There are some definite perks to being a journalist. For one you have access that most people never dream of and that opens up a whole world of amazing stories to tell. This is one of them.
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Phoenix |
Lollapalooza – Media Area
Chicago, IL
August 7, 2010
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Deep in the press tent on Saturday afternoon a buzz was growing amongst the media folk. Against Me! played loudly on stage behind us but another more intimate concert was being set up on the Lollapalooza media stage. Phoenix, it seemed, planned a surprise show.
Not many were given warning so as soon as the news spread everyone within earshot showed up. Members of the press and a scattered few from other bands in the area came to support the headliner. Had an outsider stumbled in it would have seemed like something out of Sgt.Pepper’s as a sea of popular faces stopped everything to enjoy the show.
It says something about the quality of Phoenix’s music that they can attract such a crowd for what ended up being one song. Their single “1901” is tearing up the charts right now so it makes sense that they would play that one. The usual chaos of the press area went quiet for about five minutes as the band played their masterpiece.
After years of working the press area at Lollapalooza you get a feel for how the system works. The lesser known bands make their rounds and hang out with the media trying to get more exposure. The bigger bands rarely ever venture out because, I gather, they simply don’t require the publicity. Phoenix not only showed up to do a few select interviews but they were willing to give a private show. Or as private as it can get with 15 video cameras on you at all times. But it is the principle of the matter.
Watching them perform is a bit like poetry in motion. The native Frenchmen play sweet and melodically almost swooning the audience with their music. The lyrics rolled off the tongue of lead singer Thomas Mars moving everyone close enough to listen.
Such private performances are rare and one of the best parts of this business. I have no doubt that they are going to blow the audience away tonight as they go head to head with Green Day to close out the second day of the festival.
* Photos from the Budweiser Stage performance
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