Tomorrow night, PHOX will perform at the Majestic Theatre’s Live on King Street, opening for rock group Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. Take this opportunity to enjoy some homegrown music from an up-and-coming local band. If you — for some obscene and unfathomable reason — miss tomorrow, you can also catch PHOX on September 5 at the High Noon Saloon. Or, you can see them on September 21 at the Majestic Theatre with Pearl and the Beard and solo act Anna Vogelzang. I chatted with PHOX’s Dave Roberts in advance of tomorrow’s concert.
Is there a meaning behind your band name? PHOX?
We had a show booked at the tech school in Baraboo before we had songs or had really played with Monica. Matt has this hat made out of a fox pelt, so it was only natural that we were billed as Foxhat. I’m not sure exactly how, but by the next show we were PHOX.”
What is your music-making process like?
“Our process has changed, but generally Monica writes lyrics first and a melody or two blossoms. Matt R. and Jason swoop in with typically wild chords and dreams of being Taylor Hanson. Matt H. makes a fantastic MIDI version of the song on ‘Reason’ — fantastic and nightmare-inducing. Che ceaselessly makes suggestions about melody and harmony until he decides to improv a ridiculous bass part, and Dave makes a mockery of various things until the song is acceptable.
“Rehearsals tend to be either the worst thing knowable — screaming, misery, laser rifles, waterboarding underwater, etc. — or the best thing, but we’re getting better at it. On average, we tend to rehearse a couple times a week but would like to get to the every day point. We’ve met a lot of really fantastic artists who practice every day. It tends to speak for itself.”
How has your music evolved since you first began playing together?
“We’re becoming more confident, more flexible, subtler. Listening to and playing with amazing musicians or being inspired by any art helps.”
What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
“Living together. If you have an issue with someone, you better learn to work it out or quit. And no one’s quit yet, though Ches was kicked out for about 15 minutes this winter. I’m still mulling it over, but I’m not sure I could survive a Wisconsin winter or other survivalist scenarios in the woodlands, certainly not without these crazies. If I knew anything, I wouldn’t be here. But here we are!”
How do you describe your music to people?
“Yeah, baby.”