On September 14th, critically acclaimed artist Phoebe Bridgers embarked on The Lost Tour, beginning in Indianapolis, Indiana. On September 14th, Phoebe Bridgers kicked off The Lost Tour in Indianapolis, Indiana, one month after releasing her third studio album, Lost Weekend. The album marks her first solo release since Punisher in 2020; her band boygenius last released an album in 2023.
Over this summer, Phoebe performed in what fans dubbed “pop-up shows.” She played small music venues and only put out fliers for the shows in the city the day prior. Fans kept an eye out for updates on where Phoebe would be going next through Twitter and Instagram accounts, such as Phoebe Bridgers Updated. Inside of the venue, Phoebe implemented a no phones policy, which technically outlawed all technology. This was so that fans would not record the unreleased songs. Instead, some fans took to writing down lyrics. At the end of each show, Phoebe would greet each audience member and sign one item. Many fans loved these pop-up shows, as they allowed for a more intimate experience with one of their favorite artists.
Phoebe announced the tour and phone-free policy on June 5th with an Instagram post captioned “I’m going on tour no phones.” Many fans were supportive of this decision, writing funny comments about different insane ways they could dispose of their phones. One of my favorites was from Noah Kahan, who commented “Stuffing my phone down my gullet, shitting it out, shipping it to north sentinel island.” However, many people were critical of this decision. Critics argued that if they paid for their tickets, they should be able to bring their phones in and record whatever they want. Others said that it was classist and ableist, as concert tickets are very expensive and some disabled people rely on their phones.
When Phoebe first announced this policy, I was supportive, but sad that I couldn’t record any of the show, as I love to look back on concert videos. I had the privilege of going to Brooklyn Night 2 of The Lost Tour on September 25th. Immediately after scanning my tickets to enter the venue, security immediately gave us Yondr pouches to put our phones and other devices in. I even had to put my AirPods in the pouch, which was definitely something that was unexpected. Security then gives you a physical receipt in order to actually claim your seat in the venue. One part of the concert that I didn’t plan for was buying merch, which you had to do with a physical card, much to my Apple Pay-loving dismay.
The concert itself was absolutely amazing. Unlike similar artists of her calibre, Phoebe had no dancers, choreography, or set pieces, but made up for it with her stage presence. She is such a dynamic performer, contrary to what she said about herself during the show. Her voice sounds even better live than it does on the songs. One of my favorite parts of the show was when Phoebe brought out her boygenius bandmates Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus to sing their songs “Not Strong Enough” and “Souveneir.” The technical element that Phoebe chose to really focus on was the lights. During her set, she remarked that one of the reasons for the no phone policy was to make the venue as dark as possible in order to create a planetarium-like experience.
The no phone policy actually made me love the concert experience even more. Everyone in the crowd felt like one community, rather than many groups of people partially watching the concert through their screens. It truly felt like you were experiencing something with other people, similarly to a theatrical performance. During some of the slower songs, people took out their lighters — the original phone flashlight. At the last song of the night, “Scott Street,” the lights went up and everybody waved their arms to the song together. It was so beautiful to see people coming together to share something they love. During the show, Phoebe told the audience that she decided on the no phone policy because it was the only way she would feel comfortable performing in front of such a large crowd.
Whatever Phoebe’s reasons for the phone ban are, it definitely had a positive outcome. Her fans were able to forge more of a community during the concert and actually be present during the performance rather than being distracted by their phones. One of my favorite things to see online has been fans drawing what they remember from the concert. Many fans have also remarked that the tour is similar to an alien abduction — a common theme in Phoebe’s music — because they are forced to describe the experience from memory without physical proof that they were there.
As for future concerts, I’m not completely sure if the no phones policy will catch on. Other artists (such as Alicia Keys and Childish Gambino) have already banned phones from their concerts. I think one of the reasons that this phone ban worked for Phoebe is because she has such a dedicated fan base. Other artists whose fan bases are made up of more casual listeners may not be able to implement a phone ban because concert goers are less likely to respect their wishes. Phones at concerts also allow smaller artists to get more exposure, as some bank on a funny or interesting moment to go viral. I think a phone ban would ultimately work best for well-established artists who already have tight-knit fan bases, such as Ethel Cain, Conan Gray, Charli xcx, and Clairo. In the future, I actually hope to see more phone-free concerts, as I absolutely loved this experience!