Phoebe Bridgers Ditched the Internet to Hype Up Her New Music. It’s Working

Key points

• For six years, I have found myself randomly wondering, “Is this the year Phoebe Bridgers finally puts out a new album?” The answer has always been a resounding “no.” That changed on May 8, when mysterious flyers appeared in Roswell, New Mexico, announcing a show that same day at the Liberty, a venue that holds a few hundred people.
• Equally small pop-ups announced by flyer have followed in places ranging from Lubbock, Texas, to Macon, Georgia.
• On Thursday, another pop-up—also announced via flyer—is happening at a decidedly bigger venue: Madison Square Garden, where Tidal is a sponsor and tickets are $1. Yet despite her run of nearly 20 shows, I haven’t heard a single note of new music.
• No recording is allowed, with concertgoers required to put their phones in Yondr pouches.
• The dearth of information has turned fans into investigators trying to determine where the next show will be...