The Phantom Limbs: A post-punk/deathrock band for your quirky playlist
By Wade Wainio
The Phantom Limbs were an American band that formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. With quirky sounds and song titles like "Hot Knives and Hornets," they were bound to draw comparisons to certain songs by Mr. Bungle. On that note, by all means, feel free to go down the rabbithole of various band suggestions in this article, all deemed somewhat similar in mood to The Phantom Limbs.
Known for their unique and eclectic blend of various musical styles, including punk, cabaret, post-punk, and garage rock (though all that could be sidestepped by generically categorizing them into the "alternative rock" straitjacket), The Phantom Limbs had an enigmatic and theatrical presence during live performances. Their music could be likened to an angrier, more erratic version of Lester T. Raww's Graveside Quartet (you can check them out here). One might also pair them together with experimental metal band, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. They would also blend pretty well with Alice Donut, or even Devo, who are quirky in their own right.
Who were The Phantom Limbs?
The lineup of The Phantom Limbs consisted of core members, including vocalist Loto Hopeless Ball, guitarist Jason Miller (absolutely not to be confused with the Trump advisor), drummer Mike Klösoff, and keyboardist Stevenson Sedgwick. They immediately garnered critical praise for their strange compositions and stage antics, within a virulent strain of carnival-esque rock blended with gothic punk music.
Their music often featured dark, intense, and theatrical themes, and their live shows were known for their energetic and captivating performances. Throughout their active years, The Phantom Limbs released a few albums and EPs, including Applied Ignorance"(2001), Displacement (2003), and Random Hymns (2005). Their music and stage presence garnered them a dedicated following, especially within the underground and alternative music scenes, and they were associated with the Alternative Tentacles record label (asosciated with Jello Biafra, formerly of The Dead Kennedys).
Lastly, just for fun, here's a fabricated tidbit: The Phantom Limbs were kicked out of Attica State Prison on November 10, 2000, after one of their performances on the prison's grounds had been seen by prison authorities. This led to the band being banned by all California state prisons, the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, and the U.S. Penitentiary for Women in Carswell, Texas.
(Note: Again, the fabricated tidbit is included for humor and fictional storytelling purposes.)