For three straight nights, STS9 took the Georgia Theatre through a funkified, electronic joyride, stringing together a run of shows to remember for their loyal and rowdy fan base. The first night’s showcasing came toward the end of the second set, with a string of three songs in “Scheme Reprise,” followed by “Mobsters,” and “Surreality.” The band was just warming up for what would come the following night.
On night two, STS9 had a treat in store for the audience by featuring Nashville vocalist Maureen Murphy on a number of epic tunes. One of the songs STS9 worked Murphy into was “Good Times,” originally by Chic, which they artfully fit into their own “Four Year Puma,” dishing out some danceable ear candy. Also with Murphy, STS9 opened a ten year time capsule in, “Better Day,” which the band hadn’t played since April 16, 2005.
Set one of night three boasted a skillful “Ramone & Emiglio,” and set two featured a tasty sandwich of Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” in-between “Really What?” jams—a true showcase of this band’s value. This three night heater showed me three things about STS9: the funk is back, it is here to stay, and we saw it in Athens.
Check out photos and setlists below:
2015.03.19 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA:
SET I: Arigato > Grow, Instantly, Oil & Water, Kaya, Somesing > Monkey Music, Love Don’t Terrorize > Bosso Profundo > Love Don’t Terrorize
SET II: MOD > Potamus, When The Dust Settles, King Pharoah’s Tomb, Scheme Reprise, Mobsters > Surreality > EB
ENCORE: 986 Ft. Tall Trees, Jebez
2015.03.20 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA:
SET I: Equinox, Blu Mood, Simulator, Frequencies Peace DnB > Frequencies Peace 2 > Frequencies Peace 3, Shock Doctrine, Four Year Puma > Good Times (Chic) ** > Four Year Puma
SET II: Kamuy > Groove Is In The Heart (DeeLite) ** > Kamuy, Vapors, Nautilus > Aimlessly, GLOgli, Crystal Instrument, Click Lang Echo **
ENCORE: Better Day ** > By The Morning Sun
** – with Maureen Murphy on vocals @murphsings
2015.03.21 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA:
SET I: Modular (Improv) > Evasive > Only Light Remains Jam, World Go Round, Ramone & Emiglio, Peoples, Move My Peeps > Inspire Strikes Back
SET II: Music Us, Really What? > Rockit (Herbie Hancock) > Really What?, Golden Gate, Totem, Baraka, EHM, Circus
ENCORE: …And Some Are Angels, Life’s Sweet Breath