As last weekend widled down I discovered that Phoebe Bridgers released a new single teasing the release of a new album. Once she had people's attention she annouced listening parties of that upcoming album at plaentariums in various cities all over starting on Monday. Intrigued and in need of blog post material as well as some inspiring motivation, I happily paid the small fee for a spot at one of those parties.
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| Lost Weekend album cover |
It was a hot August afternoon in sunny Southern California and traffic was a breeze from Long Beach to Orange College, where I'd be listening to Phoebe's new album under the dome of the campus' planetarium. Who needs The Sphere?
I had listened to the new single "Lost Boys" a handful of times and liked it. It's upbeat but still has those charsmatic pings of sadness weaved throughout it, Miss Bridgers' signature style if you will. As new songs preceedeing a new album usually do, it made me ponder if she'd dance down the same path or veer off.
With a max capacity of about 120-130, a few seats where still open when they house lights went down and the projected image of Phoebe above us disapeared. It was time to experience a "Lost Weekend" listening party.
Before the music and accompaning laser art show started, a voice filled the room around us. It was her, Phoebe. I wouldn't have rave regonized her speaking voice if she hadn't introduced herself. She said hi and welcomed us to the listening party for her new album Lost Weekend", explaining that her "stoner parents" took her to planetariums all the time when she was a kid. She giggled and thanked us before saying " I love you. K bye". It was a real. It was awkward. It was genuine. It was Phoebe.
A single turqious green line stretched across the ceiling as a voice with lots of distortion brought us into the "Lost Weekend". It wasn't exactly a song being sung, nor a poem being read but something in between. The green line bouncing, bending, explaining and shrinking as each line was delivered. Heavy with a cinematic feel, it ended with the album title projected over us. That was the intro and it worked: I wanted to hear more and was excited for the rest of the planetarium listening experience.
"Lost Boys" is the first track of the album. It always kind of surprises me when the first song of a new album is also the first single that's released from it.
The next song emphasized on guitar, in a strumming fashion rather riffs and it's tempo is considerably slower than the "Lost Boys". A feeling heavy like a heartache struck me, seemingly out of nowehere, as I sat there listening and watching images morph from something into another. I know Phoebe's music is deep but there was something more lingering beneath the sad girl lyrics...what was it? Would it be found in the "Lost Weekend"?
The song after that one picked up a bit and I remember liking it, a lot. I don't remember what it was about or what instruments stood out if any. I only remember liking it and scribbling that down and nothing else about it. A sign of being in the moment.
Last time we heard from Phoebe was a couple years ago with the triumpant return of Boy Genius. There was a failed engagement tangled somewhere in there, was that it? Something was there, deep under the surface.
Each song had it's own specific laser art show that went a long with. Some were reminiscent of spirograph art with designs and or drawings spinning or morphing into a different shape or image. Some were little blinking, glowing orbs that would twinkle and orbit above our heads. Some were glowing drawings of birds, ducks, balls rolling around with contstanly changing landscapes. It gave the music life in a way I hadn't experienced before. It was different and it was neat.
I think the thing I like most about listening to Phoebe Bridgers' music is the menagerie of instrumnets that back her hauntingly romantic singing. From guitar, percussion, violin, piano, there are moments it sounds like she has a whole symphony behind her. Sometimes she does have a symphony behind her. It's not a big over the top production though, at least it doesn't feel like it.
Somewhere in the middle, maybe more toward the end of the album, an audio clip played. It was a voicemail Phoebe's dad had left for her. He was just calling to check in and say hi "I know you're busy out there being a rockstar", he said before saying I love you and fading into the next song. It made me think of my Dad and how life on the road is busy and pulled on my heartstrings.
As Phoebe Bridgers albums do so to does this new one eb and flow from slow to more upbeat tempos. Somehow this one felt more meloncholy. Is it just a sign of the times?
The glaring sun welcomed us back outside as our listening party exited as the next one filtered in. Walking to my car I over heard two friends chatting about the listening party and the album when one of them said "I forgot her Dad died".
That was it. That was the thing deep down under the surface.
That was the heartache.
Phoebe Bridgers lost her Dad in January 2023, only a couple months before the release of the now critically accalimed, Grammy Award winning boygenius album, record and subsequent tour following it's release. This is her grieving that loss.
To me "Lost Weekend" serves as a sort of open letter from Phoebe to her dad, maybe I'll feel differently when I listen to it in full again after it is officially released on Friday.
September 15th is the first show of the Lost Weeekend tour, bringing the indy queen all over North America before the final two shows over Halloweeen weekend. She's hitting the orad with Alex G and no phones will be allowed at any of the shows. Get ready to be in the moment and enjoy, "Lost Weekend".
