By Jodi Root

If members of The xx, Metric and The Kills managed to produce some form of love child, (or children, rather), in a hot, musical orgy, the final result would sound a lot like Phantogram. This Saratoga Springs native outfit first came across my radar this past October at CMJ. The 30 or so minutes I had spent in a random bar basement checking this sexy, sultry synth pop duo stood out as the most impressionable find in my week long NYC adventure and I knew this shit was about to blow up. Fast forward to last night, where I joined a mass pack of friends and other eager fans at Schuba’s to find my prediction to have come more than true.

Opening up the night was Illegal Art’s Junk Culture, who typically presents as a two-man outfit, but was missing his drummer due to “getting married, which is a pretty good excuse,” as Deepak Mantena explained to the crowd. My first time hearing Junk Culture, it was pretty decent for having to pull off as a one-man show. Homey leapt around behind his synth set up, at one point even jumping into and around the crowd like a sweaty, mad, animal outta the cage. The set was very Animal Collective-esque, and you could totally tell he shares his label residence with Girl Talk with all his dancey influences. Even though JC may not have been the reason I was there, I gotta give credit to Mantena for his enthusiasm and energy – at one point he even led the crowd into a Happy Birthday sing-a-long for Sarah, (who, I’m assuming is the same Sarah as Phantogram) and other members of the audience who drunkenly shouted their way into inclusion (thanks Caroline, but it was NOT my birthday). All in all, it was a decent warm-up for what was about to come.

Around 10:20, Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel approached the dark, intimate stage illuminated by strobe effects and an intense audiovisual backdrop of city scenes. Murmurs of eager anticipation floated amongst the enveloped crowd, “This is gonna be so good,” and more than a handful of “Oh my god’s!” built and eventually ceased as the club exploded with bass, combustive guitar action and mad synth work. The next forty-five or so minutes of the set passed like a dream – the sound was top notch and the chemistry between Carter and Barthel was undeniable. Barthel seemed to channel a lush vocal style similar to Emily Haines, which complimented the sultry and sexy contributions of her partner.

The AV presentation transitioning from city night life to country fields took the audience on a secret journey into a digital underground of pulsing bass, electrified guitar, entrancing synth work and sexy vocals. Their hypnotic, pounding, electronic lullabies lulled the crowd into a deep trance – subconsciously getting everyone to move in unison, while being both mesmerizing and unforgettable at the same time. The transition from track to track in the set was seamless, and the coordinating black rockstar uniform sporting duo owned the night. I can honestly say that I have not enjoyed a show to this extent in quite some time. For only two people, they sure made a helluva loud sound. Dark, dancey glam pop at its very best – Phantogram is going to own 2010.

MP3: Phantogram – “When I’m Small”
Buy: Phantogram :: Eyelid Movies