Overview
Sound Tribe Sector 9 was a pioneering force in the rise of livetronica music in the early 2000’s. Better known by the acronym STS9, this band’s blend of live rock band instrumentation and disco flair has earned them a cult following across the United States.
Founded in Georgia in the late 90s, STS9 debuted with Interplanetary Escape Vehicle in 1998. While the album had some funky foundation, it would ultimately pale in comparison to how their sound would develop over the decades. Now with over twenty full-length albums under their belts, the members of STS9 have fully solidified their psychedelic brand of breakbeat and dub.
The group’s constant touring and captivating live shows gained them a legion of fans from the world of jam bands. Throw in a legendary Red Rocks Performance with The String Cheese Incident, and a festival supernova was born.
After relocating to California in the 2000s, STS9 formed their own record label, 1320 Records. As of 2022, the imprint hosts over 1,000 releases from over 100 artists including Bassnetar, Big Gigantic, Pretty Lights and Russ Liquid. They continued to pump out both in-studio and live albums. Arguably, the most notable albums include 2005’s Artifact and 2008’s Peaceblaster. Artifact went so far as to reach #12 on Billboard's Top Electronic Albums.
From a musical standpoint, Sound Tribe isn’t like most “jam bands.” Always the spiritual seekers, the band openly prioritizes spirituality, equality and “the freeing of musical egos.” This takes their live performances away from the traditional framework of wacky solos and further roots it in the group identity of the band. They instead focus on repetitive group hooks that create a thick tapestry of hypnotic and danceable sound.
The musicians of STS9 are also active advocates. In the past they’ve used concert performances to raise aid for Hurricane Katrina victims and create food drives at concerts and festivals.
