Formed in June of 2008 in Boston, Banana Phonetic is the eventual product of the fusion and combination of four minds.
Crediting The Flaming Lips, Wilco, Built to Spill, My Morning Jacket, James Brown and the Beatles, among many others, Banana Phonetic has taken on the responsibility of reinstating quality, enthusiasm, and emotion into today’s music scene. Trying to avoid the label of a specific genre, the band aims to constantly explore the limitless possibilities of the genre of music.
Tom Mangan of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts plays lead guitar and since an early age, has developed his musical style by listening to funk, blues, jazz, and rock. Sam Doty, born in the Virgin Islands but raised in Iowa, controls the groove with the bass. He agrees with Mangan’s assessment of the band’s musical style, adding that it’s “something that lies somewhere between rock and folk, with a smattering of electronica here and there.” Playing the drums and providing the rhythm, Andy Bickerton, from California is most happy when he sees the audience enjoying his self-expression through the drums; he describes his personal style as an integration of groove and melody influenced greatly by the Beatles. In addition to the vocals, Akhil Bhatt, from Manitowoc, WI, created his niche in the band with synthesizers and keyboards. For Akhil, this project is a representation of his effort to seamlessly convert emotions and energy into music. The end result of loving collaboration, the band was formed around friendship—something the members claim to be their greatest asset.
For these four college students, summers in Boston mean one thing: the chance to jam, write, and record. Before renting a practice space in August 2008, the friends proudly and frequently exercised their musical talents in the living room of Akhil Bhatt amidst strands of year-round Christmas lights. Recognizing potential, they began constructing songs that reflected the personal style and interests of each, producing a creative sound inviting the audience to a most intimate level.
Their goal is to connect—to connect to other musicians, to listeners, and to friends. With their unique sound and laudable attention to detail, Banana Phonetic has made this connection tangible—the music should be appreciated and celebrated.
Instrumentation
Akhil Bhatt - Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar, Synth
Tom Mangan - Lead Guitar
Sam Doty - Bass Guitar
Andy Bickerton - Drums, Percussion
Content Release
Shows(Live)
Other
Street Plug(PR)
Studio Time
Event Attending
