The Phenomenal Handclap Band is a tight-knit aggregation of musicians and a… Read Full Bio ↴The Phenomenal Handclap Band is a tight-knit aggregation of musicians and artists from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. At the center of it is Daniel Collás, the Witch Doctor, and Sean Marquand, the Medicine Man; who, after years of searching and contemplation, through live performance and the manipulation of recorded music, have finally succeeded in assembling the personification of their holy vision: Patrick Wood, Nicholas Movshon, Luke O'Malley, Laura Marin, Quinn Luke, and Joan Tick, enhanced by the remarkable talents of Aurelio Valle, Carol C, Jaleel Bunton, Bart Davenport, Jon Spencer, and Lady Tigra, among carefully chosen others.

Together they have crafted a sound that is equal parts anthemic, dancefloor-oriented and orchestral, borrowing elements from progressive rock, disco, electro, and psychedelia.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band started when Collás and Marquand, two New York underground club DJs, became restless with the concept of playing other people's music. Both had also been involved in the thriving nightlife scene, and had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of esoteric music ranging from Brazilian soul to vintage psych-rock, so becoming producers seemed to be the next logical step.

After working with a wide range of artists, from veteran soul acts to up-and-coming rock n' rollers, the duo set their sights on The Phenomenal Handclap Band, a supergroup comprised of various luminaries of the indie rock and underground soul scenes. The resulting self-titled debut is the harmonious culmination of numerous diverse musical backgrounds, as well as a testament to Collás’ and Marquand’s singular musical vision.

The album begins with the meditative strains of the epic "Journey to Serra da Estrela" which erupts into a driving synthesized force, and foreshadows the arrival of "Testimony", in which Jaleel Bunton (TV on the Radio) provides a fiery psychedelic guitar backdrop for Aurelio Valle's (Calla) voodoo incantations. Carol C (Sí Se) lends her considerable vocal talents to "You'll Disappear", a cosmic disco floor-filler that sets the stage for The Lady Tigra's (L'Trimm) jump-rope rhymes on the soon-to-be classic summer jam, "15 to 20".

Live, The Phenomenal Handclap Band is distilled to an eight-member powerhouse, an eye-popping spectacle that overwhelms the senses. It pulses with a savage rhythm section that provides the ultimate foil for cascading guitars and electrified washes of organ and synthesizers. Their delirious sermonizing whips crowds into a charismatic frenzy. Needless to say, their live shows are more akin to a spiritual church revival than an actual rock show.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band’s self-titled debut album is being released by the acclaimed Brooklyn indie label Friendly Fire Recordings on June 23, 2009.

15 to 20
The Phenomenal Handclap Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

All that time and nothing to show for it

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

All that time and nothing to show for it

We got the full cooperation of the local police
They're more than pleased, I just spoke to their chief
He said the deputy is ready and he's standing on by
He called the bomb squad and the SWAT team and the FBI

So what's it gonna take to get through to you?
So what's it gonna take to get through to you?

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

All that money still riding the bus
All that money still riding the bus

All these questions and suggestions at the savings and loan
We're speaking loudly and we're clearly on a megaphone
There's a red cam, there's a blue cam, there's bright white cam
There's a red cam, there's a blue cam, there's bright white cam

So take your left arm and twist it in your right hand
You can see that you're surrounded so just turn yourself in
We ain't asking again
We brought a lot of patience but it's all wearing thin

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

All that money still riding the bus
All that money still riding the bus

So what's it gonna take to get through to you
So what's it gonna take to get through to you
Time's running out your chances are few

So what's it gonna take to get through to you
So what's it gonna take to get through to you

Time's running out

There's a red cam, there's a blue cam, there's bright white cam
There's a red cam, there's a blue cam, there's bright white cam

So take your left arm and twist it in your right hand

There's a red cam, there's a blue cam, there's bright white cam
So take your left arm and twist it in your right hand
So take your left arm and twist it in your right hand

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

All that money still riding the bus
All that money still riding the bus

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Phenomenal Handclap Band's song "15 to 20" are largely nonsensical, featuring repetitive sequences of numbers and vague references to law enforcement and money transportation. However, the repeated line "all that time and nothing to show for it" suggests a theme of frustration with wasted time and lack of progress. The song seems to be directed at someone who is being stubborn or uncooperative, with the repeated questioning of "what's it gonna take to get through to you?" and threats of police intervention. The final lines suggest that time is running out for this person to cooperate.

Despite the confusing lyrics, the musical style of "15 to 20" is retro and danceable, with a blend of funk, disco, and rock influences. The band uses a variety of instruments and vocal harmonies, creating a lively and engaging sound. The repeated sequences of numbers and lyrics help to build a sense of rhythmic momentum, encouraging listeners to move along with the beat.

Line by Line Meaning

All that time and nothing to show for it
They've spent so much time but have nothing to show for it.

We got the full cooperation of the local police
The local police are cooperating fully with them.

They're more than pleased, I just spoke to their chief
The police chief is happy to help them, as they just spoke to him.

He said the deputy is ready and he's standing on by
The deputy is prepared and waiting for their instructions, according to the police chief.

He called the bomb squad and the SWAT team and the FBI
The police chief has also called in the bomb squad, SWAT team, and FBI for assistance.

All that money still riding the bus
Despite having a lot of money, they're still using public transportation.

All these questions and suggestions at the savings and loan
They have many questions and suggestions for the savings and loan institution.

We're speaking loudly and we're clearly on a megaphone
They're speaking loudly and clearly through a megaphone.

There's a red cam, there's a blue cam, there's bright white cam
There are multiple cameras recording the situation, including red, blue, and bright white cameras.

So take your left arm and twist it in your right hand
They're instructing someone to twist their left arm with their right hand, likely as a form of surrender.

We brought a lot of patience but it's all wearing thin
They've been patient, but they're losing patience as time goes on.

Time's running out your chances are few
They're running out of time and opportunities to resolve the situation.

Contributed by William J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS