The End of Time Observatory, better known as EOTO, is the electronica jam band brainchild of the String Cheese Incident’s Jason Hann and Michael Travis, and returns to Eugene at WOW Hall tonight.
The group’s collaboration melds Hann’s diverse background in percussion with Travis’ multi-instrumental and electronic savvy.
Describing EOTO’s musical style is complicated.
Unlike many other electronic acts, all EOTO shows are entirely improvised.
“Everything is created on the spot with nothing pre-recorded,” Hann said. “It’s really fun to just play around and find what sounds good.”
There are no set lists and depending on the mood of the crowd and the overall vibe, genres are bound to overlap. Since there is no formal structure to their performances, Hann and Travis have to create and edit looping and effects on the fly. Dub-step, trance, glitch, house, trip-hop and anything else electronic or just plain cool-sounding is used to mesmerize gape-jawed a homey udiences.
Sticking to their improvisational jam band roots while also donning the techie garb of an electronic outfit allows EOTO to create a, psychedelic-dance environment for hippies, ravers and novice listeners alike.
In addition to the String Cheese Incident, Hann has collaborated with the likes of Keller Williams, soul legend Isaac Hayes and rapper and producer Dr. Dre. In fact, the majority of the drum tracking for Dre’s album, “The Chronic 2001,” was done by Hann.
Hann’s drum kit he uses for EOTO differs greatly from both an electronic and acoustic drum kit, producing a sound that wouldn’t normally be associated with either rock or electronic music.
“My kit is really small and acoustic with electronic attachments,” Hann said. “It’s somewhat of a cross between an acoustic and an electronic set.”
Travis’ experience with livetronica comes from another side project named Zilla; a collaboration with two fellow Coloradans that also features live improvised performance. Since SCI decided to cease touring in 2007, Zilla and EOTO have become Travis’ main projects in which he plays everything from the drums (his instrument in SCI), bass, guitar, to synthesizers and looping stations.
Such a wide variety of experience also allows EOTO to give a more tailored concert depending on location and the audience’s reception. They’ve been known to play more experimental shows in the Pacific Northwest and their last two shows at WOW exemplified that with a more trance, dub-step feel.
EOTO was conceived at the Shambhala Music Festival in British Columbia. The festival usually attracts some of electronic music’s latest and most progressive.
“There was a point during a Bassnectar set where I looked at Travis and we had some sort of connection, like we knew this was something worth getting into,” Hann said in regard to EOTO’s roots.
On the eve of String Cheese’s hiatus, EOTO was born and has since played at Shambhala as well as other festivals and tours for about two-thirds of the year.
EOTO attracts a vast audience by combining jam band and rave culture.
Oftentimes, these two groups mixing together results in all-out outrageousness.
“People are out at our shows looking to have a good time,” Hann said. “And a lot of times drugs are involved when that happens.”
EOTO does not condone drug use, but acknowledges it is a reality and believes their only responsibility is to provide an environment that feels safe for all audience members.
EOTO’s music, no matter how you define it, ends up being something that makes audiences want to get up and groove.
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