Disco Biscuits

{{Short description|American jam band}} {{redirect|Trance fusion|the album by Frank Zappa|Trance-Fusion}} {{other uses|Disco biscuits (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Disco Biscuits | image = The Disco Biscuits Red Rocks Amphitheatre 5-30-2010 Photo Mike Hardaker.jpg | caption = The Disco Biscuits performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre 2010 | image_size = | landscape = yes | origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Trance fusion|Livetronica|Psytrance|Jam band}} | years_active = 1995–present | label = Independent Label Group/Megaforce Records | website = {{URL|discobiscuits.com}} | current_members = Marc Brownstein Aron Magner Jon Gutwillig Marlon B. Lewis | past_members = Sam Altman Allen Aucoin }}

The '''Disco Biscuits''' are an American jam band from Philadelphia. The band consists of Marc "Brownie" Brownstein (bass guitar, vocals), Jon "The Barber" Gutwillig (guitar, vocals), Aron Magner (keyboards, synths, vocals), and Marlon B. Lewis (drums). The band incorporates elements from a variety of musical genres with a base of electronic and rock. Their style has been described as trance fusion.<ref name="moon">{{Cite news | title=Playing 'trance fusion' The experimental and progressive Disco Biscuits will lead jam bands of a different sort into Wilmingon <nowiki>[</nowiki>sic<nowiki>]</nowiki>. The 'Bisco Knights' festival will be heavy on loops and techno sounds. | first=Tom | last=Moon | url=http://articles.philly.com/2001-08-24/entertainment/25298032_1_trance-fusion-disco-biscuits-jon-gutwillig | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922135040/http://articles.philly.com/2001-08-24/entertainment/25298032_1_trance-fusion-disco-biscuits-jon-gutwillig | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 22, 2015 | newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer | date=August 24, 2001 | access-date=November 27, 2012}}</ref><ref name="bbt">{{Cite web | title=The Disco Biscuits | url=http://bestbuytheater.com/eventdetail.php?id=37694 | publisher=Best Buy Theater | year=2012 | access-date=November 27, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109121532/http://bestbuytheater.com/eventdetail.php?id=37694 | archive-date=November 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="wavehouse">{{Cite web | title=Disco Biscuits at 4th and B | url=http://www.wavehouse.com/news/disco-biscuits-4th-and-b | access-date=November 27, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706003400/http://www.wavehouse.com/news/disco-biscuits-4th-and-b | archive-date=July 6, 2012 }}</ref>

== History == The Disco Biscuits formed in 1995 at the University of Pennsylvania. Brownstein, Gutwillig, Magner, and the original drummer, Sam "Sammy" Altman, bonded over a shared affinity for psychedelic rock, electronic music, soul, blues, jazz and classical music. This eclectic mix of interests helped inspire their style of live electronic music, which is sometimes called 'trance fusion'. The term references the band's choice to incorporate elements of trance music - specifically the driving, rhythmically repetitive drum beats and melodic sections that repeat and evolve over time - into the instrumentation and conventions of a live jamband where guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums play structured songs with sections for exploratory improvisation.

The band honed their style while playing at bars and fraternity-house shows in the Philadelphia area in the mid-1990s. Bassist Marc Brownstein credits the improvisational ingenuity demonstrated by the jamband Phish during the 95-97 tours as a particular inspiration for the Disco Biscuits' sound.

The first inklings of what ultimately became trance-fusion emerged during shows played by the band shortly after keyboardist Aron Magner incorporated a Roland JP-8000 into his live setup in late 1997. This analog-modeling synthesizer supplied sounds that lent a distinctly electronic flavor to jams that were in most other ways typical Phish-inspired blues-rock improvisations.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}

In 2005 drummer Sammy Altman left the band to pursue a career in medicine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://glidemagazine.com/6384/disco-biscuits-drummer-sam-altman-leaves-the-band/|title=Disco Biscuits Drummer Sam Altman Leaves The Band - Glide Magazine|date=November 6, 2004|work=Glide Magazine|access-date=July 28, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> The band began a search for their next drummer ending with a two-night, sold-out drum-off concert at the Borgata's Music Box in Atlantic City.<ref>{{Citation|last=Disco Biscuits|title=Disco Biscuits Live at Atlantic City Drum Off, Borgata Casino, Music Box on 2005-11-18|date=November 18, 2005|url=https://archive.org/details/db2005-11-18c02sfa.flac16|publisher=George Ewing (gewing@tapers.org)|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> In December 2005 Allen Aucoin was announced as the new member of the band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://livemusicblog.com/2005/12/15/disco-biscuits-announce-new-drummer/|title=Disco Biscuits Announce New Drummer|date=December 15, 2005|website=Livemusicblog.com|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> Aucoin knew members of the Biscuits' road crew and had opened for the Biscuits with his previous band, Skydog Gypsy, in the past.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://jambands.com/the-loop/2010/12/24/back-to-bisco-introducing-allen-aucoin-a-five-year-flashback/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-date=September 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907082221/http://www.jambands.com/the-loop/2010/12/24/back-to-bisco-introducing-allen-aucoin-a-five-year-flashback |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2006 the band purchased the Old City Philadelphia studio space that had previously belonged to DJ Jazzy Jeff. The space became a place for local musicians to congregate and work, culminating in the collaborations recorded in recording studio efforts known as the ''Planet Anthem'' sessions. Around the time ''Planet Anthem'' was released, the Biscuits also collaborated with hip-hop producer Damon Dash working on a variety of projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://relix.com/articles/detail/the-disco-biscuits-aron-magner-unabashedly-on-time/|title=The Disco Biscuits' Aron Magner: Unabashedly "On Time"|date=July 8, 2010|website=Relix Media|access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref>

