In an era where there are myriad new ways for artists to engage with fans — from secret websites to parasocial social media — there’s still nothing that beats a live concert. As unforgettable as seeing your band in a massive field or packed stadium can be, however, intimate spaces provide unique opportunities for both musicians and their most loyal listeners. That’s why Consequence recently teamed with The Wild Honey Pie as the official media partner for a series of stripped-down underplays, bringing artists like Hamilton Leithauser, Passion Pit, and Phantogram into atypical venues for one-of-a-kind superfan experiences.
At the end of June, Phantogram headed up to the Catskills, not far from where the duo of Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter got their start in Upstate New York. They checked into the boutique Hotel Lilien for a Pizza Party, a staple The Wild Honey Pie experience where fans are treated to unlimited Paulie Gee’s Pizza and an up-close performance unlike any other, all presented by Spindrift®. Speaking with Consequence after the event, the band joyously describes the affair as “super duper fun” and a way to connect with both their roots and their fans. “It kind of felt like it was our friends and we were just playing a show for them,” says Barthel.
As music fans themselves, the members of Phantogram know how meaningful a show can be when you’re not only watching the artists perform but interacting with them in a relaxed environment. “Sarah and I don’t think of ourselves as like these big, like rock stars or anything like that,” admits Carter, “but if one of my favorite bands was playing this really intimate thing that I got to go to and and even get a chance to talk to them, I think it would be awesome. So in a way, I guess we were giving back to the fans.”
The event also offered the duo a chance to stretch some creative legs they’ve incidentally already been working out. They’ve been experimenting with playing as a two-piece again, harkening back to their pre-fame days as a means to “keeping us stoked creatively.” “It’s a different version of who we are,” explains Barthel. “It’s also going back to the roots, but it also allows us to kind of think a little bit differently, and that gets us pretty excited.” Though the setup is designed specifically for shows like The Wild Honey Pie Pizza Party, Carter adds, “Don’t be surprised if maybe we do some big, full ‘Gram shows as a two-piece setup.”
So perhaps those lucky enough to attend this one-off show in the Catskills will soon be able to say they saw Phantogram’s stripped-back setup before they took it on the road. That won’t be the case in the immediate future, though, as the band promises their upcoming concerts supporting Deftones and their fall headlining tour with Open Mike Eagle “are full band, full production” (get tickets here for all those dates).
As for what else is in the future, Phantogram have already started digging into their folder of ideas (labeled “Kawasaki” on their shared hard drive) for their next LP, and yes, a Big Grams sequel is in the cards. “We’re setting some time with Big [Boi], I think, soon. He sent us some shit that might be coming out soon, might not,” reveals Barthel. “We’re contractually obligated to release another album with him — and we don’t even need that for the pressure! We just wanna fucking hang out with Big all the time. I miss him. So yeah, it’s definitely happening.”
Content shared from consequence.net.