When I’m (not) Small: Phantogram stretches out at Fillmore Philadelphia

Phantogram | photo by John Vettese for WXPN

It’s been a minute since I’ve seen Phantogram in their own element. Sure, they kill wherever they take the stage. But if that stage is at a festival like Firefly or Roots Picnic, or an industry gathering like SXSW, there’s an element of the audience being there for the hang moreso than the bands. And there’s an element of the band subsequently reeling their performance in for maximum impact. At Monday night’s Fillmore Philadelphia show, there was none of that — Phantogram was as loud and epic and arty as they wanted to be.

Hot on the heels of their latest album Three, which finds frontwoman Sarah Barthel and multi-instrumentalist Josh Carter in the throws of existential frustration, the band’s live show was a mix of dazzling audiovisual immersion and hard-hitting rock performance.

The opening four songs of the set were played behind a translucent scrim that captured silhouettes and shadows of the performers, as well as projections of surreal faces and geometric imagery. When the scrim dropped after a dazzling double shot of “Don’t Move” and “Turning Into Stone,” the front row screamed and Phantogram was off, dancing to “You’re Mine” amid massive lights.

“Same Old Blues” from the new album was a frenzy, “Answer” was more of a slow simmer based around interactions with bandmates Nick Shelestak on synths and guitars and Chris Carhart on drums.

When it wasn’t in rock band mode, Phantogram did allow itself to venture into theatrical territory. On “Destroyer,” Barthel was in full Kate Bush mode, appearing as a giant as she sung from a raised platform with a dress that draped to the floor. Later, Carter dedicated the reflective and intense “Barking Dog” to Barthel’s late sister Becky, and the band played it surrounded by projected home movies from their childhood.

It’s moments like this that we miss when seeing the band in a setting that’s not their own, so the show was a treat. Equally so was Phantogram’s evident endearment with Philly, and they shouted out Johnny Brenda’s and Kung Fu Necktie for hosting their earliest gigs in town before shutting the night down with a maximum energy “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore.” Oh but they do.

Below, check out a gallery of photos from the show, the setlist and a handful of fan videos by YouTube user Silversun1100. You can also read our interview with Carter here.

Setlist
Funeral Pyre
Black Out Days
Don’t Move
Turning Into Stone
You’re Mine
Same Old Blues
Answer
Mouthful of Diamonds
Howling at the Moon
Futuristic Casket
Destroyer
When I’m Small

Encore:
Barking Dog
Cruel World
Fall in Love
You Don’t Get Me High Anymore

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