The Phenomenal Handclap Band is a tight-knit aggregation of musicians and artists from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. At the center of it is Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand who, after years of searching and contemplation, through live performance and the manipulation of recorded music, have finally succeeded in assembling the personification of their holy vision: a musical juggernaut comprised of Daniel, Sean, and their supremely talented friends Patrick Wood, Nicholas Movshon, Luke O'Malley, Laura Marin, Bing Ji Ling, Pier Pappalardo and Joan Tick.
The collective started when Collás and Marquand, two New York underground club DJs, became restless with the concept of playing other people's music. Both had also been involved in the thriving nightlife scene, and had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of esoteric music ranging from Brazilian soul to vintage psych-rock, so becoming
producers seemed to be the next logical step.
After working with a wide range of artists, from veteran soul acts to up-and-coming rock n' rollers, the duo set their sights on The Phenomenal Handclap Band, a collective comprised of various luminaries of the indie rock and underground soul scenes. The resulting self-titled debut (which boasts guest appearances by Aurelio Valle, Carol C, Jaleel Bunton, Bart Davenport, Jon Spencer, and Lady Tigra) is the harmonious culmination of numerous diverse musical backgrounds, as well as a testament to Collás’ and Marquand’s singular musical vision. They have crafted a sound that is equal parts anthemic, dancefloor-oriented and orchestral, borrowing elements from progressive rock, disco, electro, and psychedelia.
Live, The Phenomenal Handclap Band is distilled to an eight-member powerhouse, an eye-popping spectacle that overwhelms the senses. It pulses with a savage rhythm section that provides the ultimate foil for cascading guitars and electrified washes of organ and synthesizers. Their delirious sermonizing whips crowds into a charismatic frenzy. Needless to say, their live shows are more akin to a spiritual church revival than an actual rock show.
Influences
José Lopes Moreira, Hal Ashby, Charles Stepney, Hitachino Nest, Boonoonoonoos, David Mancuso.
Sounds Like
We refuse to have our musical influences meeting in hypothetical situations under impossible circumstances.
'The Phenomenal Handclap Band fills venues with a mesmerizing sound and eight-person stage presence. The band is equal parts psychedelia, proto-disco, heavy rock ‘n’ roll, ‘60s soul and hip-hop – what NPR Music calls “a perfect mix of everything from the past 40 years of popular music.'
- NPR ‘All Songs Considered’
'TPHB's Tardis of a debut encapsulates the nostalgic elements of ESG, ELO, Tom Tom Club, The Doors and Sly And The Family Stone, applies a gloss of New York cool and then re-packages it with the modern production of the LCD soundsystem, CSS and Beck variety. Forget the handclap, they'll take a standing ovation.' Album Review = 8
- NME
'If Santana married a android, their brood of robo-babies would probably sound a lot like The Phenomenal Handclap Band' 4 Star Album Review
- URB Magazine
'I am truly obsessed. Nearly 10 members strong onstage—with guitars, keyboards, percussion, and two very chic female singers (who seriously know how to rock leather leggings and sleek jumpers)—the crew took its worldly, genre-spanning sound and turned it up about a thousand notches'.
-Elle
'Musically diverse, incredibly melodic and dance-floor ready. It’s the kind of album that gives cookie-cutter pop the trashing it deserves.'
– New York Post
'The PHB are astronauts of progressive soul, moored at the stellar point where rock, funk and psychedelia bloom into cosmic-disco amazingness.'
- Guardian UK
'With their multitudinous influences, blending funk, soul, reggae, dance, hip-hop and Brazilian beat, as well as rock, disco and electro, they encapsulate the spirit of the Brooklyn underground.'
- The Sunday Times Culture UK
'...an impressive hodge-podge of various accomplished musicians simultaneously channeling the energy of !!!, Tom Tom Club, Can, Cerrone, and Giorgio Moroder in a surreal explosion of sound.'
- XLR8R
'Founded by a pair of New York DJs, Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand, the Phenomenal Handclap Band masterfully fogs the gap between past and present in their meditation on 60s and 70s psychedlia, giving listeners a much needed respite from today's diluted world of music...we proclaim a bright future ahead for these sublime tastemakers.'
-Anthem Magazine
The Phenomenal Handclap Band's Friend Space (Top 10)
seriouslyyyyyyyyyy amazing show last night with chromeo definitely was not expecting those tunes from you guys and girls but i was blown away! great stuff
