Fresh from their one-day festival at Red Rocks in Colorado ('Bisco Inferno') and on the road to their annual three-day Camp Bisco celebration near Albany, NY, the Disco Biscuits had a surprise for fans Wednesday night in Providence, RI, at what would've otherwise been a routine tour stop. The band pulled out one of their two rock operas, 'Chemical Warfare Brigade,' and played it in its entirety.

Bassist Marc Brownstein, who wrote the 'Chemical Warfare Brigade' during his brief departure from the band in 2000, says that the idea to play the entire opera occurred to the band at soundcheck right before the show.

"People have been talking about Red Rocks for months," Browntein tells Spinner. "I thought it would be cool to do something to show our fans that a Wednesday in Providence, was just as important to us as playing Red Rocks. Every night matters equally, whether it is 1,100 kids in Providence or 7,500 at Red Rocks."

The Disco Biscuits will continue their "every night matters" tour through July (including several festival stops) leading up to Camp Bisco on July 16 -18. In addition to three nights of Disco Biscuits, this year's Camp Bisco also features two nights of Sound Tribe Sector Nine (STS9), Nas and Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley, the Orb, Chromeo, Dr. Dog, many other artists and DJs, and even a full-blown camp-style color war that the band participates in.

As for additional surprises, Brownstein alludes to the Disco Biscuits' other rock opera, the 'Hot Air Balloon': "I still think we should play it in Cleveland Friday night," he says. "That would be cool as hell."

Elvis Costello Tour Dates
on TourTracker.com