A while back, I put together a little workout mix of some high-energy improv by the Disco Biscuits and added a tongue-in-cheek name just to have some fun. Although we knew it was a decent mix, Justin and I have been surprised at the warm reception we’ve gotten from it.

As a result, we’re back with another version of the “Hippie Workout Mix.” Per your recommendations we’ve lengthened this version substantially. Beyond that, we definitely stuck with the original theme: splicing together moments of high-energy improv to get you off your butt and really moving.

For future mixes, we’ll definitely be featuring other bands, but I just had too many solid picks leftover from the first mix to pass up doing a second version with music by the Disco Biscuits.

Enjoy and don’t forget to stretch!

Hippie Workout Mix, Volume 2 – “Bisco Triumpho”

• Live Music Blog Podcast #061 [mp3] (93.3 MB)
• Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe with iTunes

Size: 93.3 MB | Total running time: 1:07:59

Tracklist:
12/29/02 – “Gangsta” Jam
3/9/02 – “Hardcore” jam
7/26/02 – Nughuffer
3/8/02 – Triumph > Helicopters
9/5/01 – Helicopters
4/30/99 – Morph Düsseldorf*
10/5/02 – Astronaut*
4/17/99 – Basis for a Day*

*Remastered by Rich Steele

All tracks available for download and streaming via the Live Music Archive

Disco Biscuits Archives | Podcast Archives

As we’re getting closer to the Spring season, I am trying to focus on getting back in better shape for soccer season. As a result, I’ve been piecing together some tracks from the archives, specifically creating mixes geared towards my workouts.

I know I’m not the only one who listens to a lot of live music for exercising purposes. I bet lots of you have those choice tracks that include just the right amount of live concert energy to push you a bit further, lift a little more weight, or go that much faster. That raw energy of the concert experience can really do wonders for a workout.

With that in mind, I bring you the first in a podcast series known as Hippie Workout Mix. I’ve subtitled Volume 1 “Triumphant Bisco,” as I’ve spliced together a bunch of seriously energizing tracks by the Disco Biscuits.

Although the name is tongue-in-cheek, the musical motivation from these cuts is definitely no joke. Enjoy…

Hippie Workout Mix, Volume 1 – “Triumphant Bisco”

• Live Music Blog Podcast #059 [mp3] (45.3 MB)
• Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe with iTunes

*Tracklist:
7/24/03 – Jam >
10/29/99 – Mulberry’s > Helicopters
12/7/01 – Helicopters
12/29/01 – Shelby Rose > Crickets
3/8/02 – Morph Dusseldorf > Run Like Hell

Size: 45.3 MB | Total running time: 32:59

*all tracks available for download and streaming via the Live Music Archive

Disco Biscuits Archives | Podcast Archives

2/20 Update: Hey folks, looks like our iTunes feed is not functioning properly. We’re working on a fix, but the download link is still working fine.

For our 56th podcast, I went with another thematic mix, but this time with an old stand-by: the Disco Biscuits.

I’ve always been big fan of the Biscuits’ “dub” style of improvisation. While their take on Dub isn’t really the real-deal, classic style of Dub Reggae (by the likes of King Tubby or Augustus Pablo), it’s always been a cool type of dark, instrumental improv that mixes really well with their dancier electronic stylings. I’ve spliced together some of my favorites into a mix I have entitled: Bisco in Dub.

• Live Music Blog Podcast #056 [mp3] (47.2 MB)
• Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe with iTunes

Show notes:
1) 3/31/01 – “Down to the Bottom” intro
2) 12/30/01 – “Pygmy Twylyte”
3) 12/27/01 – “Hot Air Balloon”
4) 3/10/07 – “Orch Theme” from Langerado w/ Matisyahu on vocals
5) 12/28/01 – “Jigsaw Earth” (w/ Marc Brownstein banter spliced in)
6) 3/8/02 – “Above the Waves”
Total running time: 41:16

*all tracks from the Live Music Archive

If you dig this band’s sound, check out our Disco Biscuits archives for more tunes and other coverage. And for other mixes, don’t miss our podcast archives.

The Disco Biscuits are droppin this quick daytime slot in the midst of their typically busy holiday touring schedule, which winds up at the Tweeter Center for a long NYE night (all previously discussed here).

This is a great way to blast through the final workday of the week (unless, like so many other folks, you’re off this entire week). I often find the Disco Biscuits music to be a perfect grooving soundtrack to any task of mine that requires sitting in front of the computer for long periods of time. However, my guess is that this set will be short and a bit sanitized as Biscuits’s performances go. Short of seeing an actual concert, to experience the raw, electronic madness that is a Disco Biscuits show, your best bet is to tap into Biscoradio (the band-approved, fan-fueled Internet radio station).

However, if tDB ain’t your thing, keep in mind there are many other ways to stream the day away.

For more Bisco info, check out this recent Jambands.com interview with bassist Marc Brownstein, which includes some pointed questions from fans.

