SLCene Suggests: Polyphonic Spree at In The Venue

POLYPHONIC SPREE, IN THE VENUE, Friday, July 25, 6 p.m., $22

The first time I saw Polyphonic Spree, it was at the South by Southwest Music Conference in Texas in 2001, when the group decided to perform in some unusual places instead of the usual bars and clubs. There was a show at a vacant lot, and another on a traffic island in the middle of a busy street. The members wore choir robes as a uniform of sorts, and the choir vibe was no accident. Band founder Tim DeLaughter, formerly of  Tripping Daisy, started Polyphonic Spree to have a group capable of making the expansive sound he was hearing in his head when his old band broke up. And Polyphonic Spree, with up to two dozen members at times, he was able to do just that. Their live shows are incredible experience–it’s pretty much impossible to leave a Polyphonic Spree spree without a smile on your face. The excellent Sarah Jaffe opens the show.

sarah Jaffe opens