Plexus

Plexus formed in New York City in 1999 and specialized in live performances of breakbeat, jungle, drum'n'bass, and further electronic genres. While contemporary groups including the Disco Biscuits, the New Deal, Sound Tribe Sector 9, and Lake Trout had also begun blending electronic techniques into their work, Plexus pursued a distinctly harder and more uncompromising direction than most.

The instrumental trio of guitarist Allen Towbin, drummer Tobias Ralph, and bassist Ernie Adventoivich landed a Wednesday-night residency at Manhattan's Izzy Bar without delay and soon appeared at other New York City clubs such as Wetlands, where they met additional acts pursuing live electronic fusion. The band next toured extensively along the East Coast and maintained monthly residencies in Boston, Baltimore, and New Haven.

Late in 2001 they recorded their self-titled debut, issued in early 2002 on Mother West Records; the album contained eight original compositions, among them a remix by Frank Heiss and a collaboration with New England Conservatory professor Ran Blake.