Phonograph

It's not every day that a band receives accolades in magazines before their debut album is released, but that's precisely what is happening to Phonograph. The Brooklyn-based quintet has already garnered attention in NYC’s L Magazine ("7 NYC Bands You Need to Hear"), Relix Magazine (a new artist profile in their November ’06 issue) and is featured on Jane Magazine’s fall CD sampler. The band has also found themselves making believers out of renowned musicians including Mekons/Waco Brothers’ Jon Langford and Wilco’s John Stirratt. Phonograph vocalist and songwriter, Matthew Welsh explains. “Jon found us by accident. He walked into the recording studio where we were recording, and he kept saying it was brilliant [laughs]. We've been friends ever since, and he's been a really big supporter, helping us anyway he can, including getting us airplay on Chicago’s WXRT. [Wilco bassist] John Stirratt and sister Laurie (Broadmoor Records) stumbled upon the band and has been incredibly helpful, having us open for Wilco as often as possible.” Phonograph is a relative newcomer to the oft-fickle New York City music scene, forming in 2005. “We've been fortunate enough to get amazing opportunities. Playing Irving Plaza, headlining Mercury Lounge and in a few weeks we’ll tape a session for WNYC. In a short amount of time, we've already exceeded our expectations.” confides Welsh. Beginning as Welsh’s solo effort with the help of Pere Ubu’s Tony Maimone, the group’s current line-up began taking shape when a then-studio engineer, John Davis, befriended Welsh. Davis in turn introduced a pair of friends, guitarist Abe Seiferth and drummer Dave Burnett, to the fold, before multi-instrumentalist Phil Sterk recently rounded out the line-up.