The Polyphonic Spree put on an awesome show at the El Rey

There are certain bands that raise above their music when they perform live and The Polyphonic Spree are exactly in that category.  Their music is always uplifting and grand on albums but live it's a spectacle of visuals and sounds.  Think of the live show as a cross between a Vegas act and some sort of Texas cult.  Tim DeLaughter is a mad genius on stage with the way he works the crowd and his own band.  I'm still surprised on how they managed to cram 16 people on the small El Rey Stage.  

This tour is to support their new album Yes, It's True which was funded by Kickstarter.  If you haven't picked up the album, run out and pick it up either online or at a record store near you.  These kind of bands need your support to keep going.  Their music has a certain way of bringing happiness out of your soul.  Seriously, I can't listen to Yes, It's True and feel the aggression just melt away.   This album fuses more electronica with their sound and actually is a fun experiment by the band.  It's different from their previous work but in a good way.

"Popular By Design" was just awesome live with the lights and disco ball action on stage.  The song strongly reminds me of "Boy" by Book of Love.   Take a good listen and the bass beat thumping in with the arrangement is almost identical.  I'm curious to see if that was the influence for the song or just a happy accident.

For those not familiar with "Boy" by Book of Love, here's the song in full.  Takes me back to my childhood and the 80's new wave scene.  You have to admit, there's a strong similarity here in the beat.  This song still holds up by the way.

Get Yes, It's True and more importantly go and see this band live.  Tim was able to get everyone at the El Rey to sit during the last song before jumping up and down for a nice headbanging session. Yes, everyone at the El Rey including security guards obliged him on his wish and it was fantastic to see.  That picture below is actually everyone sitting on the ground and Tim sitting in the middle of the crowd covering Nirvana's "Lithium."