Phoenix took nine years and four albums to break into the North American mainstream. That’s a long time for many bands, but Phoenix worked hard through the years. In the four years since Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, the band toured incessantly, including just about every major festival across the world. Whether or not the band was aiming high with its fifth record, the newly released Bankrupt!, or aiming at all, Phoenix still has the live prowess to back up even the lamest song. Phoenix occupies the headlining spot at Saturday’s Sweetlife Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion. “Entertainment” is the first single from Bankrup! and one of the record’s best songs. The track’s opening pentatonic scale explodes into a stadium banger with sharp pop hooks making it a track on par with Phoenix classics like “1901.”

Phoenix play Saturday at Sweetlife Festival. Tickets $95.