The Phenomenal Handclap Band performed at the echo on 01/13/10

Gyration, palpitations, and exultations – I feel like a Baptist Minster going on about The Phenomenal Handclap Band. The soul-infused wall of sound, taking notes from 70s post-free-love mnemonics of days gone by rained down on those at the Echo. Did they all fit onto that tiny stage (the band that is)? The real quandary is how they managed to fit all that sound into that one room, where acid tinged notes careened off of too-hip kids that normally would keep their arms crossed at a place like this and magically they moved.

The band opened with an instrumental, as though to clear the listening palette (to brush clean all the sound we hear day in and day out) and remind us what it’s like to hear, instead of just going with the groove (if that makes sense, then you’re alright). Some time in, Laura, singing her heart out, wasn’t getting the proper audio assistance, but that night being her birthday, she still sang her heart out. Pier and Patrick (bass and drums respectively) were relegated to the back, but the side stage view showed that they were very much there. That leaves six up front on the lip of the stage, swaying and going with the digital love that was generated.

words by nathan solis