Liberty Fest, World Domination and Phonographic Arts.

Text and images by Brandee Nichols.

“World domination.”

This is how Sean Stone boldly describes the future of Phonographic Arts, an all-Philly production company. Joined by Pat Troxell and Clifton Shumaker, also Philly-area natives, the three discuss the ups, downs, and in-betweens of putting together shows in the City of Brotherly Love.

The fourth and newest addition to Phonographic Arts, Brad Raub, sleeps upstairs in his and Shumaker’s South Philly home.

The “core four,” as Troxell puts it, work together seamlessly to organize all of their shows, including the upcoming three day three day Liberty Fest, which begins Friday.

The origins of Phonographic Arts can be traced back to Texas in 2008. It started as a small label when Shumaker released the LP Inferno by Balaclavus, a post-punk band from Houston. He then got the opportunity to start booking shows at Little Bar in Bella Vista.

After the perils of trying to balance a full time job at Beautiful World Syndicate and a personal life (in addition to booking shows at Little Bar) became a little too taxing, Shumaker reached out to Troxell about coming on board. The group’s union was not surprising, as they had all worked together running the 423 Tillery, a warehouse venue in Austin.

Despite having all grown up in the Philly area, they managed to all be in Austin at the same time. Troxell and Shumaker were already working together at the Tillery, when Stone – who originally intended to visit for only a month but ended up staying for two years – joined them.

“It was like a really long month for me,” Stone says while laughing.

Fast forward to now, when they’re basically doing the same thing in Philly.

“Once we got back here and the years went on, and this whole thing came together, it was like, ‘Oh shit, well, let’s just put the gang back together!’” Stone says.

And that’s exactly what they did.

Until a few months ago, they collectively managed Little Bar in South Philly. After the owner decided to take things over, Phonographic Arts made the switch to primarily putting on shows at the Level Room in Center City, as well as various other venues around the city.

“With that came our freedom to able to pick and choose where we want to do stuff,” Shumaker explains.

With the stresses of managing a bar gone, they now have the time to focus more on booking.

Having all experienced being on tour in various bands over the years, they know and understand the importance of being taken care of as a band in a city other than your own.

“We always make sure that anybody [who] comes… has enough money, gas, and food to get themselves to their next show,” Stone says.

Troxell adds, “And if not, we usually go into pocket.”

Whether they’re being contacted by local or touring bands or simply shooting an email to whatever band they’ve been listening to lately, Shumaker and friends have found the perfect unstructured method that is proving rather successful. Their love and respect for local music is evident in the shows they’ve booked so far, such as: True Gold, Faux Slang, Pet Milk, Exploding World, and many more.

“Everyone knows what they have to do and as long as they do it,” Shumaker says, “we’re fine.”

The appreciation and understanding of being on the other side of things extends to the rest of the Phonographic Arts team, including Bleeding Rainbow guitarist Al Creedon who helps out with sound. It is that understanding which sets them apart from other booking companies.

As if booking shows almost every night wasn’t enough, Phonographic Arts will hold their first festival this week, Liberty Fest. The event will host bands from across the country as well as local bands, such as Void Vision (above), Far Out Fangtooth, Purling Hiss, Leather, Bardo Pond and Creepoid (below).  Shows will take place at the Level Room and Emoda Gallery April 6^th – 8^th.

Shumaker describes Phonographic Arts rather simply: “It’s a bunch of friends that have the same common goal of helping people like them in other cities so that we can keep doing this.”

These guys clearly have no intentions of slowing down any time soon. With no real long-term plans, besides world domination, Phonographic Arts is taking things one show at a time.

“Don’t stop,” Troxell says confidently. “Don’t ever stop. Don’t ever slow down. Don’t ever take a break. Don’t give up.”