SXSW Preview:
PHOX

Baraboo darlings PHOX have quickly become, undoubtedly, one of Madison’s favorites. They never fail to surprise with their unique stage presence and multitude of instrumentals — and don’t even get me started on leader singer Monica Martin’s stunning vocals. It was not surprising, when the Majestic Theatre paired up with Minneapolis venue First Avenue to organize a SXSW showcase, that PHOX was certainly on the list of bands to send down. There is no doubt in my mind that 2013 is going to be crazy year for them.

To bide a little time on their way down to Austin, I sent along some questions:

What are you looking forward to most at SXSW?
“My mind keeps going to tacos. I think I have taco dates with four people right now. Also, the sun. We’re en route right now, and each time we stop to get corn dogs, it’s ten degrees warmer! Also, having the opportunity to play in front of people who have never heard us before. Also, I heard there is a lot of free beer.”

Any bands you’re looking forward to seeing in particular?
“Dosh, Hooray for the Riff Raff, Youth Lagoon, Sorne, Chris Carraba (duh). For most of us this will be our first time at SX, so I feel like it’s really important for us to approach the whole thing with an open mind. Obviously the main stages area stacked to the moon, but we’re here to meet real people. Hopefully we wake up on a life raft in the eye of a hurricane, with Father John passing us a soggy j.”

Favorite Touring Memory from 2012:
“On the final night of the Garden of Night tour, we transformed the Al Ringling Theater into a twinkling cesspool of rainbow bigotry. The energy was incredible that night! Fathers, sons, simulacrums, and strangers, all coming out to support music in this dinky little farm town, that like so many of its ilk, is starved for new art. Those towns need love just like all the thankless cultural hubs full of PBR-sucking Darias who talk over Chris Thile’s hushed mando solos (like us, mostly… we skipped this part on yootoob). But we’ve had such darling party-goers at all of our hometown shows, from Mother Fool’s in-the-round style couch jams to sweaty Pro Lo shoegaze dance parties.”

Albums Currently on Heavy Rotation at the PHOX Den / in the van:
“Lord of the Rings soundtrack, Foreign Fields’ Anywhere But Where I Am, and I don’t think Everything Everything’s Arc hasn’t left the van CD player since we got it.”

Favorite Albums of All-Time:
“I want it known that this started a heated half-hour discussion in the van. Each of our half-dozen internal soundtracks mash together less coherently than Girl Talk mixtapes, and it gets hard to tell what the heck we’re singing along to. So for lack of a blue ribbon winner, here are some important albums to us.”

Brandi Carlile – The Story  (Monica)
Hanson – Middle of Nowhere  (Jason)
Circa Survive – Juturna  (Mateo)
Pink Floyd – Animals  (Cheston)
Nickel Creek – Why Should the Fire Die?  (Dave)
Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot  (Matt)
Sufjan Stevens – Illinois  (Zach)

Biggest Inspirations as a Band or Otherwise:
“The aforementioned album list definitely has some prime players. Or, bands that make us feel like we should never write again, Haute Nerd (our beloved kitty cat slash guru), the lights at airports that spin around in pretty colors, you know? And Tim and Eric. Uncomfortable romantic encounters, and various sporting events tend to light a fire. To most of us, inspiration is feeling. Feeling anything. Feeling has little regard to convention or taboo or even our own history. The feelings that drive us aren’t often the wholesome ones, but the immediate moment, no matter how chaotic, keeps us driving to help each other feel something.”

Interesting/Unknown Fact About Yourselves:
“Jason was the captain of his high school soccer team. Monica’s favorite joy is spoon-feeding a Nutella-virgin (or an NV, as we like to say). Cheston is the long-lost relative to the famous California gold rush river panner turned shuttle bus driver, Old Smokey. Dave was voted Most Likely to be President in his seventh grade yearbook. Zach was asked to perform interpretive dance in front of the King of Gorgoya; because of his performance, he was then asked to stay and be the king’s royal dancer. And actually, the Matts met at Menominee for the Boys summer camp, and they bonded over their love for paper mache and nude beachers.”