The Quiet Storm: Polyphonic Spree

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A LOT HAS BEEN WRITTEN about the Polyphonic Spree, the Texas-sized troupe of musicians, 20-plus members strong, all clad in identical white robes, preaching about the sun and rainbows to all who will listen.

Well, all that's true, and it sure makes for a great story, but that diminishes the band's talents. With a massive roster of singers, instrumentalists and an enigmatic, larger-than-life front man in Tim DeLaughter, the band has come a long way from its first album, "The Beginning Stages Of ..." As the band marches along with its new album, "The Fragile Army," it has refined its trademark sound, reining in the music for a more cohesive rock song.

"It was a deliberate record," said Julie Doyle, a singer in the band's choir as well as DeLaughter's wife and partner of about 20 years. "We knew what we wanted, and Tim and I pretty much collaborated on the basic ideas."

On previous records, DeLaughter brought in a skeleton of a song and the other band members would start improvising their parts. This go-round, they built the songs up methodically, allowing elements to find their way into the songs in a more natural way. It also paved the way for some new sounds, including some electronic elements.

"I think when it comes to some of those sounds you hear that maybe you haven't heard before, that's just things that were happening at the moment," Doyle said. "It's just a very spontaneous, yet current record."

The Polyphonic Spree, which will perform at 9:30 Club on Saturday, was able to experiment with its sound because, at the time of recording, there was no record label looking over its collective shoulder.

The band's first two albums were released on Hollywood Records, and "The Fragile Army" was slated to come out from them as well. But during the initial stages of recording, when the songs were raw and stripped down, Hollywood just wasn't feeling it, Doyle said, so they parted ways with the label.

"Tim and I did whatever we had to do financially to pull it together to continue on," she said. "Financially, it was a bummer, but, honestly, artistically, it was such a relief because we were so sure about the record that we wanted to make, and there wasn't anyone we'd have to answer to. It would be our album."

The end result, now available from TVT Records, is the natural growth of a band that was built on sunshine, happiness and reaching for the light. The robes are still there, the joy is still abundant, and when the band takes the stage Saturday night, maybe you'll feel just like the band sings, "So excited and delighted today."
It was a great story then, and it's still a great story now. Just remember how much work goes into making it happen.

» 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW; with Jesca Hoop, Sat.,7 p.m. doors, $25; 202-265-0930. (U St.-Cardozo)

Photo courtesy Little Big Man