“We’re always going through the same thing because
we’re so goddamn close
and we’ve known each other for so long.” —SARAH BARTHEL
It’s almost been a decade since the two friends started Phantogram, but the momentum seems to snowball more and more each year. “It’s crazy to think that next year we’ve been a band for about 10 years. It just seems like it’s gone by really fast and I still feel like we’re a pretty young band, to be honest,” Carter says. But more importantly, it’s the strong, established friendship that makes it easy to go on year after year, through thick and thin, even having each other’s back after a family death. “I just believe in our friendship and love for each other and loyalty,” Carter continues. “I believe in Phantogram and what we’re doing. I want to keep it going because I think we have an endless, deep well of ideas that we haven’t tapped into, and hopefully it will be overflowing. I feel like a lot of bands break up
ON TOUR
really quick or feel like they did what they wanted to do and move on to something else. I think we have a lot more to say and will continue to do so for as long as we can.” Towards the end of the phone call, Carter apologizes to Barthel after both begin at the same time to answer a question. It’s a minor moment that really emphasizes the amount of respect Carter and Barthel have toward each other, even after so many years of friendship and a near decade of creating together as Phantogram. “In general we’re influenced by a lot of different kinds of music so I see us coming out with different sounding records and to grow and evolve like a band should. And what we did from the beginning was start really small and play shows and then moved up to the next venue,” Barthel says. “We can’t stop now.” S
10/24 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
10/28 Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
10/30 Knoxville, TN @ The Mill and the Mine
11/02 Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
11/04 Austin, TX @ Sound On Sound Festival
10/25 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
10/29 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
10/31 Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
11/03 New Orleans, LA @ Joy Theater
11/05 Dallas, TX @ Bomb Factory
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SU B ST R E A M M AGA Z I N E //
SUBST REAM]
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