Particle & DJ Harry 10/19/2004

As we all know by now, the term “jamband” has as much to do with the improvisational nature of a band’s music and the scene surrounding that band’s live concerts as it does with any specific type of music. If I had to pick one band on the scene today though whose sound epitomizes the jamband sound, if there is such a thing, I would be hard pressed not to choose Particle. Admittedly, this was my first Particle concert experience, and really the only significant encounter these ears have had with the band’s energetic sound. Rest assured, it won’t be the last.

It was clear from the opening moments of the show, that this quartet, with its explosive goulash of electronica, funk and rock &roll, was here to initiate a dance party. Their songs, all of them instrumental, at times reached for the fringe of what some might call techno music. Those in attendance, whether they had seen Particle before or not, seemed less inclined to pigeonhole the group’s sound. When I asked Jonathan Meyer, 25 and dripping with sweat, how he would describe the band’s sound, he said simply, “I don’t know, Dance Music, I guess.” Fair enough.

The band features the somewhat standard rock &roll four four-piece instrumentation of guitar (Charlie Hitchcock), drums (Darren Pujalet), bass (Eric Gould) and keys (Steve Molitz). All four members shined at different points in the evening with Molitz taking home the honor on this night as most entertaining band member to watch, as I can’t say for sure whether he ever used his bench or not, opting most often to dance and play at the same time; one of the dilemmas one must face playing in a band that plays… well… Dance Music.

The clutch performer of the night award, had there been one, almost certainly would have been presented to D.J. Harry, who has been touring with the band for almost a month now, as he refused to allow the dancing to stop for something as trivial as a set break. He spun funk and hip-hop beats throughout the break as the boys took five behind the curtains. Those who decided to remain in the theater for the break were much appreciative.

Particle treated Portland to non-stop head-bobbing Dance Music for much of the night and converted many in attendance into full-fledged Particle People. With Phish on the shelf forever, Particle promises to carry the jamband scene, with the help of their contemporaries, well into the twenty first century.