The band has created live, improvised scores to films on occasions throughout their career, including ''Akira'' in 1999,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Biscuits Internet Project |url=https://discobiscuits.net/resources/movie-scores |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=discobiscuits.net}}</ref> ''Tron'' in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2016-01-01 |title=Watch The Disco Biscuits Live-Jam The Movie 'Tron' For Incredible New Year's Performance |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/watch-the-disco-biscuits-live-score-the-movie-tron-for-incredible-new-years-performance/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=L4LM |language=en-US}}</ref> ''The Fifth Element'' in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gustafson |first=Hana |date=2023-03-13 |title=The Disco Biscuits Revive Movie Night Tradition, Play to 'The Fifth Element' at The Caverns |url=https://jambands.com/news/2023/03/13/the-disco-biscuits-revive-movie-night-tradition-play-to-the-fifth-element-at-the-caverns/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Jambands |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''2001 A Space Odyssey'' in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sissler |first=James |date=2024-11-05 |title=The Disco Biscuits Celebrate Halloween With A Subterranean Space Odyssey At The Caverns [Photos/Videos] |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/the-disco-biscuits-halloween-space-odyssey-the-caverns/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=L4LM |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Lineup change (2025)=== In October 2025, drummer Allen Aucoin departed The Disco Biscuits after more than twenty years with the band.<ref name="bandstatement">{{cite web |title=The Disco Biscuits Announce Drummer Allen Aucoin's Departure |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DQSWoDUj44z/?igsh=OTZheGt4YzFqc2E2 |website=Instagram |publisher=The Disco Biscuits |date=October 2025 |access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref> In a statement released jointly by Jon Gutwillig, Marc Brownstein, and Aron Magner, the group said that the decision "came after many years of reflection, conversations, and attempts to work through challenges," emphasizing that it was "not financially driven" but related to "communication, creative direction, and the ability to connect on and off stage". The statement also noted the band's appreciation for Aucoin's contributions over more than a thousand shows and announced that Marlon B. Lewis would join as drummer for the remainder of the year, with all tour dates moving forward as planned.<ref name="bandstatement" />

Aucoin released his own statement confirming his departure, writing, "After 20 incredible years with The Disco Biscuits, the band is moving forward without me." He added that while there were "multiple reasons for this decision by the band," it was "not solely financially driven". Aucoin thanked fans, crew, and bandmates for two decades of touring and recording, saying he remained "deeply grateful". <ref name="allenstatement">{{cite web |title=Allen Aucoin Statement on Departure from The Disco Biscuits |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DQSYKalEvEp/?igsh=bHVnYXRsMTIzazFy |website=Instagram |publisher=Allen Aucoin |date=October 2025 |access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref>

== Camp Bisco == {{Infobox music festival | name = Camp Bisco | image = File:Skrillex_Camp_Bisco_X.jpg | caption = | location = Indian Lookout Country Club in upstate New York, Montage Mountain in Scranton PA | years_active = 1999-2021 | founders = The Disco Biscuits | dates = | genre = Electronic music, | attendance = | capacity = | website = }}

The first Camp Bisco took place in August 1999 in Cherrytree Township, Pennsylvania, with the band seeking to combine the creative effects of electronic DJs with improvisational rock. Camp Bisco grew over its 17 years of festivities, with the lineup expanding to include acts such as Shpongle, Lotus, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Gramatik, and STS9.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/skrillex-bassnectar-and-disco-biscuits-bond-at-camp-bisco-20120715#ixzz20jqIDvDU|title=Camp Bisco 2012 Recap: Disco Biscuits Host Skrillex, Bassnectar at Three-Day Festival|newspaper=Rolling Stone|access-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jambands.com/features/2015/07/14/marc-brownstein-returns-to-camp/|title=Mark Brownstein Returns to Camp|website=Jambands.com|date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref> The band celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the festival during July 2017 at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://campbisco.com/festival-info/|title=Festival Info {{!}} Camp Bisco|website=Camp Bisco|language=en-US|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref>

