STS9 at the House of Blues

Imagine a jam band in the realm of a String Cheese Incident or Widespread Panic, fused with a catchy techno-beat undercurrent and lots of juicy percussion. The party spirit on the Sunset Strip was alive and well for two sold-out nights of Sound Tribe Sector 9 at the House of Blues May 16 and 17.

The energy of this jam band is undeniable, with both fans and the uninitiated moving and grooving all night long. The sound is instrumental, meaning no vocals, and you can recognize influences from jazz to African to South American to rock and roll. It all sounds great together, with a virtuoso set of musicians led by insanely terrific drummer Zach Velmer.

Like Norway's Jaga Jazzist, another instrumental act with world class musical and artistic chops, powerful drumming and layers of percussion anchor the sound. An equally accomplished triumvirate of guitar, bass and keyboards breathe even more personality into the mix. This is the kind of music, and performers, to love. And like jamming predecessors the Dead and Phish, fans from all over turn out in force wherever they go.

The House of Blues, always rising to the rock and roll occasion, supported the shows by selling a two-night pass as well as individual evening’s tickets to the shows. When the band took a break in between sets, they allowed ins and outs for fans to take a breather outside, a rarity in the Southern California concert scene.

The sound system and acoustics were also impressive at the H.O.B., which were given a serious workout by STS9 and totally delivered. With its homestyle Cajun restaurant, the funky and exclusive Foundation Room, and ample floor space upstairs and down, House of Blues Sunset Strip is the perfect venue for this kind of down home, community-style event.

You can’t do much better in the rocking and jamming universe than to invest two and a half hours — a really generous show — in the free-form musicality and passion-infused sounds of Sound Tribe Sector 9. Sophisticated and rousing at the same time, and yet fundamentally devoid of sharp edges or gloomy notes. The show was upbeat, danceable, Burning Man-friendly, and high energy from beginning to end. STS9 is worth checking out the next time they're in your ‘burgh.