French pop group Phoenix have toiled around for nearly a decade, playing (in America, at least) to small and dedicated crowds before becoming an “overnight sensation” to the music loving masses. The group delighted their growing Twin Cities fan base this week by playing a very sold out 80 minute show to a highly appreciative audience at a sweltering Varsity Theater. The set, bookended by the two songs that are helping them reach this new audience, was a staggering success and was one of the best shows I have seen so far this year.

Coming on stage right at 10:00 p.m., the group wasted little time before whipping the crowd into a frenzy by playing “Lisztomania,” the opening song on their amazing fourth LP Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The bouncing synths and infectious melodies of the song had the crowd eating out of the six-piece group’s hands right from the start of the show. They followed the crowd favorite with the stuttering guitar funk of “Long Distance Call” from their third record It’s Never Been Like That. When the song built to its climax and lead singer Thomas Mars began crooning that “It’s never been like that,” the band’s impressive light show kicked in for the first time, something that added a great visual touch to their shimmering pop epics. The group, at times featuring guitars, drums, keys, bass and various percussion instruments, were consummate performers throughout the set and kept the high octane pace throughout the entire show. Continuing with another song off of It’s Never Been Like That, the band played the velvety smooth “Consolation Prizes.” The song, with its shuffling beat and Mars’ stammering lyrics, was a great example of the kind of sugary sweet pop song that only a band of Phoenix’s caliber could pull off.

After hearing the more subdued “Consolation Prizes,” Mars and company returned with a hard hitting back-to-back combo of “Lasso” and “Napoleon Says,” both of which sounded extraordinary live. Next up were two songs that proved to be the least satisfying for me over the course of the amazing set. First came the effect laden vocals and brooding guitar lines of “Funky Square Dance” from their debut album. While the song was interesting and broke out near the end, the experimentation seemed trite and unnecessary when standing beside some of the other songs. “Rally,” another track from It’s Never Been Like That, also came across a little slow and bland when surrounded by the newer material. While only being mild letdowns, and really not bad, they simply did not stack up with other portions of the great set.

Next up found the band returning to Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix to great effect. The three songs that came next, “Girlfriend,” “Armistice,” and “Love Like A Sunset,” all found the band doing an astonishing job of bringing these dense and melodically engaging songs to the stage. “Love Like a Sunset,” a nearly nine minute, two-part opus, was especially impressive. After stretching out some newer material, the band went back into their catalog for an arresting take the Alphabetical track “Run Run Run,” which may have been the highlight of the main set for me. Beginning as a light-hearted pop song it morphed into a downright funky and sexy jam that had the crowd going absolutely wild. To wrap up the set the band performed their playful love song “Too Young” from United, an “Sometimes in the Fall” from It’s Never Been Like That, ending with “Rome” from Wolfgang. The songs, stretching from their debut in 2000 to their latest album from this year, showed how the band has evolved and presented the sweaty and exhausted crowd with three convincing reasons why this band has been such critical darlings over the course of its career. When the group left the stage the crowd exploded in cheers, displaying an affection that seemed as genuine as I have witnessed in quite some time.

The group came back out for their encore and dove right into the slinky, synth driven “If I Ever Feel Better” from United. When the song ended Mars stretched his hands to the crowd while wearing a giant smile before announcing that “this has to be the last one,” right as the keys and drums started up for what might be their biggest single to date, “1901.” Mars implored the crowd to put their hands together and the venue instantly became a sea of waving and clapping hands as the band tore through the song (which is currently my song of the summer, and probably of the year). When it began coming to the end it became clear that neither the crowd nor the band wanted the exhilarating moment to end, so the band ramped back up one more time before leaving the stage to another rapturous ovation.

With my strong love for their latest album I had high expectations going into the show and the band simply blew them away. Phoenix have seemingly soaked up the momentum they’ve been gaining (even playing SNL!) and poured their hearts into a show that left everyone walking out the doors with two distinct traits: one being sweat soaked clothes and other being a giant smile on their face.

[Review by Josh Keller, photos by Jon Behm]

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Also: Four Takes on by “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” by Phoenix