Phoenix showed Sydney last week why exactly they are the hottest thing to come out of France since baguettes and berets. The quartet, with a few extras on hand, played to a packed house at the Hordern Pavilion on Tuesday, 2 March.

Entering the stage after a quality performance by supporting act Miami Horror, Phoenix didn’t waste any time, launching straight into the popular hits like Girlfriend and Lisztomania, from their current album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Devoted fans wanting to get a fix of their favourite songs from Phoenix’s previous four albums weren’t disappointed either, as Consolation Prizes, Napoleon Says and Run, Run, Run were among the first songs to be played. The Grammy Award winning band took a new spin on several of their songs, completely slowing down the melody (prompting remarks like “C’mon Phoenix, we’re not at a Pete Murray concert” from some crowd members), and adding lengthy guitar and drum interludes.

The alternative-rock quartet made up of Thomas Mars, Deck D’Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent ‘Branco’ Brancowitz reminded us that they are indeed Parisian by thanking the crowd in between songs with “Merci Beaucoup, Sydney”.

It’s hard to determine whether there is any difference at all between the band’s live performance and their recordings. Apart from the overwhelming brilliance of their live sound, Phoenix is so well tuned, you could be forgiven for thinking you were actually listening to their CD. One thing was for certain though– these guys put on a quality performance. Their set consisted of rows of large light panels that changed colours and intensity throughout the set list. The long-haired Phoenix crew kept the crowd entertained with some vigorous head-banging (I don’t think the keyboardist stopped for the entire show).

Phoenix’s reputation as being one of the world’s best live acts can remain unscathed after this atmospheric, fun-filled concert.