When my friends Bill and Kate told me that The Polyphonic Spree concert Sunday night in Indianapolis was so unique and amazing, it was worth seeing again the very next night at The Rave in Milwaukee, I was intrigued. They said they've never seen anything like it, and we'd be remiss if we missed it. Which was good enough for me -- and they were right.
I'm struggling to compare this 24-piece band to anything I've ever seen. For starters, they came out in identical black paramilitary outfits that more closely resembled the staff of the Dharma Initiative from "Lost." The lead singer reminded me of a cross between Jack White, Mark Mallman, Anton Newcombe, Tim Robbins and David Koresh.
That's a crazy mash up, I know, but that only describes the front man, Tim DeLaughter, of this Dallas band.
Musically, it was more like sheets of sounds. Lound sound. Even with The Rave's sub-par acoustics, Polyphonic Spree came across relatively clearly, with synths, blaring horns, strings (including a harp), theramin, guitars and a flute. Eight backup singers flailed wildly about on a riser behind the action. To call it a sight to behold wouldn’t be giving the spectacle justice.
The band calls itself "choral symphonic rock," and if I didn't know better, I'd call it borderline cultish in nature. The lyrics are so uplifting it felt at times like an "Up With People" concert. But even when the music lapsed into the absurd, DeLaughter brought it back together in cinematic fashion. The show only dragged, and that was just barely, four songs into the encore.
Speaking of the encore, the group changed into flowing white robes and walked through the audience, who was whipped up into a whirling dervish of emotion -- and this only added to the pseudo-religious atmosphere. The Polyphonic Spree performed its biggest single, "Light and Day / Reach For the Sun," which you might remember from the Volkswagon commercial. They also rocked out a multi-layered version of Nirvana's "Lithium," which was truly amazing.
When the two hour concert finally wrapped up, DeLaughter made an impassioned and lengthy plea for fans to buy merchandise, albums, etc., which seemed awkward after such an electrically charged performance. During the rambling monologue, his group stood quietly on stage.
Still, Bill and Kate were right. I've never seen a show like this before. And I'd go back again. The Polyphonic Spree -- loud, richly textured and a little weird -- is one of the must unique bands I've ever seen live. DeLaughter said he's never been to Milwaukee, but he'll be back. And you'll just have to see it to believe it.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
