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Polyphase - Biography

POLYPHASE, originally formed under the name of BIG FAT HEN in 1997 by Jason Berger, Carlos Castrellon, and two other high-school friends, has gone through several member changes over the years, reaching its present configuration. The members consist of Jason Berger (Vocals/Guitar), Carlos Castrellon (Guitar), Gianfranco Alessandria (Bass), and Carlos Fernandez (Drums). Their music can be best described as an evolution from Punk/Ska/Reggae, to Indie/Alternative Rock. Under the name of BIG FAT HEN, they produced five independent CDs. In regressive order (2003-1998), they are: Polyphase, Live, Medicine, Small, and Uptown. Under its new name of POLYPHASE, which was changed in December 2003, they produced: Atrophy(2004), Incision(2005), Scissors Are Better Than Knives(2006), and their Masterpiece, Satellites For Stella in July of 2009.

POLYPHASE has played in all of the most important clubs and bars in Panama, as well as all the major concert venues. They have also played in Cartago, Costa Rica at La Finca. In the spring of 1999, under the name of BIG FAT HEN, the band went to Miami and played at the Hard Rock Cafe, Bayside and at the Scala Bay Club. In November of 1999, the band showcased in New York City, at the Lion's Den, Downtime, and, Don Hill’s. They performed at the Caribbean Music Expo 2000 in Jamaica. Returning to Costa Rica in December 2003 they performed as POLYPHASE in El Cuartel de La Boca de Monte in San Jose, Macondo in Ciudad de Colon, and Studio 80 in Santa Barbara, all in Costa Rica. They recently revisited Costa Rica in April/07 playing at the Yellow Submarine in San Jose. Later in December 2007, Polyphase returned to Costa Rica for the closure of their tour "Sangre y Sudor", together with the band CAGE 9.  Most recently, in March/2010, they were selected to showcase in the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. 2011 begins with a promotional tour in Bogota, Polyphase played at Boogaloop, Ozzybar and Bravissimo, and the band gave more than a dozen interviews. Once again the band was selected to play in SXSW at Austin TX (march 2011) and in NXNE in Toronto, Canada (June 2011).

POLYPHASE has also shared the stage with such international acts as Alanis Morissette, 10,000 Maniacs, Men at Work (twice), Plastilina Mosh, Alianza, Ataque 77, Lucero, Allan, Rabanes, Gruvis Malt, Cheap Trick, 38 Special, Journey, Cage9, Os Almirante, Los 33, 2 Minutos, and just recently with Rx Bandits, well as many other local Panamanian, Costa Rican, Mexican, and Colombian Bands.

POLYPHASE /BIG FAT HEN have produced 10 videos: “Maryhen” in 1999, No.1 for several weeks in the local video shows, “Somos Panameños” in 2001, popular and controversial due to the inclusion of parts of the Panamanian National Anthem (it appeared on HTV in Jan/04), “Polyphase” in 2003, won Video of the Year in the Panama Rock Awards, “Preside”, released at the beginning of 2006, reaching International airing on MTV Latin America later that year, “Manantial” in 2006, “Dancing with Knives” in 2007, approved for airing on MTV Latin America, “Cajeta Redonda”, released in the local Panama market and aired on MTV Latin America later that year, “You Never Came” released in Aug./2009 reaching top positions on the local TV video charts, “Bloody Umbrella”, Nov./2009, recevied complete rotation on MTV Latin America, having reached # 7 on “Top 10”, in the middle of March/2010, and at the end of the year was selected in the Top 100, also under notable videos on VH1 Latin America, “Tragate Esta Cancion Para El Dolor”, released 16/4/2010 and "I like the way you wear that dress" (16 July, 2010).

POLYPHASE has appeared on the cover of several publications and has been the subject of dozens of local newspaper and magazine articles, including the Rolling Stone, Latin America edition (Aug 2004-edition No.10/year-1, March 16, 2005, April 2006-edition No.28/year-2) and (April 2007-edition No.30/year-4). They have been interviewed on all the local rock radio stations, several in Costa Rica and one in New York. They have aired on all local television networks and in Costa Rica with their videos and/or interviews.  Currently they are being promoted in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia on more than 50 radio stations, and TV and Video channels. 
 
POLYPHASE represents a Panamanian culture with an American/British influence, which can be felt in the fusions of their music. The band has evolved tremendously over the last twelve years, and their music is much more complex, with fusions crossing many genres; consequently, with the maturing of the music comes the evolution of the name POLYPHASE.