Phoenix know what fun's about

Phoenix - The Mean Fiddler
Henry Kirby

AS I walked into a packed Mean Fiddler for the French rock-meets-electropop band Phoenix, there was an unusual air of genuine fun which I soon learnt is exactly what they’re about.
Phoenix offer an un-menacing guitar sound similar to the Strokes crossed with the electric melodies of Daft Punk.
They have a great range of tunes spanning from the morsecode guitar riff of Napoleon Says to the serene synth-based Long Distance Call.
The highlight of the set was the charming Rally.
Finishing off the gig with Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation’s Too Young was genius. I’ve never seen so many happy faces – the crowd may have been Parisian scenesetters but there wasn’t a pout in sight.
Phoenix have been around for six years – starting life as a backing group for Air on Kelly Watch The Stars in 1999 – they are already a well-established force on the continent. But with performances like this, their third album might be the one that cracks the indie- heads market of Britain for them.

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