Better known as the perfect trifecta! I mean firstly, what’s better than seeing Phantogram once in one week? Seeing them twice! And then add in two bands that I’ve listened to since high school but never had the fortune of seeing until now – amazing!
As much as I have loved Two Door Cinema Club, when they announced a headlining show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, I was a little skeptical that they had the reach to fill it. Of course for me, adding on Phantogram and Friendly Fires as supporting acts just made attending the easiest “yes” I could have imagined. At the time I had no clue that Phantogram would be embarking on their own headlining tour with a stop near me, but I’ve never complained about seeing a band multiple times, and I espcially wouldn’t do that to the likes of Phantogram. And Friendly Fires has been MIA for so long that the chance to see them made me so excited it was almost comical.
As a first time experience at Madison Square Garden, I couldn’t think of a better line up. My friends were cool and let me pick decent seats that didn’t break the bank, though admittedly I would have splurged for even closer if it was just me. Still, the view was good for a place that size. I was a little surprised to learn that Friendly Fires were the first band of the evening. And I was even more shocked and disappointed when they could only play four songs – a crime! At least I got to hear some bangers. But the tease was so good that they better be touring the US alone soon so I can hear more. As expected, the dance moves of singer Ed Mafarlane were exceptional, and I was even more impressed by what he was managing to do in jeans!
I’ll admit that I had no interest in the opening act that followed, STRFKR, and while they were fine, they weren’t really that exciting in my opinion. I was both surprised and proud that Phantogram was the penultimate opening act, so I was treated to an abbreviated version of the set I just heard a few days prior. They had a technical glitch at the start, but they more than made up for it with their sheer talent. I was bummed that “Don’t Move” and “Mouthful of Diamonds” didn’t make it on this particular setlist, but they still cruised through a good amount of songs regardless. I hope their set earned them some new fans.
When it was time for Two Door Cinema Club to come on, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As far as movement goes, they stayed pretty stagnant, but my philosophy is that I’d rather you sound incredible rather than seeing you shimmy around the stage. And that’s what I got! I will say, I haven’t been keeping super close tabs on these guys since their sophomore effort, but Alex Timble was looking at least ten years older than he is with the beard he was rocking. Looks aside, the set design really filled everything out and made the songs sound more epic. The guys were pitch perfect, and it was incredible to hear the Tourist History album in full. That record was a staple my freshman year of college. “What You Know,” “Do You Want It All,” and “Something Good Can Work” gave me more chills than I normally get when listening to them through headphones or in the car. Songs from their other records made it into the middle of the setlist, but sadly “Bad Decisions” didn’t make the cut.
All in all, this was an incredibly impressive show that I feel very lucky to have been able to attend. I hope I get to see them all again someday!
