Syracuse rock band Phantom Chemistry. (Photo from bettyElm Records)
Listen attentively to the lyrics “Whiskey Slurs” and you’d think these could be the stories of people fighting out their living one block over, one street down, one neighborhood away. Maybe even in the garage next door.
They sing about being in a band and how proud they are of it and hell no, that isn’t going to change for somebody else’s marching orders. They sing about love stories and taking care of their women and worries and fears and the little things and the big things that can either come between you or bring you together.
They rock hard on one song and pull it back in for some suspense on the next.
This is a album that is both scorching hot and undeniably cool, this third full-length effort from guitarist and singer Mike Burriesci, keyboardist and guitarist John Ocasio, guitarist Teddy Bratt, bassist Dillon Cook and drummer PJ Sweeney.
It’s a big week for Phantom Chemistry, the rock band from Syracuse, N.Y., that goes with “psychedelic-indie and electronic” on its bettyElm Records bio and chooses to name The Flaming Lips, DaftPunk, Radiohead and Modest Mouse as its influences.
The 14-song album comes out today. Provided a private stream to sample on SonicCloud, I percussed quickly and happily along with the opening cut “Too Good to Be True,” sang more slowly as I found my way into No. 2 ballad “Wolves,” and took note of how cleverly they connected the significance of that one to the following cut, “Bark.”
Very good stuff followed, including broken-hearted “Addicted,” with the added touch of guest backup vocalist Kristin Turo, and the pull-in opening line of “crash carts and broken hearts,” and the sad closing tones of “Anchor.”
(From Facebook)
The celebration commences with a release party at 8 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 19, at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Tickets are $10.
Here’s a link to a YouTube clip of Phantom Chemistry’s “Good Dogs.”
Have you heard bands rehearsing somewhere in your town? Have you ever wandered over to listen to bands playing in a garage? The “Good Dogs” video above is called “Couch Sessions.” Have you been at a party where somebody in a band has taken out a guitar to sing one of his or her songs? Did you join in? How do you think it affected the party?
Mark Bialczak 
I haven’t seen a garage band for a number of years now, Mark, but I do miss them. Phantom Chemistry sounds awesome!
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They have a great touch, Rachel. I love the days of real people making real music.
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Yes, me too! 🙂
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Love the name; love the review. Good chemistry here, Mark.
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It is a great name for a band, Ann. Another fun thing about music. Picking your band’s name!
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I’m not afraid to jump in and sing for the guy with the guitar. I’m happy to help them out, however, they may not want my help. Years ago I was proposed to in front of a man playing Clapton outside by a river. Wonderful Tonight, too bad I love that song so much. A very romantic moment.
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That sounds like a great thing, Aud. I’ll suspend judgment to you, however. The musical setting sure is grand, though.
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Great review Mark, can’t thank you enough for taking the time to give some well-deserved attention to Phantom Chem! I did want to mention one detail, just for the record: Dillon Cook was the original bass player for Phantom Chemistry who is pictured at the top of the page and played on this and the previous albums; Zack Parsell is the new bass player.
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Thanks for updating the personnel, Jen. That’s what good label folk can do! Congratulations, Zack Parsell, on the new position, and good work, Dillon Cook on the previous work.
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this all sounds great and i love the names. the closest i’ve come was that neighborhood summer music fest, wandering around listening to the full gamut of all things musical )
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That fest you have with people playing on porches is pretty darn cool, Beth. I think every city in the country should have one. Mandatory. 🙂
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Definitely an intriguing enough review to make me check out the vid. Funny because, to continue with the theme of your other blog, on the Rock n’ Roll Inductees, so much of my early 20s were spent listening to local bands. I lived in Manhattan, and, in those close quarters, the next soup kitchen celebrity was probably doing their vacuuming next door. I thought the bands were smart and original and I much enjoyed the intimate club settings over the huge arenas. Not to mention, the cost of admission was a lot cheaper!!
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You can see so much good work in the little clubs of America, Marissa. All of America. 🙂 There’s a delicate balance over the fact that a lot of bar owners state flat out that cover songs draw in more fannies, generally, so bands have to do that. But original songs are where the art lies. You know what I mean?