The shows are at nearby Ft. Lauderdale venues and include the following:

Thursday 3/8:

• Sound Tribe Sector 9 @ Revolution
• Tea Leaf Green and New Monsoon @ the Culture Room

Friday, 3/9:

• Disco Biscuits @ Revolution
• MOFRO @ the Culture Room

Saturday, 3/10:

• Michael Franti & Spearhead @ Revolution
• North Mississippi Allstars @ Culture Room

Sunday, 3/11:

• Perpetual Groove @ Culture Room

Tickets for both the festival and the late-night shows go on sale this Friday, 12/1 @ 10 AM at the Langerado site. A Spring-time festival in Florida is very tempting, hmmm…

So, what, you may ask, would I suggest as an alternative? There are all types of ways to mix it up for workouts, but if we’re gonna stick with the theme of the site and go with live music, I’d suggest a few bands that not only do the electronic rock thing, but really draw out the jams for maximum workout potential. Say what you will about these bands, but if you’re looking for some good live music to boost your running speed, you can’t go wrong with any of these guys. The following are just a few selections that have made me run just a little harder, add on a couple more weights, or just generally pumped me up.

1) The New Deal: Live at the Logan Square Auditiorium in Chicago, 3-18-05

MP3 Zip download

Stream

The New Deal can get a bit cheesy at times, but man do these guys make me move! There are a ton of other great shows available on the Live Music Archive, but this is one I attended and have used for many a long workout. It’s also a great recording and includes some fun interplay with the audience.

2) Brother Past: Dance Sampler

Brother Past Dance Sampler zip

Here’s an “improv-only” compilation of jams from electronic rock band Brothers Past, which tends more towards the drum-n-bass side of electronic rock. BP is currently on tour, and LMM is hoping to catch them in Chicago at the Beat Kitchen on 11/18.

3) Disco Biscuits: Rich Steele’s Halloween Mix

This was a mix of jam-only tracks (not complete songs) that audiophile fan, Rich Steele, put together a few years back for Halloween. He compiled some of his favorite dark and spooky tDB improvisations, fixed up the audio levels, and released the mix to fans. This one is divided up into individual tracks as follows:

Run Like Hell
Helicopters
House Dog Party Favor
Astronaut
Little Shimmy in a Conga Line
Magellan
Mindless Dribble
Basis for a Day

Fitting with the Halloween theme, the Disco Biscuits will be starting their fall tour on 10/31/06 in support of their newest release, Rocket 3 (which I included in this post). They’re also releasing their entire tour via Nugs.net’s LiveDownloads.com, and have a 20% discount for fans willing to take the plunge and pre-order the entire tour. Not sure if I’m that dedicated but I do think it’s a great promotion and fits nicely with my idea of the “Live Band Business Model”–which I have touched on before (mainly in my research, available over in the right column).

The evening will include sets by Keller Williams, Shpongle (Simon Posford), a DJ set by the ?uestlove (of the Roots), and of course, several sets by tDB…all in “Quadrophonic Sound” (which I’ve heard is pretty ridiculous but don’t completely understand). They’re also working in the late-night DJ angle with a heated outdoor tent dedicated to “psy-trance” artists from the UK’s Twisted Records (Hallucinogen, Younger brother, and Prometheus); it’ll be dubbed the “Twisted Tent” and will extend the party until 5AM. After the success of this year’s Camp Bisco, and tDB have definitely been putting together some successful dance party events with some solid live and electronic artists. So have the rave and hippy jamband worlds finally and officially converged!?! (Many a Bisco fan would cringe with the “hippy” mention, but it’s all in good fun, and at least somewhat accurate)

In other tDB News, they’ve got another live release on the way, called Rocket 3, culled from their NYE performance on 12/31/04. Apparently if you pre-order it by Monday, 10/23, they’ll throw in a video of the performance (and there’s currently a sample of it here). Although I know there are better Biscuits performances they could have released from the last several years, this is definitely one of the best during the band’s ‘in-between’ period right before their original drummer, Sam Altman, officially left the band. It may not be their best set, but even a good Biscuits show is still a great time (and full of raw, electronic energy). If anything, it’s a great example of what the band is able to pull off for its New Year’s celebrations.

• Chicago’s Innerview magazine has the full run-down of bands by date and set-time; nice and succinct.
• As it did for Coachella and Bonnaroo, AT&T’s Blueroom is offering a webcast of Lollapalooza for those of you who can’t make it to Grant Park for the actual festival. They’re webcasting a few selected artists from each day’s offerings.
• There are a bunch of after-parties and Lolla-related concerts going on this weekend; as always, Jambase has a solid calendar of events, and New City has a few other after-parties they’re promoting.
• Speaking of afterparties, Zeppelin tribute band, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, is at the Abbey on Sunday night for a Lolla after-party show, with a special guest filling in for Scotty Metzger on guitar. Justin at LiveMusicBlog suggests the psosibility of Trey Anastasio sitting in. Could very well be Jake Cinniger of Umphrey’s Mcgee or even Jon Gutwillig of the Disco Biscuits; either of those two would offer some stunning tributes to Jimmy Page, but Justin just might be right on this one, given the Duo’s recent connection to the ex-Phish guitarist.

