The Phoids

The Phoids began in the early '90s, when singer/guitarist Jac Calabro met another guitarist, Matt Chiaravalle through a mutual friend. After jamming and writing songs together, the two decided to form a band. After placing a musicians wanted ad in Village Voice, a gentleman by the name of Michael Chambers answered. After a successful tryout, he was welcomed aboard, as was bass player Kristen Brockett. Once the young new band began playing live, they realized that Brockett wasn't working out, so she left. Chambers remembered an old bass-playing friend who had just graduated college, Greg Bass, and sent him a demo. After relocating to New York, Greg tried out, and was given the gig. Signing with Ng Records in November of 1994, the group recorded their full-length debut just one month later. The album, mushyheadedgoogoomouth, was released in April 1995, as was a video for the track "Lil' Suzy." After touring behind the debut wrapped up, the Phoids wrote and recorded their second album, Marianne Doesn't Know Yet. Released in January 1997, the album was an improvement over the debut, undoubtedly due to the fact that the band had grown tighter due to touring together. The group acquired new fans as an opener for the Bogmen, as well as slots at Foundations Forum and the CMJ New Music Festival. Regrouping later in the year for their third album, the band enlisted producer Nico Bolas (Keith Richards, Neil Young, etc.), and recorded in a rural Massachusetts studio. The resulting self-titled album (which was far more experimental than the other two) was released in April 1998, and proved to be their best yet.
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