"Merci beaucoup, Pee Wee...err...Austin"

AUSTIN (KXAN) - "L'esprit d'escalier" is a French phrase describing a crosscultural experience. Literally "the spirit of the staircase," the phrase refers to the feeling one encounters after--say--having been the victim of an insult at a party and only coming up with the perfect retort while walking down a staircase towards home, dejected, thirty minutes later.

It is a phrase I am acquainted with after interviewing Thomas Mars and Christian Mazzalai of Phoenix. Starstruck happens to everyone, and their French accents struck me:

Three years ago, Arcade Fire performed for the first time at ACL. Having come off a breakthrough summer with their critical and popular smash Funeral, the Canadian rock ensemble laid their claim as indie music lords and ladies at Austin City Limits 2006. Phoenix, on the same stage, seems to have recreated that energy. They also looked similarly uncomfortable in Texas "Fall" heat. Canadians and French, take note, Austin does not really have a Fall, per se, just slightly less of a nuclear summer.

Aside from visible tans, Thomas Mars, lead vocalist, said there were only minor differences between his French and American fans. "People who come to our shows are pretty similar. They share something. It's like a big secret society." Mr. Mars, I think the secret's out.

These kids from Monterrey, Mexico, made their way to Austin specifically to see (and dance to) Phoenix:

Mars described their music as, "beyond frontiers; it's beyond language." And here is actual proof that he is correct.

Not that Phoenix does not appreciate its American fanbase. Mars says Americans are, "really, really loud, which is nice. We don't like to perform in a quiet environment." Their ACL set was anything but quiet. Capturing mostly tunes from their new album, the boys did perform the song "Playground Love", which they wrote with sister-band (French) Air. The crowd seemed most excited for single hits "Lisztomania" and "1901" but danced appreciatively throughout.

And noting during the performance that this was "the largest crowd we've ever played for," Thomas Mars jumped off the stage, through the front rows, and into the Texas audience; finishing their set surrounded by raucous cheers.

But they were not done. Friday evening, Phoenix went back to its French electronica roots, as band members DJ'd an ACL after party at The Beauty Bar on 7th:

There were remixes of their songs, a little Beyonce, and a French group making the Austin crowd thankful they had chosen the smaller venue for that evening. Rumors circulate that Phoenix is still in town and waiting to hit up another venue tonight, but whether that is substantive or speculative remains to be seen.

Phoenix came, played, and then DJ'd. What else can you ask? Well, perhaps what some of their influences are, if they have any plans to reunite with Air later, what the purpose of their album's "bomb design" was...ah, c'est la vie. And I'm not even on a staircase.