The Bisco Effect

© Adam Moskowitz / RumBum.com

Camp Bisco 9 brought another glorious year of innovative sound mastering, audio/visual stimulation and jaw-dropping shows of force from Mother Nature. Fans of the Disco Biscuits are quite used to this same old routine, but a few new tricks made magical milestones that put the rain to shame.

Welcome Back, Campers

Camp Bisco took over the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, New York once again from Thursday, July 15 to Saturday, July 17. But instead of being welcomed by that old festie feeling, campers were welcomed by a tough clan of confederate flag sporting bikers wearing hats branded “Speak English,” who had set up their own "camp" just outside the entrance. But campers would not be intimidated. During the four-hour wait to get through security, campers sipped hops and made friends in the sweltering heat.

© Adam Moskowitz / RumBum.comFinally, attendees settled in as Thursday rolled onward. Bare patches of grass were soon transformed into high-class camps, with inflatable La-Z-Boys, PA systems and street signs leading you to Sparkleberry Lane. You could hear the sounds of plastic seals breaking on handles of whiskey, as beer tabs popped nearby. There was a mellow vibe as the clock ticked away, luring everyone to get rage-ready.

Orchard Lounge kicked off Thursday’s worthy music bill, with the Chicago-based trio spinning disco pop, hip-hop and midtempo to get the kiddies cranked. The threesome is known as Camp vets who tour with the Biscuits, which explained the overflow of support as bodies slick with sweat dripped to the beats. Returning campers reunited, but the neophytes stood their ground, letting everyone know seniority and statistics would not intimidate. Following the OL warm-up, Emancipator cooled things down, slowing the decks with Nas samples and live guitar strumming. The blissful sounds, which are usually saved for late-nights and sunrise sets, were the antiodote for anxious ears, ready and waiting for some butter-drenched Biscuits.

Similar to a meet-and-greet, the Biscuits welcomed everyone to Camp Bisco 9 with a sunset set, where dusk set the scene for a most relaxing, inviting first set. Highlights included Barber and Magner demolishing a “House Dog Party Favor” opener, a roller coaster ride from “Crickets” into a bottomless, inverted “The Great Abyss” into classic favorite “Crystal Ball,” which had thousands chanting with approval. As the sunset approached, the Biscuits retired for the day, leaving hours of late night dance parties ahead. Our favorite song came to an end, forcing us to change the station.

While LCD Soundsystem drew in the masses, it felt like the hyped headliner had a bit too much of a head start. While the punk-meets-pop-infused electro live act delivered covers and thrillers, it was not surprising to blankets strewn on the grass, for a set that seemed never-ending. Following suite, Caribou, another anticipated act of Camp, sounded like a jumbled mixture, dipping into genre pools that were all over the map. While the beats ranged from danceable to swayable, Caribou could not hold attention for long. It was Two Fresh, a Camp Bisco returning act, that proved their worth. Hip-hop had bodies bouncing and lights flashing to the heavy bass. The tent was salty inside, but the tunes sweetened with the group’s rendition of “If You Like Pina Coladas,” a remix that would have had Buffet himself toasting with a tropical cocktail.

Day Two, All About The Wu

As always, sleep at Camp tends to be optional, and most campers chose not to. Everyone was up early in anticipation of some legendary thuggin’. Beats Antique kicked off the action at the main stage, wafting electro-acoustic Middle Eastern flavors into the crowd, throwing a spiritual smorgasboard just in time for brunch. While RAQ jammed out on the main stage, Big Gigantic prepared to shower good vibes with brass and beats. The duo’s remix of “I Need A Dollar,” (Aloe Blacc) showcasing rhythmic sensuality.

© Adam Moskowitz / RumBum.comThere was no time for a break to grab those special stogies, it was time for the day’s peak. Only, Wu-Massacre hit the stage almost an hour after their scheduled time slot. Most were relieved that the members of the Wu-Tang Clan even showed; a cancellation at Camp was an avoided fail. Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah spit rhymes over exaggerated bass and clouds of smoke. The trio brought back classics like “Ice Cream,” which had heads bobbing and Wu signs swinging, while “C.R.E.A.M.” and “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin…,” where survey said the Clan was anything but dead. Fresh as ever, the rhymes flowed onward, “Bring da Ruckus” breaking backs while knees wobbled from side to side. Still, the gang paid trib to the late ODB with some “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” (where was Magner for that one) and an on-point “Triumph,” with hopes of the Biscuits presenting their own version later that day. Meth hollered at Redman with some Blackout style. Although the air was a milky haze, it was clear that Wu-Massacre ruled everything around Camp that Friday afternoon, but eventually, those stogies burned to roaches.

The music just kept on, while Album Leaf recovered everyone from the bloody beat down by Wu, preparing for some chilled dub-electro from Thievery Corporation. All went well until one nasty slip-up with waste management. Before long, crowds swarmed from the TC set all the way across the field, which proved that even without the existence of haste, there was an overload of waste. The viral escape was a heartbreaking moment during a beautiful display of music, but the Camp team had to literally get their shit together before it was Bisco time. Major Lazer brought the groove back, throwing down sexual dub-electro, mashed with hip-hop and pop. Bursts of Santigold samples seemed to help clear the congested air and an Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants” had the crowd going bonkers.