Camp Bisco was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band participated in the drive-in "Pavement Rave" concert series at the same venue as a replacement event. The 2021 festival was also canceled, citing that it could not be organized in time without compromising the experience. Two concert dates in Philadelphia were organized as a replacement, headlined by the band and Lotus.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 1, 2021|title=Disco Biscuits cancel 2021 Camp Bisco in Scranton, play City Bisco shows in Philadelphia instead|url=https://nepascene.com/2021/06/disco-biscuits-cancel-camp-bisco-scranton-play-city-bisco-shows-philadelphia-instead/|access-date=June 25, 2021|website=NEPA Scene|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Biscoland (2023–2024) == Biscoland is a festival-style event curated and hosted by the band ''The Disco Biscuits'', held at Wonderland Forest in LaFayette, New York. The festival ran for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, and marked the band’s return to large-scale festival production following earlier events such as Camp Bisco and City Bisco.<ref name="jambands2023">{{cite web |title=The Disco Biscuits Announce Biscoland 2023, a Two-Day Festival Experience in LaFayette, N.Y. |url=https://jambands.com/news/2023/07/11/the-disco-biscuits-announce-biscoland-2023-a-two-day-festival-experience-in-lafayette-n-y/ |website=Jambands.com |date=July 11, 2023 |access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref><ref name="relix2024">{{cite web |title=The Disco Biscuits' Biscoland Announces Expanded Return in July |url=https://relix.com/news/detail/the-disco-biscuits-biscoland-announces-expanded-return-in-july/ |website=Relix |date=March 13, 2024 |access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref>

=== History and format === The inaugural Biscoland took place on October 6–7, 2023, as a two-day event at Wonderland Forest. The venue, described by organizers as being set amid “the rolling hills of Central New York’s Apple Valley,” offered fans a camping-based festival featuring performances surrounded by forest and natural scenery.<ref name="jambands2023" /> The 2023 lineup featured four sets by ''The Disco Biscuits'', two sets by ''Lotus'', and appearances by Emancipator, Papadosio, Sunsquabi, The Floozies, Eggy, and Spaga Plays Dead (Aron Magner’s side project).<ref name="jambands2023" /> In 2024, Biscoland returned for an expanded three-day event from July 4–6, shifting from autumn to Independence Day weekend. The 2024 event again featured four sets by ''The Disco Biscuits'', along with a performance by their improvisational alter-ego act, ''Tractorbeam''. The lineup included ''Lettuce'', ''Nora En Pure'', ''Break Science'', ''Kitchen Dwellers'', ''Manic Focus'', and ''RAQ''.<ref name="relix2024" /><ref>{{cite web |title=The Disco Biscuits Unveil Biscoland Artist Lineup with Lettuce, Nora En Pure, Tractorbeam and More |url=https://jambands.com/news/2024/04/16/the-disco-biscuits-unveil-biscoland-artist-lineup-with-lettuce-nora-en-pure-tractorbeam-and-more/ |website=Jambands.com |date=April 16, 2024 |access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref> The 2024 event also featured extended improvisational performances, including the debut of a 33-minute version of “Another Spin” and other new material.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Disco Biscuits Jam Through New Originals and Debuts at Biscoland 2024 |url=https://relix.com/news/detail/disco-biscuits-jam-through-new-originals-and-debuts-at-biscoland-2024/ |website=Relix |date=July 7, 2024 |access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref>

== Rock operas == Brownstein and Gutwillig have each written rock operas. Gutwillig was first, writing the Hot Air Balloon sometime before it debuted on December 31, 1998, at Silk City in Philadelphia. Brownstein wrote the Chemical Warfare Brigade in early 2000 while on hiatus from the band. It debuted at the Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia on August 19, 2000 along with his side project Electron. The Disco Biscuits played the Chemical Warfare Brigade for the first time at the Vanderbilt in Plainview, New York on December 30, 2000. In 2022 the band begun to debut parts of a third opera entitled Revolution in Motion which was released March 29, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Disco Biscuits Confirm New Album 'Revolution In Motion' & Share Part 1 Animated Film|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/disco-biscuits-new-album-revolution-in-motion-space-opera}}</ref>

