Madison via Baraboo, Wi – sextet, PHOX – who recently announced their deal with Partisan Records and the June 24 release of their self-titled debut – have released the first single from that album, “Slow Motion,” available for streaming today via SoundCloud. The breathy-yet-powerful intensity of lead-singer Monica Martin’s voice sits somewhere between the evocative agelessness of Christine McVie or Nina Simone with more modern echoes of Chairlift’s Caroline Polacheck. Beneath this, an elegant Lee Hazlewood-meets-Regina Spector arrangement and compressed drums that would sit on the edge of a St Vincent record. PHOX straddle the normally shaky boundary between sounding modern and classic.
Listen: PHOX – “Slow Motion” via SoundCloud
PHOX have also announced their headlining tour dates. The 5-week run will begin on June 24 in Omaha, NE and includes dates in all major markets. (For the band’s full itinerary, see below.)
The new album PHOX is available for pre-sale now via iTunes, Amazon and the band’s website. Produced by Brian Joseph at April Base Studio in Eau Claire, WI and mixed by Michael Brauer, the album is a school of simple folk-pop songs swimming amidst a chaotic eddy of rock, psychedelia, and soul. In addition to accolades from NPR, New York Magazine, and Salon, Jon Pareles of the New York Times praised the band’s songs and live performance, “[PHOX]…gives listeners something to return to after the party; the upbeat music holds thoughtful lyrics. PHOX writes full-fledged songs.”
PHOX On Tour
04/08 – Washington, DC @ The Hamilton w/Laura Mvula
04/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/Laura Mvula
06/24 – Omaha NE @ Waiting Room
06/25 – Kansas City MO @ Riot Room
06/27 – Austin TX @ Stubbs Jr.
06/28 – Dallas TX @ Three Links
06/30 – Phoenix AZ @ The Western
07/01 – Los Angeles CA @ Echo
07/03 – San Francisco CA @ The Chapel
07/05 – Portland OR @ Mississippi Studios
07/06 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
07/08 – Salt Lake City UT @ State Room
07/09 – Denver CO @ Hi-Dive
07/11 – St Louis MO @ Duck Room
07/12 – Champaign, IL @ Mariposa Music Festival
07/13 – Nashville TN @ High Watt
07/15 – Birmingham AL @ Bottletree
07/17 – Asheville NC @ Grey Eagle
07/18 – Chapel Hill NC @ Local 506
07/19 – Washington DC @ DC9
07/21 – Philadelphia PA @ Boot & Saddle
07/22- Brooklyn NY @ Knitting Factory
07/23 – New York NY @ Mercury Lounge
07/25 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival
07/26 – North Bennington, VT @ The Vermont Arts Exchange
07/28 – Montreal QC @ Motore
07/29 – Toronto ON @ The Garrison
07/31 – Cleveland OH @ Grog Shop
08/01 – Detroit MI @ Magic Stick
08/03 – Green Bay WI @ Meyer Theatre
08/04 – Minneapolis MN @ 7th Street Entry
08/06 – Milwaukee WI @ Turner Hall
08/07 – Madison WI @ High Noon
08/08 – Madison WI @ High Noon
08/09 – Chicago IL @ Lincoln Hall