ZXL (Zack Hagan)

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of The Origin of the Species, fringe-event organizers Winkel & Balktick invite you to climb aboard their version of the famous HMS Beagle for a night of art installations, performance pieces, games, and music in tribute to perhaps the most famous scientific treatise of all time. House, dubstep, and disco are spun throughout the night by the likes of BeenJammin', Arrow Chrome, and D_JUICE, while those craving something live can check out eclectic musical performances from ZXL, Miss Angelina, and Sistine Criminals. If you couldn't make it to the playa this year, this incredibly artistic (seriously, almost 20 art installations and counting!) party is definitely the next best thing. - Wolcott Katzenbach - Flavorpill 9/1/09

Special shouts out to…
Zack Hagan and 1050’s wild electronic jam improvs - these guys were so good I swear my head was going to explode and my shins were going to shatter with the intensity of dancing and head banging I did…when you think they couldn’t do more…they busted out an even better frenzied trip-hop-electroacoustic-drum-and-bass set. Those assholes…

http://redbeatle.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/stranded-burn-nightbrooklyn-galore-how-do-i-find-the-words/ - Here Is New York blog

The Disco Biscuits hosted their seventh Camp Bisco festival over the weekend in Mariaville, NY. As in years past, the three-day festival placed jam-rock acts like RAQ, Tea Leaf Green and U-Melt alongside electronic acts such as MSTRKRFT, Shpongle, 2020 Soundsystem, The Egg, LA Roits and Amplive, the latter of whom won over many new fans with his mashup of MGMT and Peter, Bjorn & John. Camp Bisco VII also continued the Disco Biscuits exploration into the world of hip-hop, boasting performances by the team of Cut Chemist & Younger Brother Live, as well as Snoop Dogg, who arrived with a full live band. Snoop seemed slightly confused as to his actual location, asking the crowd on several occasions if they are ready for his current tourmate 311, who was not on the festival bill. But, by all accounts, the famed-rapper seemed to enjoy his Camp Bisco experience and told the festival's promoters he'd return "anytime."

Throughout the weekend, the Disco Biscuits offered six sets of music, including a marathon three-set performance Saturday. The group also used the occasion to bust out some special material, ranging from the older number "Trucker's Choice" to the seldom played "Tricycle" to a cover of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing In The Name." Likewise, the group also unveiled the new originals "Meditation," "Killing Eleven" and "Chilled Briefly," the latter of which is allegedly about the bulletin board Phantasy Tour. A new cover of Justice's "Phantom Pt. II" was also rolled out.

Another weekend highlight was the first East Coast performance by the Younger Brother live band, which features the Biscuits' Marc Brownstein as well Joe Russo and Tom Hamilton, in addition to British producers Simon Posford and Benji Vaughan. Ultimate proof that the Disco Biscuits' world has fully meshed with the British psyc-trance scene, for this performance Posford, a noted DJ, tried his hand at electric guitar. Younger Brother vocalist Ruu also sat in with the Disco Biscuits on "Air Song" during their set.

Meanwhile, Disco Biscuits drummer Allen Aucoin offered several additional sets under his alias Dr. Fameus, including a DJ set, a drum/DJ set with DJ Drizno and a private set in a VIP tent for fans who purchased their ticket packages through ConsiderItDan.com. But, electric musician ZACK HAGAN earned the weekend's endurance award, playing multiple sets throughout the weekend on all three of the festival's performance stages. - jambands.com

In an era when computers play an ever-increasing role in production, Zack Hagan is trying to keep the singer/songwriter spirit alive with his brand of “folktronica.” Inspired by disparate elements from the Grateful Dead and Sufjan Stevens, as well as electronic pioneers The Orb and Ellen Allien, Hagan approaches lyrical storytelling and sonic tapestries through contrast; on his self-titled 2008 release he often pairs upbeat melodies with somber narratives. For listeners, the experience is often cathartic. Hagan’s other two 2008 releases, Rhapsody @ Trash Mansion and The Muramba Sessions, demonstrate an even broader range—both are instrumental albums that harken to his extensive techno catalog. The former is an ambient house adult film score. The latter grew out of field recordings Hagan made of a church choir in Northwest Rwanda. The resulting tracks are a hypnotic combination of chant, distortion and trance melodies. “I was sitting in the back of the church with my headphones on, surrounded mostly by children, and I realized that this was one of the most profound musical experiences of my life. I knew that I had to make something more out of it." - Relix Magazine