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Oh definitely. I really don’t like this whole cover band thing and for an artist it’s limiting. I mean how many people will ever get famous playing covers? None. My son was in a band with some of his friends but the drummer was very resistant to doing originals and I really think it’s a dead end for him. (yeah, he’s only 12 but ….)
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I think a young band these days has to be able to do both, Marissa, and yes, at age 12. Get good playing a wide range of the best songs out there and learning how to write original music. NOT being a cover band in the sense of a one-band-only tribute band. That’s too limiting. Yet down the road, those type of tribute bands that are in the top of their field are making oodles of cash touring the country as the next-best-thing to the top acts. Interesting world we live in, no?
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I know what you mean about the cover bands touring and making money. I guess it’s nice to earn a living that way but I think I would always think of myself as someone who couldn’t quite make it doing my own thing. It’s not the same. Back in NY there was a local band that had a song called ‘Cover Band Man’. It was sung by a girl about how she really wanted to date rock stars but she had to settle for a guy who played covers!!
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That’s such a great idea for a song, Marissa. Fantastic, really. Did you see this year’s movie ‘The Identical,’ by chance? Speaking of cover bands, you should if you haven’t. Maybe even bring the 12-year-old. Wait … I think it was PG-13. Anyway, besides the moral issues, it’s music-based.
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Yeah, I’m a pretty cool mom that way and he’s a pretty smart kid. No, I didn’t see it. If it’s not still playing I will definitely have him add it to our Netflix. He’s the boss of all movies we see but it seems like he might like that one.
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Whiskey Slurs is a great name for a song! You live a very well-rounded life, Mark, what with the sports and music and movies. Curious if you also like to read–not remembering a book review, but maybe you’ve done that here, too?
I went to a “concert” once held in someone’s studio apartment. Very intimate. Acoustic guitar, mostly. The middle act was mom to one of my daughter’s friends and it’s bee fun to watch her grow her music career. Maybe she will get to Syracuse eventually? http://katyvernon.com/
She was on Garrison Keillor’s stage one, which is hitting the big time here in Minnesota!
Oh, but about that concert: here is an example of knowing what you should do (or not do as in not drinking too much) and choosing not to do it. Open bars are not always a good idea.
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Whiskey Slurs is a great album title, I agree, Liz.
Yes, I love to read, Liz, and I have written book reviews here, though not in too long.
A concert in a studio apartment is a radical idea, my friend. I’ve been to a house concert in a big living room … I will click on that link to check out Katy Vernon. Garrison Keilor’s stage is big time in any state, I’d say. I guess I’m glad you chose not to do what you could have done, if that’s what you’re saying about that concert!
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Lol, Mark. Unfortunately I am saying I got drink which was not smart as my parents were watching my kids which made things awkward when returned home. Once again, so glad to have married a good man.
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Wow. Katy Vernon is quite the voice. London born and Minny llving and sings like a soaring spirit on the sample snippets on CD baby I just listened to. Very cool voice. I was intrigued by the bio line about her picking up the ukulele and joining that guy’s band called Hootenany, too, Liz. I’m a sucker for any sort of Hootenany.
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We’ll talk about Katy more, then. Have heard her sing and she is climbing.
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Good deal. 🙂
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I bet your folks forgave you, Liz. And besides, Larry was the responsible one that night, so no biggie. 🙂
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Oh, sure all is forgiven but the worst part was being so mortified.
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Yes, I get that part of it, certainly, Liz.
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I’ve been in a garage band Mark, but have never actually ventured into someone else’s garage to listen to them. Not that many around this area within visiting distance. Most of us lived in the country and would have to drive from one place to another, so that was kinda inconvenient, unless we were all performing at the same venue. That happened frequently, because we were in a small community setting, so we pretty much all performed at the same places, either together or separately together. We sure had fun back in the day when all of that was going on. Would be nice to turn it back for a week or so and relive the time, but only for a week. Would love to be able to play my guitar again.
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I would have loved to witness you playing your music, Angie. That would have been special.
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