== Philanthropy == The Disco Biscuits are involved in a number of charitable efforts including food drives and raising money for hurricane relief.<ref>Sarafan, Greg (2011) {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130126015650/http://sensiblereason.com/the-disco-biscuits-and-mcp-ask-their-fans-for-help/ Disco Biscuits Ask Fans For Help]}}", ''SensibleReason.com''</ref> In 2004, Brownstein (along with Andy Bernstein, author of The Pharmer's Almanac) founded HeadCount, a national, nonpartisan, non-profit, organization that partners with musicians to promote participation in democracy in the United States by registering voters at concerts. In 2010, the keyboardist Aron Magner was named to the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Young Playwrights theatre arts program.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.relix.com/news/detail/the-disco-biscuits-aron-magner-to-aid-young-playwrights|title=The Disco Biscuits' Aron Magner To Aid Young Playwrights|website=Relix Media|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref>

==Band members==

{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Current members''' * Jon Gutwillig – guitar, vocals * Marc Brownstein – bass, vocals * Aron Magner – keyboards, vocals * Marlon Lewis – drums

{{col-2}} '''Former members''' * Sam Altman – drums (1995–2005)<ref name="Band History">{{cite web |title=Band History |url=https://discobiscuits.net/resources/history |website=DiscoBiscuits.net}}</ref> * Allen Aucoin – drums (2005–2025)<ref name="Band History"/> {{col-end}}

===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:10 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1995 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1995 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1995

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:keyboard value:purple legend:Keyboards id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:albums value:black legend:Studio_album id:EP value:gray(0.6) legend:EP id:other value:pink legend:Other_albums

LineData = color:albums layer:back at:01/02/1996 at:05/19/1998 at:04/03/2001 at:09/17/2002 at:02/02/2010 at:07/07/2011 at:03/29/2024

LineData = color:EP layer:back at:10/29/2009 at:11/18/2009 at:02/03/2023 at:01/19/2024

LineData = color:other layer:back at:04/18/2006 at:11/14/2006 at:11/24/2014 at:12/09/2022

BarData = bar:Jon text:"Jon Gutwillig" bar:Aron text:"Aron Magner" bar:Marc text:"Marc Brownstein" bar:Sam text:"Sam Altman" bar:Allen text:"Allen Aucoin" bar:Marlon text:"Marlon Lewis"

PlotData= width:11 bar:Jon from:start till:end color:guitar bar:Jon from:03/11/2000 till:05/19/2000 color:bass width:7 bar:Jon from:start till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Marc from:start till:01/03/2000 color:bass bar:Marc from:07/12/2000 till:end color:bass bar:Marc from:start till:01/03/2000 color:vocals width:3 bar:Marc from:07/12/2000 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Aron from:start till:end color:keyboard bar:Aron from:start till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Sam from:start till:08/27/2005 color:drums bar:Sam from:03/11/2000 till:05/20/2000 color:bass width:3 bar:Allen from:12/28/2005 till:09/07/2025 color:drums bar:Marlon from:10/31/2025 till:end color:drums }}

== Discography ==

===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" |+ List of studio albums |- ! Header text !! Header text |- | ''Encephalous Crime'' || *Released: January 2, 1996 *Label: self-released |- | ''Uncivilized Area'' || *Released: May 19, 1998 *Label: Megaforce Records |- | ''They Missed the Perfume'' || *Released: April 3, 2001 *Label: Megaforce Records |- | ''Señor Boombox'' || *Released: September 17, 2002 *Label: Megaforce Records |- | ''Planet Anthem'' || *Released: February 2, 2010 *Label: Diamond Riggs Records *US #157 Heatseekers #5 |- | ''Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens'' || *Released: July 7, 2011 *Label: Diamond Riggs Records |- | ''Revolution in Motion'' || *Released: March 29, 2024 *Label: Megaforce Records |}

===Other albums=== * ''Bisco Lives'' (2000) * ''Bisco Lives 2: Freedom Boulevard'' (2002) * ''Trance Fusion Radio Broadcast Vol. 1-4'' (2003) * ''Under the Influence: A Jam Band Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd'' (2004) * ''The Wind at Four to Fly'' (2006) * ''Rocket 3'' (11/14/2006) * ''On Time EP'' (10/29/2009) * ''Widgets EP'' (11/18/2009) * ''The Classical Set'' (11/24/2014) * ''Another Plan of Attack EP'' (12/09/2022) * ''Shocked'' (02/03/2023) * ''Live From Austin, TX (September 16, 2023)'' (2023) * ''Revolution in Motion, Pt. 1 EP'' (01/19/2024)

== Filmography == * ''Live at the Palladium'' (2004) * ''Camp Bisco IV'' (2005) * ''Jam in the Dam'' (2006) * ''Progressions'' (2007) * ''Bisco Inferno 09/10'' (2011)

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}}

Category:Jammy Award winners Category:Electronic music groups from Pennsylvania Category:Musical groups from Pennsylvania Category:Rock music groups from Philadelphia Category:Livetronica music groups Category:Music festivals established in 1999 Category:Musical groups established in 1995 Category:1995 establishments in Pennsylvania