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The Polyphonic Spree - September 5th - Glee Club Birmingham
Support - Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man
Having driven for 3 hours through the hell that is the M5 at rush hour I was anticipating a thoroughly amazing gig, so I was slightly surprised when I encountered the support act ambling on to the Polyphonic Spree instrument strewn stage. Support came in the form of promising up and coming newcomers Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, yeah odd name I know, but within the context of their act it kinda starts to make sense! They describe their music as, melodramatic popular song/progressive/show tunes and yes, live they appear to be all of those things. They played an impressive number of songs, really packing their short set full of staccato vocals, jangly guitars faux futuristic shtick, their style is slightly Horrors Esq. They ended with an epic bluesy fast paced number, their songs are in general well constructed but received perhaps an unfairly mixed response by an audience eager to see the main act.
Check out their tunes at Myspace.com/OxEagleLionMan their debut record is promised to be delivered to the baying masses sometime in November on Transgressive Records.
Onto the main act that the audience had been waiting to witness for over 3 years, the last time The Polyphonic Spree toured in the UK. Your ring master for the evening, please welcome Mr Tim DeLaughter accompanied by his 23 strong troop of previously attired robed musicians now in black jump suits. Formed in 2000 the Polyphonic Spree have toured the world when funds have allowed bringing joy to music lovers everywhere they go. Through trials and tribulations the music has shone through, epic battles with record labels (they are now on their 7th one) have not dampened their spirit, I don’t think anything could.
Before launching into their stunning songs Tim DeLaughter announces that they go out to the old and faithful, people who have stuck with the band through thick and thin and will do until they hang up their robes and jumpsuits once and for all. They play a wide variety of songs from their three main albums, highlights include, Soldier Girl, It’s the sun, Hold me now, when the fool becomes a King and many many more.
The songs from their new release The Fragile Army sit quite happily alongside their old anthems, if not a touch heavier in sound. Hero for the night has to be the bass player even though he was not furnished with a microphone he sang along to every word with un wavering commitment.
For the encore they return to the stage though the crowd and hundreds of hand slaps. They took to the stage for the second time in their white robes and continued to thrill the audience. Their cover of the Nirvana track Lithium went down a storm with almost everyone in the audience jumping up and down. As their near 2 hour set drew to a close the audience were implored to hit the merchandising stand on the way out so the band can keep the crazy dream alive, this I did and came away £40 lighter but with a massive grin on my face which days later seems to be here to stay. Long live the Spree.
Please check them out at their myspace and in the words of the great Tim DeLaughter, please help to keep this crazy dream alive. Myspace.com/PolyphonicSpree
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