STS9 brings Get Loud Tour to Track 29

LED lights make the fish-bowl globes glow in STS9's spacemen shot. "What's so cool about this picture is that the Milky Way behind us is not photo-shopped," says David Phipps. "We had to stand completely still for four to five minutes while the shot was taken." LED lights make the fish-bowl globes glow in STS9's spacemen shot. "What's so cool about this picture is that the Milky Way behind us is not photo-shopped," says David Phipps. "We had to stand completely still for four to five minutes while the shot was taken."

By Susan Pierce April 20, 2017 3 min read

It isn’t intentional that electronic rock band Sound Tribe Sector 9 goes by STS9, the same letters applied by NASA to space shuttle Columbia, the first Spacelab mission launched in November 1983 – but “it’s a an awesome coincidence that we enjoy a lot,” says band member David Phipps.

If you go

› What: STS9› Where: Track 29, 1400 Market St.› When: 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 25› Admission: $25 in advance, $30 day of show› Phone: 423-521-2929

STS9 is known for its elaborate light shows, which will be part of the live show at Track 29 on Tuesday.

In fact, the first track of their latest album, “The Universe Inside,” opens with original NASA STS-9 radio transmissions.

Phipps says this fascination with space exploration has been part of the band since their childhood.

“I think all of us growing up in the time of space shuttle missions were really fascinated,” Phipps says during a recent phone interview.