Live Review: Phoenix @ Central Park Summerstage (9/26)

Phoenix has had a huge 2009. The band has struck gold with the success of their latest release Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, an album that has landed them on American radio, commercials, and basically everywhere you can possibly imagine. This weekend they took over New York City with a pair of sold out shows at Central Park's Summerstage. Though the summer never really came this year, Phoenix did their best to warm things up last night with a stellar set that drew not just from their breakout album, but from the big back catalog.

The band puts on one hell of a show, with sharp, tight tunes, that get people singing and clapping along to every moment of the show. Right from the moment they walked on stage the audience was eating out their hands, screaming and yelling for the band on the dark stage before suddenly the dark blue lights burst on and the band launched into their opening tune.

With their infectious pop tunes pouring from the speakers, the band controlled the scene last night crafting a set that flowed beautifully. It all started upbeat and peppy before lulling into some of the band's quieter tunes. These calmed the scene, but proved to be an intimate, personal experience most won't soon forget. Phoenix may be better when they are really cranking things up though, with the crowd clapping along to some of their older more upbeat tunes.

Phoenix ended the night with a 4-song encore, two of the more intimate pieces started it off but things really got lively to end the night. "1901", their breakout single, was the final tune the band played last night cranking it out to perfection. Fans sung along, people danced, and the band left their impression on a mix of older, die-hard fans and the newcomers alike.