Phoenix, World's End Press @ Festival Hall, Melbourne (06/03/2014)
“Let’s do this,” said World’s End Press’ John Parkinson to the smoky, youth-filled mega gym that is Festival Hall– “we’re here to entertain you for a little while.” Launching into their persistent 80s-style dance pop, the band was much as I remember them being when they supported Evermore years ago, back when they were (just a tad) cooler. Despite an obviously more expansive repertoire, the band was still as tight and energetic as they were back then, and did a respectable job of making members of the ever-growing crowd dance and clap along.
The audience screamed with delight as Phoenix entered, launching into a strong performance of ‘Entertainment’ with everyone engaging in the yearning, yet deceivingly uplifting, chant towards the song’s end. The rather neat French boys were lined-up in a row, with the bearded tour supports, Robin Coudert and Thomas Hedlund, left to reside in the back. They played classics like ‘Lasso’, ‘Lisztomania’, and ‘Long Distance Call’ very early on, and the crowd erupted with excitement in response.
Much of the set saw the band straddle between dance and rock. This included a strobe-filled take of the hit, ‘Trying to Be Cool’, and an epic extended instrumental before ‘Love Like a Sunset Part I’, followed by ‘Bankrupt!’ and ‘Part II’.
As the night drew closer to an end, frontman, Thomas Mars, could not contain his appreciation, blurting out– “Melbourne is the best! This is the best! I don't say that every night, I promise.” Mars took this further, following enthused performances of ‘Consolation Prizes’ and ‘S.O.S. in Bel Air’, requesting that all the lights be turned on. “We don't need a light show, all we need is you,” he said, in a way which seemed absolutely genuine, however cheesy.
Before walking offstage for the first time, the crowd chanted along, full-throated, to each “hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey” of ‘1901’. Immediately after, everyone was screaming for more, which eventually led to Thomas and Christian Mazzalai returning for an undeniable encore.
They played an acoustic version of ‘Countdown’, with Mars standing before the audience and Mazzalai remaining alone onstage, causing him to transition from the focused guitarist, who was staring out at the crowd in a slightly creepy way, to a glorious figure playing the utterly beautiful guitar part for the song.
Mars then called upon the others to finish off the massive four-song encore, beginning with “the first song we ever wrote”– ‘If I Ever Feel Better’. But before the night was over, Mars ventured offstage again, spending a good ten minutes or so walking through the vast crowd and thanking audience members, collectively and individually. He even went as far as climbing up to the back seated section and thanking the people there. The night was, without doubt, a special one, not only for everyone who made it out, but also for Phoenix themselves.
Nathan Fioritti
The audience screamed with delight as Phoenix entered, launching into a strong performance of ‘Entertainment’ with everyone engaging in the yearning, yet deceivingly uplifting, chant towards the song’s end. The rather neat French boys were lined-up in a row, with the bearded tour supports, Robin Coudert and Thomas Hedlund, left to reside in the back. They played classics like ‘Lasso’, ‘Lisztomania’, and ‘Long Distance Call’ very early on, and the crowd erupted with excitement in response.
Much of the set saw the band straddle between dance and rock. This included a strobe-filled take of the hit, ‘Trying to Be Cool’, and an epic extended instrumental before ‘Love Like a Sunset Part I’, followed by ‘Bankrupt!’ and ‘Part II’.
As the night drew closer to an end, frontman, Thomas Mars, could not contain his appreciation, blurting out– “Melbourne is the best! This is the best! I don't say that every night, I promise.” Mars took this further, following enthused performances of ‘Consolation Prizes’ and ‘S.O.S. in Bel Air’, requesting that all the lights be turned on. “We don't need a light show, all we need is you,” he said, in a way which seemed absolutely genuine, however cheesy.
Before walking offstage for the first time, the crowd chanted along, full-throated, to each “hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey” of ‘1901’. Immediately after, everyone was screaming for more, which eventually led to Thomas and Christian Mazzalai returning for an undeniable encore.
They played an acoustic version of ‘Countdown’, with Mars standing before the audience and Mazzalai remaining alone onstage, causing him to transition from the focused guitarist, who was staring out at the crowd in a slightly creepy way, to a glorious figure playing the utterly beautiful guitar part for the song.
Mars then called upon the others to finish off the massive four-song encore, beginning with “the first song we ever wrote”– ‘If I Ever Feel Better’. But before the night was over, Mars ventured offstage again, spending a good ten minutes or so walking through the vast crowd and thanking audience members, collectively and individually. He even went as far as climbing up to the back seated section and thanking the people there. The night was, without doubt, a special one, not only for everyone who made it out, but also for Phoenix themselves.
Nathan Fioritti