Father Phoenix is loud. There's just no getting around that.
But that's certainly not to say that, as a band, "loud" is the only appropriate adjective that applies. The fact is, the trio of force that is Milwaukee's Father Phoenix is an infinitely complex musical cocktail that simultaneously forces you to indulge in rock 'n' roll's classic essence while constantly reminding you how far it's come in the last 30 years.
And yeah, the band can extract the extra decibels when it wants to -- but isn't that what rock 'n' roll is all about, anyway?
"Loudness is not so much a priority as it is just the way we do things," explains the voice of Father Phoenix, Kris Maedke-Russell. "There is just something beautiful about that extra sensory experience of feeling the music as well as seeing and hearing it. Think about bands like the Who and Hendrix, and just how loud and unbridled they were. That's what rock 'n' roll should sound like. That's what rock 'n' roll should feel like. Hopefully we do it some justice."
What Maedke-Russell and Ryan Marszalek (bass) and Tyler Chicorel (drums) achieve amongst them is an uncommon dynamic that mixes composed aggression and spastic lyrical poetry with a gritty, modern crunch.
The self-titled debut album -- set to surface this Halloween -- opens with the patient, layered instrumental "Spitting at the Face in the Sky Pt. 1" that builds on itself until it crashes into the uncompromising energy of "Pt. 2."
Just two tracks in and it's already impossible to pigeonhole this sound. All you really know for sure is that you've happened upon a fervency not found in a simple pop melody -- and one that commands attention.
"We all were active in the punk scene in Riverwest and elsewhere throughout high school and that has an undeniable hand in what this band is doing and where we are going," says Maedke-Russell. "D.I.Y. will always be a more fulfilling way to do things than anything else."
But by "Thunder in the Night Forever" the mood shifts slightly, making way for a brief Led Zeppelin nod -- and is that a cowbell? -- before regaining momentum and charging its way to the finale. This record is nothing if not rich with diversity.
"We all grew up with music -- playing and listening. Whether it was from our parents, or from a desire to find out what was going on musically, we were surrounded by it. Tyler's dad owned a record label. (My) parents were hippies. Ryan was born collecting records. Fast forward to now, and there is a lot of music to love and a lot of influence, which lends itself to the schizophrenic mood of the album."
One thing that the band ultimately maintains, however, is its collective adoration of vintage musical equipment -- the kind of stuff that provides "the sound we like, nice and gritty."
And don't expect Father Phoenix to turn any of it down any time soon.
"A reputation for being loud is a lot better than what it could be, so I guess I'd be cool with that. We certainly won't be getting rid of any gear."
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
