STS9 closed out 2025 with a three-night New Year’s run at New Orleans’ Joy Theater, less than half a mile from Bourbon Street where a deadly attack killed 14 people in the early morning hours of January 1st. Before tragedy struck the Crescent City, the instrumental jamtronic ensemble wove a cosmic tapestry across seven sets.
Tribe’s year-ending engagement sadly moved from one fatal scene to the next, as it was originally planned for Asheville, NC but was moved following the catastrophic Hurricane Helene. Shortly after the band finished its final show early New Year’s Day, a man intentionally drove a pickup truck down the crowded Bourbon Street, killing 14 and injuring dozens more. The driver died in a shootout with police at the scene, and the FBI has labeled the attack an act of terrorism. Among the victims was Drew Dauphin, a 26-year-old man from Birmingham, AL in town for Billy Strings‘ New Year’s run at the nearby UNO Lakefront Arena.
“Our hearts are heavy as we check in from New Orleans,” the band wrote on social media following the attack. “We’re sending our deepest love and prayers to the victims of last night’s tragedy, their families, and the entire New Orleans community. Please stay safe and look out for one another.”
Check out some photo galleries from STS9’s New Orleans run courtesy of photographer James Cook, along with full audio of the December 29th and 30th shows. Next month, STS9 will board Jam Cruise 21 to top the lineup featuring Snarky Puppy, Thievery Corporation, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lettuce, Galactic ft. Jelly Joseph, and more. The band also just announced it will take part in a two-day camping event with The String Cheese Incident and The Del McCoury Band in Wisconsin in August. Find STS9 tickets and tour dates on the band’s website.
STS9 — Joy Theatre — New Orleans, LA — 12/29/24 — Full Audio
STS9 — Joy Theatre — New Orleans, LA — 12/30/24 — Full Audio
Setlist: STS9 | Joy Theatre | New Orleans, LA | 12/29/24
Set One: Metameme, Crystal Instrument, Haze > Modular Improv > Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist > Call > Hidden Hand, Hidden Fish, Kabuki, Surge > Modular Improv, Wika Chikana, Instantly > Modular Improv
Set Two: Empires > New Soma, Lift You Up > 20-12 > Modular Improv, Falling [1], Get Loud > Modular Improv > Inspire Strikes Band
Encore: What Is Love
[1] D&B remix
Setlist: STS9 | Joy Theatre | New Orleans, LA | 12/30/24
Set One: Really What > Four Years Puma, Dusk > Modular Improv > Monkey Music, Be Nice > Modular Improv > Equinox, 118, Glogli
Set Two: Totem > Modular Improv, Fires > Scheme, Never Never, New Untitled, Muir Soul > Modular Improv, Sun Moon & Stars > Modulr Improv
Encore: Life’s Sweet Breath
Setlist: STS9 | Joy Theatre | New Orleans, LA | 12/31/24
Set One: Out of This World > Modular Improv > Frequency Funk > Out of This World, Searchlight > Rent, Dance, Simulator > Kamuy
Set Two: Worry No More > Modular Improv, Seed > Evasive Maneuvers > Modular Improv, Enceladus > STS9, Shakey Ground > Brace Yourself Jason > Shakey Ground
Set Three: Countdown, Circus, Breathe In, Soul Slap > Modular Improv, GLASS-z13 > When the Dust Settles, Click Lang Echo
Encore: Better Day > Modular Improv
