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The Joyful Sound And Splendor Of The Polyphonic Spree

Tim DeLaughter and the Polyphonic Spree visited Boston as their latest tour was wrapping up in August. The band, which hails from Dallas, was out in support of a new remix LP, “Psychphonic, “ which reimagines songs from its 2013 album, “Yes, It’s True.”

The group performed for Here & Now and Off the Record at Boston University’s Marsh Chapel. This was a match made in heaven both visually (the robes!) and for the amount of space needed to facilitate the sometimes-20-member rock group. DeLaughter told Here & Now’s Robin Young he’s unapologetic: “I’m sure I could do four people and a sampler and keyboards and create a lot of this stuff, but that’s not the Polyphonic Spree,” he said. “You know, people have been wanting me to downsize this group from the get-go, but this is it, folks.”

The ability of the Polyphonic Spree to adjust its playing to the chapel and find a balance with each other says a lot about its musical sensibility and perhaps about its longevity. “It was an experiment,” DeLaughter explained to Young. “I had no idea it was gonna be something that would be going on this long, and before I knew it I’m writing another record and touring all over the world. There have been so many wonderful things that have happened.”

[titlebar title="The Polyphonic Spree Performers"]Bach Norwood, bass
Buffi Jacobs, cello
Cory Helms, guitar
Elizabeth Evans, choir
Evan Weiss, trumpet
Jason Garner, drums
Jennie Kelley, choir
Jesse Hester, piano
Jessica Jordan, choir
Natalie Young, choir
Nick Earl, guitar
Paul Deemer, trombone
Tim DeLaughter, lead vocals
Victoria Arrellano, harp

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