BY DESIREE PICAZO / PHOTO BY DESIREE PICAZO

The Fox Pomona Theater was filled with robotic beats, stratospheric vocals, and trancing flashes of lights as Phantogram played their electronic rock Thursday, September 4.

The mature crowd belted out the words and let their arms loose to the aerial, but powerful mood the band set for the night. Their performance exceeded my expectations; their talent felt so natural and the interactions they made with the crowd came from a humbled place as the crowd howled their appreciation for the music.

Even someone with no inclination to intricate rhythmic patterns would be mesmerized at the exhilarating light work automated for each song. From stimulating bursts of light illuminating the whole theater to temporal flashes that went right with the beats, the intensity left the audience in pure awe.

The concert started in pitch black as rigid beats played in the background, the crowd immediately recognized Sarah Barthel as she fixed her mic and Josh Cartel as he grabbed his guitar, accompanied by an additional drummer and keyboardist that filled the ambiance with live music, opposed to just computerized sounds.

Suddenly blue lights lit up the stage as they played their first song, Nothing But Trouble, off their 2014 album: Voices. This song set a dim tone and prepared the people for the unbelievable show. Most of the songs played were from their new album; however they did throw it back that Thursday night by playing a couple songs from their 2011 album, Nightlife, and their 2009 EP, Running from the Cops.

Barthel’s upbeat body movements and impulsive head banging captured the audience’s attention. Her all black outfit accessorized by two gold wrist cuffs implied simplicity yet power, a reflection of their two-man band. Carter wore a plain white button-up shirt, jeans, and a fitted Phantogram hat as he passionately played his guitar. This gave off the impression that he is just a normal person doing what he loves, he didn’t demand as much attention; he made his presence evident through his impressive guitar riffs.

Their contrast came together as they played the ballad “Bill Murray,” where Sarah stood on a platform wearing a mirrored cloak, shining like a disco ball looking down at Josh admiringly, as he played his guitar solo toward her, feeding off of the light she gave off. The duo definitely let their personality out as Barthel took a moment to acknowledge Cartel and his awesome beats  and guitar playing he contributes to the band.

Then, Cartel teased the crowd and pressed a button to momentarily play the very beginning to their big radio hit, “Fall in Love”, and the crowd immediately went wild. Barthel, jokingly, blamed Cartel for “ruining the surprise” but the duo went right into the song with much playfulness and enthusiasm.

The energy the two give off when they’re together is charismatic, a mere glimpse of their friendship. From middle school friends to a successful band selling out the Fox Pomona Theater, this duo puts on an unforgettable show and captivates people with their innovative music.