Sound Tribe Sector 9

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Sound Tribe Sector 9

STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) is an instrumental dance music band who are known for their live performances. The band’s genre-blending sound is based heavily on Electronic Music and Instrumental Rock Music crossed with elements of Funk, Jazz, Psychedelic, and Hip Hop. The band mixes standard live rock instrumentation with electronics from Apple Computer powerbooks, favoring group rhythm over individual solos.[1]

Members

STS9 is: Hunter Brown (guitar/laptop/midi keyboard), Jeffree Lerner (percussion/laptop/handsonic) David Murphy (bass/laptop/midi keyboard), David Phipps (keyboards/laptop), and Zack Velmer (drums).

For their live performance, STS9 is joined by other members of the Sound Tribe family. The lights are directed and controlled live by Saxton, whose light show further enhances the mood of the band’s music. In addition, live painters such as J. Garcia and Kris Davidson create an interpretive art piece to catch the essence of the performance. Floral design art by Anthony Ward is often seen adorning the stage, along with a selection of large, beautiful crystals.

History

STS9 was formed in Snellville, Georgia in the late 90’s, but relocated to Northern California in late 2000. For a short period of time, the band was a 4 piece until Lerner joined in early 1999.

STS9 is an independent artist who has released four albums on their own label 1320 Records. In early 2005, the band released Artifact.[2] In Fall 2006, the band released their first DVD on their label, a concert performance recorded live at the Tabernacle in Atlanta. STS9 also maintain their own independent digital download web site where they have released hundreds of live soundboard recordings, as well as the band's studio releases.[3]

The band's name has also evolved over time. The band's first two albums were released under the name Sector 9. Their next two releases were under the band name Sound Tribe Sector 9 and Sound Tribe Sector Nine. Since 2003, the band has been promoting themselves under their initials STS9.

STS9 is also known for their affiliation with the 13 Moon Natural Time Calendar and The Law of Time. The Natural Time Calendar is a growing global movement to change the world standard away from the Gregorian Calendar. The Law of Time is a formula developed by Jose Arguellas that defines the mathematical ratio of 13:20.

Music

STS9's music resists easy classification. One helpful analogy is to the title track of the Miles Davis album Nefertiti, where the rhythm section essentially replaces the melodic instruments as the driving improvisational force. In the same way STS9's compositions and improvisations (especially from the early part of their career) are driven by their drummer and percussionist, often against a static melody repeated by the guitarist/keyboardist. This is keeping with the tradition of much drum and bass music, which often features complicated drum patterns under relatively simple melodies and harmonies. Despite the harmonic simplicity of much of their work they are capable of a high level of rhythmic sophistication.

During the past 2 or 3 years STS9's compositions have moved farther and farther from the drum and bass aesthetic to embrace elements of genres as diverse as electro, hip hop, Rock, and IDM. One example of their newer direction is "Somesing" (from 2005's Artifact[1]), a 7 minute long composition with the textural changes of a classical piece. More and more of their compositions now include digital elements and vocal samples, often from the singer Audio Angel.[2] Still, the vocals are usually limited to a few lines within one section of a song. The fact that much of STS9's music is instrumental has been cited by Jeffree Lerner as allowing each listener their own "adventure" or interpretation of the song. [3]

Concerts

STS9's potential is fully realized only in concert. Their concerts feature rotating set lists, remixed songs, and extended improvisational sections. Typically, the band will play over 120 minutes of music, spanning two sets and an encore. Improvisations, a highlight of STS9’s concerts, usually come from subtle melodic and rhythmic shifts supported by multiple band members, rather than solo performances. This is a notable contrast with typical jambands. Live versions of STS9's songs often vary in composition, in essence making each live version of a song a unique composition.

The audience is an integral part of the concert, and their reaction influences the performance. The difference between a mediocre and a great STS9 show is often the interest level of the audience, as the group tends to take whatever energy the audience projects and amplify it. Frequently, audience members from the front to the back of the venue will dance freely; this audience energy is a large draw for STS9’s concerts. According to their FAQ [4], their original concept for live performance was ‘centered around extended improvisation and the attainment of a higher collective consciousness through the trance state generated by their music.’

