Los Angeles – High atop the Sunset Strip overlooking the Los Angeles basin, PHOX played a laid-back set to an eclectic crowd at the venerable Roxy Theater last Wednesday. The Baraboo, WI band gave off a cool, friendly vibe as they performed various tracks from their 2014 self titled debut album as well as a few additional cuts. With six band members, the band offered up a deep, rich sound that was highlighted by the strong vocal work of singer Monica Martin and Matt Roberts’ melodic keyboard lines.
On the band’s Facebook page, they describe themselves as “some offshoot of folk music,” an appropriate descriptor, because while instrumentally PHOX generates a fairly standard folk-rock sound, the powerfully soulful vocals of Martin take the songs to a more unique sonic realm. This, combined with the impressive instrumental talents of the band members, makes for a group that is able to strongly stand out in a crowded genre that has a tendency to produce generic-sounds.
It should be reemphasized just how impressively proficient the guys in PHOX are at instrumentation. Other than drummer Davey Roberts and vocalist Martin, every member of the band rotated through an array of instruments, swapping between electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, banjo, trumpet, percussion, keyboards, and even a recorder! Generally, Jason Krunnfusz stuck with the bass guitar and Matt Roberts stayed behind his keyboard set-up, while Zach Johnston and (especially) Matt Holmen were the definition of “multi-instrumentalists.” Johnston moved between banjo and guitar while Holmen got his hands on the trumpet, guitar and percussion throughout the set.
The first half of the set was an all-electric performance, with the band touching on album highlights like “Leisure” and “Noble Heart.” Between songs, Martin’s witty and playful banter with her band mates and the audience strengthened the bond that was already tangible in a room was clearly full of PHOX “phans”. In addition to playing songs from their album, the band introduced a new song, titled “Never Lover” – this is where that aforementioned recorder made its appearance.
The early highlight of their set was Holmen’s blazing guitar solo at the end of “Noble Heart.” As Holmen nimbly powered through the scales, Johnston grabbed one of the prop-trees on stage and placed it front of Holmen; as he powered through the solo, Holmen slowly knocked the tree to the ground, as if the shredding was simply too much for the tree to withstand. The rest of PHOX gathered around Holmen and the “dead” tree, bowing down in reverence to the axe-master.
After a handful of songs, PHOX gave the audience a slightly different dynamic. Unplugging their instruments and trading electric guitars for a banjo and acoustic guitars, the band explained their desire to perform onstage in the manner which they wrote and structured their earliest songs. Martin explained that the band would sit around a big dining table in the house they shared together, singing and playing their songs until they were perfected. Five of the six members (sans drummer Davey Roberts) gathered around a vintage microphone posted up center stage, and they played several songs, including “Evil,” in this manner.
Following the run of all-acoustic songs PHOX invited Jimmie Linville and Michaela Thomas, the lead singers of opening band Daniel and the Lion, up on stage to perform “Lavender.” This song was recorded by the musicians and appears on Daniel and the Lion’s 2013 album, Death Head. Given a beautiful Spartan arrangement, the intimate song provided a calming break from the earlier songs in PHOX’s set.
The band closed out their set by picking their original instruments back up and jamming a little bit. Overall it was a performance that clearly left the crowd satisfied – at times it was quite impressive to see just how moved some audience members were by the songs of PHOX.
PHOX will finish up their current tour in the Southwestern United States with dates through the end of April. Keep up with the band and by checking out their Facebook page.
Photo of PHOX by Matt Matasci
Matt Matasci
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