Phantom Planet brings southern California rock to Philly

Have you ever been to a live performance that just sticks with you for days? There are certain bands that, simply put, know exactly how to put on a must-see concert.

These bands understand which songs are worth playing and which ones would be better off left out. They know when it's acceptable to joke around between songs and when they should keep the music going. And, most importantly, they continuously involve every member of the audience by sending the energy level through the ceiling.

Southern California rock band Phantom Planet did exactly this when they took the stage at their October 1 concert date in Philadelphia. Phantom Planet, along with fellow bands The Morning Light and The Secret Handshake, are currently the openers for The Rocket Summer on their headlining tour.

The groups of fans who waited anxiously in the drizzling rain outside the Theatre of the Living Arts were about to be rewarded. The band immediately showed its love for the audience by starting off with their up-beat new single, "Do the Panic," allowing participants to sing along. "I feel like we're just two friends hanging out!" lead singer Alex Greenwald proclaimed to the crowd. Greenwald was not hesitant to express his satisfaction with the rowdy Philadelphia crowd, challenging them to catch him several times while launching himself off stage for some crowd surfing.

Phantom Planet's set lasted about 40 minutes and included songs from several of their albums. Old favorites included "Always on my Mind" from their second album, The Guest, and "Big Brat" as well as "Know It All" from their self-titled third album. The band also played several songs from their latest album Raise the Dead, including "Leader" and "Dropped." "'Leader' is Phantom Planet's anthem," Greenwald explained to the audience before performing the catchy song.

In interviews about their current album, Phantom Planet claimed that when writing lyrics, cults were the inspiration. Songs like "Leader" reflect this influence, with lyrics that allow the audience to chant, snap and clap along. Coincidentally, the band wore clothing with matching logos over their hearts when performing their set.

And, of course, Phantom Planet did not neglect to play their crowd-pleasing and most familiar song, "California," known for being the theme song of the hit television drama The OC.

Phantom Planet may explicitly show their love for the audience during their concerts, but after the shows they truly go above and beyond the call of duty. When opening for the Honda Civic and Paramore tours last summer, the band started the tradition of playing acoustic sets in parking lots and alleyways after shows to make sure that they covered all songs that fans wanted to hear.

Not only have they continued to do this on their current tour, but they also encourage suggestions of good karaoke bars, where they sing along with fans. Phantom Planet has even gone as far as playing in a fan's apartment to ensure that everyone gets their fill.

Though many may not know it, the members of Phantom Planet are seasoned veterans when it comes to pleasing fans and playing live music. Greenwald, along with guitarist Darren Robinson, bassist Sam Farrar and drummer Jeff Conrad, has been in the industry for a while now.

Having previously opened for acts such as Guns N' Roses, Elvis Costello, American Hi-Fi, Maroon 5 and Panic at the Disco (to name a few), this band definitely knows how to use all of the ingredients needed to produce a successful live show. Phantom Planet is currently wrapping up their thirteenth year of live performances; their first live show was in 1995.

Phantom Planet may have finally reached their break in early 2008 when they announced the April release date of their first album in four years. The release was a result of being signed to popular record label Fueled by Ramen. The band now shares the label with other well-known bands such as Gym Class Heroes and Paramore. Now, after years of opening for others, Phantom Planet will finally be headlining their own tour starting in February 2009.

So if you ever feel like experiencing what a successful live performance should feel like or if you simply want to hang out with a band that truly cares about their fan base, make a date with Phantom Planet early next year. They'll make sure you won't be disappointed.