Why would artists deeply explore complex yet negative emotions, especially in music? New York-based alternative, electronica, and dream-pop duo Phantogram delivered a dazzling and introspective performance at Hollywood Palladium on February 28^th, 2025.

It’s undoubtedly an understatement to say how Phantogram’s incredibly artistic duo Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter (both of who covered vocal, synthesizer, electronic guitar, and bass throughout the performance) enraptured the audience with an unforgettable night for their last stop from their Running Through Colors tour – consisting of songs from their recently released album Memory of a Day and songs reflecting their 18 years long craftsmanship & artistry. The audience at Hollywood Palladium was not only experiencing an evocatively potent Phantogram’s performance, but they were also witnessing a film reel of the musical duo’s deeply personal memories – with moments of happiness, sorrow, devastation, and longing.

One of the most enchanting qualities of Phantogram’s performance was how each song choice embodied such a drastically different tone, style, and genre of music. Phantogram’s setlist oscillated between electronic dance music and techno, then to punk-infused rock, then to sentimental dream pop – sometimes encapsulating the differing musical genre qualities. Phantogram’s performance at Hollywood Palladium heavily reminded the audience of perhaps the qualities of the 60s European avant-garde cinema – with its succession of unconventional images (songs in this scenario) combined to create a different audio-visual experience and meaning for its viewers.

The opening acts for Phantogram were delivered by two stylistically opposing musician groups – first by Brazil-based pop-rock band Ginger and the Peppers, followed by Los Angeles-based dream pop band Sunday 1994. Ginger and the Peppers’ performance was heart-poundingly energetic, intensifying the fans’ energy in the Hollywood Palladium. On the other hand, Sunday 1994’s performance was wholeheartedly dream pop core – inducing melancholy and swing dance mood from the audience. The opening performances of such a stylistically and tonally juxtaposing group of musicians were a fascinating yet perfect choice to introduce fragments of Phantogram’s persona.

Following the opening acts, Phantogram commandingly walked onto the dimly lit stage, expressing their determination to confront their feverish past and their exhilaration to greet their dedicated fans. Meticulously crafted neon lighting on the stage further elevated the undoubtedly striking aura of Phantogram. After a moment of the audience’s silent anticipation, Phantogram began performing their first song of the night, Jealousy – a riveting yet hypnotic song about the self-destructive nature of one’s negative emotions. Its slow tempo yet heart-throbbing electronic score, with Sarah Barthel’s immaculate vocals and Josh Carter’s expressively searing electronic guitar riffs, enabled the audience to empathize while being awestruck by Phantogram’s first performance of the night.

The musical duo (along with a synth pianist and a drummer) then continuously amazed the audience with a series of interchanging genres and styles of music while maintaining their chique aura. Some highlights of the night included glitchy and groovy electronic songs such as Don’t Move and Fall in Love, sentimental yet uplifting dream pop songs such as Pedestal. It Wasn’t Meant to Be, and pulsating electronically scored punk songs such as Run Run Blood and Black Out Days. The night at Hollywood Palladium concluded with Phantogram’s encore performance of the moody and atmospheric song Glowing, the emotionally explosive song You Don’t Get Me High Anymore, and finally with the haunting yet melancholic song When I’m Small.

Phantogram has genuinely left an everlasting impression of artistry on their dedicated fans—especially with their fascinating and ingenious setlist choice and brilliance in musical performance. It was truly astonishing how Phantogram constantly shifted their musical genre and style throughout the night in a commanding manner—perhaps indicating to the audience the beautiful yet unpredictably shifting nature of human emotions. Phantogram’s incredibly talented, energetic, and emotionally charged performance also allowed the audience to reflect on their own pleasant and unpleasant memories.

Truth be told, it’s incredible how art inspires if not transforms its audience to become a better version of themselves – to further reflect on their past and current selves, and ultimately to move on to embrace the world filled with uncertainty. Phantogram’s performance perhaps was a cautionary tale to its audience – with its lyrics and melody reflecting devastation and heartbreak without any pretensions. But after all, it is frontiers like Phantogram that enable us to better understand such complex emotions on a deeper level. And that, is the beauty and purpose of art.

Setlist:

1. Jealousy
2. Don’t Move
3. Fall in Love
4. Feedback Invisible
5. Pedestal
6. It Wasn’t Meant to Be
7. Mouthful of Diamonds
8. Run Run Blood
9. Attaway
10. You Are the Ocean
11. Answer
12. All a Mystery
13. Happy Again
14. Black Out Days
15. Let Me Down
16. Come Alive
17. Glowing
18. You Don’t Get Me High Anymore
19. When I’m Small