Particle (band)
Encyclopedia
Particle is an American jam band
formed in Los Angeles
in 2000. The original members were Dave Simmons (guitar), Steve Molitz (keyboard), Eric Gould (bass), and Darren Pujalet (drums). Simmons died shortly after the formation of the band due to a sudden illness. Guitarist Charlie Hitchcock joined shortly thereafter. Along with The Disco Biscuits and Sound Tribe Sector 9
, the group was among the first to blend rock
, jazz
, funk
, and electronica
into the milieu of what has been dubbed livetronica
(a subgenre of the jam band movement where live bands blend the structures of DJ-produced sequenced electronic music into a more traditional live band setting). Prior to 2006, the band's repertoire consisted entirely of instrumental material.
The group made a name for itself and built an enthusiastic fan base, known as Particle People, by performing energetic late-night sets at festivals such as Bonnaroo. Reliance on word of mouth from fans, rather than advertising, allowed this group to sell out venues such as the Bowery Ballroom
in New York City
before they finally released their much anticipated first album, Launchpad, in early 2004. In April and May 2005 the group toured with former Grateful Dead
drummer Mickey Hart
as Hydra; the tour received mixed reviews from many Deadheads who were unaccustomed to Particle's electronic-based approach. Bassist Phil Lesh
, also of the Grateful Dead, sat in with the band that summer.
Following their performance on the Xingolati
Cruise in late 2005 the band dismissed Hitchcock from the group. This was a source of controversy in the months that followed, because the bands website stated that the departure was a mutual decision. Hitchcock, however, vehemently disagreed and went public by stating that he was summarily fired and was never able to overcome a "hired hand" stigma from the other bandmembers despite joining a mere six performances after the group's formation.
Replacing Hitchcock were Ben Combe and Scott Metzger
on guitars and vocals. Their first performance with the group in February 2006 was recorded, filmed, and released as Transformations: Live for the People that July. Featuring guest appearances by experimental rap duo Blackalicious
, Robby Krieger
of The Doors
, guitarist Joe Satriani
, and DJ Logic
, the album showcased the band exploring vocal-based music as well as incorporating more overt rock and hip hop
influences.
In late July 2006 Scott Metzger had to leave Particle due to a family emergency that required his long-term attention.
In October 2007 Ben Combe announced his departure from Particle. Combe expressed a desire to move in a different musical direction than the rest of the band, and remains on friendly terms. A July 2008 side project, PUJA, brought together Combe and Darren Pujalet of Particle, as well as Melvin Seals of The Jerry Garcia Band and Cristian Basso of Leo Nocentelli and Little Hercules.
Recent Particle shows have featured Josh Clark of Tea Leaf Green
, Michael Kang
of The String Cheese Incident, Dan Lebowitz of Animal Liberation Orchestra
, Lucas Bingham of Free Band Radio, Pete Wall (sax) of The Motet and former Particle members Ben Combe and Charlie Hitchcock. As of 2011, Particle's official homepage lists Gould, Pujalet, and Molitz as the current members of Particle.
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
formed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 2000. The original members were Dave Simmons (guitar), Steve Molitz (keyboard), Eric Gould (bass), and Darren Pujalet (drums). Simmons died shortly after the formation of the band due to a sudden illness. Guitarist Charlie Hitchcock joined shortly thereafter. Along with The Disco Biscuits and Sound Tribe Sector 9
Sound Tribe Sector 9
Sound Tribe Sector 9 is an instrumental band known for their live performances. The band’s genre-blending sound is based heavily on instrumental rock and electronic music crossed with elements of funk, jazz, drum and bass, psychedelia, and hip hop...
, the group was among the first to blend rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
into the milieu of what has been dubbed livetronica
Livetronica
Livetronica, a portmanteau of the words live and electronica, is a sub-genre of the jam band movement that blends such musical styles as rock, jazz, funk, and electronica. It consists primarily of instrumental music. The terms "Jamtronica" and "Trance fusion" are also used to refer to this style of...
(a subgenre of the jam band movement where live bands blend the structures of DJ-produced sequenced electronic music into a more traditional live band setting). Prior to 2006, the band's repertoire consisted entirely of instrumental material.
