There was a rumour that Daft Punk was going to be a special guest at the Phoenix show last week, but I didn't quite believe it. I was psyched enough to see Thomas Mars and his better-than-ever band, along with the Dirty Projectors and Wavves. Humberto, Carol, and Max from Suno and I pre-gamed with a decadent junk food fest at Madison Square Garden. Why are french fries in waffle form so much more delicious than their skinny brethren? From the first strains of 'Lisztomania,' the entire audience was rapt, and so they remained throughout the show. The band seemed intent on wowing, descending into the crowd to serenade the public more than once. I was particularly touched to hear Thomas sing in French, "La Fille aux Yeux Clairs." We started to believe those robot rustlings when the light onstage went white, and these strange super-electro sounds crept out. Which soon became "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." Seeing Daft Punk live with Phoenix was an intoxicating trip. All the perfection of French pop together in one place, on one night!

Photos by Humberto Leon.



FILED UNDER: phoenix , dirty projectors , daft punk , max osterweis , suno , carol lim , humberto leon , thomas mars