It never ceases to amaze me how some bands manage to stay far below the radar of the average music fan. In spite of no less than six critically acclaimed full length records, international touring (including a visit to Australia for Harvest Festival back in 2011) and ticking all the boxes that an “underground success story” seems to need to require – great songs, consistency, lack of commercialism – Phosphorescent are one of those bands who have done just that. Though in front of an almost sold out Oxford Art Factory crowd, you never would have known it. And maybe that’s just as it should be.
Accompanied by a five piece band, Matthew Houck hit the stage to the intro track (“Sun, Arise! (An Invocation, An Introduction)”) off his most recent record Muchacho, donning a trucker cap and a t-shirt sporting his own moniker. A country twang with synth and slide guitar led into proceedings as they jumped straight into “A New Anhedonia” followed by “Terror in the Canyons (The Wounded Master)”, both off the latest record. With the first track serving as an opportunity for the band to get warmed up, “Terror…” took things up a notch, with plenty of new live elements added to make the song build wonderfully in the environment. After playing these tracks live now for some two years, it’s clear we’re hearing them for the first time in Australia with some well earned evolution. Much the same can be said for “The Quotidian Beasts” which followed with some excellent jams.
Though much the set was devoted to their latest record, plenty of old favourites made the cut too of the 90 minute set. “A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise” was next, off of 2007’s Pride, and slowed things down nicely with the return of the slide guitar adding to the atmosphere. Though it would be “Dead Heart” that ruled the night with one of the most epic instrumentals I’ve ever experienced. There were some excellent jam moments too on “Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly)” with the guitarist and keyboardist given moments to shine. And the popular (well, as popular as this band gets) single “Song For Zula” had us all swooning with that emotive, cinematic instrumental backing. The main set closed out with “Ride On / Right On” which once again had the energy cranked up to 11.
The night ended with a three song encore, with Matthew returning to play two solo before welcoming the band back to close out with “Los Angeles”. The first, “Wolves”, served as another highlight of the set, with the stripped back number at first calming the attentive room after the epic main set, before looping his vocals into a stunning, hypnotising chant.
“When We Fall” had the crowd swinging along next, before the band blew us away once again in what Matthew digressed may be their final performance together in their current incarnation. After two years on the road in support of Muchacho, they are bringing their tour to an end – in Sydney, Australia no less – and it’s without argument that the band Matthew called “the best in the world” went out with a bang.
An incredibly tight performance, but just loose enough around the edges that you knew the band keep each other on their toes, with excellent sound and lighting to boot. To ultimately sum up the gig though in just two words? Absolute perfection. Easily a late contender for one of the best gigs of 2014.
Full Setlist:
Sun, Arise! (An Invocation, An Introduction) (Audio)
A New Anhedonia
Terror in the Canyons (The Wounded Master)
The Quotidian Beasts
A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise
Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough)
Dead Heart
Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly)
Song For Zula
Ride On / Right On
Encore:
Wolves (Solo)
When We Fall (Solo)
Los Angeles
