Subtle and sweet
Dead Oceans label-mates Phosphorescent and Bowerbirds bring Southern sounds to Manhattan
By Katy Henriksen
Published: March 3rd, 2008 | 7:25pm
February 29, 2008, in New York — It was after 11 p.m. and the crowd at New York's sold-out Mercury Lounge was restless. Brooklyn-by-way-of-Georgia band Phosphorescent (tonight a five-piece affair) had carried all its equipment on stage, plugged it in, and seemed ready to go. There was only one problem: Frontman and mastermind Matthew Houck’s vocals weren’t coming through. For what seemed like an eternity, but was probably more like 15 minutes, Houck traded plugs, switched mics, and tested again and again until finally the sound guy dug through a tool chest on the side of the stage and found the magical plug. Houck cradled the mic and began to sing, “I grew up dreaming of being a cowboy,” in a quiet hazy forcefulness that left the audience silent and mesmerized.
The song, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” from 2004's Weight of Flight EP (Warm) started gently, with only slight guitar strumming and minimal bass, drums, and keys, to cradle Houck’s subtle twang. Rather than remain a simple, threadbare affair, the song slowly climbed until transforming into a sonic wall of noise, complete with a crescendo scream from Houck’s previously delicate voice. This ebb and flow structure, performed skillfully with the players feeding off one other and watching one another closely for tempo and dynamic shifts, worked to similar effect on the remaining songs of the set. Highlights included epic renditions of “Wolves” and “Cocaine Lights” both from 2007’s Pride (Dead Oceans) before closing with “South of America” from 2005’s Aw Come Aw Wry (Misra). Houck took the mic from the stand and walked off stage where he sang much of the song in the midst of adoring fans.
Although Houck has played with a rotating cast of band members since performing as Phosphorescent, this particular lineup proved particularly tight and in tune, so much so that the musicians looked like they could’ve jammed for another hour or so. Houck announced that this was their last show in New York until June because they were going on the road. “I don’t want to leave,” he lamented. Yet they graciously left the stage, swiftly packing all their gear to make way for closers Bowerbirds.
An atypical three-piece from North Carolina, Bowerbirds brought to the stage an acoustic guitar, accordion, auto-harp, bass drum, violin, and pedal keyboard. Already past midnight by the time they took the stage, the set was further delayed by further sound set-up glitches. In 2007 the band opened for the Mountain Goats and released their first album, Hymns for a Dark Horse, on North Carolina-based label Burly Time. In January, Bowerbirds announced that they’d signed with Dead Oceans, where Hymns for a Dark Horse, plus two bonus tracks, will be re-released and see larger distribution in June. Opening with “Hooves,” the first track from Horse, Beth Tacular squeezed out meditative accordion, Mark Paulson banged the bass drum slowly, and Phil Moore strummed guitar while crooning in a sweetly vibrato-swelled tenor, with all three chiming in with a rollicking “ah-ah-ah-ah-ah” for the chorus. Their distinct brand of Appalachian indie folk proved a perfect pairing to Phosphorescent’s more country-rock, guitar-driven drawl. Three-part harmonies also punctuated “In Our Talons,” a standout up-tempo track from Horse in which Tacular’s accordion took center stage. Also fascinating was when Paulson played violin while at the same time mastered the pedal keyboard, which added a lulling, ancient quality to the band’s subtly eerie sound. Although the auto-harp was underused, it proved a great instrument to let Tacular’s distinctive vocals shine in what Moore only described as a “new song.” The fast-paced track culminated in a captivating duet between Tacular and Moore.
The night ended abruptly at sometime after 1 a.m. with “Dark Horse.” As soon as the last note finished, the band said thanks and the club immediately turned on the lights and background music, not allowing the possibility of an encore. Phosphorescent was a difficult act to follow, but Bowerbirds held their own. Too bad sound problems stretched the night out, leaving them to swiftly exit the stage after only eight songs.
Issue #35
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