Deconstructing Bisco

© Adam Childs

Camp used to be about late-night sneak outs, endless cabin pranks and water gun wars. Then, we grew up. One Philadelphia-based jam band – who used to fill frat house living rooms and local dive bars – is celebrating their ninth instillation of camp. But, think of it as a remixed version for campers that sought out alternatives to returning to their old stomping grounds as counselors.

With less than 10 days, The Disco Biscuits prepare for Camp Bisco 9, a three-day festival that has graduated to unimaginable heights, where everyone from band idolaters to festival hoppers congregate for yet another musical buffet. According to Camp Bisco producer/promoter Jonathan Fordin, the festival has transformed completely from a one-band showcase to an electronic music phenomenon. “In 2005, we brought in some very high-profile international DJs that people in this scene wanted to see. In 2006, we brought in The Roots and Thievery Corporation,” he says. “That’s where it all began to go up.”

Wu-ing the Crowds

And, while Philly-born The Roots will not return for Camp Bisco 9, Thievery Corporation is back, along with an awe-inducing chain of supporting artists that delve into genres from hip-hop (Talib Kweli) to dubstep (MiM0SA), experimental rock (Ween) to disco punk (LCD Soundsytem). And in the spirit of producing legit hip-hop acts (past Camp Bisco rosters have included memorable throwdowns by Snoop Dogg and Nas and Damian Marley), CB9 spreads its wingspan by welcoming members of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, dubbed Wu-Massacre, a most anticipated act of any festival in the US this summer. But why is it such a necessity to Wu this crowd? “We all love hip-hop; my business partner, the Biscuits and just about everyone I know,” confesses Fordin. “Some people don’t like it, but in reality, there are two kinds of music that cross into several different walks of life: hip-hop and country music. You don’t have to live hip-hop to listen to hip-hop, and you don’t have to live in the country to listen to country. The rest of the music out there really stays in its circle. Hip-hop and electronica mix really well, they are born out of the beats!”

And the beat will go on until the wee morning hours of Camp 2010. Late-night sets, which were voted on by the public, officially include The New Deal, Aeroplane, Rusko and Diplo, and were just announced last week. By revealing the lineup bit by bit, a festival like Camp Bisco is able to lock in returning campers, in addition to persuading those who are on the fence. Together, The Disco Biscuits and production create a magical lineup to cater to the festie masses. “The band gives us a wish list of talent and we see what we can make happen. A lot of the time, it ends up being acts we all want but wasn’t the first choice,” Fordin says. “This year, however, we went after what we wanted, and 90 percent of it, we got.”

Fourth Time’s the Charm

As for campgrounds, this is the team’s fourth year in a row returning to Indian Lookout Country Club, a roomy patch of land owned by a sincerely down-to-earth group of bikers in Mariaville, New York, 20 minutes from Albany. Why the same venue? Fordin and the boys are thinking long term, and they’ve grown quite fond of this troop of bikers and can’t imagine Camp without them. “The festival continued to outgrow its venue year in and year out. Instead of finding a venue that fit us, we wanted a venue that would be able to grow to 15,000 to 20,000 people in a few years.” And, the dedicated Camp Bisco team is rapidly approaching their goals.

Weather or Not…

Like any festival, there’s one phenomenon that cannot be controlled: the weather. In 2009, Camp Bisco 8 welcomed thousands through the afternoon gates with a dreaded downpour, leading to performance delays, tent destruction and one helluva mudslide. “Well, we can never control Mother Nature, she does what she wants,” admits Fordin. “We can just be more prepared and hope that it doesn’t happen. We have also introduced site improvements to help manage the layout. We are doing everything we can, and hope we don’t see the bad weather.”

Headphone Jams

And while layout is most definitely a top priority, it’s still all about the music. This year, Camp Bisco 9 will boast six performance areas, tons of guest musicians and collaborations, some of which are true impromptu gems. 2010 also brings The Sunrise Silent Disco, a trend that made its return to Wakarusa Festival, where the Biscuits performed in early June. The innovative experience will feature two DJs performing simultaneously, 500 headphone sets and two channels, for listeners’ choice. The lineup includes Orchard Lounge, Emancipator, Eclectic Method, Future Rock PA, Mindelixir, Nigel Richards and others. A treat that can only be considered sweet futuristic ear candy, the Sunrise Silent Disco will begin on Friday, July 15 at 1 a.m. until sunrise, and return for a second round on Saturday.

From C.I.T. to V.I.P.

For campers who’ve been with the band since the ‘90s, and ballers who prefer gold-star status, there’s still VIP; where meals, cocktails, meet-and-greets, merchandise and special standing room glisten from a distance – as do flushing toilets and showers. “VIP allows for a more mature experience, while still being part of the scene,” says Fordin. “The audience isn’t always made up of the same people. We try and give everyone an amazing time at Camp Bisco, but some people just want more!”

For those of us that are still longing for a taste of summer camp, curfews, timeouts and nurses’ notes need not apply. Bring on the SuperSoakers and roll out the Slip ‘n Slides. It’s Camp Bisco 9: Rain or Shine!