with J. WAIL

Particle began its journey in Los Angeles in 2000 as one of the key pioneers of the emerging ‘livetronica’ music scene. The band created a signature sound that combined elements of Electronica, Funk and Rock with a heavy emphasis on improvisation and sonic exploration, and their influence can still be felt and heard in many of today’s top touring Jam and EDM/Funk bands. 

Always striving to think outside the box and create unique concert experiences, Particle paired their high-energy dance music with cutting-edge multimedia production, thematic special events, and epic marathon sets that quickly developed a loyal fan base of Particle People spanning genre lines from jam to EDM. 

Particle went on to perform in eight different countries and headline venues coast-to-coast, from the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles to Irving Plaza in New York City. The band has also been a staple at major U.S. festivals including Bonnaroo, Coachella, ACL Festival and Lollapalooza.

Particle is led by keyboardist/songwriter, Steve Molitz, whose innovative approach to keyboards and improvisational music has made him a mainstay on the national music scene since he first founded the band fourteen years ago. Well-known for programming and playing vintage keyboards and analog synthesizers, Molitz appeared at the inaugural Moogfest (A Tribute to Bob Moog), and was later tapped to help design Moog’s Little Phatty synthesizer. Molitz has also toured, recorded and performed with a wide range of artists, including: Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead), Robby Krieger (The Doors), Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes), G Love and Special Sauce, Tricky, Eve, The Allman Brothers Band, and many more.

Particle's first studio album, Launchpad (2004), was produced by Tom Rothrock (Beck, Moby, Foo Fighters) and received critical praise and exclusive coverage from mainstream news outlets, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and CNN. The band's double-live CD and DVD Transformations: Live (2006) was produced by Shout Factory and featured guest performances by Joe Satriani, Robby Krieger, Blackalicious, and DJ Logic.

In late 2006, Particle went on a semi-hiatus, as they cut down to less than 20 shows per year to accommodate the band’s changing family and work situations. During this time, Molitz began a long run of touring and recording with other high-profile artists, and composing music for video games and film. The band’s semi-hiatus lasted until 2014, when Molitz felt the overwhelming desire to relaunch Particle as a full-time band. For years he’d been listening to fans remind him of classic performances (“I was there!”) and ask when the band would finally return to the road again. So along with guitarist Ben Combe, bassist Clay Parnell, and drummer Brandon Draper, Molitz has officially returned to touring full-time with Particle, and to continuing the band’s ever-evolving journey…

Particle is currently hard at work finishing enough studio tracks to populate up to two new full-length albums, both of which will be released in 2015. In the meantime, the band plans to premiere select studio singles and to make their new music as accessible as possible for old and new fans alike. As Molitz said in a recent interview, “Particle has always been fueled by the energy of our fans, and we’re so excited to get back out on the road full-time, and to share all of this new music with the Particle People...”