Distant Silhouette Somehow

Phoenix @ Central Park 9/26/2009
Lisztomania / Long Distance Call / Lasso / Run Run Run / Fences / Girlfriend / Armistice / Love Like A Sunset parts 1 and 2 / Too Young / Rally / Consolation Prizes / Rome / Funky Squaredance // Everything Is Everything / Playground Love / If I Ever Feel Better / 1901

I will try to be very polite about this: Based on the turnout for this show, it is safe to say that Phoenix is officially a mainstream band now.

I have not seen them perform since they were touring for Alphabetical. Aside from the shift in fan demographics, the major difference between then and now is that they’ve loosened up a bit. They’re still slick and professional, but their show feels more spontaneous and “rock” now, which goes along with their general change of direction and emphasis. (Well, also, they stopped throwing baguettes into the crowd. Tough economy for everyone these days, I guess.) This was a fun set, and the audience was certainly enthusiastic for the material from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, but I felt a bit removed from the experience, despite having a lot of emotional energy invested in some of these songs. Let’s just blame this on my head being elsewhere, and that I happened to be surrounded by some very obnoxious audience members. The band certainly put their hearts into it.

Phoenix “Rome”

The lyrics of “Rome” read like an interior monologue with minimal context, but there’s more than enough there to suggest potent waves of doubt, jealousy, regret, and nostalgia. It is so bittersweet, especially in the way it suggests that as much as it is clear that the romance is over, it will be impossible to fully extricate himself from this person. It’s your fault, it’s their fault, it’s someone else’s fault, it’s just the way it goes. At least the song can find the beauty in feeling so defeated.

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