LIVE: PHANTOGRAM – October 29, 2016 (Knoxville, TN)

Venue: The Mill And Mine

City: Knoxville, TN

Date: October 29, 2016

Review and Photographs by: Jeffrey Everett (http://www.jeffrey-everett.com/)

Phantogram came to Knoxville on Halloween weekend in support of their new studio release Three. The duo, Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, of Greenwich, NY has been making music since 2007. Three is fittingly their 3rd album and portrays a darker side of the synth pop group. It touches upon addiction and suicide, directly experienced by the tragic loss of Sarah’s sister Becky. The show started a little after 10 on a Sunday, but that didn’t deter people from coming. Many were in Halloween costumes and were ready to party. The show was a nice mix of up beat and grittier, deeper sounds. They played songs from earlier albums, EPs, but clearly emphasized Three playing 8 of its 10 songs.  The duo has obviously worked hard on their showmanship with the light show, video clips, and “smoke” rolling out for an ethereal effect on their more somber tunes. A front “scrim” covered the stage for the first 4 songs providing a screen for psychedelic light show. The band played behind only allowing a shadow silhouette of each to be seen. The screen rose as they broke into “You’re Mine.”  Sarah’s vocals were simply spectacular. She was animated in her motions with hair twirling and head banging.  She was dressed in black complete with chains and leather boots. Josh provided solid guitar with some extended riffs from their studio work. The volume must have been turned to “11” as windows in the warehouse shook from the bass. This added to effect of the live show. After a nice sampling of their material they took a short break before returning for a four song encore. The screen was put back up while they played home videos from childhood and gave tribute to Sarah’s sister. They saved their wildly popular “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” for the finale and the crowd had been waiting all night. A fitting conclusion for a great night pre-Halloween party!

Setlist: Funeral Pyre – Black Out Days – Don’t Move – Turning Into Stone – You’re Mine – Same Old Blues – Answer – Mouthful of Diamonds – Howling at the Moon – Bad Dreams – Destroyer – When I’m Small – Barking Dog – Cruel World – Fall in Love – You Don’t Get Me High Anymore

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries