Photon Band
Photon Band | |
---|---|
Origin | Philadelphia |
Genres | Indie rock, psychedelic, noise pop |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | Darla, Empyrean Records, 100 Guitar Mania, Nod and Smile Records |
Members | Art DiFuria, Jeff Tanner, Patrick Berkery |
Past members | Jason Kourkounis Gary Plowman Chris Kubicek |
Photon Band is an American indie rock band formed in Philadelphia, PA in 1994. The only constant member is Art DiFuria, who has played with several Philadelphia bands, including Baby Flamehead, Brother JT and Vibrolux, the Brother JT 3 and the Original Sins. Key members have included Simon Nagle (Drums) and Jeff Tanner (bass, guitar, and backing vocals). The band has achieved critical acclaim, but little recognition outside of Philadelphia.
History
Early Development
A native of the Philadelphia area, DiFuria started playing guitar at a young age. Two main influences on his early musical development were his sister’s participation in a church guitar group and his mother’s work as an astrologer.
Formation of "Classic" lineup and full-length releases
During these early years, DiFuria had enlisted friend and drummer Simon Nagle and bassist Gary Plowman to perform his songs with him. By late 1996, Plowman had left and Jeff Tanner had taken over, stabilizing the band as a live unit. The trio spent the next few years building a repertoire, recording, and releasing singles and compilation tracks. Its first full-length record appeared in 1998 on Darla Records, entitled "All Young in the Soul." Like the earlier releases, the album featured a heavy late 1960s psychedelic influence, with noted off-kilter, "day-glo" overtones.[8] The band was prolific over the next three years. 2000 witnessed two Photon Band releases on Darla: "Our ESP Driven Scene" collected the band’s singles, compilation tracks, and outtakes since their inception, and "Oh the Sweet Sweet Changes" featured new material in the vein of "All Young in the Soul," but quieter. While these releases feature some tracks with DiFuria playing all instruments, they mostly feature Nagle and Tanner on drums and bass, respectively.
DiFuria's academic pursuits, changes in sound, and sporadic releases
In 2001, DiFuria moved to
Return to activity and expanded lineup
In 2007, new label support came from
DiFuria leaves Philadelphia for Savannah
In July 2010, DiFuria announced that he had taken a job at Savannah College of Art and Design and that the band would play what would be its last show before his re-location. In the same interview, he expressed his intention to continue playing and recording, claiming to be at work on a "quadruple album."[18] On stage at the last show, DiFuria is reported to have told the audience that the band would "probably" be back in Philadelphia to play again "in a year."[19] Since moving to Savannah, the band has continued to play and record, albeit sporadically. They have released two albums: 2013's Pure Photonic Matter Volume I,[20] and 2015's Songs of Rapture and Hatred.[21] The former album received praise as "an unanticipated surprise for 2013."[22] The band most notably opened for Champaign, IL's Poster Children on their reunion tour of late 2016.[23] In an early 2018 interview for Blurt (magazine), DiFuria promised "two albums...the next installment in the Pure Photonic Matter series [and] another, probably done around the same time...very long songs, sloppy, poppy, noisy, and primitive, with lots of jamming.[24]
References
- ^ a b c Blog Archive » EXIT INTERVIEW: The Photon Band’s Art DiFuria. Phawker (July 23, 2010). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Art Di Furia. Freecitymedia.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Tons of Nuns « Freedom Has No Bounds. Freedomhasnobounds.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Black & Noir. Kingautomatic.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Photon Band. Facebook. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Photon Band – Our Own ESP Driven Scene (Singles, Comps & Outtakes '95–'00) (CD. )Discogs. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Abebe, Nitsuh. (1996-04-05) 747 (Don't Worry) – Photon Band. AllMusic. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Photon Band – All Young In The Soul CD Album. Cduniverse.com (June 8, 2000). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Alone on the Moon – [Vinyl] LP – Photon Band. Insound.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Photon Band: Information from. Answers.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Reiter, Kyle. (2003-02-04) Photon Band: It's a Lonely Planet | Album Reviews. Pitchfork. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ FALL GUIDE '04: 100 Best Philly Albums of all Time – philadelphia weekly online. Pwblogger.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Photon Band – Get Down Here In the Stratosphere MP3 Music Download. Cduniverse.com (August 21, 2007). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Photon Band Comes Back Down to Earth » Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream. Carlsandburgvisits.com (January 18, 2008). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Brendan Gallagher Discography and Music at CD Universe. Cduniverse.com (November 7, 2011). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Free People: Summer 2009. YouTube (June 8, 2009). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Blog Archive » Musical Rumblings: Today’s Vibe. philebrity.com (June 8, 2009). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Photon Torpedoed :: Music :: Article :: Philadelphia City Paper. Archives.citypaper.net. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ Khyber Last Show Ever :: Cover Story :: Article :: Philadelphia City Paper. Archives.citypaper.net. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.
- ^ "Photon Band - Pure Photonic Matter Volume 1". Discogs. June 4, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ "Photon Band - Songs Of Rapture And Hatred". Discogs. June 9, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ Jazz, All About (July 23, 2013). "Photon Band: Pure Photonic Matter Volume 1". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ "Shows Archives - Page 2 of 85 - Poster Children". Poster Children. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ "ROCK 'N' ROLL PHOTON TORPEDO: Art DiFuria - Blurt Magazine". Blurt Magazine. Retrieved April 9, 2018.