Digital Frontier

A number of rising livetronica bands spent Saturday at Shermans Dale, PA's at Nulton's Tree Farm as part of the day-long Summer Solstice festival. A number of notable cameos took place during performances by trance-brethren Quagmire Swim Team, PUSH, and Digital Frontier. Brothers Past bassist Clay Parnell made a surprise appearance at the festival, jamming with PUSH and playing bass on a drum-n-bass jam during the Quagmire Swim Team original "Kinda Low." Suburban Transit drummer Kelly Hollinger also joined Quagmire Swim Team for an impromptu percussion segment when the stage temporarily lost power. Additionally, Digital Frontier flutist Jesse Stocker and bassist Luke Stocker made appearances during PUSH's second set for an extended twenty-plus minute jam. During Digital Frontier's late night performance, Quagmire Swim Team guitarist Buzz came out for a jam during the band's "Malibu" only to be cut short forty minutes (at 5AM) into their set by the state police. Digital Frontier and Quagmire Swim Team will share a bill this Friday, June 29, at New York City's Pussycat Lounge strip club as part of Mixed Bag Production's NYC debut of "Tits and Trance." - jambands.com

Since their inception in 2006, Digital Frontier has been pushing the boundaries of organic, live trance music. The quartet seamlessly fuses the hardwired sounds of synthesizers, keyboards, and computers – expertly tweaked by Matt Smilkstein – with lush flute runs played by Jesse Stocker, over pulsing beats, held down with drum machine-like perfection by drummer Sol Montoya and fellow battery-mate, bassist Luke Stocker. Digifront, as their fans call them, have garnered a loyal fanbase through out the northeast through a rigorous touring schedule and scorching live shows. Like all great musical explorers before them, they've set out on a boundless journey. If you're ready for the ride, join them in the Digital Frontier. - Adam Alperowicz: Relix Magazine Contributor

The young New York livetronica quartet Digital Frontier expanded into the world of hip-hop last night in Manhattan. The group, which plays a trancey brand of jam featuring flute and synth, was joined on stage by MCs Charles Hamilton and Yung Nate for a cross-genre mash-up at the Bowery Poetry Club. The sit-in served as a flawless segue between the band's set and the hip-hop act that followed. Digital Frontier first assembled early in 2006 but is fast gaining traction and renown in New York City. - Jambands.com

On Friday Disco Biscuits keyboardist Aron Magner played keyboards with King Britt, who produced several tracks on the group's forthcoming album. Aucoin also sat-in near the end of King Britt's set, before String Cheese Incident's Michael Travis showed off his bass, guitar and programming skills alongside Jason Hann in EOTO. Other festival highlights included Future Rock's set of Daft Punk covers (including onstage dancing robots), upcoming New Groove of the Month Grimace Federation's nod to Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #3" and the New Deal/Brothers Past collaboration The Join (during which Jon Gutwillig took the stage to throw glowsticks into the audience). Girl Talk also won over many new fans with his quick mash-ups and Digital Frontier did the same with early risers during their "beats before breakfast" noon spot. - Jambands.com & Jambase.com

Last night Mt. Kisco, NY's Digital Frontier made their Philadelphia debut at The Fire on a bill with local rising stars Codename. As a nod to the City of Brotherly Love, Brothers Past bassist Clay Parnell replaced DigiFront's Luke Stocker for an extended jam segment out of the band's original "Carriage," "Digitown" and a cover of "Funkytown." Digital Frontier will perform next aboard the Rocks Off Boat Cruise on September 7 with Psylab, while Parnell will play with BioDiesel at Chicago's Kenetic Playground tomorrow. - jambands.com

I’m listening right now to some live recordings of a New York electronica group called DigitalFrontier.

It’s all coming back to me now; the hindi hip hop playing on the speakers of the midnight cab to the Mercury Lounge, the tripped-out dreadlocked crowd, and the stage lights that regularly targeted burning bright beams directly onto our retinas. Like wow, man.

I think of the Mercury Lounge as a strictly analog club, the kind of venue that hosts six different bands on any given night and where success is measured in inches of beer on the floor.

I saw a woman there wearing open-toed heels, and patted myself on the back for having the presence of mind to wear motorcycle boots instead. But I digress.

DigitalFrontier is a unique symbiosis of musical talent.

Their sound last night was improvisational and psy-trance-ish and deliciously danceable.

On the electronic flute, Jesse Stocker wove melodic strands over, under and through the ambient plane of Matt Smilkstein’s keys.


The solid groove put down by drummer Sol Montoya and bassist Zach Catarelli held everything together.

This is a young band as yet without a label, and one that I hope will produce a studio recording in the near future.

Either that, or I better start planning which boots I’ll wear to their next festival gig.
- beatportal.com