Phoenix – Koko, London 01/06/09

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Ah Phoenix. Would you believe me that I actually couldn’t stand Phoenix back in the day. Like ever. My sister loved them but I found them far too fun, cheesy, and cringe worthy for me at the time. Far too slick and catchy and melodic to be trusted.. It should be stated that I listened to an awful lot of Godspeed You Black Emperor back in the day also. Life was a lot of fun, let me tell you. Anyway, nearly a year ago I nabbed an iPod off a workmate. It was a sweet deal and I also inherited his tunes on it too. Unfortunately, most of it was rubbish but I did get the best bits of David Bowie’s back catalogue, plus a shitload of camp disco tunes. Score. So while I was deleting everything else, I stumbled across this Pheonix song. ‘Everything Is Everything’. I listened to it. Blew me away. When the opportunity of seeing them live came about, I thought .”Sure, why not?”

It’s the day of the concert. I just heard the new album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix for the first time, last night. Had a couple of listens on the 27 bus to the gig. First impressions, first 3 tracks are excellent, haven’t absorbed the rest. I really ought to stop doing that. I get to Koko and it’s rammed. Phoenix sold out. The venue I mean. It’s just past 9.00 and the crowd are getting impatient. Phoenix are a bit late getting on (“Tell the band they have to be on in 5, because this is the last song of the changeover” the soundguy informs over the PA). When they do take to the stage, the hardcore majority go ballistic as they kick off with ‘Liztomania’. It is perfect track to open with (as well as the album), to come onstage to, to greet the cheers, and lay down the mood for the evening. It’s wonderfully arranged, breaking out the ebbs, flows and climaxes and breaks down with singer Thomas Mars’ “It’s Showtime” refrain. It’s just so instant and to the point, that you can’t help fall for it’s charms. (Also ‘Lizstomania’ Contender for ‘Song of the Summer’? Only a fool wouldn’t bet against it.)

They run through some favourites from 2006 release It’s Never Been Like That ‘(Long Distance Call’, ‘Consolation Prize’, ‘Napoleon Says’ and ‘Rally’). The front section are already converted but you can’t help but feeling it needs an fuel injection to get really get sparks flying and It’s really three quarters of the way through where things really step it up with the tracks from the new record with the classics thrown into the mix as well. ‘Lasso’ and ‘Rome’ sound positively charged and propelled, ably assisted with a trance inducing strobe light show. Epileptics beware! ‘Run Run Run’ is dropped to the crowds unreserved pleasure as it oozes an angular guitar off kilter riff which strides along with effortless cool. I remember how much I laughed at my sister for singing to this song all those years ago. If only she could see me now.

The crowd seem absolutely electric as they breeze through ‘Girlfriend’ and ‘Rome’ as if they’re songs which have been close to their hearts for months at least. To be fair, they probably have. ‘Girlfriend’ dabbles with keyboard, warming organ sounds and mega sounding chorus. ‘Rome’ especially gets the adrenaline pumping with it’s trademark urgent guitar and a fun and dumb throwaway lyrics (“Focus looking forward the coliseum, Oh no what did I say, What can I say, Rome Rome many tears have fallen here ..I’ll be driving you look the other way, Rome Rome Rome”) but sounds ever so lilting to the ear. No place in the set for ‘Everything Is Everything’ unfortunately but they encore with ‘If I Ever Feel Better’ and the current single, ‘1901’. The latter sounding like a mixture of The Strokes if they were electrically charged with the soul of M83. The crowd go mental. I can’t help but let myself surf on this Gaelic wave of euphoria.

Setlist:
Lisztomania
Long Distance Call
Consolation Prize
Napolean Says
Funky Square Dance
Rally
Lasso
Armistence
Love Like A Sunset
Run Run Run
Girlfriend
Something In The Fall
Rome
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If I Ever Feel Better
1901