© Adam Moskowitz / RumBum.comThe Biscuits were about the take Friday to galactic heights, introducing a new component to their Camp Bisco staging that has never been done before. The first night set was one delicious sandwich, blasted with flavor and shining to infinity. From a jam-heavy “Morph Dusseldorph” to a storybook “Spaga,” it was the inverted “Abraxas” that had high-tops dead in their tracks. A gift of sensory overload that could make a sober man trip into oblivion, beams of lasers suddenly shot out over the crowd, mixing with multi-colored spotlights, behold, it was an electric rainbow. But, what does it mean? Bathing in lights that went from the stage to the sky, this shining moment in Camp Bisco history proved that everyone behind this wonderful stunt knew just what was kind of a crowd was in store.

Then, a gleaming “Voices Insane” recorded stunned reactions, where friends stared at each other, ironically words escaping. The beams shone onward as “Spaga” concluded, and it was back to “Morph” for another unreal riff war between Barber and his fingertips. Then, it was break time. The second night set brought everyone back to the party, Magner raking the crowds back inward with his playful swan song on the keys during “7-11”. A “Little Betty Boop” tease brought more anticipation, but it was the year’s reprise of “Tricycle” that spotlighted the closing set. As “Orch Theme” dropped, 20,000 feet flew mid air, jumping as if they’d won the Bisco lottery. Nothing like a great rager to make us all feel like a million bucks. The introduction of “Bombs” was well received, and the only new jam the band presented throughout the weekend.

Late-night brought the traffic back to the dance tent for some action by The New Deal, where lighted monograms circled the tent and thick drums by Shearer matched with Kurtz’s vibrating bass, while Shields threw loops and circled melodies together. Back over at Camp Krator, Orchard Lounge treated close friends to an intimate after-hours behind Shakedown, showing campers that perks were indeed accessible outside the VIP tent.

Retreat and Resurgence

The final day of Camp Bisco brought the dance party to its feet from the get go. The foursome claimed the grounds, reminding everyone at Camp that the Biscuits were what it was all about. “On Time,” made it’s Camp Bisco debut, the only single from 2010’s Planet Anthem to make it onto any setlist, and the 20-minute blend showcased each band member’s talents, fusing funky Brownie bass with timed drumming by Allen, synth crafting by Magner and top notch shredding by the Barber. The chart-climbing dance jam set relaxed tone, which included a stellar  “Aceetobee” and an overpowering “Pat and Dex,” back after a three-year hiatus.

© Adam Moskowitz / RumBum.comFollowing the Biscuits day set, it seemed as though the Break Science collab was going to fall through, another popular act almost an hour late. The team geared up with Talib Kweli, who couldn't seem to get enough of his own volume, and after 15 short minutes, the group called it quits. The unorganized display was a huge disappointment. Kweli’s ego drew frowns, which was a shame, considering how much support Break Science gains from the Bisco crowd. An overall ‘meh’ circulated throughout as Ween fans set up camp by the main stage. By far one of the most intriguing acts of the weekend, Ween blurred lines with song topics ranging from whimsical to uncomfortable. But, that’s what makes Ween Ween, right? “Bananas and Blow” had the fans on their feet, those who sat it out drew bananas on each other with face paint as the sun broke through the clouds, day beginning to break into night.

The biggest let down of the weekend was Mother Nature. That damn dame hit the camp hard, where lightning storms and tornado watches forced everyone back to their tents. It seemed like everyone was losing their bearings on Saturday, plenty of reports of stolen and misplaced possessions had the bikers working around the clock, but serotonin levels and Camp OD’ing slowly took its toll. Brothers Past was cut short on the main stage and Papadosio, one of the Camp underdogs, got rained out and cancelled. Campers headed back to their campsites to huddle under canopies, while ‘head counselors’ staked temporary homes in for one last hurrah. Slap bags of wine surfaced just in time, as thunder and lightning sobered the great majority.

At Camp Krator, songs and story time were the verbal shelter. We didn’t need a Doppler to figure out what was going on. The Disco Biscuits were going to miss their first scheduled set. A damper set in as everyone realized this could be the very worst ending to one of the best Camp experiences to date. Due to curfew, the main stage can only produce up to a certain hour, but the Biscuits had a killer set in mind to make up for lost time.

© Adam Moskowitz / RumBum.comNew favorite “Portal To An Empty Head” blared from the gates and swarms of campers rushed to the stage. It was as if the Biscuits knew the rain would come and wondered how they could possibly top last year’s nature blip. Taking our spots along the Bisco army line, we looked up in unison to see millions of sparkles lighting the sky. Last year at Camp, spotlights shone on the rain, creating a fairy dust effect. This year, the spotlights married with laser beams, which then collided with the rain to create what can only be called god’s glitter. Listening to the Biscuits while watching the infinite crashing speckles brought tears and emotions, leaving everyone flabbergasted.

Every song sounded it’s best, from “Mindless Dribble,” to “Shem-Rah Boo,” it seemed like the Biscuits planned to avert this disaster. The “Knight Rider Theme” brought screams of excitement, and it was a nonstop segment until the very end. “Basis For A Day” was the ideal preparation for a high-force showdown. An inverted “Above The Waves” was a frozen moment in time, while friends gathered for hugs, sharing a bond that can only be understood after a weekend of Camp. Like real summer camp, the song hit hard, like the ocean swallowing us whole, and while we kept our steady tread, it was hard to do anything but go right under. The “Munchkin Invasion” brought us right back to shore, Magner bringing the earthlings of Camp to his Bisco-infected universe. And to the moon we went with “Lunar Pursuit,” where all the little munchkins took a shuttle to play, before it was time for one last downpour and the peak for “Basis For A Day.” And while it seemed only the basis for a weekend, Camp Bisco IX restored hope and recruited new minions to its own land. Where lightning storms are the time of your life, and the release of one band makes you feel like life is truly worth living.

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