Over the last 3 years, the band has moved towards more structured compositions. The band has decreased its emphasis on extended jamming in concert, and is more focused on coordinating new material.

STS9 sometimes partners with non-profit organizations for their tours. Over the last several years, they have partnered with Conscious Alliance to bring food drives to various concerts on their tour. Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods to the concert. In exchange for their donation, STS9 and Conscious Alliance thank patrons with limited edition art work posters, often created by the same artists who accompany the band on stage. In 2005, STS9 put on a benefit concert where they raised over $20,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims <citation needed>.

Beginning in Fall 2006, as part of their Live as Time Changes tour, STS9 will travel across the country in a carbon neutral tour bus and power their live concerts using renewable energy. The band hopes to offset 100%, or about 138,000 pounds, of their carbon dioxide emissions from their tour by donations of Renewable Energy Credits from their partnership with environmental-friendly companies.[4]

Notable Concert Peformances

STS9 has gained significant popularity in the past few years (their 2005 album Artifact reached #12 on Billboard's Top Electronic Albums)[5]. They have moved from small clubs to headlining music halls and playing at large festivals. In 2006, the band reached new heights by headlining their first amphitheater performance at Red Rocks in Colorado <citation needed>. A special concert scheduled for the night before at the Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado sold out in less than fifteen minutes <citation needed>. Already powerhouses in the Colorado music scene, these performances further cement the bands place in popular music today.

STS9 has achieved significant niche popularity in a few areas, most notably the San Francisco Bay Area; Santa Cruz, California; Boulder, Colorado; and their home state, Georgia (U.S. State). In the San Francisco Bay Area, the band has built a following with frequent performers at the The Fillmore, Warfield Theatre, and the historic Regency Center. They have performed at the The Fillmore on 10 occasions including three 2-night stands and a 3-night stand for Halloween in 2004. They have performed at the Warfield Theatre on 5 occasions including a 2-night stand. STS9 performed at the Regency Center on 5 occasions including two consecutive New Years Eve shows in 2002 and 2003. The band has also put on performances at the Independent, Great American Music Hall, Golden Gate Park, and the Stern Grove Festival. Santa Cruz, California has been home to various members of the band since moving to California. The band has performed at the Catalyst on 8 occasions since 2002, including two 2-night stands. Previously, the band had been frequently playing Palookaville until it closed in 2002. In 2003, the band headlined the Santa Cruz Civic Center. In their home state of Georgia (U.S. state), the band continues to ride their popularity. On October 3, 2006, the band marked the 9th Anniversary of their first ever show with a celebration at the historic Georgia Theatre in Athens, Georgia. The band has performed many 2-night stands at the Georgia Theatre since 2002. For the last three years in Atlanta, they have performed at the Tabernacle on New Years Eve as part of a 3-night stand.

From 1998 through 2001, STS9 performed special live shows on the Day Out Of Time, the name of the last day of each year of the Natural Time Calendar. In 2002, the band marked the exact date of the Fifteenth Anniversary of the Harmonic Convergence with a special festival celebration performing 2-nights of music in the woods outside of Asheville, North Carolina. The band returned for a second Harmonic Convergence Festival, this time in October 2003.

Festival Appearances

STS9 frequently perform at music festivals, including special late night concerts that take place from midnight until sunrise. These concerts are often over 180 minutes in length, allowing the band to stretch out their music. Notably, these have occurred at: the High Sierra Music Festival every year between 1999 and 2004; the Late Night at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Series in 2001 and 2004; at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2003 and 2005; and at the Vegoose Halloween Festival in 2005 and 2006.

