⏳
Phony ppl is one of those bands that can only be described as anointed. A four piece collective whose limitless melodies and prescient lyrics feel extraterrestrial, they're a band whose music resonates with me on a higher frequency. 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of their album, Yesterday's Tomorrow: the release that made me fall in love with them in the first place. It's fitting to love a project just as much today as when I heard it a decade ago, the music animated around that very truth: time is circular—yesterday is tomorrow is today.
Even though the group vibrates on a frequency so high, it's like they're from another world—they're as Brooklyn as it gets. I once met the group's frontman, Elbie Thrie, on the street in Crown Heights. It felt like divine intervention. I had just gotten my heart broken for the hundredth time by the same guy (a guy who, btw, had put me on to their bandcamp project Phonyland). What were the chances of meeting the musician who had penned so many songs that revolved around right person, wrong time? I mustered enough courage to let him know what the music meant to me, to ask him if he got stopped in public a lot, how it all felt. He was as disarming in person as he was on stage. I'd see Elbie again, along with the rest of the band, at their show at the turn of the new year in 2022. They'd indulged the crowd with a few tracks from YT. Maybe it was the shrooms I was on, but I swear when they performed HelGa., Elbie looked directly into my eyes and sang it straight to me. It was an experience that later inspired one of the first personal essays I ever published.
There are dozens of other significant moments I've lived with Yesterday's Tomorrow. Its tracks have held me down through heartbreak and longing, and then given me the courage I needed to take a chance on joy again. Tonight, they play the first of three shows at my old favorite bar in Brooklyn in celebration of the last ten years of YT. If I had one shot at teleportation I swear I'd use it to see them play again, easy. Because like the album's ultimate track knowingly croons, there are just some things that you love forever.
THREECE.
Jan 14, 2025
Related Recs
I’ve been into this band since 2017 & they inspired me so much back when I was in college. I was also listening to them right around when I was both getting into the concept of “mathy” music and going to my local shows in NJ for the first time.
One of my most memorable shows was driving one of my newer friends to see Peaer on an autumn, Sunday night in a church recreational space, 40 minutes away on a super rainy night. The venue’s parking lot was gravel and next to the church’s graveyard and there was probably 20-25 people total, including the bands.
And it was so worth it, hearing Peaer live finally and seeing their musicianship in person. I have a real love for bands that are trios of drums, bass, guitar & vox, how you can hear everyone individually, but also how just 3 people can create such a wall of sound together. It was so important for me to see them live at that age, and I’m so glad I pushed myself to make the drive down there.
They haven’t come out with music since 2019, an album called A Healthy Earth which I had on repeat religiously. So to have a new single from them with that same guitar tone, funky time changes but new formulas and ideas has been incredibly lovely.
I’m thankful they’re still around and continuing to create 🍐
Jan 7, 2025
Phil Eleverum.. your favorite indie artists favorite indie artist?
Headless Horseman was released in 2001 by The Microphones, in the album titled “The Glow, Pt. 2“. The Microphones was a project created by Phil Elverum, who is now currently releasing as Mount Eerie.
I discovered The Microphones a few years back, and I was originally drawn to them because when I heard “The Moon” It reminded me of Neutral Milk Hotel, but better?
The Glow, Pt. 2 was the first album of Phil’s I listened to. Headless Horseman has always been a favorite of mine. It’s always so fascinating when I hear a song that’s so simple, just two chords and a little riff, and then a voice, but it’s so impactful and beautiful and unique.
The vocals are amazing. It’s gentle and soft spoken, which perfectly compliments the guitar. idk man i fuckin love this guys voice.
A notable thing about Phil is his ability to paint a scene with his music. His songs always sound so nature-y, and even has some ambient-like qualities as well. Also he’s good at somgwriting lemme talk abt that..
The lyrics depict a shitty breakup almost perfectly. Breaking up with somebody you truly love just does feel like losing half your life. All their friends you befriended, gone. All the stuff they gave you, gone.
“you turned me into a stray dog,
from a mighty human man”
All left to do now is just be an emotional wreck. You lost your home and now you just sit and stew and think about how badly you wish you could be home again, in that warm embrace you yearn for every night.
“I miss my closest friend”
Realest lyric ever. The most beautiful thing about a relationship full of love is that your partner WILL be your best friend. And you know that’s what also suck a lot about breakups. Not only do you miss your partner, you just miss your best friend.
You MUST listen to The Microphones if you like anything folk, noise rock, ambient, and just good songwriting/storytelling and producing/mixing.
FIVE BIG BOOMS
Jan 10, 2025
Friendship is probably my favorite band. This record is like hiding in the closet as a kid and smelling your parents’ clothing in the dark. And sometimes whiffs of these songs bring back big memories, some really hard to revisit, some really buzzy and shiny. I dunno if there’s another band that quite captures what it’s like to be alive as Friendship does for me. They are wood grain warmth and waffle syrup sweet. I hope they become your favorite band, too.
Mar 4, 2025
Top Recs from @planetpola
whenever i start to have the thought of “why isn’t xyz more famous?? they’re so good” i try to remember that widespread fame is not every artists ultimate aim. anyway kilo kish deserves the love and adoration of a stadium full of screaming fans
Feb 22, 2024
💻
it’s rlly just a big ass portable charger when you think about it
Jan 25, 2024
🐸
sprinkle some extra nostalgia on your serving of Saturday morning cartoons with one of the most beautifully lyrical ballads jim henson gave us
Feb 3, 2024