While jamtronica pioneers the Disco Biscuits aren’t on the lineup for the September 5th Identity Festival date at Las Vegas’s Mandalay Bay, they will be performing later that evening at the House of Blues – Las Vegas according to a Facebook post by tDB keyboardist Aron Magner. Magner goes on to reveal that tDB’s show will be free for those with an ID fest stub or $20 without one. The HOB – Las Vegas is located within Mandalay Bay, which makes it easy for those attending the festival to attend. Tonight’s Identity Festival show at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami has been postponed due to “the potential effects of Hurricane Irene.”

EMU Music Festival @ Snowmass – July 2

Words: Alexander Wolff
Images: Matthew Speck

There is definitely something special about a low-key festival being held in the middle of a ski mountain. Snowmass Village is a charming little town, and did not appear to be ready for the Bisco Circus provided by fans of the day’s headlining act – the Disco Biscuits. With support acts Perpetual Groove, RJD2 and others, it was sure to be a good time for all.

[All photos by Matthew Speck]

Looking out behind the stage, the peaks and valleys of the Rockies seemed to be just out of reach of the ski lifts. A truly majestic location for a festival, the vista only added to the excitement and anticipation for the Biscuits. They took the stage for their first set while the sun was still up and several stragglers were still wandering over from the adjacent hotel.

The band opened up with a very standard version of the classic original Morph Dusseldorf, followed by a standalone version of Rockafella that didn’t really go anywhere. However, from the moment they burst into Triumph, it was on. Triumph, along with several other tunes, was played for the first time this year, and it certainly made for some exciting exploration. The jam out of it saw a killer drop into Munchkin Invasion, which quickly led to a Caribbean-sounding island jam that was allowed to breathe and develop quite comfortably for several minutes before they built up the ending peak of And The Ladies Were The Rest of the Night. While the quartet certainly could have done more with this tune, it was well executed and was followed by the ending of Munchkin Invasion, which was a real treat having not shown up this year either.

READ ON for more about the Biscuits @ EMU…

If it seems like the Disco Biscuits’ Camp Bisco festivals have grown in size and stature each year, that’s because they have. This year, the promoters have announced that Camp Bisco Ten has sold out. Anyone heading to the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, NY without a ticket will be turned away. According to the event’s publicist, Chad Shearer, “Camp Bisco has shown positive growth in each of the 10 years it has been in existence.”

Also of note from Camp Bisco Ten, the Disco Biscuits surprised their fans by making Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens, their sixth studio album, available for purchase at the event. Those of us who aren’t at CB10 can download the album next week from iTunes. Here’s a look at last night’s tDB setlist…

Set 1: Plan B, Helicopters > Spacebirdmatingcall, The Very Moon > Spraypaint > Helicopters, Mulberry’s Dream, Home Again

[via PT Bisco]

However not all the news from Mariaville is good as local residents have complained about the traffic, trash and noise coming from the event to local TV station WNYT. Apparently they aren’t happy with CB10′s growth. Tune in to Sirius/XM’s Jam_ON radio for broadcasts from Camp Bisco 10.

Jamtronica pioneers the Disco Biscuits have offered a new studio track via the group’s BandPage by RootMusic. All you have to do is “like” the page in order to stream or download the studio version of Great Abyss for free.

Check out the track and let us know what you think.

Here’s a healthy hump day serving of six fresh links…

• Paste Magazine is back with a new multimedia edition
• Mumford and Sons played a surprise set at Glastonbury
• Beirut reveals a new album cover and fall tour dates
• Umphrey’s McGee reveals the process behind HOF 2010
• Live Nation claims 90% of ticket price goes to artist fees
• Dropkick Murphys and Bosstones to play Fenway Park

Finally, our friends at HyperVocal penned a creative look at the transformation of one Silvio Dante. Tony Soprano’s loyal consigliere now has a new boss as he embarks on a musical career.

Words: Alexander Wolff
Images: Jason Woodside

Disco Biscuits – Bisco Inferno Weekend: May 26 – 28

For some Disco Biscuits fans, there is no greater treat in the world than to watch the group perform at Red Rocks. Arguably the best outdoor amphitheatre in the country,  Red Rocks is a venue that brings a magic all its own to each show. Along with the natural beauty of the venue, the Biscuits have been putting in extra effort to make this weekend as special for their fans as possible and they are finally beginning to succeed.

