Phantogram lit it up last night with awesome new tracks and more energy than I’ve seen before, but unfortunately the venue, although overtly hipster and psychadelic, was no place for a rock concert.
As Sarah and Josh stood nested in their small space and surrounded by casual onlookers on sofas, they opened up with two new tracks never heard before. I was warned before I’d be hearing new music, and I’m delighted to say it sounded just as hip and fun to dance to.
At least musically, it seemed Phantogram was experimenting with sound-mixing, as they would quickly record their voices and then set them on the repeat just for effect. It’s amazing how big their soundboard is, and how many effects they sampled in their short 6-8 song set.
Although the set was great, it could’ve been so much better had the venue allowed an audience to react to the music. The room was small at maybe 25 x 25 ft and was lined with white couches with little glass coffee tables placed in front of them. People with reservations snagged the couch seats, and anyone else who just wanted to see Phantogram had to squeeze in small hallways to get a glimpse. Also awkwardly, the band was placed in the middle of the room with all their equipment, which left just enough room for them to roam a little and rock out.
The redeeming aspects of Monkey Town were their hanging video screens on the wall that flashed psychadelic images of running water and blossoming plants. It meshed really well with Phantogram’s psych-pop sound, but the venue is better suited to be an opium den than a rock venue.
Appearance wise, Phantogram looked fresh and electric, what with Sarah’s new slick black hair and the band’s strobe light. Watching Sarah slam it down on her synthesizer with her black hair added a much-needed attitude to the overall performance. I sensed a little Karen O in the room.
After the set, Caitlin and I stuck around to watch the headling act The Loom, an indie Americana sextet. Their sound was electic with ukulele and french horn, but the overall performance was flat and uninspired.
I made it my mission to say hi to Sarah after their set, so after a few songs by The Loom, we snuck out to front of the restaurant on North 3rd St., and found her packing up the car. I ran up and opened up by mentioning she was interviewed by my buddy Nathan Mattise the this week, and she smiled. We talked about Monkey Town and their upcoming set at The Bowery, and she gave us a little scoop.
“We’re definitely going to come back to Syracuse during the school year,” she said.
You heard it here folks. Phantogram is coming back to Syracuse. Do I hear bandersnatch? I hope so.
–Jett Wells.
Filed under: Scene Around Town, XCLUS!VES | Tags: Freelance Whales, Phantogram
Caitlin and I stumbled upon this cute band called Freelance Whales on Bedford Ave after the Phantogram concert at Monkey Town Saturday night. Not bad, right? We might feature these guys later on.
The Phantogram concert review will be up tomorrow.
–Jett Wells
Seen last night in Williamsburg after the Phantogram concert at Monkey Town.
–Jett Wells
Phantogram
Unfortunately, it’s not a 20W interview, but Nathan Mattise snagged them with his blog at In Pursuit of the Trivial. Bastard.
Anyway, it’s a fun listen especially if you like CNY music and Phantogram. Nice people.
–Jett Wells, Reviews Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Scene Around Town | Tags: bowery ballroom, Phantogram, The Slips
After much struggle, Phantogram will finally come to Syracuse to play a set a Funk N Waffles on June 12th. Only one problem! The semester is over and I won’t be there!
I’m not taking any credit for the show finally coming together, but I was the first the get in contact with them and tell them to come to Syracuse and play at Funk N Waffles. Back then it was for them to perform at the 20W Launch Party, but that never happened because their asking price was too high.
I just hope they come back to Syracuse when I’m back at school. I might just go to their Manhattan show at the Bowery Ballroom on June 26th where they’ll open for The Slips.
For those who are trapped in Syracuse this summer, the summer just got a whole lot better.
–Jett Wells, Reviews Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Features, On-Campus Artists, Scene Around Town, XCLUS!VES | Tags: bloc party, Girl Talk, Handsome Furs, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Lily Allen, M.I.A., MGMT, Phantogram, Ra Ra Riot, Vampire Weekend
Could M.I.A. perform at SU next year?
My buddy Nathan Mattise forwarded me this survey, formed by University Union, that might decide next year’s music headliners at SU. The list of possible headliners is ridiculous–it can’t be real.
