Phantom Buffalo
Encyclopedia
Phantom Buffalo is an indie-rock band from Portland, Maine
. The band was known as The Ponys until 2004
, when both Portland's Ponys and Chicago
-based band The Ponys
were invited to perform at South by Southwest
. Being the lower-profile of the two bands, the Portland group decided on a name change shortly thereafter. The current lineup consists of Jonathan Balzano-Brookes (vocals, guitar), Tim Burns (guitar, vocals), Joe Domrad (drums), Jacob Chamberlain (drums), Sean Newton (bass), and Philip Willey (guitar, accordion, keyboards). The band has released music domestically on the Time-Lag Records
label and in the UK
on Rough Trade Records
. The band's jangly, psychedelic pop music has been compared to The Byrds
and New Zealand
's The Chills
, as well as North American indie-pop acts like The Shins
and The New Pornographers
.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. The band was known as The Ponys until 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
, when both Portland's Ponys and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based band The Ponys
The Ponys (Chicago)
The Ponys are an American indie rock/garage rock band from Chicago, Illinois.-Early days:The Ponys was formed by singer/guitarist Jered Gummere, in early 2001. Gummere was concurrently in the punk band, Guilty Pleasures, at the time of The Ponys’ formation. He eventually left to devote himself...
were invited to perform at South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
. Being the lower-profile of the two bands, the Portland group decided on a name change shortly thereafter. The current lineup consists of Jonathan Balzano-Brookes (vocals, guitar), Tim Burns (guitar, vocals), Joe Domrad (drums), Jacob Chamberlain (drums), Sean Newton (bass), and Philip Willey (guitar, accordion, keyboards). The band has released music domestically on the Time-Lag Records
Time-Lag Records
Time-Lag Records is an independent record label based in Portland, Maine.It has released albums by artists such as Phantom Buffalo, Elephant Micah, Fursaxa, MV+EE and the Bummer Road, Death Chants, Six Organs of Admittance, Wooden Wand, Charalambides, Espers, The Tower Recordings, Drona Parva, GHQ,...
label and in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
. The band's jangly, psychedelic pop music has been compared to The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's The Chills
The Chills
The Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were one of the proponents of the Dunedin Sound.- History :...
, as well as North American indie-pop acts like The Shins
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
and The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia.-History:The band's first four albums each ranked in the top 40 on The Village Voices Pazz & Jop year-end poll of hundreds of music reviewers. From 2000 to 2006, either a New Pornographers' album or a...
.
Albums
- Shishimumu (Time-LagTime-Lag RecordsTime-Lag Records is an independent record label based in Portland, Maine.It has released albums by artists such as Phantom Buffalo, Elephant Micah, Fursaxa, MV+EE and the Bummer Road, Death Chants, Six Organs of Admittance, Wooden Wand, Charalambides, Espers, The Tower Recordings, Drona Parva, GHQ,...
006 CD/2LP, 2002) (as The Ponys) / (Rough Trade (UK)Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
191 CD, 2005) - Take to the Trees (Time-Lag, July 2008)
- Cement Postcard With Owl Colours (Microcultures (France) MM2, 2010)
Singles & EPs
- "A Hilly Town" (Time-Lag 005 7" single, 2002) (as The Ponys) / Rough Trade (UK) 187 7" single, 2004)
- Flying Whale Tour EP (Time-Lag CD-R EP, 2004) (as The Ponys)
- Killing's Not Okay (Time-Lag CD-R EP, 2006)
Compilations
- Greetings From Area Code 207, Vol. 3 (Cornmeal Records CMR2073 CD, 2002) song: "Hey, That's My Only Necktie" (as The Ponys)
- Greetings From Area Code 207, Vol. 4 (Cornmeal Records CMR2074 CD, 2003) song: "Nightmare Leaves" (as The Ponys)
- Greetings From Area Code 207, Vol. 5 (Cornmeal Records CMR2075 CD, 2004) song: "Bathing Suit For A Rich Girl"
- Greetings From Area Code 207, Vol. 6 (Cornmeal Records CMR2076 CD, 2005) song: "Be The Boss"
- Maine Tracks (Cornmeal Records Best of Greetings From Area Code 207 Series) song: "Be The Boss"
External links
- Phantom Buffalo's OFFICIAL website
- Microcultures (EU)
- MySpace page
- BBC review of Shishimumu
- Time-Lag records (US) home
- Rough Trade Records (UK) home
- Cornmeal Records (US) home audio samples of GFAC tracks
- WMPG's Local Motives audio and photos of a 2006 in-studio concert and interview
- Skeleton Media video of a 2005 performance at Space Gallery, Portland, MainePortland, MainePortland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...