SXSW: Clapping Phenomenally

The Phenomenal Handclap Band: NYC's electro-pop mad scientists. This eight-piece band, doesn't do much handclapping but more beat-dropping and face melting. Their recording sound is huge; they have power in numbers. NPR's All Songs Considered Podcast (too much love for NPR today) recently featured the band, hailing them as a top prospect at this year's SXSW. Hence, the motivation for our post.

Stark contributing writers, Max Verrelli and Liz Wiest, caught The Clap (oh yeah, the name is ripe with puns) at Adidas Originals House Party awhile back; they had this to say about a few of the band's songs that evening:

" "You’ll Disappear" starts with a little palm-muted, funk-chicken pickin’ guitar before launching into a synth-laden ascending riff, oddly reminiscent of Daft Punk’s "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." The band still waved the originality flag. PHCB is all about vocal harmonies and this tune doesn’t disappoint. The smoky female leads make you wish that there was still a Studio 54 for Andy Warhol to piss on canvases in."

SXSW details and more from Max and Liz after the jump.

SXSW:
WEDNESDAY 3/18
2PM IODA SXSW Opening Day Bash
Emo’s Annex

5PM TheMUSICSLUT.com/BlogFreshRadio.com
Peckerheads

8PM My Old Kentucky Blog Official Showcase
Radio Room (inside)

MIDNIGHT Kick off The Jams!
Pure Ultra Lounge

THURSDAY 3/19
2PM Music For Listeners
The Red House Pizzeria

5PM Mint Recs Hootenanny
Headhunters back Patio

FRIDAY 3/20
5PM Everloving Party
Design Within Reach

SATURDAY 3/21
4:15PM - Music By the Slice (House Band)
Home Slice

Max and Liz:

"The band’s set while disappointingly short was still full of multiple layers and textures. The band handed out feathers with the band’s logo on them and while most people would probably have an “I’d rather be caught dead than with a sky rat feather in my hair” attitude, the enthusiastic crowd was more than happy to don a feather and shake a leg. Even Adrian Grenier seemed to be enjoying himself, even though he was there sin entourage.

So if you want some snazzy shit to talk about at your ugly-sweater themed cocktail party, I suggest you check out these tracks and start spreading the word.

‘You’ll Disappear’ starts with a little palm-muted funk chicken pickin’ guitar before launching into a synth-laden ascending riff oddly reminiscent of Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, while still waving the originality flag. PHCB is all about vocal harmonies and this tune doesn’t disappoint. The smoky female leads make you wish that there was still a Studio 54 for Andy Warhol to piss on canvases in.

‘Testimony’ has a spacey vibe that begins with some tight downbeat reverberated guitar hits. Having two key players makes it easy for the PHCB to have a lot of overlap and texture to their tunes. There is great rising action in this tune. The chorus of this tune is chock with full band hits a la Curtis Mayfield.

‘Baby,’ a personal favorite, is so authentic in its ‘70s soul sound (particularly the flute trills during the main theme), that we thought it was a cover for sure. While somewhat repetitive, “Baby, I could rule the world, with a girl like you on my arm” is a tag that you find yourself singing and/or humming over and over after just one listen.

‘I Been Born Again’ is an organ heavy groover with Santanaesque guitar work with a refrain that fit just as easily in the Fillmore as a Baptist Church."