A Valentine’s Day Date with Phantogram
Article and photos by Jessica Martens
Electro-pop duo Phantogram brought the heat to Aragon Ballroom on a snowy Chicago night. The band’s "Running Through Colors" tour follows the release of their fifth studio album Memory of a Day which was written during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hailing from Greenwich, New York, the band comprises Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter. Though both members contribute to their work as vocalists and instrumentalists, fans typically see Barthel on the mic or behind a keyboard while Carter takes the stage guitar in hand.
Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel
This show felt like a bresh of fresh air. The night was full of excitement from the start as fans trickled in. Having fallen on Valentine’s day, the all ages crowd notably included numerous couples celebrating their love. It was good vibes all around as colorful lazer lights began to illuminate the venue’s cosmic muralled ceiling, welcoming the nights opener to the stage, Meija.
Meija, or Jamie Sierota, originally rose to fame as a member of indie-pop band Echosmith. The four-piece consisted of Sierota and his three younger siblings. Despite their success, Sierota left the band to pursue a solo career in 2016. Meija took the stage sporting short, bleached hair – a new look for a new era following the release of his sophomore album There’s Always Something. The soft vocals and synths of his indie-pop tunes provided a perfect warm up for the crowd (figuratively and literally, as concert-goers step inside from the icy sidewalks). A highlight of Meija’s set was hearing the crowd join him in singing "buttons," a popular track from his 2019 EP ‘So Long, Kid’. Meija is an artist whose passion can be seen and heard as he performs, which always makes for a great set.
After a quick turnover of the stage, the lights dimmed to signal the main act’s entrance just after 9 p.m., igniting a rumble of cheers from the crowd. Seconds later, Phantogram appeared. Barthel took the stage in a large fur coat, shiny stiletto boots and leopard print tights – reminding us all she is not only an icon in music but fashion as well. Carter sported an all-black outfit down to his guitar.
The duo began by playing "jealousy," the first track from their new album. The song’s high energy was perfect to set the tone for the remainder of the night. The pair used the whole stage as they performed, engaging the audience. Phantogram’s unique sound blends elements of dream pop, electronic rock, trip hop, and shoegaze among other genres to create a hypnotic sound. Blue and red lights engulfed the stage throughout the night, resembling the hues of the ‘Memory of a Day’ album cover. The crowd was entranced. Of course, the performance of the band’s hit song ‘Black Out Days’ toward the end of the night brought a tidal wave of excitement. Despite a large crowd, concert goers made room to sing and dance. The duo departed from the stage after playing ‘Come Alive’. Luckily for those hungry for more, they returned for a two-song encore, closing out the night with "You Don’t Get Me High Anymore" and "When I’m Small." The night was absolutely electric. Phantogram’s live sound is excellent. Almost two decades into being a musical duo, Phantogram has proved once again that they are not new to this, but true to this.