As for possible headlining acts, it asks you to grade the following: MGMT, M.I.A., Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend and others. It would be utterly amazing to land MGMT or M.I.A. for next year’s Juice Jam, but how could this be true? University Union has less money than ever and still falls short on SU concerts every year, despite getting Bloc Party and Ra Ra Riot for last year’s Juice Jam (which I missed because I was in London! God!).
It gets even more ridiculous when it asks us to grade the possible supporting acts. Hold your breath, because these are headlining-quality acts: Lily Allen, Handsome Furs, Girl Talk, Katy Perry, and others. Girl Talk, a supporting act???!! Are these guys nuts?! This alone slashes the credibility of the survey.
It’d be a miracle to land any of these names for next year, but don’t give your hopes up.
Just to be annoying, I added a request for Phantogram next year. Hey, you never know!!!
–Jett Wells, Reviews Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Scene Around Town | Tags: Girl Talk, In Pursuit of the Trivial, Nathan Mattise, Phantogram, Pop Culture
Nathan Mattise’s music/pop-culture blog, In Pursuit of the Trivial, just posted it’s first podcast (since ours is taking so long to get posted).
Mattise discusses his infatutation with all-so-famous Phantogram, The Girl Talk Concert and other tidbits going on in music. He taught me everything I know.
–Jett Wells, Co-Reviews Editor
Filed under: Industry News | Tags: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Black Eyed Peas, Dave Brubeck, green day, Grizzly Bear, Iron and Wine, Margot & The Nuclear So-Sos, Passion Pit, Peter Bjorn and John, Phantogram, Phoenix, Placebo, Presidents of the United States, St. Vincent, Tinted Windows, Tiny Masters of Today
Grizzly Bear
This is just as good a time as any to keep ya’ll up to date on upcoming records and nearby concerts before the semester comes to a close. Keep in mind, some of these albums were going to be reviewed in our print issue, but that’s the way it goes.
Ten upcoming albums to look out for (in chronological order):
1) Tinted Windows (debut album)—April 21st
2) St. Vincent, Actor—May 5th
3) Green Day, 21st Century—May 15th
4) Iron and Wine, Around the Well—May 19th
5) Passion Pit, Manners—May 19th
6) Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus—May 25th
7) Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest—May 26th [Even though it leaked weeks ago]
8 ) Placebo, Battle for the Sun—June 8th
9) Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.—June 9th
10) Tiny Masters of Today, Skeletons—June 16th
Nearby shows/Acts that would be worth the road trip (or quick car ride):
1) Margot & The Nuclear So-Sos—Buffalo, April 17th
2) Dave Brubeck—Buffalo, April 25th
3) Peter Bjorn and John—Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, April 25th-27th
4) Presidents of the United States—Syracuse, Aprl 22nd
5) Big Bad Voodoo Daddy—Verona, May 14th
AND…For those lucky bastards staying here in Syracuse for the summer:
6) Phantogram (w/ Flying Lotus, NAS and The Disco Biscuits)—Mariaville, July 16th
- Jett Wells, Co-Reviews Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Industry News | Tags: Guns'N Roses, Metallica, Phantogram, Ra Ra Riot, Rock Band, The Beatles
I only recently started my obsession to Rock Band 2, and admittedly, I don’t care if I’m addicted. Rightfully so, it pissed me off when I found out Axel Rose wants to spread his cancerous “Chinese Democracy” onto my beloved video game. Granted, I would have to download the new songs onto my Xbox 360 after April 14th, but just the thought of that, makes me squirm.
I don’t want to get into the story of Axel Rose’s delayed release of “Chinese Democracy” and how disgraceful it was that he tried pulling it off as a legit Guns’N Roses album. Whatever, I’m over it. Axel’s a douche, and he needs to cut that awful hair.
However, it made me think how awesome it would be to play Rock Band 2 (or some updated version) to small indie bands like Ra Ra Riot and Phantogram. God, that would be so much fun. Eventually this will be possible, but until then, Rock Band will continue to become just another promotion launch-pad for over-the-hill bands.
Be honest, does anyone care about the upcoming Metallica Rock Band video game? Honestly, I loved (key past tense) Metallica for a long time, but they’re way over the hill, and their songs are too one-dimensional for a single video game. I am, however, very excited for the Beatles Rock Band game set to release on September 9th. I mean, cmon, it’s the Beatles. I know my roommate already wet his pants when he found out about this.
–Jett Wells, Co-Reviews Editor