UPDATE: Okay, so it looks like the guest guitarist for the Bustle show will be Brendan Bayliss of UM; hey, my guess was pretty darn close. Thanks to Justin for the scoop.

Did I miss something? Shoot me a note in the comments.

The Bays have taken over quite a bit of space on my iPod and have become a constant in my day-to-day listening. They’ve made it onto my “Live electronica” playlists, and continue to help me zone out in front of the computer screen for reading, writing, and other boring activities that need not be mentioned.

While several bands on this side of the Pond have been fusing live, electronic beats and improvisational rock (with the Disco Biscuits, the New Deal, and Sound Tribe Sector Nine leading the way since the late 90s), the Bays not only bring an entirely different feel of live electronica (being that they’re European), they also have decided to remain entirely improvisational, professing to never rehearse before walking on stage. While the New Deal, Canada‘s “live, progressive, breakbeat house” champions probably come closest to this open, improvisational approach, I really dig the Bays’ purely spontaneous take no matter how contrived it might seem when they’re bassist picks up the mic to explain it at seemingly every single show (you’ll see what I mean). They also have a uniquely open approach to releasing their material, professing that they do not sell albums, merchandise, or anything beyond the concert experience for their audiences. Best of all, much of their music is posted online for download, allowing people like me (who do not live in Europe) the chance to check them out…and you can be sure that if they ever tour the U.S., I will definitely not miss the chance to check them out in person.

If you’re a fan of electronic music, but really enjoy the “liveness” of a more traditional rock’n'roll concert, I would certainly point you to any of the aforementioned bands. But, the Bays just seem to come from a purely electronic perspective and it plays out in their performances. I will undoubtedly post about them again (esp. if anything new gets posted on their site), but for now, interested folks can stream their live show from the BBC Peel Sessions, catch an interview about their approach, and download a few shows from their website (note: you need to add your email address, but rest assured, no spam and they rarely ever send out emails).

The sixth annual Jammys took place Thursday at New York City‘s Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Leo Kottke and ex-Phish bassist, Mike Gordon, won an award for studio album of the year with “Sixty Six Steps,” Frank Zappa was honored with the Lifetime achievement award, and the tour of the year went to the Big Summer Classic, among other awards. As always, the awards show featured performances that mixed jam-friendly artists with random vintage rockers like Peter frampton and Joe Satriani, making for interesting combos of folks you’d probably never see together onstage; this year’s unique surprise was Blues Traveler’s performance with soul veteran Bettye LaVette.

But more interesting to LMM is the seemingly slow creep of the Jammys, and jambands in general, into the mainstream conscious of the traditional rock press. Billboard’s coverage lacked the standard knee-jerk reaction to jambands that usually includes comments on the smell of the “Hippie-college” crowd or an over-attentiveness to the long length of guitar solos. The AP coverage also hints at this gradual acceptance of improv-heavy bands–although it is framed in the reverse-order, as acceptance by jam fans of more mainstream bands like Guster–but my sense is that it is also working in the other direction. So are jambands no longer being mocked by the mainstream rock press and live music fans? Probably not the case, but it’s interesting to see a gradual shift in the way the “scene” is being covered these days. The rest of this year’s winners are covered here and below the break.

In other ‘jam-friendly’ news…

The history of the now-defunct NYC music club, the Wetlands, has now been captured in a new documentary, “Wetlands Preserved,” directed by Relix magazine and jambands.com senior editor Dean Budnick. Throughout the 90s and early 00s, the Wetlands was a constant grooming ground for some of the big acts in today’s jam scene, but it also hosted first NY concerts by the likes of Rage Against The Machine and Pearl Jam. The film includes songs from Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Phish, Pearl Jam, Ani DiFranco, Sublime, Ben Harper, moe., Robert Randolph and Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Although the Wetlands was dirty, dank, and came to be so notorious for its lack of ventilation that it was nicknamed the “Sweatlands,” it was also the venue for some of my favorite concerts ever played, including: the uber-experimental by the Disco Biscuits shows to close the venue in September of 2001 (9/1/01) and a series of shows by Steve Kimock’s various projects like KVHW (Kimock, Vega, Hertz, and White) on 10/16/98 – 10/17/98 and Steve Kimock Band in February and December of 2000…keep in mind, each of those concerts are now nicely documented at the Live Music Archive for your downloading pleasure, and come highly recommended by LMM.

Here’s the entire list of Jammy Awards winners:

• Studio album of the year: “Sixty Six Steps,” Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon
• Song of the year: “Taught To be Proud,” Tea Leaf Green
• Vonage Live album of the year: “Live at Myrtle Beach,” Widespread Panic
• Live performance of the year: moe., Feb. 10, 2005, Roseland Ballroom, New York
• Tour of the year: Big Summer Classic Tour, Summer 2005
• Archival album of the year: “Live at Madison Square Garden New Year’s Eve 1995,” Phish
• DVD of the year: “No Direction Home,” Bob Dylan
• New Groove of the year: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
• Lifetime achievement award: Frank Zappa
• World music award: Baaba Maal
• Green Apple industry award: Larry Bloch