A Week of SXSW 2009: Phosphorescent

[SXSW 2009]
Phosphorescent
Sounds Like: Folk
Drinking Buddies: Iron & Wine, Mount Eerie, Bon Iver
Synopsis: A quiet expression of introspection.
Appearances at SXSW:

• Club de Ville (11:59 PM, March 18)
• The Mohawk (9:40 PM, March 19)
• Mrs Bea's (3:00 PM, March 19)
• Red Eyed Fly (4:20 PM, March 20)
  

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the first Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is Phosphorescent.



Folk music is sometimes not given its due and proper. Sure, there are plenty of people who pay tribute to the wonderful genre, from more modern forms like Thao with The Get Down Stay Down and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, to more traditional styles from bands like Bon Iver and Okkervil River. But largely, beyond these break-out artists, many don't pay mind to such traditional song-making, a very low-key, lo-fi song making. The song making that represents the people. Real people in real places, with real things to say.

Phosphorescent is one of those sort of bands: a band with something real to say. The solo project of Matthew Houck expresses the thoughts and experiences of the kind of guy who's good at singin' it out, rather than speaking it. With a blend of traditional folk elements along with an country twang, Phosphorescent - with its full band sound - presents a very vibrant, imaginative sound that stands unique in American folk artists.

Their tunes are laid back and calm, almost soothing. Phosphorescent is good at down tempo, and good at understanding the value in quiet and laid back. Their songs are relaxing: songs about drinking to drink to - songs about love to be in love to - songs about singing and having fun to sing and have fun to. Phosphorescent is all about coming together and enjoying something simple, real, and uniquely, passionately beautiful. Phosphorescent has quite a few albums, their most hailed being Aw Come Aw Wry, and are currently working on brand new LP, titled To Willie. You can listen to and purchase Houck's music right off of his Myspace.

For those braving the wild streets of Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest festival, you'll have quite a few opportunites to catch them. Firstly, on March 18th, you can catch a special "To Willie performance at Club de Ville at 11:59 PM (this may even be a record debut). March 19th will have Phosphorescent at Mrs Bea's for Todd P's Party at 3:00 PM, followed by a performance at The Mohawk for the Dead Oceans Showcase at 9:40 PM. And to round out the fesetitivties of SXSW, there will be one last shows at the Red Eyed Fly for the Little Radio Dayshow, at 4:20 on March 20. Pick up a drink, and get that singin' voice ready.