Matthew Houck has spent a better part of the last decade writing songs “from the perspective of a wreck of a person,” but more recently he’s moved away from the freak-folk offerings of his early work to something more akin to something you’d find in a Texas juke joint.

Much like Phosphorescent‘s previous releases, the heart of their new record, Muchaco is still found in the Houck’s lovelorn words. But this time, instead of the Muscle Shoals horns of 2010’s Here’s To Taking It Easy, the record is draped in lush synthesizers and string arrangements.

In the studio, the songs on Muchacho bubble and swell. However, the live arrangements at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Tuesday left a bit to be desired, especially “Song For Zula,” which felt clunky and didn’t rise to the heights of its recorded counterpart. These things are to be expected on the second night of a tour, but despite the slow start, Houck and company recovered to deliver a raucous set despite an uneven mix and at times inattentive crowd.

The reworked versions of Easy and Pride highlights “Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly)” and “Wolves” gave Houck’s backing band, particularly pianist Scott Stapleton, a chance to shine.

The encore was a more intimate affair, though trampled by a chatty crowd. Houck appeared with just his guitar and delivered some of the more haunting songs of the night including a moving cover of Randy Newman’s “Days Of Heaven”. Despite experiencing the kinks that come with any tour launch, Phosphorescent delivered a raucous set that will only get stronger as they spend more time on the road.