Phoebe Bridgers and the Rise of Phone-Free Concerts
Have you ever taken videos of a concert only to never watch them again, or maybe have your view of your favourite artist blocked by a sea of phones held high in the air? I am certainly guilty of singing softly and standing still so as not to “ruin” my videos, and would surely be more uninhibited if it weren’t for my phone. In our digital age, everything seems to be affected by our phones, and concerts are no exception.
To counter this, indie folk/rock singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers has banned the usage of phones on her current arena tour, “The Lost Tour”. Upon entering the venue, fans must lock their phones and smartwatches into Yondr pouches and keep them there throughout the concert. When they leave, staff unlock the pouches, allowing people to use their devices only once the show is over.
While Bridgers is far from the first artist to discourage recording her shows or require Yondr pouches, the scale of her international arena tour and young demographic of her fanbase have sparked considerable backlash. At the forefront of the discourse is the argument that this kind of measure is ableist. A vocal minority of fans have pointed out that this could render the concert inaccessible to disabled and chronically ill fans who require access to smart devices to monitor their conditions or communicate in the case of an emergency. However, exceptions to the ban are permitted on a case-by-case basis, and phone-use zones throughout the venue likewise increase the concert’s accessibility, largely remedying the issue.
Fans also critique the ban, saying that because they purchased a ticket, they have the right to take photos and videos. While the desire to document one’s experience is completely understandable, it is still possible to take photos before and after the concert, purchase merch, or create drawings of the show. Some view this position as entitled, particularly as Bridgers is a very private celebrity who has long expressed her dislike of recording at concerts, saying that it feels dystopian. Additionally, she has called people out for photographing her in public, notably en route to her father’s funeral, and taken significant time away from the spotlight, making evident why she values a clear boundary between herself and her audience.
The positive aspects of phone-free concerts are not limited to maintaining artists’ boundaries with their audiences. Watching the concert without the barrier of a phone creates a closer connection between the artist and audience and enables fans to live in the moment more. The ban also forces fans to get creative, encouraging unique ways of documenting their experience. Because next to no photos of the concerts are available, fan art has garnered much more attention than it might otherwise, making the ban a special opportunity for fan artists and, if the comments on their posts are to be trusted, their depictions are often very accurate.
The concert’s atmosphere is also reportedly better than that of other concerts. Since the pandemic, people have increasingly noted that concert etiquette has worsened, as attendees often seem to care more about being as close as possible to the stage than being considerate to others. Unable to scroll social media when waiting in line for merch or concessions, people at “The Lost Tour” are more likely to be aware of their surroundings, chat with those around them, and hopefully forge friendships.
Other artists have also taken measures to discourage taking videos during their performances. On her recent "The Staircase to Stardom World Tour”, Audrey Hobert performed ‘Sue Me’ twice, first encouraging fans to take videos, then the second time instructing them to put their phones away. Having attended a show of hers earlier this year, I can personally attest that the audience danced and sang with less restraint or self-consciousness than they had for the rest of the concert. Other artists are also using Yondr pouches, like the Lumineers during their secret shows before the release of album Cleopatra to prevent leaks, and Bruno Mars during his Las Vegas residency to encourage more active engagement with the show.
The widespread availability of concert footage on social media has increased pressure on artists to make each live performance unique and distinct, encouraging audiences to attend concerts in person rather than experience them primarily online. This has led to the common practice of performing surprise songs. Popularised by Taylor Swift, who has been doing this in some form since her early tours, this became widespread among other artists during “The Eras Tour”. Bridgers also offers a surprise song section at her concerts, as well as some rotating tracks throughout the setlist, but the phone ban takes each show's uniqueness to the next level.
Similarly, phone usage at concerts has pressured artists to frequently create viral moments, resulting in traditions incorporating celebrity cameos. From Role Model’s guests during the song Sally, to Charli XCX’s ‘Apple’ dance, and Rosalia’s confessional segment. By banning phones, Bridgers completely avoids this pressure. Moreover, when she does bring out guests, such as her opener Alex G or boygenius bandmates Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, it remains only for those in attendance, making the experience all the more special.
Between many artists’ desire to escape the invasive public eye and people’s desire to take a break from their phones, it is not difficult to imagine phone restrictions during concerts becoming more common. Whilst it is nice to have videos to look back at, this forced break from screens is enforcing a much-needed challenge to how we interact with celebrities and our devices.
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