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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