“I’m so happy you put your phones away,” said Phoebe Bridgers at the Barclays Center crowd last weekend. Phoebe’s Lost Weekend Tour is a completely phone free event that could possibly change concert culture as we know it. Upon arrival at the concert fans are asked to power off their phones before placing it into a Yonder pouch that magnetically locks for the duration of the concert. Many fans were concerned about the phone free policy, as photography, video taping and even keeping friends updated over text have become typical to the modern concert-going experience.
However, for most fans it was no phones, no problem. When you first entered into the arena the lines were alive with conversation, rather than doomscrolling and disconnect. Hours before the concert even began, fans of all different backgrounds were connecting – making predictions about the concert, sharing stories and truly engaging without the barrier of a cell phone. For fans concerned about being bored in the time before the concert started, they could explore photo booths, tarot card stands and exclusive merchandise popups, right up to when Phoebe took the stage. Awaiting Phoebe’s first song the energy in the Barclays Center was electric.
After Phoebe Bridgers stepped back from the public eye to go on a personal hiatus in 2024, The Lost Tour had been a highly anticipated event by fans everywhere. Although phones and cameras were a no-go, fans found other ways to capture the concert. Many people resorted to bringing notebooks and pens to write down the setlist. Some fans even drew detailed diagrams of the stage setup and special effects of the concert. Phoebe’s no phone policy brought out the creative side of her fans as can be seen from the many unique physical artworks that fans created inspired by the concerts.
The overall feeling of the phone free concert was nothing short of magical. Phoebe utilized a variety of unique planetarium-inspired lighting effects to create an otherworldly experience. As no photos or videos of the concert had surfaced on social media, each effect was a surprise, keeping fans engaged and wondering what was next throughout the entirety of the show. Knowing the people in the room were the only ones experiencing the moment created a special bond between fans.
As for the setlist Phoebe performed most of the songs off of her newest album The Lost Weekend, while also mixing in a few fan favorites from her past hit albums Stranger In The Alps, released in 2017, and Punisher, released in 2020. She also debuted her new single On Video that appeared in the newest A24 film Primetime; however, the highlight of the concerts was when Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, Phoebe’s former bandmates of boygenius, walked onto stage to perform Not Strong Enough. boygenius announced the split of their band in 2024 while Phoebe, Lucy and Julien focused on their solo music careers. Thursday night at the Barclays Center was the first time “the boys” had performed together since. The energy of the arena was electric as screams rippled through the crowd. The excitement grew so loud that Phoebe had to tell the audience to quiet down because the band couldn’t hear each other.
The Lost Tour proved phones are not quintessential to having a memorable concert experience. Many fans even left saying they were glad to have put their phone away for the evening. When the distraction of technology was removed, human connection and creativity flourished. As a whole experience The Lost Tour could never be lost on anyone there.
