Words: Casey Seagriff

As someone who has been a fan of Phoebe Bridgers since her 2017 release of Stranger in the Alps, finally seeing her live was a surreal moment. Not only was it my very first show since February 2020, but it was also the day before my 20th birthday. I spent my last night as a teenager singing along to some of my favorite songs with Phoebe Bridgers in all of her sparkly skeleton suit glory. 

Phoebe embarked on her sold-out North American tour at the beginning of September in celebration of her latest album Punisher.  At her request, the entire tour was moved to outdoor venues and proof of vaccination was required upon entrance. 

Traveling with her is the electronic pop band, MUNA. If you haven’t heard of them yet, you will. The iconic group consisting of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson deserves an award for their ability to get the crowd moving. Their energy was unmatched as they performed their hit song “I Know a Place.” 

Following their set, the crowd eagerly awaited Phoebe Bridgers’s appearance. And she definitely did not disappoint. Opening with “Motion Sickness,” she had the crowd screaming the lyrics that I am sure could be heard for miles. 

It was a very hot and humid Friday night which resulted in many people suffering from heat exhaustion. Fans were able to get Bridgers’s attention and the concert was stopped twice while paramedics reached those who needed help. She had no problem picking up where she left off and reminding us to “take care of each other” once they had been reached. 

Phoebe and her band played through her entire Punisher album from start to finish with a few of her other songs in between (cue me ugly crying to “Graceland Too”). It was even better than I could have imagined. Not only were her vocals stunning, but her band was amazing and so entertaining to watch.

After an impromptu performance of a verse of Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise,” and sending her praise to her brother, who graduated from a university in my city, she performed “Georgia”. You could hear a pin drop as Phoebe’s vocals filled the venue.

Her encore consisted of a cover of Bo Burnham’s “That Funny Feeling.” Maybe it was a combination of things, but to hear everyone quietly singing the lyrics, “the unapparent summer air in early fall, the quiet comprehending of the ending of it all” to themselves after the past year and a half, really put the weight of things into perspective. It was a completely surreal experience and I am so happy I was there for it all.