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The Dartmouth
July 26, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Phosphorescent brings folksy warmth to Friday Night Rock

Matt Houck of Phosphorescent will hopefully have more clothes on when he plays Fuel on Friday night.
Matt Houck of Phosphorescent will hopefully have more clothes on when he plays Fuel on Friday night.

Houck has a certain Conor Oberst quality about him -- a penchant for the eccentric and a knack for crafting folksy melodies that make you want to let your long hair down and run barefoot through tall, wet grass.

Houck is one of the last musicians of a dying breed. Before recording under Phosphorescent, he was a traveling troubadour, busking everywhere from the Deep South to the sunny shores of California. In the process of moving from one coffee house to the next, Houck developed his own unique style of indie folk that can best be described as twangy blue grass set to a tinny synth-beat. Think of a church revival shindig without the religion or angry preachers.

It's Houck's lyrics and vocals, however, that set him apart from other indie darlings such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Iron and Wine. There's something raw, tribal and even barbaric in his guttural voice, a quality that is especially prominent in his single "Wolves."

"Phosphorescent has a much quieter or more folksy rock sound than Dragons of Zynth or Awesome Color," said FNR spokesman Devin McManus '09, "so if those bands were too loud for your tastes this could be the show for you."

You won't find Houck singing deliberately contrived lyrics in a vain attempt to maintain a set rhyme scheme. No, Houck is the Walt Whitman of song lyrics. Any self-proclaimed "full-grown man" who can artfully sing about swimming naked "swirling like otters, because you know how they are" has my undying love and respect.

Not to mention, Houck has the whole disheveled "I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-now-give-me-my-damn-guitar" look down pat with his wild, furry mane of hair and lumberjack beard. Picture him in a crumpled, well-worn cotton tee with holey jeans and a nonchalant attitude -- more concerned with his music than his appearance -- and you've got Houck, rocking the real musician vibe.

Having recorded several works,including "A Hundred Times or More" (2003), "The Weight of Flight EP" (2004) and "Aw Come Aw Wry" (2005), Houck has quietly emerged onto the music scene while garnering considerable critical claim. Hopefully with his latest full-length album "Pride" (2007), Houck might finally cross the threshold into indie stardom (without selling out, of course).

"Friday's show will be all about soft music, pushing up couches, essentially just relaxing and listening to some really good music," said FNR's Hayley Kennedy '08, a member of The Dartmouth Staff. "FNR provides Dartmouth with a great alternative social scene and is the perfect way to start any weekend," she added.

And let's face it -- it's cold out and sadly slushy. So why not hit up FNR to relax and take in the glow of Phosphorescent?

On Friday night, doors to FUEL open at 9:30 p.m., and the show starts at 10 p.m.