  • 10,000 Lakes Festival (Detroit Lakes, MN) – 2005
  • Adirondak Mountain Music Fest. (Moose River Campground , Lyonsdale, NY) - 2003
  • Anon Salon’s Sea of Dreams (San Francisco, CA) - 2002, 2003
  • Area 51 Soundtest (Indian Springs, NV) - 2004
  • Austin City Limits (Austin, TX) - 2002
  • Berkfest (Great Barrington, MA) – 2001-2003
  • Big Wu Family Reunion (Black River Falls, WI) – 2001
  • Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (Manchester, TN) – 2003, 2005
  • Camp Bisco (Cherrytree, PA) - 1999
  • Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Indio, CA) - 2002
  • Creekside Festival (Almost Heaven Campground , Forksville, PA) – 2003
  • Dancin' in the District (Riverfront Park, Nashville, TN) – 2005
  • Earthdance Festival (Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville, CA) – 2003, 2005
  • Earthdance Festival (Golden Gate Park, SF, CA) – 2002
  • Earthdance Festival (Ya-Ka-Ama Native American Reservation, Santa Rosa, California) – 2001
  • Fairfax World Music Festival (Fairfax, CA) - 2002
  • Family Affair Festival (Port Orford, OR) - 2001
  • Fuji Rock Festival (Japan)
  • Gathering Of The Vibes (Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT) - 2000
  • Harmonic Convergence Fest (Deerfields, Horse Shoe, NC) – 2002, 2003
  • Harmony Fest (Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, CA) - 2006
  • High Sierra Music Festival (Plumas County Fairgrounds, Qunicy, CA) – 1999-2004
  • Horning’s Hideout SCI Festival (North Plains, OR) – 2004
  • Jam In The Dam (Melkweg, Amsterdam, NL) - 2006
  • Jamcruise - 2005
  • Langerado Music Festival (Young Circle Park , Hollywood, FL) - 2004
  • Lollapalooza Festival (Grant Park, Chicago, IL) – 2005
  • Lunatic Picnic Outdoor Festival (Hakonomori Play Park, Shiobara Onsen, Tochigi Pref., Japan) – 2002
  • Midtown Music Festival (Atlanta, GA) - 2003
  • Mountain Music Festival (Willow Creek, CA) - 2003
  • Musicians For Medical Marijuana (Oakland, CA) - 2001
  • PhilFest (Patten Gymnasium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL) - 2002
  • Red Rocks the Vote (Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO) - 2004
  • Sno-Core Icicle Ball – 2002
  • Stern Grove Festival (SG Park, San Francisco, CA) - 2003
  • Superfly Late Night at Jazz Festival (New Orleans, LA) – 2001, 2004
  • Tamarak Music Festival (Bear Valley, CA) – 2001
  • Van Hoy Farms Family Campground (Union Grove, NC) – 2001
  • Vegoose - 2005, 2006
  • Wakarusa (Clinton State Park - Lawrence, KS) – 2004, 2006
  • 4th of July Festival (Nelsons Ledges - Garrettsville, OH) 2005

Side Projects

On several occasions the band has billed themselves under the name Tzolkin. These special shows were not promoted as STS9 concerts, and were used to debut brand new material in a live setting. These shows proved to be very experimental and have occurred in 2001, 2003 and 2004. The term Tzolkin means sequence of days and refers to a 260-day calendar cycle.

Discography

Video

  • 2003: STS9 Live in Santa Cruz - GrooveTV #201 (VideoCD, MPEG Download) - GrooveTV.net
  • 2006: Live As Time Changes (DVD) - 1320 Records - Recorded Live December 29-31, 2005

References

  1. ^ "STS9 Talks As Time Changes by Dave Terpeny, October 9, 2006".
  2. ^ STS9 ARTiFACT (1320 Records '05), Jambase.com, January 1, 2005
  3. ^ STS9 Launches Music Portal For Downloads, Jambase.com, July 8, 2004
  4. ^ "STS9 OFF-SET EMISSIONS, September 26,2006".
  5. ^ AllMusic Guide chart information
  6. ^ AllMusic Guide chart information

External links

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