Does my band look big in this?

The Polyphonic Spree

Ever since they emerged, 23 members strong, wearing matching robes and big smiles, opinion has been divided on the Polyphonic Spree.

The self-styled "choral symphonic pop band" from Texas have become renowned for their live shows, gigs of joyous intensity that have more in common with revivalist meetings than regular concerts.

While their fans - and there are many - regard them as a breath of fresh air in a pop landscape dominated by sour-faced indie bands, cynics have suggested The Polyphonic Spree are a novelty act wearing quasi-religious fancy dress simply to stand out.

Formed from the ashes of the 90s psychedelic quartet Tripping Daisy, this sprawling ensemble - incorporating a string and brass section, a harpist, a theremin player and an 11-strong choir alongside the usual rock staples of drummer and guitarist - have been operational for nearly four years under the supervision of charismatic lead singer 38-year-old Tim DeLaughter (rhymes with "daughter" rather than "after").

Tripping Daisy's career came to an abrupt end in 1999 when guitarist Wes Berggren died of a drugs overdose.

"When Wes died, I thought I was never going to make music again," reflects DeLaughter in his gentle Texan drawl. "But in the end I found it was the only way I was able to express how I felt. But then my first child was born, so suddenly I was witnessing new life as well as death. It was a lot to deal with at one time. I was careering between these feelings of grief and pure joy. I think you can hear that in the first songs we recorded."

The Polyphonic Spree started with DeLaughter and the remaining two members of Tripping Daisy - Mark Pirro and Mitch Marine - plus a core of their friends from Dallas.

But as the band strove to achieve the symphonic sound of which DeLaughter dreamed, more friends and acquaintances were invited to join. Word spread about their shows at Austin's South by Southwest music festival.

"The Polyphonic Spree's first album, The Beginning Stages Of ... combined sunny, Beach Boys melodies with gospel harmonies and relentlessly upbeat lyrics that entreated listeners to reach for the sun. Last year's second album, Together We're Heavy, is, by the Spree's standards, a slightly darker affair. Full of roaring crescendos and immense choruses, it comes with a more polished, panoramic sound.

After the group parted company with their former record company, 679, DeLaughter held talks with several major labels before deciding to put the album out on his own Good Records imprint.

"You could say we're biting off a whole lot with this. But there are challenges that we must face every day. I've had them from the beginning, when I had people coming up and telling me this group was the worst idea I'd ever had. But we're going to continue to find a way. All those people who told me it couldn't work at the start, I'm sure they've eaten their hats a couple of times."

The fact remains, however, that playing live is an arduous and expensive business.

The band require a dozen vans on tour. As for air travel, the costs don't even bear thinking about.

DeLaughter operates an easy-going, open-door, policy with the band: "Certain people have jobs to go back to, courses to finish and are having families. Doing this job you have to understand that people's lives don't remain static."

He is the first to acknowledge that the spectacle of the Polyphonic Spree can be overwhelming.

"I know it sounds absurd, but looking like a religious cult was never on the agenda. The only thing I was focused on when we started was the sound, and I knew I needed these people and instruments to create that."

So why the robes? "I thought it was going to be more distracting with 23 people wearing street clothes," he replies. "What I know from being in bands for years is that the clothes are as important as the music. People seem to think they can sum you up by what you are wearing. I thought the one thing we had to do was unify the group. I thought robes would be a beautiful image."

Along with steering the band's course and its record label, DeLaughter runs a record store in Dallas and he's also scoring a film.

"We're all just about scratching a living in this band, which is some miracle when you consider the numbers. I don't think any of us are in the Polyphonic Spree to get rich."

But DeLaughter insists he will never scale the operation down.

"That would be like tearing limbs off us. If there's no way of carrying on in these numbers, then the Polyphonic Spree's done. It's all or nothing as far as I'm concerned."

THE WEIRDOS

WHO: The Polyphonic Spree, 23-piece robe-wearing band/choir from Texas. Vocalist and group leader is Tim DeLaughter

KEY RELEASES: The Beginning Stages of ... (2002), Together We're Heavy (2004)

PLAYING: Big Day Out Boiler Room 7pm

- INDEPENDENT