Phantogram, Two Door Cinema Club, STRFKR, and Friendly Fires

When I was in Philadelphia, PA I had the chance to see Phantogram with CHVRCHES and Cherub at The Piazza at Schmidt's, a beautiful outdoor venue with a huge screen that enhanced the performance and helped engage those further away from the stage.

From the first note, Phantogram dazzled the audience with a skillful blend of beautiful, lyrical vocals and melodic electronic music that shows the softer, gentler side of electronic music as a whole. With just two performers, Phantogram manages to produce a wide range of sounds. Then they ratcheted up the energy, and in front of a dazzling light show created an atmosphere and sound that didn't leave a single person sitting still. I had always thought to myself that because they played electronic music, Phantogram's music was cleaned up through so many filters and programs that when I saw them live they would sound nothing like they did on recording, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

Sarah, the lead vocalist, has a voice as beautiful and clear in person as she does on any recording, which is positively amazing. Also, in addition to the electronic music, the guitar is real, another treat for the live performance. And Phantogram never missed a beat - they were every bit as in tune, in time and melodic in person as they are on recording.

Add that to the energy of the crowd and the great showmanship, this is one band that is better live than they are recorded or in video any day. I would love to see them again.

Two Door Cinema Club are a Northern Irish electronic/alternative rock duo. I saw them at the Ritz Ybor in Tampa back in 2012 and they were amazing! They brought all the energy of a stadium concert into a medium sized venue. The stage setup, with laser lights, made their music feel like a party. You’d be surprised at how well they play the crowd.
Their music uses a lot of electronic bleeps and blurps but blends the bass and guitar in perfectly. Their sound is funky and they add unexpected musical elements to make them a one-of-a-kind band. Their set included “Something Good Can Work”, “Undercover Martyn”, “Sleep Alone” and the eponymous “I Can Talk” – with its unmistakable intro. They also know how to slow the music down, however, and Two Door Cinema club played some slower tracks beautifully. They are true artists on stage that have mastered their instruments. The lead singer croons perfectly on key all while managing the energy of the room depending on the song. Some times we slow danced, some times we jumped up and down like lunatics. Either way, Two Door Cinema club is DEFINITELY worth seeing. And since they are not internationally huge yet, their ticket prices can often be under $30, making the experience a steal.

I've paid to see Starfucker. I've seen Starfucker live. I've seen them in as intimate a venue as a college quad and I've seen them in as huge a venue as FYF. The thing each other their performances have in common is that they put on a mind-blowing show every single time.
Their energy and their sound have been the highest of qualities and every time I see them is a completely new experience. You never know what's going to happen at a Starfucker show. Will they throw garbage bags full of balloons at the crowd? Will confetti fly out of cannons while men in green spandex dance on stage? Will men in human-sized animal costumes come out and simulate fellatio on said green spandex men? Will a spaceman suddenly stage dive and crowd surf while Starfucker covers "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun?" YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!
Another thing every Starfucker show has in common: You're going to get sweaty. You jump, you dance, you move, and suddenly no one looks like a stranger anymore. Everyone's one and the same; a gear in the machine that is the crowd. Everyone's there for the same reason and that reason is to watch Starfucker put on a show. Their music goes from dance-your-ass-off tunes to more melancholy sounds that you can "chill" to.
If you want catchy electo-riffs and amazing visuals in your music and live performances, Starfucker is definitely a band you should check out. The five best nights of my life have all been nights I've spent in the Starfucker dance pit.

Touting one of the finest collections of indie-pop in UK history, Hertfordshire trio Friendly Fires are a treat to behold live. Fans of rabble-rousing, dancefloor infernos and cutting meticulous shapes will swoon at mainman Ed Macfarlane's ringleader approach to gigs, manipulating audiences into pools of boogie-ing mayhem. With a pelvis like Elvis, Macfarlane's hip-game is on fire – and that, in itself, is a magnetic force sure to draw throngs. His penchant for floral shirts is pretty impressive too. Doozies like “Paris”, “Kiss Of Life”, “Hawaiian Air”, “Jump In The Pool” and “Skeleton Boy” are frequent set highlights. Doused in the kaleidoscopic chaos of spotlights and strobes, the three-piece are insistent when it comes to crafting a party atmosphere. There's no room for standing, beard-stroking, or pensive poserism; if you arrive at a Friendly Fires show, you'd better be prepared to sweat. You'll ache in the morning, but boy, you'll have had the time of your life the night before.
They've been a quiet storm over the past couple of years since the release of 2011's Pala, but in recent talks with NME and other outlets, they've begun to discuss the prospect of a newfangled psychedelic direction, which is an exciting notion. Electro-indie-dance-psych? Phwoar.