Fusing country, folk and psychedelia under a lush canopy of gorgeous, hazy, atmospheric electronica, this year just might be ’s breakthrough. As part of this looming success, the Brooklyn band sold out the on Saturday, touring behind the well-received album, “Muchacho.”
From the first song, it became clear that Phosphorescent is now a band and not just singer-songwriter, Matthew Houck, backed by random, faceless musicians. The pumped-up take of “Ride On/Right On” had some people trying to dance on the jam-packed Hi-Dive floor. “Song for Zula” was positively hypnotic. The song’s doleful, elongated “ooooohs” were replaced by first-rate keyboard playing — a sound remarkably similar to a Hammond B-3 organ.
Alabama-born, Houck possesses a soulful, woeful, almost heartbreaking voice, reminiscent of the Band’s Richard Manuel. Itap worn, weary and broken, but itap Phosphorescentap best instrument — you can’t get enough of it. Houck’s mid-set solo performance highlight, “Wolves,” utilized layer-upon-layer of his looped vocals, building to one hell of a sonic crescendo.
However, the sound of the whole six piece band, fleshing out the sonics of Houck’s newest songs, is what ought to get Phosphorescent to the next level. Despite a set that included a cover by Willie Nelson and others, it never once sounded hokey, like a lot of Americana acts often do. With the strength of the songs from “Muchacho,” it sounded absolutely contemporary, never retro.
The set wrapped up with “Los Angeles,” a gem from 2009’s “Here’s to Taking It Easy.” Houck’s first-rate guitar playing and his vocal poignancy drained the audience, the band and himself. You might have wanted an encore, but after all that heartbreak, you’d have felt guilty for even asking.
Touring with Phosphorescent is Philadelphia (via Indiana) singer-songwriter, Timothy Showalter, aka Strand of Oaks, who was impressive vocally and on guitar. Performing his equally sad songs (and with only a drummer), his set, along with Phosphorescentap, made for a happy night of gorgeously sad music.
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Mike Long is a Longmont-based writer and comedian and a regular contributor to Reverb.