The group made a name for itself and built an enthusiastic fan base, known as Particle People, by performing energetic late-night sets at festivals such as Bonnaroo. Reliance on word of mouth from fans, rather than advertising, allowed this group to sell out venues such as the Bowery Ballroom
Bowery Ballroom
The Bowery Ballroom is a music venue in the Bowery section of New York City. The structure, at 6 Delancey Street, was built just before the Stock Market Crash of 1929. It stood vacant until the end of WWII, when it became a high-end retail store. The neighborhood subsequently went into decline...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
before they finally released their much anticipated first album, Launchpad, in early 2004. In April and May 2005 the group toured with former Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
drummer Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
as Hydra; the tour received mixed reviews from many Deadheads who were unaccustomed to Particle's electronic-based approach. Bassist Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh
Phillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
, also of the Grateful Dead, sat in with the band that summer.
Following their performance on the Xingolati
Xingolati
Xingolati is a floating music festival, with musical groups including The Flaming Lips, G Love and Special Sauce, Medeski Martin and Wood, Lucent Dossier Experience, Perpetual Groove, John Popper Project featuring DJ Logic, Slightly Stoopid Acoustic, Particle, Tea Leaf Green, The Everyone...
Cruise in late 2005 the band dismissed Hitchcock from the group. This was a source of controversy in the months that followed, because the bands website stated that the departure was a mutual decision. Hitchcock, however, vehemently disagreed and went public by stating that he was summarily fired and was never able to overcome a "hired hand" stigma from the other bandmembers despite joining a mere six performances after the group's formation.
Replacing Hitchcock were Ben Combe and Scott Metzger
Scott Metzger
Scott Metzger is an American guitarist.-Biography:Scott Metzger is a Brooklyn, New York based guitarist...
on guitars and vocals. Their first performance with the group in February 2006 was recorded, filmed, and released as Transformations: Live for the People that July. Featuring guest appearances by experimental rap duo Blackalicious
Blackalicious
Blackalicious is an American hip hop duo from Sacramento, California made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel . They are noted for Gift of Gab's often "tongue-twisting", multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's "classic" beats...
, Robby Krieger
Robby Krieger
Robert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, guitarist Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, and DJ Logic
DJ Logic
DJ Logic is an American turntablist active primarily in jazz and with jam bands.Kibler was born and raised in The Bronx. An early interest in hip hop led to his using the turntables, practicing often. Kibler was also interested in funk and jazz music, and began collaborating with various musicians...
, the album showcased the band exploring vocal-based music as well as incorporating more overt rock and hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
influences.
In late July 2006 Scott Metzger had to leave Particle due to a family emergency that required his long-term attention.
In October 2007 Ben Combe announced his departure from Particle. Combe expressed a desire to move in a different musical direction than the rest of the band, and remains on friendly terms. A July 2008 side project, PUJA, brought together Combe and Darren Pujalet of Particle, as well as Melvin Seals of The Jerry Garcia Band and Cristian Basso of Leo Nocentelli and Little Hercules.
Recent Particle shows have featured Josh Clark of Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green is a five-piece jam band from San Francisco Bay Area, comprising Josh Clark , Trevor Garrod , Reed Mathis , Scott Rager , and Cochrane McMillan .-History:Tea Leaf Green began in the fall of 1996, when Scott Rager met Ben Chambers on the...
, Michael Kang
Michael Kang
Michael Kang may refer to:*Michael Kang , director of the 2006 independent film The Motel*Michael Kang , member of the String Cheese Incident...
of The String Cheese Incident, Dan Lebowitz of Animal Liberation Orchestra
Animal Liberation Orchestra
Animal Liberation Orchestra is an American musical group, currently signed on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. They have released three full length albums...
, Lucas Bingham of Free Band Radio, Pete Wall (sax) of The Motet and former Particle members Ben Combe and Charlie Hitchcock. As of 2011, Particle's official homepage lists Gould, Pujalet, and Molitz as the current members of Particle.
Albums
- Transformations Live
- Launchpad (March 23, 2004 USA)
Singles
- "The Track Inside" (February 3, 2004 USA)
- "Launchpad" (November 9, 2004 USA)
Sources
- Vail Daily, background
- Yahoo! Music, background
External links
- Particle official website
- Particle collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive