On The March

The Sprawling Polyphonic Spree Takes A Militaristic Approach On Its New Album

originally published May 9, 2007

There's a fairly basic rule in music that many people overlook: more bandmembers equals more problems. Bandmembers have to share - money, space, fame, etc. - and anyone remotely familiar with the lifestyle of a touring band probably knows you're packing people into a van, making periodic stops to unload a bunch of heavy shit, and then reloading it. The sights, sounds and particularly smells are mostly repulsive, and the real shake is that the more people travel with you, the less money you'll make and the more shit you'll have to put up with.

At present time, the Polyphonic Spree consists of 24 bandmembers. Each and every one puts up with a lot of shit.

The Polyphonic Spree is, collectively, a ton of talented musicians mostly from the Dallas, TX, area. They made their mark with the 2004 album Together We're Heavy and attracted mainstream attention with the sheer mass of the band and their colorful-robe garb. For its upcoming release The Fragile Army, the Spree is donning new outfits - military-style uniforms that some journalists interpret as foreshadowing a darker, more political side of the band. Julie Doyle, of the self-described "choral symphonic rock" group, says that the approach to the album is the only real difference she sees.

"I think the subject matter has always been about struggle, strife, hope, love, life, loss. I think each album changes it in a different way. What differs is the sonic approach. This one encapsulates the live show a little better and it's a deliberate record where we took our time and did what we wanted to do," says Doyle. "It's a little more in your face and electric, and that involves being on the road. Some dark tones come in here and there, I guess."

When pressed on the question of whether the new album and the new outfits relate to current events and political issues, Doyle gives the smart answer: "Anyone being creative can't not be affected by what's happened in the last few years."

Spree "leader" Tim DeLaughter is a charismatic genius who first appeared in the mid '90s alt-rock group Tripping Daisy. He's short, but it's relatively indiscernible during live shows, as he tends to stand on a box at the very front of the stage. Doyle explains the onset of the Spree and DeLaughter's role, "Tim's early loss of a friend was what launched the Spree and it turned into this manic emotion onstage," she says. "I don't think we were ever purposeful about being light or dark. He's always wanted to score films, and a lot of his songwriting has always been geared toward that. And it's still what he wants to do."

DeLaughter, with the help of the rest of the Spree, composed and recorded the soundtrack for the indie flick Thumbsucker. Doyle says that in a band as large as hers, they rely heavily on DeLaughter's licensing deals for income. She adds that many other aspects of her band's size make things very difficult - including keeping money coming in for 24 members and traveling together.

"Here in the U.S., there are a few hockey buses that sleep 24. It's very rare, though. It can be a huge expense and it adds up, so we have to tour extremely strategically," says Doyle. "In terms of our new record deal, it's a financial burden to sign a band like ourselves, but we were able to work out a great deal with TVT Records where everyone has some accountability."

At this year's South by Southwest festival, the Polyphonic Spree introduced fans and industry to its newest collection of tunes. Shows were packed out with both loyal followers and skeptical critics, curious to see what DeLaughter and his army had put together. The feedback was mostly positive, and, as has been the case with this band, the performance was spectacular. Polyphonic Spree avoids persistently emphasizing its size, and frequently diminishes its sound to just DeLaughter's whisper, or a single percussive triangle, or the plucking of a harp string. This is of course contrasted with the explosive boom of a 24-piece orchestra. These extreme highs and lows make for a uniquely dynamic experience in the play-it-safe arena of indie rock.

Doyle says The Fragile Army was able to capture the band's live performance, which was the main focus in the studio. An increasingly common mixing process also allowed the numerous members to participate in that process. "We mixed the record by going back and forth on the Internet. We downloaded the songs, listened, took notes and traded those until we got to a point where we were comfortable," says Doyle.

As Doyle and her huge gang travel across the country promoting the album and exhaustively performing right up to its release date in June, they'll undoubtedly experience the drawbacks of their size. Still, Doyle insists that she wouldn't have it any other way. "At the end of the day, you still have to be a real band and do what you do with conviction and be artists and have people feel like at its core, it's still worthy," she says. "That's what we really focus on."

Ian Wheeler

WHO: The Polyphonic Spree, The Pierces WHERE: 40 Watt Club WHEN: Monday, May 13 HOW MUCH: $15