Given the legal battle that still rages four years later, it’s hard to believe how much time has passed since the death of Michael Jackson. For , four years ago must feel like a different lifetime. The day Jackson died, June 25, 2009, the relatively little-known French synth-pop band played a sold out show at Denver’s Bluebird Theater. Phoenix was fresh off the release of the excellent “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” and — as the small, capacity show can attest — hadn’t yet gained traction in the U.S. Knowing a legend had died that day, the band ended the set with a dance party tribute to MJ, joining the crowd while the DJ played some of the pop star’s many hits.
Here’s how our writer, Crawford Philleo, put it at the time:
“It would have been a mistake for Phoenix not to remind the audience of (Jackson’s) influence on them and the countless others like them. So they did, just before closing with a two-part rendition of “1901.” (Thomas) Mars climbed into the audience to finish the song with the crowd in true pop fashion, and as the band bid their final farewell, the Bluebird’s DJ smartly kicked in with MJ’s classic “Rock With You,” which continued the dance party for that and a few more songs before the crowd noticeably thinned.”
On Wednesday, Phoenix returns to Colorado having headlined the 2013 Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals and boasting a headlining spot at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (though the show has been moved to the smaller confines of the 1stBank Center).
Watch video of Phoenix’s dance party below
Phoenix playing “1901” at the Bluebird in 2009
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