Phoenix Beats the Hype at Richards

Arriving fasnionably late was the thing to do after opening band La Rocca failed to appear (and too bad, since they're quite rockin'), leaving all the hipsters unfashionably early, tapping their toes in wait for headliners Phoenix. The anticipation (and lack of patience) was killing people. All of which only built the hype for when the stage lights finally went up and people felt that they had enough excuse to go crazy to hear a backstage door creaking open. Now I've seen a lot of really great shows around here, but I haven't felt that blinding hype so strongly in a long long time. And we all know how disappointing and how often it is that band's don't live up to expectations, but Phoenix had zero intention of leaving anyone unimpressed, unsatiated, or un-wowed.

I was pretty sure the show would be good, based on the quality dripping out of the band's recordings, but I had no idea that songs which I think could well-suit a small hipster cafe would transform into an arena-worthy epic rock show. The cds are super tight, but I didn't realize how much restraint went into them. Live, Phoenix don't bother holding back any, and I wouldn't have guessed how a wee bit of sloppiness in the musicianship and vocals of these terribly talented lads really gave their music an edginess which is nonexistent on their recordings.

Also, pretty much every song was played in some kind of new altered state, where big and little surprises were consistently thrown at hollering fans. Epic was never a word I would've previously used to describe Phoenix, but it was definitely the theme this night. Which can be pretty annoying if you don't lke 8 minute songs which stop and go and rise and fall and stop and go ("Is the song done yet? Oh, is it ending now? Oh, maybe this is the end here..."). But if you do like them, it was fucking brilliant.

Singer Thomas Mars was a perfect frontman: super charismatic, suave, and too bloody handsome for his own good. Lucky I'm not a girl or else you wouldn't be able to read this review through all of the lusty drool. He did everything you want to see a rock singer do. He climbed the speaker stack, climbed along the balcony rail, walked on the bar, and jumped in the audience, never missing a beat on the vocals.

It was pretty mad. The crowd was very happy. Some undergrad kids who don't know other ways to express appreciation were moshing. Band members and audience alike were swimming in their own sweat. Not knowing anything about their other shows, I feel like I just witnessed the best show of Phoenix's career and I only assume the band feels the same. The band was so truly appreciative of the support they got, and I can only imagine how long such modesty can possibly remain in the face of such adoring audiences.