Spotlight: Phoenix

Phoenix may well be the most misunderstood band in France. The Parisian quartet, composed of singer Thomas Mars, guitarists Laurent Brancowitz and Christian Mazzalai, and bassist Deck d'Arcy, seems to suffer from a perpetual identity crisis in their native land.

"Putting out a record is kind of a nightmare," says Mars. "People don't know if we're a house band or a rock band."

Sorry, did you say "has-beens"? Mars laughs.

"Maybe they think we are has-beens, or fucking big losers. There are so many misunderstandings when we come out with a record. We still need to tell the people what kind of music we are."

In order to accomplish this, the band kicks off its U.S. tour at this year's SXSW festival.

"I've heard many good things about Austin and the festival, so I'm looking forward to it," Mars claims. "It seemed like the perfect starting point."

The group is already off to a good start on this side of the pond, having garnered the notice of director Sofia Coppola, who included the band's almost-incongruous "Too Young" on the dreamy soundtrack to Lost in Translation. Despite the peppy pop music's sore-thumb status among the more atmospheric fare, it hits home. A little too close to home, maybe.

"We're not really welcome in some countries," explains Mars. "It's hard to play in France. We are seen as black sheeps because we sing in English. But to write in French is work; to write in English is pleasurable."

Anyone who's already been introduced to Phoenix's studio sound, which is best described as Mediterranean pop-rock, shouldn't expect the same from their live show.

"We don't play the song as it is on the album; we like to mess around with it," insists Mars. "When you see us play, you don't see musicians that are super-skilled and super-tight who have been playing for years. You see four French people who are more about energy than making it perfect."