Pictures By Maureen Pitz

[Note: We were at the show filming Passion Pit, so the wrap post regarding them will be coming later today.]

It felt like history in the making when frontman Thomas Mars thanked the crowd for supporting four boys from Paris playing Central Park. The momentum of Phoenix since their album release has been unbelievable, and they were approximately one merci beaucoup away from being the first blowout show of the fall. Needless to say, they killed it.
Strict 10 PM curfews in the park meant the show had a set deadline for ending, which was a bummer, but no one seemed to notice. There was beer. They opened with "Liztomania" (naturally), "1901" closed the show, but it was elongated, and "Rome" had "Funky Square Dance" in the middle of it. All good things. "Love Like A Sunset" held the usual middle-of-the-show spot, and felt as grandiose as ever. People were cheering pretty crazily. One guy next to me had to be dragged out (he was very messed up on something), so you know people were partying! There was a lot of jumping up and down. Hands were up in the air.

I wasn't there but I heard that the lighting guy was having a real blast all dancing and pressing buttons and saying "watch this!" to our production guy behind the board. As a member of the audience, I would be inclined to believe it. It was like seizure-time at the Apollo. All in all, it was an exciting and intense show! I didn't even mind the sad, sobering, beer-can-crunching march back to fifth avenue.

And the best part is that Baeble nabbed footage of opener Passion Pit, who also rocked! It was like having your favorite band open for your other favorite band! No wonder they needed two days of this concert. We will miss you, Summerstage. Merci beaucoup and goodnight. -joe puglisi
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Pictures: Phoenix At Summerstage
Phoenix on Myspace