A Dreamy Performance That Begs You to Dance

Phantogram in Columbus, Ohio

A Phantogram performance is not one you simply hear; it’s one that fully absorbs you. With its mesmerizing lights, jumping crowds, and undeniable electricity, it's a show that practically begs you to dance along, and the show at Kemba Live in Columbus, Ohio was no exception.

While most live acts seem to save their more popular songs for the encore, Phantogram changed the pace by immediately taking the stage with force. As the first notes of their iconic fan-favorite track “Fall in Love” hit the air, cheers from the crowd echoed throughout the venue, and dancing quickly followed. The dreamy electric song was met with colorful, bold strobe lights that covered every square inch of the room and further added to the immersive energy of the show. Despite the lights that engulfed the venue, the rest of their setup was quaint yet powerful. Two soundboards and pianos sat in the middle with either member facing one another as they performed, and the two would seamlessly take turns dancing around the stage as they sang.

Phantogram is powered by the dynamic duo Sarah Barthel (vocals, keyboards, piano, programming, synthesizers) and Josh Carter (vocals, guitars, programming, synthesizers, drums). The childhood friends formed the band in 2007 in Greenwich, New York, and have been consistently releasing music and gaining popularity since their debut album Eyelid Movies in 2009. Nearing their twenty-year mark of making music together, the duo have seemed to find their perfect harmony and continue to produce beloved electronic rock and dream pop hits, and draw large crowds wherever they go.

With such a widespread discography, the setlist throughout the night had a great balance of upbeat tracks to more somber ones. Leading up to “Cruel World,” Barthel took a moment to thank the crowd for coming out and gave a raw and encouraging speech regarding the track. “There’s so much f*cked up stuff happening at all times and this song is about letting go of that bullsh*t and focusing on yourself, and the beauty that you are. Because sometimes that’s all you can really control.” You could see how much it resonated with the crowd as they listened in awe; friends embraced one another, some even wiping tears from their cheeks before they started belting out the lyrics and continued to dance along.

Picking the energy back up with “Hang Me Up to Dry” and “Mouthful of Diamonds,” Phantogram continued to showcase their powerful stage presence and draw the crowd right back into their grasp. The bright spotlights bounced between the two members as they took turns singing, adding to the almost fever-dream-esque environment their shows bring. All night long, the fans in the crowd remained loyal to the hypnotic rhythms, pulsating lights, and powerful vocals. Even as the show came to a close and fans were slowly scattering the rain-soaked streets, they could still be spotted with a little extra pep in their step. I like to think the energy that night made them want to dance all the way home.

Photos and Review by Maddie Culbertson