The Phoids

The Phoids originated in the early 1990s after singer and guitarist Jac Calabro crossed paths with guitarist Matt Chiaravalle via a shared acquaintance. Their initial jam sessions and songwriting led them to commit to forming a group. A Village Voice classified ad drew a response from Michael Chambers, whose successful audition secured him a spot alongside bassist Kristen Brockett. Live performances soon revealed that Brockett’s role was not sustainable, prompting her departure. Chambers then contacted his former bass-playing acquaintance Greg Bass, recently out of college, and forwarded a demo tape. Bass moved to New York, auditioned, and landed the position.

In November 1994 the band signed with Ng Records and tracked their debut album the following month. mushyheadedgoogoomouth appeared in April 1995, accompanied by a video for “Lil’ Suzy.” Once touring for that record concluded, the group composed and cut its follow-up, Marianne Doesn’t Know Yet. Issued in January 1997, the album reflected greater cohesion born from road experience and outperformed the first release. Opening dates for the Bogmen, plus appearances at Foundations Forum and the CMJ New Music Festival, expanded their audience. Later that year the members reconvened for a third project, enlisting producer Nico Bolas—known for work with Keith Richards and Neil Young—and working in a rural Massachusetts studio. The resulting self-titled album, markedly more experimental than its predecessors, emerged in April 1998 and stood as their strongest effort to date.