Sound Tribe Sector 9 delivered a sonic serotonin hit to the all-ages crowd at the legendary Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA, playing their signature bass and drum driven sound that resists definition.
The genre-bending jam band blended funk, electronic, hip hop and rock elements as they built beats through synchronized rhythms filtered through multiple MacBooks. STS9 s original, eclectic beats displayed creative collaboration and technical prowess. Rather than relying on solos to structure their tracks, they impressively built their sprawling, complex songs on collective, cohesive group improvisation that integrates the distinct parts of the music into a greater whole. “We’re five people with different tastes and styles,” says bassist David Murphy. “But ultimately we let the songs tell us what to do.”
With jams that often grooved past the five-minute mark, their swirling, mesmerizing sound grew patiently and thoughtfully until culminating with a hypnotic, community-wide contact high. While their sound is primarily instrumental, it still communicates a joyfulness that resonated with the audience, especially one as energetic and enthusiastic as only an all-ages campus shows can bring. The creative alchemy of the Sound Tribe, live artists, light shows and colorful audience members resulted in a communal, memorable, and irresistibly danceable evening.
-- Jenna Glass [August 28, 2008]
