Having listened to STS9’s albums multiple times, working through their dense instrumentation and well-crafted harmonies on several occasions, this still proved to be very little in preparing me for their live performance. Showcasing their funk, electro, and hip-hop style through their diverse and contagious melodies, STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) gave one impressive and memorable performance at the House of Blues Sunset last Thursday. Starting off their set with “Be Nice,” the live session started at an already elevated level, coupled with the anticipation by fans, all was equally matched by the collective energies of the Hollywood venue. At times dubstep, techno, but always surprisingly funky EDM, STS9 delivered in the first half of their show with tracks such as “One a Day,” “Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist,” “Grizzly,” and the electrifying “Moonsocket” where, initially after its closing, one could hear the crowd catching their breath in unison after some serious physical activity.
While the crowd was interesting in and of itself, both in terms of their shared dance styles and demographic makeup, what became clear as the night went on was that everyone was grateful for being there and was enjoying themselves to the fullest. It is evident from STS9’s reception that their brand of funk, jam, Latin, rock and electronica, leave little to be desired in terms of musical alchemy. A complete sonic boom to the face of the receptive listeners, the magic of their ever-continuing set was the thread that led to the immersion and fascination by members of the audience—I noticed that even the service staff was grooving to a good deal of the performance. Coming back from a brief intermission with jams like “Scheme,” from When the Dust Settles and “Kamuy” from the record Offered Schematics Supporting Peace, they picked up where they left off, cooled down and refreshed, to build and improvise their way to a monstrous second set. Closing up with “What is Love,” STS9 briefly left the stage to a thunderous ovation that prompted their quick return to rally a definitive close to the night with “Frequency.”
Perhaps best described as the electrohippie version of Breakestra, Galactic with a tinge of the Latin rhythms of Quantic’s newer projects and the livetronic performances of Holy Fuck, STS9 incorporates bits and pieces of a multitude of sources, with a psychedelic, organic and non-stop stream of consciousness quality—a feel that’s unquestionably a product of the carefree environment cultivated in Santa Cruz as well as the communal element in their performance that prefers unit cohesiveness over showcasing individual talent. A sound much needed in the world that is being taken over by the heavy use of beat machines and software, STS9’s sound proves to be a potent mixture of man and machine. For electrophiles and groove searchers alike, I highly recommend catching STS9’s unique live show. It’s an enjoyable (and pleasantly overloading) stimulation for all of the senses. For a taste of STS9 check out their extensive collection of live recordings (mostly from the soundboard itself) available for free over at the Internet Archive.
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