Get to know the artists of Aura Music & Arts Festival 2015
Uniting elements of electronic dance music with more traditional forms of American rock, the Disco Biscuits have long established themselves as one of the most exciting – and influential – touring bands in the country. In the late 90s, the band pioneered a unique style of music, often referred to as “trance-fusion,” that distinguished them from their peers, while heavily influencing an entire generation of younger “livetronica” acts.
It’s now been more than 10 years since guitarist Jon Gutwillig, bassist Marc Brownstein, keyboardist Aron Magner, and original drummer Sam Altman first formed the Disco Biscuits from within the ivy walls of the University of Pennsylvania. Since then (and with Allen Aucoin now on drums, following his victory at a Bisco firing squad drum-off at Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino in 2005), the band has repeatedly sold out many of the nation’s most prestigious venues and are a proven draw at U.S. festivals, earning key slots at majors such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Along the way, they’ve accumulated cover stories (Relix Magazine), accolades (Jammy Award for “Jam of the Year”), and hit videos (“Caterpillar;” MTV Latin America).
The Disco Biscuits’ live show has developed from a regional nightclub attraction to a full on American experience. As Brownstein explains, “There’s this deep, fun-loving community built around the band that’s a decade old and which extends throughout the entire country. When we go anywhere, there’s something else going on that’s not just about the band and the music, but it’s a part of a greater experience.”
Standard rock concerts have become formulaic showcases where bands support their latest album by performing new songs amidst a selection of greatest hits. The Disco Biscuits, on the other hand, use their shows to create an entirely new album every night, in front of a live audience. Gutwillig equates it to watching a painter craft an image from scratch, using just a palette and a muse. “It’s unlike buying the art, where it’s already painted,” he says. “It’s watching the paint getting thrown on the canvas in a frenzy. And we’re doing it with dance beats and we’re doing it with grooves and we’re trying to make it as exciting as possible. It’s almost like getting cars into a field with cameras and just shooting a high-speed chase right there on the spot. What we’re trying to do, for the observer, is to make the most awesome, exciting, high-speed chase that they could possibly watch. And we’re trying to do it in a way that makes everyone feel like they went there, they lived it, and they felt it deep inside. That’s our goal.”
From modest beginnings in a Buffalo basement over two decades ago to today’s multifaceted success, the members of moe. have never lost sight of the earnest, elemental goals that they aspired to from their very first show: to deliver honest, heartfelt music and to ensure the audience has a good time. Considerate and conscientious in their actions and decision-making, moe.’ s refreshingly unpretentious attitude has won them a devoted legion of dedicated fans (ranging from seasoned concert-goers to eager young newcomers) and has given rise to a thriving cottage industry – a self-contained nation-state in which the band and their audience live as equals, thriving on a reciprocal appreciation rare in today’s increasingly fragmented musical landscape.
2010 marked the twentieth anniversary of moe.’ s frontline of Rob Derhak (bass, vocals), Chuck Garvey (guitar, vocals), and Al Schnier (guitar, keyboards, vocals), who continue to perform together with the addition of drummer Vinnie Amico and percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Jim Loughlin. Keeping a consistent lineup intact and productive over two decades is no small feat. moe.’ s saga is made all the more remarkable because they have consistently done so on their own terms, as independent artists who actively manage their own affairs while staying well ahead of industry and technological developments, including successfully self-releasing their own music and offering instant on-site digital concert recordings at their shows.
Jamtronica
Raised and influenced by the rhythm and culture of New York City, Adam Deitch and Borahm Lee fuse generations of the city’s rich musical legacy with their own deep-rooted connection to hip-hop heritage. Merging their production styles seamlessly, the duo creates a refreshingly original take on electronic music. The live show transcends expectations with Lee’s seasoned trip-hop/dub/jazz vibes on keyboards and Ableton Live and Deitch’s thunderous breakbeat style on drums. This Summer, Break Science electrified the festival circuit with packed dates across the country, including huge plays at Bonnaroo, Summer Set, Pemberton, Summercamp, Wakarusa, & Sonic Bloom Music Festivals. Lee and Deitch also brought their captivating style to Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado 5/31 (w/ Bassnectar).
2013 brings a new sound to a familiar face in the national music community. With an astonishingly talented cast of musicians, The Motet has refined their sound and their vision into a dynamic and expressive improvisational force.
Founded and led by drummer Dave Watts, the group began over ten years ago and hasn’t let up since. Featuring complex compositions written and arranged by Watts himself, the music tells a story through syncopated rhythms and melodies. As music and technology evolve at an astounding rate, so too has The Motet pioneered their unique sound while continuing to defy categorization. With roots in Jazz, Afrobeat, Funk, Salsa and Samba, The Motet keeps their audiences in a dancing frenzy by layering House and Techno rhythms into a style that is uniquely their own.