Phoebe Bridgers performed an intimate, phone-free concert at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, with 18,000 fans locking away their devices in Yondr pouches. The show, a benefit for the Community Justice Exchange’s Immigration Bond Freedom Fund, featured eight new songs and a 1970s rec room-style stage setup.
“It’s weird not having a phone, isn’t it?” Bridgers said to the audience. “I love it. I appreciate you allowing this to be an internet-free zone.” She joked about anyone hiding an Apple Watch to record, adding, “please don’t post it on the internet — I’m trusting you.”
The phone-free policy, enforced by venue staff and handheld scanners, aimed to create a distraction-free experience and prevent premature leaks of unreleased material. Bridgers performed from a small circular stage designed like a vintage living room, with a couch, lamps, and a grainy live feed on the arena’s scoreboard.
The set included fan favourites like “Motion Sickness” and “Kyoto,” along with seven new songs in a row. At one point, audience members spontaneously held up cigarette lighters instead of phones, evoking a pre-digital era. The concert was the first phone-free arena show of its scale, and Bridgers praised fans for their cooperation.