[All photos by Jason Woodside]

Like most bands, the Biscuits are at their best when touring heavily, so with only 12 tDB shows in 2011 leading up to Bisco Inferno weekend, there was some skepticism and apprehension about whether they would play well. Fans hoped it wouldn’t take too long for the group to start firing on all cylinders. With two shows at the Ogden leading up to the finale at Red Rocks, there wound up being plenty of time for the band get their groove back.

May 26 – Ogden Theatre

Unfortunately, the first show of the weekend on Thursday night was a bit of a letdown. The first set was uneventful save for a slick segue into Shem-Rah Boo, which featured a neat jam out of the middle before returning to Voices Insane. The Overture was a treat, but oddly placed. The second set was somewhat redeeming, with a highly exploratory Orch Theme that featured several beautiful themes and peaked more than once. Tricycle > Mr. Don also featured some excellent playing, most notably from keyboardist Aron Magner.

Set 1: The Very Moon > Voices Insane > Shem-Rah Boo1 > Voices Insane, Neck Romancer, The Overture

Set 2: Park Ave. > Vassillios > Orch Theme > Tricycle > Mr. Don, Shelby Rose

Encore: Mulberry’s Dream

1unfinished

[All setlists via PT Bisco]

READ ON for more from Bisco Inferno weekend…

If you’ve been following @Hidden_Track you already knew that the Disco Biscuits recently launched a redesigned website. This afternoon the jamtronica pioneers announced the name of their upcoming new album – Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens – and put up video on discobiscuits.com that was shot in the studio during the recording of the LP.

The band’s recording sessions were documented by filmmaker Jesse R. Borrell of NoCoast.TV. Over the next few weeks the group will release a series of four documentaries showcasing the process that led to the album’s creation. The video above is the first chapter titled An Old New Direction. Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens is currently set for a summer release.

Disco Biscuits shows have been few and far between in 2011, making this past weekend’s three-pack of performances in the heart of “Bisco Country” extra special. The band kicked off the brief run on Thursday and Friday at the Best Buy Theater in New York City before finishing it off at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA on Saturday night.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

The Philadelphia-based quartet mixed material from every era of the band’s history throughout the run. Here’s a look at the setlists…

04/14/11 @ Best Buy Theater – New York, NY

Set 1: Spectacle, Story Of The World1 > Bombs > Above The Waves2 > Spaga3

Set 2: Mindless Dribble > Run Like Hell > Confrontation2 > Mindless Dribble > Feeling Twisted > Run Like Hell
Encore: The Tunnel, Once The Fiddler Paid

1 – Unfinished
2 – Inverted
3 – Ending only

04/15/11 @ Best Buy Theater – New York, NY

Set 1: Kitchen Mitts, Grass Is Green > Vassillios > Minions > Voices Insane1 > Grass Is Green

Set 2: Spaga2 > Reactor3 > Tricycle > Humuhumunukunukuapua’a4 > Tempest, The Very Moon > Bernstein And Chasnoff4

Encore: Magellan

1 – Unfinished
2 – Dyslexic completion of 4/14 version
3 – Inverted
4 – Ending only

4/16/2011 @ Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA

Set 1: Portal To An Empty Head, Aceetobee > Catalyst > Aceetobee, Digital Buddha > Lunar Pursuit > Digital Buddha

Set 2: Spraypaint > Spacebirdmatingcall, House Dog Party Favor, Neck Romancer, 42 > Spraypaint

Encore: We Like To Party

[via PT Bisco]

Hidden Track’s Jeremy Gordon was on hand last Thursday to shoot the first night of the run at the Best Buy Theater. READ ON for a full gallery…

Back in January, HT faves Umphrey’s McGee, the Disco Biscuits and STS9 teamed up with a few other acts for Mayan Holidaze 2011. Many attendees raved about the site of the event, the Now Sapphire Resort & Spa in the Mayan Riviera, and today the festival’s promoter, Cloud 9 Adventures, has announced Mayan Holidaze 2012 which will bring all three bands back to the high-end resort from January 26-30.

Those who have attended either Mayan Holidaze 2011 or previous Holidaze events are eligible for an exclusive presale that takes place on March 15th and 16th. If any rooms remain, they will go on sale to the general public on March 17th at 12PM ET. While it’s tough to plan vacations so far in advance, Mayan Holidaze 2011 sold out immediately, so take the next few weeks to decide if this trip is for you. Here’s the trailer…

• Hidden Track’s Mayan Holidaze 2011 Coverage: Last Week’s Sauce and Picture Show – Mayan Holidaze

Jamtronica faves the Disco Biscuits will return to Red Rocks for Bisco Inferno 2011 on Saturday, May 28th. The Biscuits will be joined by Rusko, Big Boi, BoomBox and Emancipator at this now annual event.

