2008 Woodie Awards
Phantom Planet brings southern California rock to Philly
Samantha Blee
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Arts & Society
Have you ever been to a live performance that just sticks with you for days? There are certain bands that, simply put, know exactly how to put on a must-see concert.
These bands understand which songs are worth playing and which ones would be better off left out. They know when it's acceptable to joke around between songs and when they should keep the music going.
And, most importantly, they continuously involve every member of the audience by sending the energy level through the ceiling.
Southern California rock band Phantom Planet did exactly this when they took the stage at their October 1 concert date in Philadelphia. Phantom Planet, along with fellow bands The Morning Light and The Secret Handshake, are currently the openers for The Rocket Summer on their headlining tour.
The groups of fans who waited anxiously in the drizzling rain outside the Theatre of the Living Arts were about to be rewarded.
The band immediately showed its love for the audience by starting off with their up-beat new single, "Do the Panic," allowing participants to sing along. "I feel like we're just two friends hanging out!" lead singer Alex Greenwald proclaimed to the crowd. Greenwald was not hesitant to express his satisfaction with the rowdy Philadelphia crowd, challenging them to catch him several times while launching himself off stage for some crowd surfing.
Phantom Planet's set lasted about 40 minutes and included songs from several of their albums. Old favorites included "Always on my Mind" from their second album, The Guest, and "Big Brat" as well as "Know It All" from their self-titled third album. The band also played several songs from their latest album Raise the Dead, including "Leader" and "Dropped." "'Leader' is Phantom Planet's anthem," Greenwald explained to the audience before performing the catchy song.
In interviews about their current album, Phantom Planet claimed that when writing lyrics, cults were the inspiration. Songs like "Leader" reflect this influence, with lyrics that allow the audience to chant, snap and clap along. Coincidentally, the band wore clothing with matching logos over their hearts when performing their set.
These bands understand which songs are worth playing and which ones would be better off left out. They know when it's acceptable to joke around between songs and when they should keep the music going.
And, most importantly, they continuously involve every member of the audience by sending the energy level through the ceiling.
Southern California rock band Phantom Planet did exactly this when they took the stage at their October 1 concert date in Philadelphia. Phantom Planet, along with fellow bands The Morning Light and The Secret Handshake, are currently the openers for The Rocket Summer on their headlining tour.
The groups of fans who waited anxiously in the drizzling rain outside the Theatre of the Living Arts were about to be rewarded.
The band immediately showed its love for the audience by starting off with their up-beat new single, "Do the Panic," allowing participants to sing along. "I feel like we're just two friends hanging out!" lead singer Alex Greenwald proclaimed to the crowd. Greenwald was not hesitant to express his satisfaction with the rowdy Philadelphia crowd, challenging them to catch him several times while launching himself off stage for some crowd surfing.
Phantom Planet's set lasted about 40 minutes and included songs from several of their albums. Old favorites included "Always on my Mind" from their second album, The Guest, and "Big Brat" as well as "Know It All" from their self-titled third album. The band also played several songs from their latest album Raise the Dead, including "Leader" and "Dropped." "'Leader' is Phantom Planet's anthem," Greenwald explained to the audience before performing the catchy song.
In interviews about their current album, Phantom Planet claimed that when writing lyrics, cults were the inspiration. Songs like "Leader" reflect this influence, with lyrics that allow the audience to chant, snap and clap along. Coincidentally, the band wore clothing with matching logos over their hearts when performing their set.
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