Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-02-24
The Santa Cruz, CA based electronica quintet Sound Tribe Sector 9 ventured back to the Northeast on February 20, 2026, and played a show at the Capitol Theatre, located in Port Chester, NY, for the first time in eight and half years. This band was galvanized by the storied venue’s history, and dropped into a memorable version of the Grateful Dead’s “Dark Star,” along with a number of powerful songs from their new album Human Dream. Their fiery performance was enjoyed by all in attendance. The prog-tronic power trio lespecial provided their support.
Connecticut-based trio lespecial opened the night with a heavy, exploratory set that blended progressive rock, metal, and electronic textures. The band featured Rory Dolan on drums, Luke Bemand on bass/synth, and Jonathan Grusauskas on guitar/synth. They have been playing together since high school, and their tight chemistry was evident throughout. The set moved seamlessly from the punchy “Dissociate” into “Repeater” and the psychedelic “Machine Elf,” while “Sugaboi” and “Donut Ghost House 3” showcased the group’s knack for shifting dynamics and textures. “Unearthed,” “The Vessel,” and “Lungs of the Planet” angled into darker sonic territory, while “Roro” provided a standout moment of melodic contrast. The trio’s willingness to push stylistic boundaries made them a fitting opener for STS9’s genre-blurring sound.
“Never, Never” kicked off Sound Tribe Sector Nine’s set, a recent track from their 2025 release, Human Dream. Keyboardist David Phipps dialed up the modulation early during this nine-minute version. Another new tune, “Soul Slap,” followed. The vibrations from Alana Rocklin’s bass were so intense that the Nugs.net livestream crew had to cut one of their photo pit video cameras during this song because the camera was shaking too much. This version included “Totem” samples, which helped the band segue into a twelve minute “Totem,” from the The Universe Inside. Drummer Zack Velmer was animated on the kit as he drove this deep-house track. Lighting Director Tibs coordinated the strobes with the intricate chords played by Phipps. This version also included reciprocal “Soul Slap” teases. Later in the song, guitarist Hunter Brown teased “Grow.”
The band masterfully found their way into the vintage “Grow.” Brown shined on the recognizable guitar riff, as the quintet came together for this upbeat dance tune. Velmer had an intense drum solo to end this raging sequence. “Real and Imagined” came after and was played for the first time in 2026. The song was considerably more mellow, as Rocklin unleashed delicate thumps. Phipps layered in effects via Ableton Live while playing a piano effect on a synth. Velmer pushed the beats, and the band collectively dialed up the speed.
“The Rabble,” one of their glitch-heavy tunes, was up next. The crowd was fired up for this funky jamtronica and hip hop fusion. Percussionist Jeffree Lerner elevated this tune on congas as Velmer dished out dynamic beats. Rocklin’s steady bass was the perfect complement to the high-spirited melody that was brewed by Phipps and Brown.
Peaceblaster’s “Beyond Right Now” arrived next. The deep, resonant drumming stood out, along with Lerner’s xylophone accents, framed against the digital effects that Brown added via Ableton Live. Lerner on the congas transitioned the band into the hip hop adjacent “Rent.” Rocklin was a force to be reckoned with as she laid down transformative beats during one of their most frequently played live songs. Phipps was like a mad scientist on his Sequential Prophet-6 synth. All five members came together to end this fiery tune and the set on a high note. Before the band took a break, Velmer expressed how great it felt to be playing at the historic Capitol Theatre.
The band returned for round two, and began the set with “Feel It.” “March” followed, and saw Lerner lean in on cowbell while Phipps elevated the trance vibes on synth. “Life’s a Symphony in Unity, It’s Alright,” another Human Dream tune, slid into the three spot. The percussive tapestry provided the perfect backdrop for the vibrant and catchy melody created by Brown and Phipps. The dance party was in full swing as Rocklin delivered a high-energy bass line.
“Dusk” brought a heavy, sinister hip hop feel. Phipps layered in spooky sounds via Ableton Live during this Human Dream song. The crowd was drenched in red, along with the led panels behind the band, care of Tibs. The song slowly shifted into lighter vibes, as Velmer and Lerner started to play the old school classic, “Monkey Music.” Velmer used electronic drum pads during this very percussion heavy tune.
This was fleeting, as the band moved slowly into “Dark Star” by the Grateful Dead. This was the third-time they have played this well-known tune that was last played at the Fox Theatre in Oakland, CA on November 14, 2024. The Grateful Dead has a storied history at the Capitol Theatre, which perhaps inspired them. They used less electronic effects for this well executed interpretation. The band gradually increased the cadence into more of a jamtronica take as Brown remained strong playing the “Dark Star” refrain. The rhythm section concurrently moved back into “Monkey Music,” which allowed them to pivot on a dime back into this rager. Phipps laid down the dirty synth funk to end this tune. This sequence was Sound Tribe Sector 9 at their finest, and we highly recommend a re-listen.
A “Better Day Remix” proceeded, and bore little resemblance to the original, “Better Day” from Artifact. Rocklin anchored this tune that contained euphonious female vocals overlaid throughout. Velmer continued to dominate on drums, fueling this band’s excellence. The set ended with “Walk the Sky,” another tasty tune from Human Dream that proved how strong and timeless their recent songs have been. Images from Human Dream were projected on the walls of the Capitol Theatre, adding a nice aesthetic.
The band stepped off the stage, and quickly returned for an encore. Before the music started, Velmer took a few moments to share his excitement for the show and appreciation for the crowd. He recognized how much love was in the venue, and asked everyone to join in a quick “love” chant. They ended the night with “Aimlessly,” another hip-hop-leaning, older tune. Brown added more effects via Ableton Live as Phipps maintained the organic feel with the piano effect. The band came together like a team to end this stellar show.
STS9 returns to the stage on February 24 in McKees Rocks, PA. They will then head South, starting with a show on February 25 in Charlottesville, VA. The following night, they have a sold out performance in Carrboro, NC. This February run ends with a two-night stand at the Eastern in Atlanta, GA on Februry 27-28. They will return in April for the Gather Outdoors Festival in Stratton, VT on April 11. On April 12, they will head down to Philadelphia, PA to perform a make-up show for the recent Philly show that was cancelled because of the Northeast blizzard. At the end of April, they will return to New Orleans, LA for a two night stand during Jazz Fest on April 23-24. They will then play two shows in Austin, TX, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on April 25 and 3TEN on April 26. On May 8-9, they will play shows at The Refinery in Charleston, SC. They are scheduled to make festival appearances at the Golden Road Gathering, Summer Camp, and the 4848 Festival. Visit their tour page for more details on these shows and more.
Check out more photos from STS9 and Lespecial!
Date: February 20, 2026
Venue: The Capitol Theatre
Location: Port Chester, NY
Band: lespecial
Set: Dissociate Repeater > Machine Elf, Sugaboi, Donut Ghost House 3 > Unearthed, Roro [1], The Vessel, Lungs of the Planet
Notes: [1] First time played
Band: STS9
Set One: Never, Never, Soul Slap > Totem > Grow, Real & Imagined, The Rabble, Beyond Right Now > Rent
Set Two: Feel It, March, Life’s A Symphony In Unity, It’s Alright, Dusk > Monkey Music > Dark Star [1] > Modular DnB > Monkey Music, Better, Day Remix, Walk The Sky
Encore: Aimlessly
Notes: [1] Grateful Dead
