The Saratoga Springs, NY duo of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, known collectively as Phantogram, are preparing to barnstorm the nation multiple times in 2010.
In celebration of the release of their debut LP, 'Eyelid Movies' (out February 9th on Barsuk), the band will be hitting the east coast this week and also playing a few Midwest dates.
FREE Download: "When I'm Small" MP3 from Eyelid Movies [Barsuk Records]
You can listen to the record in its entirety on NPR all week.
Listen to Phantogram's Eyelid Movies [Barsuk Records] on NPR's Exclusive First Listen
Watch video - Phantogram's "Mouthful of Diamonds (Live on KEXP)" from Eyelid Movies:
About Phantogram:
"A refreshing, unusual and diverting first record from two new talents, and one to recommend for jaded electro and indie fans who felt the New York scene had gone as far as it could with art-skronk." - The BBC
"Brimming with palpable sexual tension. There had better be a sequel." - Alternative Press
Phantogram's music sounds like it's made by a band from the city. Electronic loops, hip-hop beats, shoegaze, soul, pop - each finds its way into their songs. Unexpectedly, the band doesn't live and work in a major urban center, but rather calls the town of Saratoga Springs, NY (population 26,186) home. Despite the cultural influence of local Skidmore College (where fellow beat-experimenters Ratatat formed) and a relatively small scene of adventurous musicians and listeners, Saratoga isn't exactly teeming with fans of J. Dilla, My Bloody Valentine or Serge Gainsbourg.
But Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, the duo that make up Phantogram and who grew up in the even smaller nearby municipality of Greenwich, have flourished in Saratoga. In fact, the town itself isn't rural enough for their taste - they drive almost every day another 45 minutes into upstate farmland to a barn they call Harmony Lodge to write and record. Serving as their homemade studio/practice space/think-tank/bat-cave, the barn is equipped with various samplers, tapes, records, synths, drums, and both percussive and stringed instruments. It's there that Phantogram allows their natural surroundings and metropolitan influences to meld together creating beautiful, beat-driven dreamlike pop songs.
Phantogram February 2010 tour dates:
2/3 – State College, PA @ State Theatre *
2/4 – Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock *
2/5 – Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights *
2/8 – Portsmouth, NH @ Red Door ^
2/9 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott ^
2/11 – Brooklyn, MA @ Union Hall ^
2/12 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge ^
2/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie ^
2/15 – Washington, DC @ DC 9 ^
2/16 – Columbus, OH @ Treehouse ^
2/17 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas ^
2/18 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry ^
2/20 – Toronto, ON @ Drake Hotel ^
2/21 – Montreal @ Il Motore ^
2/22 – Winooski, VT @ Monkey House ^
* w/ Minus the Bear
^ w/ Junk Culture
For more information:
Barsuk Records Official Website
Phantogram MySpace
Phantogram on Twitter
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