The Polyphonic Spree

photo by Robb Cohen

Between rain showers on a hot summer night in Atlanta, The Polyphonic Spree overwhelms the 99X Upstart Fest crowd with its aural and visual onslaught. Co-sponsored by Paste, the event also featured Sahara Hotnights, Five-Eight, Jem and Auf Der Mar. The Spree—fresh off a tour with David Bowie (during which it performed the song “Slip Away” with art/glam rock legend)—was busy signing autographs for fans before its performance. The 20-plus-member ensemble also just returned from London, where it finished scoring the new film Thumbsucker (featuring Vince Vaughn and Keanu Reaves). So how does a band this size stay on the road? “It’s been tough,” says, frontman Tim Delaughter (pictured center, in the green robe). “We’ve all made compromises and been frugal. It’s always been a struggle, but we seem to make it happen.”