Road Report: Phantogram Traverse Half the Country in One Week

After a successful string of shows at Austin's SXSW festival, Phantogram are hitting the road with the Antlers in support of their debut album, 'Eyelid Movies.' The duo, comprised of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, will be touring with the Brooklyn trio through May 5 before heading out with the National on their U.S. run.

The Saratoga Springs, N.Y. group will be checking in along the way with their own photos and anecdotes from the road, including this latest report from Carter, which recounts six stops across the U.S. over the course of one week.

4/22/10
Loaded in this afternoon at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. What an awesome space! The sound there was great. We had a good time playing tonight, and the crew of workers that helped out were friendly. Chicago fans showed us some love for sure. Sarah is a heart-breaker. After we played, she had to politely turn down a date with a guy in the front row. He wrote on a pink piece of paper: "Will you go out with me?"


The Antlers put on another great show. Some serious bass coming out of the speakers. Darby was definitely hitting the "brown note" on the keys -- the kind of bass that makes you have to check your pants after the show. We got to see our friend, Shiraz, tonight. He plays in an awesome band called Maps & Atlases, and they are about to hit the road for a month tour. It was great to see him. We are staying with our friend Lily tonight. Time for a night cap.

4/23/10
My neck hurts. Love seats aren't the ideal place to get some shut eye. I can't complain though, because we enjoyed a nice time drinking a few beers and hanging out with Lily last night -- plus a free, clean place to stay at. About to cruise out to Ann Arbor for our show tonight. Never been. Hope it's cool.

At the Blind Pig. I'm probably smoking twice as much as usual. Not used to being able to smoke in a bar. Sarah's in the other room fiddling around with our projector.


The show was awesome tonight. Ann Arbor fans were definitely an enthusiastic crowd. It's nice to play for people who aren't afraid of what others might think of them if they bob their head or move around a little bit. It reminded me of our last show in L.A. a little bit... We met a guy from our vinyl label, Ghostly International, tonight and he is going put us up in his pad for the evening. He is a super nice guy. I wonder if anybody has told him that he looks kind of like the main character in Blue Velvet-- not Dennis Hopper huffing nitrate and acting like a creep, but you know, the good looking protagonist dude running around solving bizarre mysteries... God, I love Heineken.

4/24/10
Slept comfortably last night. It's raining outside.


Six hours later, in Rock Island. It's windy and pouring outside. Not much going on around here today.

Our show went well... I don't know if it's the weather or what, but there wasn't too many people in attendance. Let's get to a hotel, please!

4/25/10
Long ass drive today. Off to Boulder, CO.

Coffee. check. Cigarettes. check. iPod. check.

I must have missed the bus on this one, because I know they've been around for a while, but I'm loving the French Kicks.

Other noteworthy bands on today's playlist: Slowdive, The Walkmen, Beach House, Sheryl Crow, and that girl who sings 'Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?' -- just kidding about the last couple.


4/26/10
The Rocky Mountains look magnificent.


Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO


Tonight's show was a blast. The monitor guy was a bit salty though. Maybe his goldfish died today.

I love driving. Especially for hours across a dessert.


4/26/10
It's our first time ever in Las Vegas! We figured we would get a hotel here on the way to San Diego. Let's go win a million dollars so we can hire some roadies!


4/27/10
Sarah and I don't know how to gamble, so we drank cheap drinks and "people watched" as we fed slot machines dollar bills for a few hours. I must say, we had a lot of laughs, got buzzed, and managed not to spend much money.

Thought: How do people live here? Is there anything going on around here other than gambling and entertainment? Do people move here to have a family, or a job that doesn't consist of waiting tables, bartending, or stripping. Pardon my ignorance. I would like to explore the underbelly of this city some day and find out.

Off to the Casbah! I'm thinking fish tacos tonight. Goodbye for now.

- Josh C.