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Let me first briefly introduce myself. My name is John Grisanti or “The GRIZZ” as I am known around the office thanks to Eddie B‘s love for nicknaming. I am the new “Intern” at Resonant Vibes. I could be considered a “jam band” fanatic by most people, as I see an average of 65 live shows a year and have been known to follow around a certain band named Umphrey’s McGee. I am, however, still a noob when it comes to Electronic Dance Music, but Sam and Eddie are trying to change that 
!
The reason I am writing a blog post today is to give the RV community a glimpse into the biggest trend in my scene (jam band) since its creation back in the 60′s. This trend is something I have been watching unfold over the past several years now, and it has all but taken over the jam band culture.
The trend/style has been dubbed “Livetronica”!
Arguably the fastest moving phenomena in the festival/jam circuit, “Livetronica” was by most fans’ accounts started by The Disco Biscuits around 1996. The idea is simple, take live instruments like bass, drums, guitar, and piano, and create electronic dance music. For the longest time bands in the jam scene were focused on having extended periods of two/three chord jams while trading off solos and singing goofy lyrics. Now a large part of the community is shifting to completely instrumental arrangements with no one member playing above any other, but instead the entire band plays almost to a mood or pulse. The trend has become so electronically oriented now that many of these bands, especially Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9), have become just as known for playing live instruments as they are for playing complete DJ/PA shows in which all the members relinquish their instruments for laptops and mixing decks.
Apart from the way the jam community dresses and smells , they seem to want the same thing the dance music community wants – a kick ass party with non stop grooving tunes to keep that body moving. There are some very key similarities to note about both scenes.
1. The songs usually flow into one another with out much or any pauses just like a good electronic mix.
2. The light show is often just as important and intense to the crowd as the music itself.
3. The show/party always starts late and never ends early (after party after party)
This movement should not be taken lightly or viewed as a FAD. Quite the contrary. Just one year ago STS9, one of the premier “livetronica” bands, headlined a two night run at the famous 9,000+ capacity Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado and then played there again this July with DJ Pretty Lights as the opening act! The show was preceded and followed by various raging parties and late night concerts all around Denver! The Disco Biscuits, at the same venue, put together a mini 2 day festival called Bisco Inferno in which Paul Oakenfold played along side “livetronica” bands – Lotus, The New Deal and fellow DJs Z-Trip & RJD2. On top of that, about a month ago, The Disco Biscuits held their 8th annual Camp Bisco in New York. The 3 day festival was the perfect marriage between the jam band and dance music scenes. Just a few of the artist including – STS9, Chromeo, EOTO, Pretty Lights, and Shpongle!
With all of this happening it is hard to deny that dance music is one the biggest trends in music today. It is not just a style that has evolved in its own right, but one that has deeply re-shaped other musical genres. Below is a list of some of the leaders in the “livetronica” movement. It should be noted that many of these artist don’t consider themselves to be Jam Bands but the fact is that this is the community which has embraced them and where they came from.
The Disco Biscuits
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9)
Lotus
The New Deal
EOTO
Future Rock
Pnuma Trio
The Motet ( These guys are shifting into livetronica and Mr. Gracie actually enjoys them 
)
If any of our readers will be in Louisville on October 14th, Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9)”>STS9 is playing the Brown Theatre. I highly recommend you check out this band as they have quickly become one of the most popular and influential bands in the “Livetronica” scene. I for one will be in attendance dancing my ass off 6th row center! It will be a show not to miss. As they say in my community these guys bring the “UNTZ”.
John “The Grizz” Grisanti
Tags: Concerts, Dance Music, DJs, EOTO, Livetronica, Paul Oakenfold, Sound Tribe Sector 9, STS9, The Pnuma Trio
17 Responses to “Livetronica!”
Really interesting post Grizz! …yet another reminder of how expansive the dance music culture is and how far-reaching its effects are.
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This post also makes me feel a little old, as I must confess I’m pretty out of touch with this new movement. Given how big and important the movement seems to be, I wonder if there are interesting, feasible ways for us to get more connected to it?
09/14/2009
well..not front page material..but good! haha just kiddin
One thing really–and you know I would say this–STS9′s foray into the “PA/DJ” style was not taken well by the fans. It was fun the first few times, but then at Electric Daisy Carnival in California, they were billed STS9 and ended up playing a PA style set, which indeed upset the fans who were there. Apparently the crowd at the end was half the size it began as. So needless to say, I think they realized how un-cool it was compared to their Live Full band shows and they have all but done away with that I believe. They are now actually dabbling in the acoustic area…with a rumored acoustic LP in the works for this fall and their first ever acoustic show in Denver before their new years run.
Also, its not that the light show is AS IMPORTANT as the music itself. Although STS9′s infamous lighting director, Saxton, recently parted ways with the band, which caused nothing less than a riot on the fan boards. Lighting is important, and it is an art. However, never does it become AS important or MORE important that the music. Lights can be a very powerful immursive addition to the sensory experience that electronic shows are, but never should they be viewed in the same echelon as the music.
Nice post G.
09/14/2009
Today my son (13) laughed at me because I turned way grey (hair). Eddie, you can relax. Look at me.
09/14/2009
LOL
09/14/2009
Eddie:
Step 1: grow your hair out
Step 2: wear tie
Step 3: DJ
That should do it. You can add a beefy-arm if so inclined.
09/14/2009
Mitch – thanks for the post. I’ve got to respectfully disagree with you though man. Lighting is equally as important as the band (or as the actors) in a live setting. Music is appreciated through the comfort of your headphones, so it’s easy to think that it’s only the music that matters. But it isn’t. If you go and see a band play and it’s not a day time gig outdoors then you need lighting. Without lighting everyone would be in a dark room simply “listening” to the show, when actually most people talk about going to “see” a band play. The fact is, that there are two style of lighting: one simply illuminates the stage and is basic in approach, and the other is an integrated part of the show with well planned lighting design, intelligent fixtures, and whole array of other techniques. Either way, without it you don’t have a live show… it would be a live listen. (I used to be an LD.)