[Photo by Jason Woodside]

Once again, tDB will use the opportunity to throw in a few extra headlining gigs to the action as the group will perform at the Ogden in Denver on May 26th and 27th. Three-day passes – just $100 each –  for the event go on sale this Tuesday, Feburary 22nd at Noon MT via discobiscuits.com.

• Previously on HT: Review – Bisco Inferno 2010

Photos: Chad Smith

From January 20th – 24th, Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, the Disco Biscuits, their fans and a few other acts took over the Now Sapphire Resort in Puerto Morelos, Mexico for Mayan Holidaze.

[All photos by Chad Smith]

In a previous edition of Last Week’s Sauce, DaveO went over some of the the musical highlights from the first-ever Mexican edition of Holidaze and today you’ll get the visual side of things from one of our favorite photographers in the scene, Chad Smith. Chad, who makes his Hidden Track debut this morning, has shared not only pictures of the bands in action, but also a number of shots featuring festival attendees getting down.

READ ON for over 90 photos from Mayan Holidaze…

We were sad to see the news that guitarist Gary Moore passed away early Sunday at the Kempinski Hotel in Estepona, Spain. Moore is best known for his work with Thin Lizzy as well as his career as a solo artist. As of now, no cause of death has been determined. Check out Greg Prato’s obit on RollingStone.com for a look at the life of this unique axe-slinger.

Here’s a quick roundup of six other stories of note…

• Allie Kral and John Oates joined moe. in Colorado
• Prince’s Super Bowl Weekend benefit was a bust
• Audio: Stereogum premieres new Paul Simon song
• JamBase rounds up all the iClips’ Jam Cruise casts
• M. Ward and Jim James sure love their creme brulee
• Carolina Chocolate Drops have shuffled their lineup

Finally, the Disco Biscuits partnership with hip-hop impresario Damon Dash on the BiscoRoc label is set to yield a number of  releases this year. First up is the Marc Brownstein-produced full-length debut from young singer McKenzie Eddy in April, which Brownie also co-wrote. Also set to hit stores in 2011 on BiscoRoc will be the Disco Biscuits’ mixtape, SkiBeatz vs. The Disco Biscuits, which will also feature hip-hop artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Jay Electronica, Mos Def and Jim Jones of the Diplomats rapping over remixes of TDB’s latest album, Planet Anthem and Ski Beatz’s 24 Hour Karate School. The most intriguing project should be the Biscuits’ first, all-original, full length, hip-hop album entitled BiscoRoc.

For a taste of Eddy’s new album, check out the LP’s first single, Retrograde, which is part of her mixtape, A Prelude to My Next Excursion.

One of the nation’s premier electronic music festivals, the Ultra Music Fest, has added a slew of performers to its bill including HT faves the Disco Biscuits along with Duran Duran, will.i.am and Moby. Also performing at Miami’s Bicentennial Park on March 25-27 are Tiësto, deadmau5, The Chemical Brothers, David Guetta, Carl Cox and Empire of the Sun.

An interesting note on the Ultra lineup as currently listed – STS9 has not canceled their appearance at the fest. Let’s hope Murph is healthy enough to make his triumphant return to the stage after recently undergoing cancer surgery. READ ON for the complete lineup and ticket information…

There was plenty of live music last week that didn’t take place in Mexico at Mayan Holidaze, but since the taper Z-Man supplied more than enough material to dedicate this entire piece to this festival, I thought why not? We’ve got audio and video from 30db, the rarely taped act The Album Leaf, a 30+ minute segment from the Disco Biscuits, a tune from STS9′s “axe the cables” acoustic set, and an Umphrey’s McGee staple translated into Spanish.

If you don’t want to stay on the site for an hour streaming the individual tracks, you can download all of this week’s audio in one easy to listen to MP3 that we call the Last Week’s Sauce Podcast, click here to download.

