Phoenix – Entertainment (Live on SNL)
Phoenix (band)
| Phoenix | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Versailles, France |
| Genres | Alternative rock, indie rock,[1]synthpop, New Wave |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Glassnote Loyauté |
| Associated acts | Daft Punk Darlin’ Air Cassius |
| Website | wearephoenix.com |
| Members | Thomas Mars (vocals) Deck d’Arcy (bass) Laurent Brancowitz (guitar) Christian Mazzalai (guitar) |
Phoenix is an alternative rock band from Versailles, France,[2] consisting of Thomas Mars, Deck d’Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.[3]
Contents[hide] |
History[edit]
Formation and early years[edit]
Vocalist Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d’Arcy, and guitarist Chris Mazzalai started playing together as a “garage band” based out of Mars’s house in the suburbs of Paris, France. In 1995, Laurent Brancowitz, Mazzalai’s older brother, permanently joined the band on guitar after the end of Darlin’, a short-lived band that Brancowitz had formed with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (Bangalter and de Homem-Christo later formed Daft Punk.[4]) Two years later the band took on the name Phoenix and pressed 500 copies of a single on their own label, Ghettoblaster. Shortly after, they were signed to the Paris-based Source Records. Phoenix became well acquainted with labelmates Air when they acted as their backing band on several U.K. TV appearances.[5]
Phoenix – 1901 (Live on Letterman) 18 Juin 2009
United and Alphabetical (2000-2004)[edit]
Following their two singles “If I Ever Feel Better” and “Too Young”, United was released in 2000. Their track “Too Young” was in the soundtrack for the movie Lost in Translation (which was directed by Thomas’ future wife, Sofia Coppola), and was also played in the movie Shallow Hal. The band’s second album, Alphabetical, was released in 2004 and saw the band reach more mainstream success, with the singles “Everything Is Everything” and “Run Run Run” reaching some alternative rock airplay charts.[which?] Hedi Slimane commissioned a special mix of their song “Victim of the Crime” as the soundtrack to one of his runway shows for Dior Homme.
Phoenix – Lisztomania Official Video (Best Quality + Lyrics)
Live! Thirty Days Ago, It’s Never Been Like That and Kitsuné Tabloid (2005-2009)[edit]
Following Alphabetical, the band toured three continents, playing 150 dates. This tour was followed up with a live album, Live! Thirty Days Ago, released only 30 days after the end of the tour. Phoenix then spent time in Berlin during the summer of 2005, making use of Planet Roc studios to produce their third album, It’s Never Been Like That. To promote the release of It’s Never Been Like That, Phoenix toured the United States and Europe in 2006. American band Paramore performed a cover of the song “Long Distance Call” live on Taratata, a French TV show.
The band curated a compilation album for French electronic music record and fashion label Kitsuné .It was released on March 23, 2009, just about 2 months short of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.The mix tape includes music by Elvis Costello, Roxy Music, Kiss, Lou Reed and others.
Phoenix – Lasso (Live on Letterman)
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)[edit]
In early 2009, it was announced that the band was returning with a new album titled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which was released on May 25, 2009.[6] The album was recorded in Paris, and was co-produced and mixed by Philippe Zdar of Cassius.[7] “1901“, a tribute to early Paris, was released on February 23, 2009 as a free download prior to the release of the first single and aired for the first time on Australian radio station Triple J.
“1901” was also featured in the US during Super Bowl XLV in a Green Bay Packers montage. Phoenix also performed “Lisztomania”, “1901, and “Too Young” on Saturday Night Live on April 4.[8] They also performed “Lisztomania” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,[9] “Girlfriend” on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,[10] and “1901” on the Late Show with David Letterman,[11] Jimmy Kimmel Live![12] and The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.[13]
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix won Best Alternative Music Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010. Shortly afterwards, “1901” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart.[14] The album was the first Phoenix album to be certified gold and appeared on numerous “Best of” lists at the end of 2010, including Rolling Stone magazine.[15]
Following the album’s release, Phoenix appeared at various major music festivals, including the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2009, Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California in 2010, the 2010 Bonnaroo Music Festival, the Southside Festival and Hurricane Festival in Germany, the 2010 Lollapalooza Music Festival, the Mile High Music Festival, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco, California, Rock Werchter 2010 in Belgium, and the 2010 Reading and Leeds Festivals. On October 20, 2010, Daft Punk made a special appearance for their show in Madison Square Garden.
Allmusic.com, a review website, commented favourably on the release of the album. “Beyond containing the band’s best, most efficient songwriting, the album also stands apart from the first three studio albums by projecting a cool punch that is unforced,” a reviewer commented.[16] Vocalist Thomas Mars, described as “more bright-eyed and youthful than ever,” is more prominent in these songs, harmonising well with the instruments. “Maybe they’ve just hit their stride,” the reviewer says.
Phoenix are the subject of a documentary From a Mess to the Masses that documents their 2009-2010 tour in support of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The film was directed by Antoine Wagner and Francisco Soriano—Wagner was also responsible for directing the “Lisztomania” music video. The title of the documentary is a lyrical excerpt from “Lisztomania” and the total running time is 52 minutes. From a Mess to the Masses premiered in Germany and France on the Arte television network on October 13, 2011.[17][18]
The Daily Hatch 