Wednesday, October 10, 2013 at Chicago’s Vic Theatre was a night of musical extremes, impossible to connect. Looking back, I’m still baffled by this musical adventure in Wonderland. The venue marquee clearly sold their merch, the sign over the Vic was pretty clear and my ticket definitely confirmed I was at a Phantogram show, but it felt like I’d wandered down a rabbit hole to Old Time High’s Class of ’85 Reunion.

Watching the Future Islands trio take the stage is like seeing a stuck-in-a-time-warp, southern, middle-aged, suburban dad step-walk out from behind the curtain. As the music started, the crowd’s puzzled looks moved quickly to astonishment. Samuel Herring shuffled, two-stepped and spun his microphone by the chord; he punched the air, snapped his fingers, bobbed his head and pulled melodramatic faces and illustrative hand-motions. The lack of movement and eye-contact from the other two band members only accented the time warp. Many a jaw were left hanging open in the audience for Future Islands’ 45 minute set that night.

Slowly, the audience reoriented themselves to 2013 and buzz built for the headliners. The venue went black as Phantogram took stage. Soon lights pulsed at each drum beat which disorientated even the most sober. It was something that would not stop save for the solace of alternate strobe lights. But the darkness paired with the danceclub-like lighting perfectly personified everything Phantogram.

When you go to a show, you’re (hopefully) overawed to see an artist’s mastery as they perform. But sometimes a silhouette is more powerful than the full picture, and that night only the outlines of the musicians appeared. Sarah Barthel wore a white leather jacket, allowing the audience to follow her torso and arms which turned various shades of neon per light; otherwise, you could only see her razor sharp bob swishing above the keyboard. Her-counter Josh Carter’s baseball cap helped you find him on stage, but his black shirt otherwise obscured him in the darkness.

Darkness, imagination, and movement was the theme on the night. The two times the band members were illuminated was with an overhanging, muffled white light as they introduced their touring band members, and then when thanking the audience. Any other time you saw their faces was inadvertent. The set was about the music, plain and simple.

Phantogram drew in the audience from the opening shock with a mysterious, enticing and elusive performance. The night proved to be a visual feast as the darkness, lights and silhouettes paired perfectly to Phantogram’s tight beats, complex layers and mesmerizing vocals. Their live show is the perfect medium for their message. Barthel and Carter wanted attention on the music, and I’ve never been more excited not to see a performer in my life.

The Phantogram tour continues through December as they promote their forthcoming album, Voices, which drops early 2014. (Be sure to grab one of their EP vinyls only available at the show.) But until the new record arrives, fans can enjoy their new song “Lights” which will be featured in Hunger Games: Catching Fire hitting theaters November 22.

*Review by J.L. Greene

Tour Dates

Oct 13: The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 15: Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, Canada
Oct 17: Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
Oct 18: Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
Oct 19: Treasure Island – San Francisco, CA
Oct 21: Observatory Santa Ana – Santa Ana, CA
Oct 22: House of Blues San Diego – San Diego, CA
Oct 23: Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
Oct 25: Trees – Dallas, TX
Oct 26: The Mohawk – Austin, TX
Oct 27: The Mohawk – Austin, TX
Oct 28: House of Blues – Houston, TX
Oct 30: Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN
Oct 31: Masquerade Atlanta – Atlanta, GA
Nov 1: Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Nov 2: Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA
Dec 4: Terminal 5 – New York, NY
Dec 5: 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
Dec 6: Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Dec 7: Upstate Concert Hall – Clifton Park, NY
Dec 8: Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA

Phantogram (Facebook)

Rating 8.5