Dallas symphonic pop group, the Polyphonic Spree are more of a happening (in the 1960’s sense of the word) than a band.

When the group takes to the stage for a live performance, its two dozen members are costumed first in flowing robes of snowy white lately in military style uniforms, an appropriate backdrop for their happy and uplifting musical message that’s catchy pop minimally laced by gospel. Fans have compared them to both the The Flaming Lips and the The Beach Boys, with a smidgen of lively Godspeed-like attitude thrown into the mix.

The Polyphon... (+) expand

Dallas symphonic pop group, the Polyphonic Spree are more of a happening (in the 1960’s sense of the word) than a band.

When the group takes to the stage for a live performance, its two dozen members are costumed first in flowing robes of snowy white lately in military style uniforms, an appropriate backdrop for their happy and uplifting musical message that’s catchy pop minimally laced by gospel. Fans have compared them to both the The Flaming Lips and the The Beach Boys, with a smidgen of lively Godspeed-like attitude thrown into the mix.

The Polyphonic Spree was founded by Tim DeLaughter, who led Tripping Daisy until 1999, when Wes Berggren(founding member and guitarist) died of a drug overdose. Tripping Daisy post-humously released a self-titled record on Sugar Fix records and called it quits.

DeLaughter and other surviving members of Tripping Daisy regrouped as the Polyphonic Spree, adding about 20 more members. They put together a demo titled The Beginning Stages of…The Polyphonic Spree and distributed it to fans during performances. The album was subsequently released on DeLaughter’s own imprint, Good Records and picked up by 679 Recordings.

The fluctuating group boasts a choir, a pair of keyboard players, as well as a percussionist, bassist, guitarist, flautist, trumpeter, trombonist, violinist, a French horn player, a theremin player, and an electronic effects wizard. DeLaughter holds the post of musical director and contributes lead vocals.

Tours require more than a dozen full-sized vans, but the band’s spectacular shows in intimate clubs and gigs as big as 2003’s Reading Festival generate the feeling of a gospel revival meeting. Single ”Light and Day” was featured in Volkswagen commercials, an episode of Scrubs and on the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack, earning the Polyphonic Spree even more exposure. Their proper first album Together We’re Heavy was released jointly by Good Records and Hollywood Records in summer 2004.

In the autumn of 2006, The Polyphonic Spree released the Wait EP, which features covers of Nirvana’s ”Lithium” and ”Sonic Bloom” by DeLaughter’s former band, Tripping Daisy. The band’s new album, The Fragile Army, for which the entire band has swapped their trademark robes for dark coloured military-style outfits was released June 2007. (-) collapse