Live Pics and Review - Phantogram - Lupo's - Providence, RI

Phantogram – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel – Providence, RI – January 12, 2017

The new year is upon us so now would be as good of time as any to release a prophetic statement. Fox News and CNN have cornered the market on what the political climate will be here in the U.S. in 2017 so I’m going to instead focus on a topic that may actually provide some of us a bit of joy this year, music.

My revelation you ask? The genius of trip hop duo Phantogram comprised of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel will never again be the sole domain of the band’s long time hard core fan base as they clearly belong to the music galaxy now.Following making a name for themselves with their debut EP Eyelid Movies, which spawned the radio hits “When I’m Small” and “Mouthful of Diamonds” back in 2009, the pair’s star has been on a steady upward trajectory. Since 2009 the band has released two critically acclaimed LPs (2014’s Voices and 2016’s Three) as well as two additional EPs (2013’s Nightlife and 2015’s Phantogram).

Phantogram has also not been shy about collaborations of late. Carter and Barthel teamed up with Outkast superstar Big Boi for the aptly titled Big Grams EP in 2015, while also working with several music industry heavy weights these past few years that have included the likes of everyone from Skrillex, to the Flaming Lips to even Miley Cyrus.

The band stopped at Lupo’s in Providence, Rhode Island this past week to help thaw the hearts and minds of their New England based devotees prior to their taking some time off before touring Europe again later this Spring. Throughout 2016 Phantogram toured with a fairly extensive stage production that included a translucent screen that projected elaborate visuals, costume changes and an expanded light show. Maybe the band’s full touring production has been put in the storage locker until later this year or perhaps their gear simply didn’t make it back from Australia where Phantogram had played a few dates recently but last Thursday’s show in Providence was a stripped down performance entirely devoid of all of the current tour’s bells and whistles.

Did the lack of a refined stage production effect the overall performance; not in the slightest. Carter and Barthel, along with touring band members Chris Carhart (drums) and Nicholas Shelestak (synths/guitar) went on to deliver a high energy and fast paced set that focused entirely on the music. How could that possibly have been a bad thing?

Their performance on the evening likely reminded many of those more intimately familiar with the band of days gone past when Phantogram would take to smallish stages such as the Met in Pawtucket or the DC9 in Washington, DC with only their instruments (a lone synthesizer and a guitar) and perhaps a flag wearing the band’s namesake hanging somewhere off-center behind them. Barthel and Carter are not pretentious nor does the pair seem to take themselves too seriously on or off the stage. The sense of comradery and playfulness the duo share with one another and the crowd is always on display and their performance in Providence provided much of the same.

The evening’s set list leaned heavily on Phantogram’s recently released third studio EP, Three as well as the band’s previous full length effort, Voices. Standouts on the night included takes on “Black Out Days”, “Don’t Move”, “Fall in Love” and their current hit single “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” as well as versions of two of the most recognizable singles from their debut EP Eyelid Movies, “Mouthful of Diamonds” and “When I’m Small”.

I’m sure most of Phantogram’s old school fan base will always harken back to the time when they were the ones telling their friends of this then unknown trip hop duo that’s set to take the music world by storm. However, what every new or long time fan should take notice of is the fact that Carter and Barthel are evolving. The duo’s music is becoming more complex and diverse and their output both in terms of both their recorded material as well as their touring is becoming much more prolific. How could any true fan of the band not welcome that kind of maturation?

Although I’d welcome the opportunity to witness Phantogram play a venue with a capacity of less than a hundred people where the duo busted out mostly classics such as “Running from the Cops” and “As Far As I Can See, I’m much more excited to see what 2017 and beyond holds for the band.

Should Phantogram’s continued ascendancy to super stardom and world domination continue I’m guessing the next time I see them perform the duo may actually be opening up for the likes of Kayne West or god forbid Miley Cyrus. I’d never thought I’d ever say these words but I think I’d be rooting for Pablo, Yeezy, Yeezus, Ye or whatever West is calling himself these days.