Stay Up Late and Shake with STS9

© Dave Vann / RumBum.com

Sound Tribe Sector 9 at Rothbury 2009

Sound Tribe Sector 9 didn't just play one late, late night show at ROTHBURY, nope these nocturnal music  maniacs played two shows. The first took place in the Ranch Area stage July 3rd and didn't get started until 1:10am. It lasted over three hours. The following day, they got their Independence Day energy out with their second show, a live PA set in Sherwood Forrest. That hour-long set began at 2am. Frankly, STS9 knows how to bring it.

Not surprisingly, the audience loved it.  Actually, loved is putting it mildly. Thousands of glow sticks lit the scene. Some accented the eccentric festival fashions while hundreds others lit the sky after being tossed into the air; mixing well with the artistically hypnotic light show that included LCD panels.

Dolphins, a T-Rex and other pool toys surfed the ocean of humans who were raving to the psychedelic, post-rock instrumentals. And those weren't the only cute things making appearances at the show. Some parents were seen at the both shows with their toddlers. Because, you know, toddlers enjoy a good dance party just like the rest of us.

STS9's mission is to create a musical experience where the music reacts to the party just as much as the party reacts to it. It's kind of like if your iPod was set to genius mode and knows what you want and when you want it. Only STS9 isn't set to genius mode, STS9 is set to freaky omniscient mode. No one is quite sure how they do it, but STS9 just knows how to bring you to life and heighten reality through their music.

One possible theory for this is that they favor subtle melodic and rhythmic shifts instigated by multiple band members, rather than solos; a noteworthy contrast to typical jam bands. Another reason is that they don't play the same song during an extended concert engagement that features multiple dates. That keeps the music fresh, and keeps the band on their toes.

STS9 has a special gift for the unlucky to have missed it and for the Rothburians whose glow sticks are slowly fading, despite having placed them in the freezer. STS9 is offering downloads of both (yes both!) ROTHBURY performances on their website STS9.com. It's just one of the ways STS9 keeps the party going.

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