Phantogram @ Mercury Lounge

If you're looking to see great music before everybody else finds out about it, check out Phantogram, a Saratoga Springs duo comprised of Sarah Barthel (vocals, keyboard) and Josh Carter (guitar, vocals). Phantogram is in the midst of an East Coast/Midwest tour, promoting their 2009 self-titled EP, and captivating crowds with tracks "Mouthful of Diamonds" and "When I’m Small". The life-long friends, who began making music together in 2007, describe their sound as “unique street beat rhythms, psychedelic melodies, combined technological and organic textures.” The band’s label bio reads: “they drive almost every day [further] into upstate farmland, to a barn they call Harmony Lodge, to write and record. Serving as their homemade studio / practice space / think tank / bat cave, the barn is equipped with various samplers, tapes, records, synths, drums, and both percussive and stringed instruments. [It's] there that Phantogram allows their natural surroundings and urban influences to meld together, [to create] beautiful, beat-driven, dream-like pop songs.”  While the two switch off on vocals, their sounds are very different. Barthel’s voice is beautiful, quiet and haunting, but paired with catchy, poppy and powerful beats, becomes a much stronger force. Carter’s voice, on the other hand, is eerie and a bit rickety, but commands attention and brings a darker dimension to the tracks Bloody Palms and Running from the Cops, which features the verse I want to let go, I want to shake hands, with the person that’s responsible for this master plan. I know I will, I know I can – arresting in Carter’s voice. Previously known as “Charlie Everywhere” before releasing their 2009 EP, Phantogram has already conquered their hometown in upstate New York and are now prepared to cover more ground. Opening for bands including Ra Ra Riot and Yeasayer, Phantogram is developing a solid fan-base and quickly gaining recognition. They’ve been on our radar for a few months now, and we fully expect to hear a lot more from them in the coming months.(Kristin Connor / Steph Lund)