The Polyphonic Spree has
always been ambitious. While the Dallas-based symphonic rock band isn’t
as fond of the eccentricities and gimmicks of someone like our own
Flaming Lips, more than a few similarities exist — most notably a total
disregard for convention.
Tim
DeLaughter formed the group on the heels of the demise of Tripping
Daisy, which enjoyed a mid-’90s hit with “I Got a Girl,” then folded
after its guitarist died of a drug overdose. After a brief pause for
reflection, DeLaughter recruited 12 other musicians in 2000 to form the
Spree, which now has swelled to 20 or more members at any given show.
The
band released three studio albums between 2002 and 2007, with its
seminal song, “Light & Day/ Reach for the Sun,” landing in films, TV
shows and commercials. A brief hiatus slowed the Spree for a few years,
but DeLaughter and company have returned as loud — and big — as ever.
“‘Synergy’
is a big word for us now,” he said. “If you get all your moving parts
working together, it is only going to enable you to spread the gospel
that much more.”
The break allowed
DeLaughter to build a beacon through which to air the gospel, his very
own record label, Good Records Recordings, which releases music from the
Spree, as well as other acts.
“This
has been an idea for quite some time, dating back to the Tripping Daisy
days. We just found ourselves in position to finally tackle it from our
unique perspective. We run across music and artists all the time we
find to be exciting,” DeLaughter said.
“We
wanted to offer an avenue for ourselves as we get new music that we are
excited about to release it as quickly as possible. We also wanted to
offer established artists a means to release music that might not
normally be what they are known for … maybe a little more experimental
or a different genre altogether.”
To
properly celebrate its return to national attention and an upcoming
12-year anniversary, the current tour returns the Spree to the intimate
venues that gave the group its start, including Tuesday’s stop in
Norman. That means small stages for many musicians, but DeLaughter is
more than confident that the band will make it work.
“[It’s] mind over matter,” he said.
“We
love to rise to a challenge and get ourselves out of our comfort zone.
When you have The Polyphonic Spree in a more intimate venue, it is like
putting lightning in a bottle. It just makes it that more electric.”
Photo by Hal Samples
