Phantogram @ Crystal Ballroom 10/18/2013
To say the least, it’s been a big year for Phantogram. The upstate New York duo comprised of Sarah Barthell and Josh Carter have been busy sharing their second self-titled EP towards the release of their latest album, Voices. They have also collaborated with the likes of Big Boi and the Flaming Lips, and even garnered a track on the highly spotlighted soundtrack for upcoming film Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Their growth from the underground is obvious when they sell out shows such as last Friday’s performance at the Crystal Ballroom. People filed in past a sign outside warning about strobe lights, lasers, and epilepsy, ready to dance.
They played the stage with a production perfect edge. Barthell’s voice fluctuates between baby soft and belting cries. She drives key and synth boards, whipping her shiny black bob and stepping in steel toed booties. Carter’s guitar guides the music, along with accents of snaps and drum beats, through the open space that gives their music an atmospheric quality. Just as you become hypnotized, they amp up everything, blasting the rhythms and the light show to snap you back to consciousness. New songs were dished out, showing a foundation of style from previous works, but “Blackout Days”, and “The Day You Died” are more saturated with guitar, gothic fuzz, and repetitive loops. “Never Going Home”, is a slowed-down romantic notion that Carter solos vocally (and sounds surprisingly like Peter Gabriel). Additionally, the pair has brought in two new touring members to enrich live shows with live drums and an additional keyboardist/guitarist. There are a lot of influences and elements going on here: rock, electronic, even a touch of industrial. But mostly it’s pop, and it’s approachable enough to get them label wars, airplay, and soundtracks, as well as a broader range of listeners. It didn’t take much to coerce the two back on stage for an encore. They played two songs with ironic titles, considering they are on the verge. First a cathartic new track “Celebrate Nothing”, and then stretching the trip-hop likeness of “Futuristic Casket” into a frenzied instrumental set with crossing light beams and a swaying audience. Words and Photos by Brandy Crowe