitar),
Joe Russo (drums),
Mike Greenfield (drums),
Ira Tuton (bass) and
Tom McKee (keyboards).
Moshi Moshi/Moshi Moshi Baby
Moshi Moshi consists of Aron Magner on keyboards and Sammy Altman on Powerbook and E-drums. They first played on January 20, 2000 at The Knitting Factory in New York, New York. Moshi Moshi Baby! consists of Magner, Altman, and Liz on vocals (one of the three singers from the Fillmore 2001 shows), and they first played on June 13, 2002 in Santa Cruz, California. The Moshi Moshi sound has been a constantly evolving project. In early 2004, they were playing in a similar "Disco Biscuits" style (similar to the Sam/Aron jams from Fall 2003), but by March 2004 they had developed into a full "drum'n'bass" act, even releasing a limited
LP called the "Queen of the Shakima".
Kitty Splitter
Kitty Splitter is a side project of Aaron Magner of the Biscuits and Tom Hamilton of Brothers past. Playing only one show on November 12, 2003 at the Pontiac Grill in Philadelphia, the band consisted of
Tom Hamilton (guitar and eDrums),
Aron Magner (keyboards and assorted gadgets),
Mike Greenfield (drums and eDrums),
Clay Parnell (bass),
and featured appearances by
Tom McKee (keyboards) and
Rick Lowenberg (drums and eDrums).
The Brain Damaged Eggmen
The Brain Damaged Eggmen are a Beatles/Floyd cover band consisting of members of The Disco Biscuits and Umphrey's McGee. This is a side project that is saved for special occasions,
i.e.
, Jam Cruise or Caribbean Holidaze. The band consisted of
Marc Brownstein (bass),
Aron Magner (keyboards),
Brenden Bayliss (guitar),
Jake Cinninger (guitar), and
Kris Meyers (drums).
Love Pickle
Love Pickle is one of Sam Altman's side projects while he continues his studies in medical school. Comprised of three members of the class of 2009 and Altman, class of 2010, the band first formed in Spring 2007 and has continued to play for rare, special occasions in the Long Island area. The band consisted of
Andrew Aherne (lead vocals and guitar),
Sam Altman (drums),
Andrew Schomer (bass) and
Lachlan McG. Smith (guitar).
Discography
- Encephalous Crime
(self-released, 1996)
- Uncivilized Area
(1998)
- Bisco Lives
(2000)
- They Missed the Perfume
(2001)
- Bisco Lives 2: Freedom Boulevard
(2002)
- Señor Boombox
(2002)
- TranceFusion Radio Broadcast Vol. 1-4
(2003)
- Under the Influence: A Jam Band Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
(2004)
- The Wind at Four to Fly
(2006)
- Rocket 3
(2006)
- Planet Anthem
(2009)
Movies
- Live at the Palladium
(2004)
- Camp Bisco IV
(2005)
- Jam in the Dam
(2006)
- Progressions
(2007)
- Apache
(2009)
See also