Concert Review: Phoebe Bridgers (Over Troubled Water)
Photo taken by Mitch Boggeman
“You know what they say...” Phoebe Bridgers said dryly, addressing the St. Louis audience for the first time during her performance, “Missouri loves company.” A chorus of guffaws ensued, and she quickly followed up with a cheeky “I’ll be here all night, folks” before launching into her next heart-wrenching song that just so happened to steal the room.
This emotional whiplash was a common theme for the night, as Phoebe managed to pivot effortlessly between her infectious sense of humor and her hypnotizing songs about love and loss. That being said, this juxtaposition of contrasting emotions is entirely emblematic of what makes her songs so damn relatable.
I’ll admit, I was worried about whether a catalog chock-full of delicately arranged ballads would transcend the commotion of a sold-out room, but from the instant Phoebe took the stage, everyone was entranced. With five band-members on stage, it was refreshing to see how much meticulous detail goes into each song. Steady crescendos, tight harmonies, and a hefty number of instrument changes all worked together to keep things fresh, and the consistent stream of witty commentary kept me giddily engaged throughout.
No, this wasn’t the type of show that had anyone jumping up and down or screaming along to their favorite lyrics (although I did come close during "Motion Sickness".) This performance was an intimate conversation between an artist with a huge heart and her unwavering fans. Sometimes the best shows are the ones that involve standing in a room for an hour, immersing yourself in songs that help you remember where your heart is. This was one of those experiences.
Keep an eye out for Phoebe’s next visit to your neck of the woods as she continues her tour through April and May, because “there are no words in the English language I could scream” to convey how much I enjoyed this concert.
