For fans currently attending Phoebe Bridgers’ expansive arena tour, the experience is one of profound presence, though perhaps a bit light on digital souvenirs. Due to a strict prohibition on cameras and mobile devices during her current run of shows, the usual flood of grainy social media clips and fan-captured highlights has been replaced by a deliberate, shared silence. However, as if in recompense for the lack of amateur footage, Bridgers has released a professionally captured alternative that offers a far more intimate and high-fidelity glimpse into her current creative world. In a new three-song in-studio video, filmed as part of the “Sound Check at Cherry Lane Theatre” series, Bridgers delivers a performance that not only showcases her solo work but also serves as the stage for a highly anticipated reunion with her boygenius bandmates.
The filmed session was directed by Lance Oppenheim, the visionary filmmaker behind the series “Primetime,” in which Bridgers holds a supporting role. The collaboration between the two continues a creative partnership that has defined much of Bridgers’ recent output, moving from the screen to the recording studio. This new footage offers a stark contrast to the massive, cavernous atmosphere of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where Bridgers recently completed a three-night sold-out residency. Captured shortly after those high-energy performances, the “Sound Check” video finds Bridgers in a much more contemplative and controlled environment, allowing the nuances of her vocal delivery and the intricacies of her arrangements to take center stage.
The setlist for the performance is carefully curated, bridging the gap between Bridgers’ work in television and her celebrated discography. The video opens with “On Video,” the haunting closing theme Bridgers composed specifically for Oppenheim’s “Primetime.” Following this, she transitions into two standout tracks from her “Lost Weekend” album: “Haunted” and “Lost Boys.” While the opening number is a solitary affair, the latter two songs see the arrival of special guests Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus. The presence of Baker and Dacus effectively transforms the session into a boygenius reunion, marking a significant milestone for the trio and their dedicated following.
The appearance of the three artists together on camera is a rare event, particularly in a studio setting. According to the production, this marks the first time Bridgers, Baker, and Dacus have appeared together on camera in nearly three years, a timeline that traces back to their collective appearance as a group on “Saturday Night Live” in November 2023. While the trio has remained close and frequently supports one another’s solo endeavors, the specific alchemy of their combined voices has been largely absent from the public eye since their most recent collaborative cycle concluded. Seeing them together again in the historic confines of the Cherry Lane Theatre adds a layer of weight to the performance, suggesting a enduring bond that transcends their individual schedules.
