The Disco Biscuits Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of ‘Hot Air Balloon’ To Conclude New Year’s Run

The Disco Biscuits brought their four-night hometown New Year’s Run at The Fillmore Philadelphia to a close on Monday. The jamtronica act used to the opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their rock opera Hot Air Balloon by playing it in full for the first time since 2007.

The Biscuits dedicated their first two sets of the night to the multi-song piece about Corrinado, the inventor of a flying machine and his romance with Leora of the Sequoias and the ensuing conflict between him and her husband the ruthless ruler, Manilla Trane. The band had debuted the rock opera during their 1998 New Year’s Eve show at the Silk City Lounge in Philadelphia. Last night’s run through marked the ninth time the band had played the rock opera in its entirety and just the third time in the 2000s.

“The Overture” appropriately got their evening going as they worked their way through the first section of the story. During “The Very Moon” the foursome was joined by Holly Bowling who helped out by playing the character of Leora of the Sequoias. The second frame of the night opened with just the second take on “Bazaar Escape” since 2016 and featured longtime favorites “Mulberry’s Dream” and “Above The Waves.” The Disco Biscuits rang in 2019 with a set and story-closing version of “Hot Air Balloon.”Helicopters” bookended the band’s seamless third set as they sandwiched takes on “Mr. Don” And “Great Abyss” in between. The celebratory night came to a close with Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell. Watch pro-shot video of the entire show below:

Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Set I: The Overture, Once the Fiddler Paid, The Very Moon (feat. Holly Bowling as Leora of the Sequoias)-> Voices Insane, Eulogy

Set II: Bazaar Escape-> Mulberry’s Dream, Above the Waves, Hot Air Balloon

Set III: Helicopters-> Mr. Don-> Great Abyss-> Helicopters

Encore: Run Like Hell