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Disco Biscuits

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This article is about The Disco Biscuits (band). For other uses, see MDMA.
Disco Biscuits

The Disco Biscuits are a trance fusion jam band from Philadelphia. The band consists of Allen Aucoin (drums), Marc Brownstein (bass), Jon Gutwillig (guitar), and Aron Magner (keyboard). Former drummer Sam Altman left in 2005.

They differ from many jam bands in that they encorporate 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 "Marn 3:16" Brownstein played with other bands, one being Electron. For a few shows the band was dubbed the "Triscuits" due to their lack of skill and 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, 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 joined the organization. A long time fan and friend to the band, Goode was previously lighting designer for 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. In the following fall, Allen Aucoin, former drummer for bands Skydog Gypsy, Juiceman, and 922, was announced as Altman's replacement.

The band has toured nationally and performed at major music festivals such as Jam on the River, Bonnaroo, Gathering of the Vibes, All Good Music Festival, Lollapalooza, Jam Cruise, and Rothbury, among others.

In 2007, the band co-headlined the D.U.M.B. (Disco-Umphrey's McGee-Biscuits) tour with Umphrey's McGee.

The band has been in the studio for the past year changing gears a little, going in a pop direction. 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 bassist Marc 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 two - three EPs before the March 16, 2010 release. Each EP will feature new tracks as well as unreleased material, remixes and video content.

On October 2, 2009 the band announced the release of "On Time," the first EP in the Planet Anthem cycle. The EP was released for sale at their merchandise table on October 9, and was celebrated with an EP release party show at The Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y. on October 11, 2009.

Style

The Disco Biscuits often run long sets together, 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.

Side projects

The members of The Disco Biscuits have kept active with a multitude of side-projects, many of which have come to contribute staple songs to The Disco Biscuit setlist 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), Aron Magner (keyboards), Joe Russo (drums) and DJ Stitch (turntables).

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 Myers (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. Brooklyn Rob had something to do with their album.

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 (w/DJ equipment). 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.

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 Myers (drums).

Love Pickle

Love Pickle is one of Sam Altman's side projects while he continues his studies in medical school. Composed 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

Movies

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