The Polyphonic Spree is a multi-member choral rock band from Dallas, Texas led by vocalist and musical director Tim DeLaughter, formerly of Tripping Daisy. Known mainly for their matching robed attire and upbeat symphonic rock compositions, The Polyphonic Spree plays with anywhere from 10 to 25 members at a time.
Fast Facts:
- Formed in 2000 in Dallas, Texas
- Label: Good Records
- Musical Director: Tim DeLaughter
- Singer-songwriter St. Vincent played guitar with the band until going solo
- Band members wear robes because DeLaughter felt street clothes on stage would be "distracting"
- Opened for David Bowie on his "Reality Tour"
- Songs have appeared in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Scrubs, Las Vegas, and in Volkswagen and Adidas ads
Albums
- The Beginning Stages of... (2002)
- Together We're Heavy (2004)
- The Fragile Army (2007)
History
In 2000, three former members of the band Tripping Daisy - Tim DeLaughter, Mark Pirro and Brian Wakeland - were invited to make a 30-minute album by the band Grandaddy. Inspired by 1970s music projects such as the Electric Light Orchestra, the trio gathered together 13 musicians and created The Polyphonic Spree. The band has since expanded to 23 full-time members.
Recordings made at the first Polyphonic Spree show were recorded and turned into the debut album, The Beginning Stages Of..., initially sold independently at DeLaughter's Dallas record store, Good Records.
In 2004, the band signed with Hollywood Records and released their second album, Together We're Heavy. They also performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert that year. The next year, the band performed the entire soundtrack for the film Thumbsucker.
