Phantogram @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
New York electro-pop/trip-hop duo Phantogram brought their current tour to Mercury Ballroom on September 21st to a sold-out crowd! With fans lined up well before doors opened, I knew it was going to be a fun night! As soon as doors opened, fans rushed to secure their spot at the barricade, or as close to it as possible, as well as spots on the balcony. The venue filled up quickly, with fans packing out every space available in anticipation of the night ahead. Opening the show this evening was indie rapper and music producer Killskywalker, who hit the ground running from the moment he walked onto the stage. With pre-programmed beats that he raps to, he had the crowd dancing from the first note. He had great energy, continually moving and dancing across the stage and leading the crowd in sing-alongs. There were many fans in the crowd who were singing and dancing along throughout his set. Towards the end of his set, he stood at the barricade to sing with the fans and even got out into the crowd for a bit, much to their delight.
Closing out the evening was Phantogram, who came out onto the stage to deafening cheers and applause. Having seen them live a couple of times in the past, I knew it would be a fun evening, but my memory did not do them justice. The lighting for their set was incredible, bathing the band in a kaleidoscope of dreamy colors, silhouettes, and shadows that was a treat for the eyes. Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, who have been friends since childhood, have such a great rapport with each other and their fans that the energy in the venue this evening was infectious. Although past tours have included a backing band, this tour was just the two of them on stage, and they absolutely killed it. Between their high-energy performance, where both Barthel and Carter each took turns singing to the crowd, as well as standing together at their respective keyboards, and the crowd’s engagement, it was impossible not to have a good time. They performed many fan-favorites such as “Fall In Love”, “Mouthful Of Diamonds”, “Black Out Days”, and “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore”, as well as a varied song selection from their catalog. They also performed a great cover of Cold War Kids “Hang Me Up To Dry”. Barthel and Carter’s chemistry, the stage production and lighting, and the duo’s solid vocal performances and energy on stage made for an unforgettable evening. They ended the evening by taking a bow together at the front of the stage to a seemingly endless stream of applause from the crowd, who were no doubt sad that the night had come to an end.
Killskywalker
