Unlike the majority of New York musicians, Phantogram (not to be mistaken with Pentagram) hails from the upstate town of Saratoga Springs. This in no way has affected their musical development as they have budded into a formidable indie electronic duo with tons of potential.
I got to see them at Union Hall in Brooklyn last week, and was really impressed. While I like a lot of electronic music, I don’t exactly find it catchy (at all). This is something that I found very surprising about Phantogram. The male-female combo of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel hit the stage to a roaring applause, and really rocked the house (what a stale phrase, sorry). I had never really listened to them before, and was shocked by how entertaining they were.
Unlike many electronic artists who can become tiring with song after song sounding similar, Phantogram offered a diverse array of beats and melodies. I must say, Barthel has a kick-ass voice! The gig was absolutely fantastic, yet there was something missing. First off, the opening act wasn’t good at all. Just a dude playing electronic music. I don’t really respect these types of artists unless they can really bump some crazy shit. This guy couldn’t.
The crowd was also mightily disappointing. While I was dancing and having a great time, those around me seemed agitated, just standing there and taking the show in. I’m all for “just enjoying the music,” but come on! This was just NOT one of those types of concerts. These hipsters were way too cool.
All in all, I had a great time at the show. Union Hall is a great place to see music, and I suggest you go early and get some grub before the show. All the food looked great. Drinks weren’t cheap, but also weren’t ridiculous, so you’ll be able to afford getting your buzz on. Phantogram will be playing Sasquatch this year, so if you’re going to be there, you should definitely check them out. If not, head to their MySpace (click here) for tour dates. Enjoy the track below.
