Disco Biscuits
The Disco Biscuits | |
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The Disco Biscuits performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre 2010 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
Genres | Trance fusion, livetronica, jam band |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Independent Label Group/Diamond Riggs |
Website | http://www.discobiscuits.com |
Members |
Jon Gutwillig Marc Brownstein Allen Aucoin Aron Magner |
Past members | Sam Altman |
The Disco Biscuits are a jam band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consists of Allen Aucoin (drums), Marc Brownstein "Brownie" (bass guitar), Jon Gutwillig "Barber" (guitar), and Aron Magner (keyboards, synths).[1]
The band incorporates elements from a variety of musical genres with a base of electronic and rock. Their style has been described as trance fusion.[2][3][4]
History
The Disco Biscuits formed at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1995. Founding members include Jon Gutwilling, Aron Magner, Marc Brownstein, and original drummer Sam "Sammy" Altman. Sammy left the band in 2005 to practice medicine.[5] Upon Sammy's departure, the band conducted a search for their next drummer, which ended in a two-night, sold out drum-off between various musicians in Atlantic City, NJ[6] at the Borgata's Music Box November, 2005.[7] Allen Aucoin was announced as the newest member of the Disco Biscuits the very next month.[8]
Rock Operas
Both Marc Brownstein and Jon Gutwillig have written rock operas. Gutwillig was first, writing the Hot Air Balloon sometime before its debut on December 31, 1998, at Silk City in Philadelphia. Marc wrote the Chemical Warfare Brigade in early 2000 while on hiatus from the band. It debuted at the Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia August 19, 2000, with his side project Electron.
Diamond Riggs Studios
In 2006 the band found themselves with an abundance of resources and purchased the former Old City Philadelphia studio space of DJ Jazzy Jeff. The space became a place for local musicians to congregate and work, helping make possible the unique collaborations recorded in the Planet Anthem sessions.
Camp Bisco
Camp Bisco | |
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Genre | Electronic music, |
Location(s) | Indian Lookout Country Club in upstate New York, Montage Mountain in Scranton PA |
Years active | 1999-present |
Founded by | The Disco Biscuits |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camp Bisco. |
The first Camp Bisco took place in 1999, the band seeking to combine the creative effects of electronic DJs with improvisational rock. Over 17 years Camp Bisco has grown by leaps and bounds, with its lineup expanding to include acts such as Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Gramatik, STS9 and Lotus.[9] The band celebrated its fifteenth anniversary of the festival July 2017 on Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania.[10]
The Disco Biscuits are involved in a number of charitable efforts including food drives and raising money for Hurricane Irene relief.[11] In 2004, Marc (along with Andy Bernstein, author of The Pharmer's Almanac) founded HeadCount, a national, nonpartisan, non-profit, organization that partners with musicians to promote participation in democracy in the United States by registering voters at concerts. In 2010, the keyboardist Aron Magner was named to the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Young Playwrights theatre arts program.[12]
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)
- Trance Fusion 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)
- On Time EP (2009)
- Widgets EP (2009)
- Planet Anthem (2010) US #157 Heatseekers #5
- Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens (2011)
Band members
- Jon Gutwillig – Guitar, Vocals
- Marc Brownstein - Bass, Vocals
- Aron Magner - Keyboards, Vocals
- Allen Aucoin - Drums (2005–present)
- Sammy Altman - Drums (1995-2005)
Filmography
- Live at the Palladium (2004)
- Camp Bisco IV (2005)
- Jam in the Dam (2006)
- Progressions (2007)
- Bisco Inferno 09/10 (2011)
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Disco Biscuits. |
References
- ↑ "The Disco Biscuits | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
- ↑ Moon, Tom (August 24, 2001). "Playing 'trance fusion' The experimental and progressive Disco Biscuits will lead jam bands of a different sort into Wilmingon [sic]. The 'Bisco Knights' festival will be heavy on loops and techno sounds.". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ↑ "The Disco Biscuits". Best Buy Theater. 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ↑ "Disco Biscuits at 4th and B". Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ↑ "Disco Biscuits Drummer Sam Altman Leaves The Band - Glide Magazine". Glide Magazine. 2004-11-06. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ "Bockman's Carroll Drumming For Biscuits". www.jambands.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ Disco Biscuits (2005-11-18), Disco Biscuits Live at Atlantic City Drum Off , Borgata Casino, Music Box on 2005-11-18, George Ewing (gewing@tapers.org), retrieved 2017-07-28
- ↑ "Disco Biscuits Announce New Drummer". LIVE music blog. 2005-12-15. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ "Camp Bisco 2012 Recap: Disco Biscuits Host Skrillex, Bassnectar at Three-Day Festival". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
- ↑ "Festival Info | Camp Bisco". Camp Bisco. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ Sarafan, Greg (2011) Disco Biscuits Ask Fans For Help", "SensibleReason.com"
- ↑ "The Disco Biscuits’ Aron Magner To Aid Young Playwrights". Relix. Retrieved 2017-07-28.