30db – Liar, The Good Times Are Killing Me
Date & Venue: 2011-01-21 – Now Sapphire Resort – Mayan Riviera, Mexico
Taper & Show Download: Z-Man

Our first segment of music is Liar from 30db’s 2010 album One Man Show followed by the set-closing cover of The Good Times Are Killing Me by Modest Mouse. While Brendan Bayliss and Jeff Austin already have plenty of tour dates on the books with their primary bands, 30db doesn’t have any future scheduled dates. They are both scheduled to play at Summer Camp 2011, perhaps that will be the host of the next 30db gig.

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Wilco’s Handshake Drugs earlier on in the set:

READ ON for tracks from The Album Leaf, tDB, STS9, and Umphrey’s…

Normally, I find the month of January to be a pretty uneventful one in the world of live music. Bands play big winter tours often leading up to a big New Year’s Eve blowout, and the beginning of the calendar year seems to be a rest from the road. So I was surprised when I did my search of the Live Music Archive and found 84 recordings already uploaded at press time. We’ve got Cracker covering an album in its entirety (and that wasn’t the only album in that show), the Disco Biscuits getting drummer Allen Aucoin back onstage, Grace Potter busting out a MMJ cover, an interesting sequence of music from Tim Palmieri and a couple of classics from the Tom Tom Club.

You can download all of this week’s audio in one easy to listen to MP3 that we call the Last Week’s Sauce Podcast, click here to download.

[Thanks to vanark for this week's photo]

Cracker – Loser
Date & Venue: 2011-01-14 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY
Taper & Show Download: Barry Shoop

Camper Van Beethoven & Cracker played three joint shows last week and at each one Cracker performed their 1993 album Kerosene Hat and CVB played Key Lime Pie, their album from 1989. You can read a review of the NYC show from Richard Gehr over at SPIN.com. For the audio from Kerosene Hat, I have selected their cover of Loser by the Grateful Dead. Camper Van Beethoven [tour dates] next plays February 18th at New Parish in Oakland, CA. No future tour dates currently on the books for Cracker. The Camper Van Beethoven set has also been uploaded to The Archive.

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Video of Low from the NYC show:

READ ON for tracks from the Disco Biscuits, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Tim Palmieri and Tom Tom Club…

Disco Biscuits Colorado Run: 01/13 – 01/16

Words: Alex Wolff
Images: Jason Woodside

While it’s never the best idea to make a generalization, it does seem sometimes as though the entire state of Colorado is a sucker for a good party. Perhaps that’s why The Disco Biscuits do so well here. After two sold-out nights at the Boulder Theater and two more shows at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, the Biscuits continue to bring it hard in the Rocky Mountain State. Clearly the most exciting part of the whole thing for fans and band alike, however, was Allen Aucoin’s triumphant return to the drum kit after health issues prevented him from playing the New Year’s run.

[All photos by Jason Woodside]

January 13 – Boulder Theater, Boulder CO

A high-energy King Of The World got things started Thursday night in Boulder. Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig came out swinging, shredding lead lines on his Gibson with gusto, if perhaps a little tastelessly. Lasers dropped for the first time during the jam in Morph Dusseldorf, angled perfectly throughout the entire run so as to only hit the ceiling and the balcony, providing a liquid laser-beam landscape free of blinding for all. The rest of the evening’s highlights were a Lunar Pursuit that started from a dead stop, which then segued into an inverted Crickets. Bouncy, energetic and fun, for a moment it was even reminiscent of another certain four-piece improv outfit. That segment, along with a searing hot Neck Romancer were what made the show. The end of that tune is one of the better peaks that they have composed recently, and the piece truly lends itself to Biscuits jamming.

Set 1: King Of The World, Morph Dusseldorf, Vassillios >Spacebirdmatingcall

Set 2: Pat And Dex, Lunar Pursuit > Crickets1 > Portal To An Empty Head, Neck Romancer, Mulberry’s Dream

Encore: Highwire

1 – inverted

[All setlists via Phantasy Tour - Bisco]

January 14 – Boulder Theater, Boulder CO

Friday night’s show saw another four-song first set. A startup jam featured bassist Marc Brownstein teasing Basis For A Day by interjecting sections of the song’s bassline, but before it could get there, they worked their way into Floodlights, which they left unfinished before launching into a rather exploratory first set. While it had its moments, there was quite a bit of meandering that didn’t go too far. What was immediately apparent despite the meandering was Aron Magner’s choice of keyboard sounds. His sound design has truly evolved, and the tones he is using these days are as futuristic, spacey and cutting edge as ever.

READ ON for more from the Biscuits’ Colorado run…