BY: STEFANIA TUTRA // The French disco-rock band Phoenix, known for their infectious mainstream indie hits such as “If I Ever Feel Better” and “1901”, is coming back to the District for the first time in years. Next Monday, October 16th, the 4-piece band hits the stage at D.C.’s newest music venue, The Anthem, for the 5th stop of their North American fall tour.
Phoenix are no newcomers to the music scene—they came together in the late 90s, when vocalist Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d’Arcy, and guitarist Chris Mazzalai, started playing as a garage band in the suburbs of Paris. In 1995, Mazzalai’s brother, Laurent Brancowitz, permanently joined the band on guitar, after leaving a short lived band whom he had formed with now-current Daft Punk band members.
The band’s fourth album was their breakthrough; the 2009 record was titled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which featured tracks such as “Liztomania” and “1901”. “1901” was performed live on several TV shows and was even featured in the US during Super Bowl XLV. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix won Best Alternative Music Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards in January of 2010, and shortly afterwards, “1901” hit No.1. on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart.
Now, after another four long years since the release of Phoenix’s fifth album, Bankrupt! (2013), the band’s latest record, Ti Amo, was released on June 9, 2017. The New York Times claims that it may be the band’s “most unabashedly romantic record yet, powered by a sleel, midtmpo dance pulse and a vibe that the guitarist Laurent Brancowitz said recalls ‘summer and Italian discos” (NY Times).
To top off what is already going to be without a doubt an amazing show, Long Island based band The Lemon Twigs are the opening act. The Lemon Twigs released their latest EP, Brothers of Destruction less than a month ago. The band has an eclectic sound which combines a classic 60s baroque pop like the Beatles with the 70s rock sound of bands like the Ramones. The alternative rock band will complement Phoenix’s sound and energy perfectly.
Be sure to not miss out on these incredible performances and grab a ticket to the show here (it will probably sell out)!