Funnily enough, DJing is about the only music I enjoy with or without lighting. A couple of candles is all the DJ needs to see, and there really is nothing better than a massive PA, dark room and pounding techno!
09/15/2009
i like the article john. but i don’t think you should be advertising for STS9 as an “untz” band. my biggest complaint about tribe is that they have gone too far into the “womp” ganre and lost their organic, and spiritual roots. but i understand that this is not a website for that hippy-shit. anyway i will get off my high horse and tell you a great “livetronica” band to check out: The Histronic. They are a local Minneapolis three person band that really brings the heat. and Chris and i will be seeing them in a few days when we pass through the twin cities. check them out, http://www.myspace.com/thehistronic
09/15/2009
Mitch and Eli Im glad you guys chimed with your opinions. We got a good little debate going on here
Ill start by addressing Mitch. In my following of UM i have naturally met a ton of Tribe fans. As you stated a lot of the fans hate the PA sets and it makes since since most of the fans were planning to see them play instruments and jam out. However even though i have never seen them in either situation, which i now regret heavily (say i told you so all you want, but im trying to redeem myself in 4 weeks!) i still really think they took a cool risk by pushing the envelope to test their fans ability to appreciate all forms of creating music. Now they are doing it again by trying an acoustic show, which i think is even further from their sound. I also believe both You and Eli probably represent the most appreciative fans of STS9, as far as i have met, becuase you except good music for good music no matter how its made 
I was also extremely upset to see Sexton has left the crew as i am about to see Tribe for the first time soon and the pictures i have seen with his lighting designs are insane. Now it really looks like UM has the best lights in the biz with Jeff Waful ahahaha!
I am torn between your and Sams views of lighting. I think music sounds great without having the stimulation of lights, but as Sam so poignantly stated your going to “SEE” a band and when you have shitty lights it makes the whole experience fall flat! That being said i think lights are almost as important as the band. That is why daytime shows suck compared to night shows. However over all i will see a good band no matter what. Some of the best concerts i have seen were 15 people in a tiny room with a band playing on a tiny stage with one house light illuminating the stage. So i guess the point is that a live show can still go on without lights but it does not create the same intense experience! Very contradictory all around i know
Eli, i have also heard through my touring that people feel STS9 has gone too far away from the original organic funk sound. That seems to be more of a minority view though. The fact is that STS9 has said themselves they are not a jam band. They have created a very unique sound for themselves which i feel not only sets them apart from every other jam band but now defines them!
Guys go see some shows for me in Denver. I seriously can not even look at the list of concerts coming your way because its so absurd- Toubabe Krewe, Groundation, Deadmau5, Motet (Halloween), New Deal, Lotus, Ozomatli! Its been hard in the Ville to see my average 1 shows a week, and any show i do see i usually have to travel 1.5hrs to catch
09/16/2009
[...] originally mentioned Lotus to the Resonant Vibes community in my “Livetronica” blog post. They are an incredible band that has been bridging the gap between the rock jam band [...]
09/23/2009
Mr. Grizz, dont let the kids tease ya. Ill be front row of the balcony enjoying the show like a king!!!! itll be my 3rd trib show and you…will…love it. as for their sound. i think its true that they are changing it. but as i have listened to concert after concert spanning back all the way to 2002 to this years set at Rothbury…they are always changing their sound. They are rather adamant that their music is an ever evolving work of art in progress. No song is ever played the same way twice [or rarely] there is always a new wrinkle. I think they have moved more towards an electronic feel [i have my theories why...but thats neither here nor there] as evidenced by the songs that keep popping up on the setlist. I had the good fortune to see their ability to swing from one end of the spectrum to the other though in a matter of days last year. Their show in alabama was more of the “organic” [pianoir, warrior, equinox!]and then they played a very “urban” [Bigs, be nice, tokyo] show here two days after. One thing you can count on though, is they bring their A game every night. they take playing for their fans very seriously and as trite and cliche as it sounds, you can really feel them respond to the energy from the crowd. [side note: they always have a sweet light show...Rolling stone mag ranked them #9 out of 50 top live shows to see]
09/24/2009
[...] was first mentioned to the Resonant Vibes community back in my “Livetronica” blog post. The band is comprised of two members from the highly acclaimed jam band String Cheese [...]
10/08/2009
[...] the hottest band since Phish. I originally mentioned STS9to the Resonant Vibes community back in my Livetronica blog post. This unfortunately was my first time ever seeing the band perform live and I now regret, [...]
10/15/2009
[...] first mentioned The Pnuma Trio to the Resonant Vibes community back in my original Livetronica blog post. The band formed in Memphis Tennessee around 2004 and moved to Boulder Colorado where [...]
10/20/2009
[...] have mentioned EOTO numerous times now to the Resonant Vibes community (including my original Livetronica blog post), but after the concert they played in Lexington Kentucky on Tuesday October 27th, I feel [...]
10/30/2009
[...] be catering to a wide range of dance music styles and artist. . In particular there will be several “Livetronica” acts that Resonant Vibes has covered in the past including: Lotus, The Pnuma Trio (also playing a [...]
11/04/2009
[...] it’s reach far beyond the traditional club circuit outlets. This was apparent through various “Livetronica” bands/artist like: Alex B, The Pnuma Trio, Break Science, Telepath, Lotus, The Malah, and Green Hit [...]
11/18/2009
[...] The New Deal are one of the founding fathers of the “Livetronica” movement and are with out question one of the genres most influential groups. For nearly 10 years [...]
12/02/2009