“It’s all bummers from here on out” : An Evening with Phosphorescent

^{Article by Grace Hudson-Mairet, cover photo by Montse Prado Gutierrez}

A crowd gathered in the dark ambience of the historic Metro concert hall, ethereal blue light mixing with fog as atmospheric music played. Long-time fans waited in excitement to finally see Phosphorescent perform live for their first tour in several years, following the release of their new album Revelator. Friday’s performance in Wrigleyville was Phosphorescent’s first show back in the States following a few weeks in Europe, and the long wait was well worthwhile. Though Phosphorescent’s front man, Matthew Hounck joked early on in his gracious self-deprecation that the evening would be “all bummers from here on out,” the sincerity of the night’s performance brought light to the melancholy lyrics, making for a delightful evening.

Touring for the first time in years, the independent singer-songwriter from Huntsville, Alabama took advantage of this tour as an opportunity to perform from his extensive back-catalog of self-produced work in addition to his newly released album. Instead of a typical opener, the show was truly “An Evening with Phosphorescent,” starting with a solo set, which allowed him to cover a wider spread of material. 

Matthew Hounck’s solo set revealed his true identity as a storyteller. Stripped down to nothing but clean guitar and raw vocals, he captivated the audience with his mystical lyricism and voice distinct with delicate cracks, riffs, and falls. His authenticity shone through in times between songs too, when he conversed casually with the audience while tuning newly-changed guitar strings. In one of the most devastating and beautiful songs of the opening set, Hounck played “The World is Ending,” written by his partner Jo Schornikow, which he recorded for Revelator. Shifting naturally between albums, Hounck ended his opening set with an early cut from 2005, “Endless,” which he recently revisited while writing for the soundtrack of the 2024 film Oh Canada. His musical style blending naturally with personality, his connection to the audience was palpable: “don’t clap,” he said once toward the end of his set, “I’m not trying to milk that,” as he expressed his gratitude, shaking hands with audience members along the stagefront. 

In the second set, the band brought new energy to Hounck’s performance, filling out his sound with vocal harmonies and adding a unique texture. Head banging keyboardist Scott Stapleton and drummer Dominic Billet jammed between choruses, while Jack Lawrence and Ricky Ray Jackson laid down cool layers on bass and pedal steel. The set began with the newest title track, “Revelator,” followed by two more songs off the album before launching into older material. The newly added rhythm section brought a livelier tempo, so by the time the band played their hit “New Birth in New England,” the crowd was ready to dance. The set finished with “Song for Zula,” before a fun, high energy encore. Phosphorescent’s sound, a blend of acoustic country and indie rock, is genuine at its core—melancholy, yes, but performed in a crowded hall Friday was certainly no bummer to experience.