The Disco Biscuits played their first-ever shows at The Capitol Theatre this past weekend, and proved to fans that had been eager to see them at the legendary venue that it was definitely worth the wait. It could very well have been 2001 at The Wetlands all over again, as the choice to have Toronto-based electronic outfit theNEWDEAL open up lent itself to historical significance. Both bands played the now-closed venue together back in the day. It was a rather nice touch to the occasion.

The Biscuits got things started early with a “Pygmy Twylyte” opener, a choice which may have surprised many in the audience initially, but was definitely the right call to honor Frank Zappa, who had played the venue back in 1978. “Pygmy” segued into “Spraypaint,” and early on we got that first feeling of Biscuits magic, as the middle section examined patience and the space between the notes before the group built into a super funked-out jam that made it’s way nicely into “Rainbow Song”.  The highlight of the first set came in the way of “Spectacle,” however. A beautifully drawn out intro set the tone for a 20+-minute version that could very well go down as one of the best versions of the song played in recent memory.  

And then there was “Helicopters,” this is when The Cap’s roof starting seeing cracks, as everyone in attendance sang along in unison at the top of their lungs and started slapping the ground as the band dropped into a dirty jam that featured Johnny R. Goode’s laser light show extravaganza. You knew it was going to be straight eye candy when the band announced these shows, and Goode did not disappoint. There isn’t quite anything that makes you happier than a “Spraypaint” ending with Barber showcasing the shred; and to end the set, nonetheless, it certainly wasn’t a bad way to get this two-night run started.

On to the second set… and how about what accumulated to 40-minutes worth of “Mindless Dribble”? Yes, please, and thank you. Throw a “Crystal Ball” and “Highwire” into a first-time cover of Carl Carlton’s “She’s a Bad Mama Jama,” and you have yourself a nice, filling sandwich. The jam out of ending section of “Dribble” gave way to the ominously dark tones of what became a sinister “Orch Theme”; this song just makes you want to grab a heron-marked blade and go battle against the dark forces. And that darkness gave way to the light, as the group concluded the second set properly with a pretty ending to “Highwire”. A “Frog Legs” encore ended this first night in concise fashion. Overall, a solid show to whet the appetites of the masses for our return to The Cap on Saturday night.

Setlist: The Disco Biscuits at The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – 3/25/16

Set 1: Pygmy Twylyte> Spraypaint> Rainbow Song, Spectacle, Helicopters1> Spraypaint

Set 2: Mindless Dribble> Crystal Ball, Highwire> She’s A Bad Mama Jama2> Mindless Dribble> Orch Theme> Highwire

Encore: Frog Legs

1.    Unfinished
2.    First time played

With night one being a solid show, night two proved to be the straight fire. During “Bernstein & Chasnoff” there was an ever-so-slight tease of “Bombs” that had some in the crowd looking over to their friend and calling the next song. As the Biscuits meandered for another seven minutes or so, it left many second-guessing themselves. Then… BOOM! They quite literally dropped the bomb on us. And while that was fun, the fully inverted “Shelby Rose > And The Ladies Were The Rest of the Night” was spectacular, proving that the quartet of Brownstein, Gutwillig, Magner, and Aucoin were firing on all cylinders on this Saturday night special; this particular segment had the crowd in an absolute frenzy. “B&C” ended the first set for a much needed breather and libation.

The second set was a non-stop display of why the Biscuits are playing some of their best music in years. A 33-minute inverted “Above the Waves” saw Magner lead a super techno intro which eventually made its way seamlessly into straight Biscuits bliss, as The Cap’s projection screen showed breaking waves crashing against the walls of the venue, making the “Waves” lyrics and ensuing jam that much more apropos, and equally captivating. An exceptionally proficient “Mr. Don” came out of that massive “Waves” and kept the party rolling. There is something to be said about when Barber has his head down and doing his goofy dance moves, you just know he is feeling it.

Almost 50-minutes after beginning the religious experience that was “Waves > Mr. Don,” they dropped LCD Soundsystem’s “Home” for the first time since Camp Bisco, and on the eve of LCD’s comeback show at Webster Hall. To just throw more fuel to the fire, they finished the second set with a “Helicopters” ending. With the last note came a standing ovation for the ages (not that we were ever sitting). As the band stood on stage and took in the thunderous applause that they so very much deserved, you could see from the look on their faces they weren’t taking any of this for granted. Playing at this storied venue to sold-out rocking crowds each night had a clear effect, not just on them, but on everyone in the building.

A special tribute to A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg, who passed away last week from complications due to diabetes, was played during “Caves Of The East” as the lyrics to “Check The Rhime” were sampled over the song, and led into the ending of “Mr. Don” to put the final touches on what was an incredible show from start to finish.

It has to be said, for the record, that there isn’t a band taking more chances in the jam realm than The Disco Biscuits these days. They are keeping their setlists rather fresh, and while there may be an occasional stumble along the way (how can you not when you are playing 5-song, 80+-minute sets without ever stopping?), when these guys are on, it really doesn’t get much better. And you can quote me.

Setlist: The Disco Biscuits at The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – 3/26/16 

Set 1: Jam1> Bernstein And Chasnoff> Bombs> Shelby Rose2> And The Ladies Were The Rest Of The Night2> Bernstein And Chasnoff

Set 2: Hope3> Above The Waves2> Mr. Don> Home> Helicopters

Encore: Caves of the East4> Mr. Don

1.    With ‘Shem-Rah Boo’ teases
2.    Inverted version
3.    Unfinished
4.    With “Check the Rhime” (A Tribe Called Quest) sample

[taper love to Jesse Hurlburt via Archive.org]

*** Purchase the soundboards of the show at Live Downloads ***

[photos courtesy of Andrew Scott Blackstein]