Phantogram
w/ Sunday (1994) & Midway
House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
Thursday, January 16th, 2025
Review/Pics: Manuel Gay
Phantogram has been creating bridges between rock, electronic music and hip-hop for over fifteen years. In October of last year, they released their fifth studio album Memory Of A Day and got on the road for their Running Through Colors Tour in order to promote it. I was lucky to catch them on their second night at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, CA.
Midway
Local band Midway got on stage at 8pm to get the show started. The bass player immediately stood out with upright bass and high-top hat matching his pink costume. You could tell everybody was intrigued and even before playing any notes the band grabbed the audiences attention, and never lost it for a second.
Midway delivered a 80’s new wave set with high energy. You could definitely hear influences of bands like The Smiths and even maybe Heroes Del Silencio, so I wasn’t surprised when they covered “This Charming Man“. The 30-minute set was great from beginning to end and was a success in terms of bringing up the energy that night.
Sunday (1994)
Moments later, it was time for Sunday (1994) to follow up. I just discovered this band and must admit I will absolutely keep following them. I love their universe. Both their sound and esthetics have a vintage feel that is irresistible, in a Lana Del Rey sort of way. Their music navigates between dream pop and alternative rock.
The band release their debut self-titled EP last year, followed shortly after by an extended version. They opened with my favorite songs “Blonde” and immediately seduced the whole crowd. Singer Paige Turner and guitar player Lee Newell’s chemistry is unquestionable. Some people in the audience sang to almost every song, proof that Sunday (1994) is gaining their own following. Live version of “TV Car Chase” and “Tired Boy” sounded great.
Phantogram
By the time openers were done the venue was so packed, it made it almost impossible to move around. Eventually the lights turned off around 9:45pm and it was time for Phantogram to take the stage. Sarah and Josh opened with “Jealousy”, the opener of their new album and followed with a couple of hits “Don’t Move” and “Fall In Love” which made the crowd go wild. Since they’re both multi-instrumentalists, they alternate from song to song and Sarah grabs a bass while Josh is on guitar, then she’ll grab a guitar, while he’s on the synth. The duo is backed by Chris Carhart on drums and Jonathon Mooney who also plays various instruments.
I had seen them a handful of times before and I have to say, this might have been the best of their show I’ve seen. Everything was on point; Sarah’s voice and their incredible live energy. Although the band’s stage visuals are remarkable, it makes for a great challenge for photographers to capture the energy of the show due to flashing lights and partial darkness throughout the show. In-between songs, Sarah addressed the heaviness of the past few days. In the week that led up to the show, most of us had to pack bags, unsure if fire was going to destroy our homes, which is a wild thing to reflect on shortly after. She encouraged us to laugh or cry or do both at the same time if made us feel better.
I was delighted when they played my whole time favorite “Run Blood Run” during which Sarah was ad-libbing some vocal harmonies. The setlist showcased a good portion of new material out of Memory Of A Day but included all the hits and even a deep cut “You Are The Ocean” from their first Album Eyelid Movies (2009). Out of their new album “Attaway” really stands out as well as “Come Alive” which ended the show…. well not really, because after a short break, the band came back for a three-songs encore that ended on a high note with “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” and their classic “When I’m Small”.
I have been a fan of Phantogram for over a decade and seen them a few times live, I’d recommend anyone unfamiliar with the band to check them out but most importantly to see them live as they always put on a great show. The Running Through Colors Tour has only just begun and will go on until the end of February, hitting every big city in the US and Canada. Do yourself a favor and get your ticket now.
Related Links
Phantogram
Midway
Sunday (1994)
