With apologies to Andrew Jackson Jihad, there's no doubt Kongos is the hottest musical export Phoenix has created in years, and we have the news to prove it.
Their smash hit "Come with Me Now" has now gone platinum, meaning digital sales of the song have exceeded one million.
What was the last time a Phoenix artist went platinum? Jordin Spark's self-titled debut received the certification in 2007, though her sound isn't homegrown in the way Kongos is. Nate Ruess' fun. has two platinum songs, but Ruess had abandoned the Valley by the time of the certification. Dierks Bentley's first two records, Dierks Bentley (2003) and Modern Day Drifter (2005), both went platinum, as did Michelle Branch's first two records, The Spirit Room (2001) and Hotel Paper (2003). But the most recent one might be Lindsey Stirling, whose 2012 self-titled debut topped a million in sales.
Kongos has come a long way from playing shows at Lost Leaf. The band has made national television appearances, performed in prime-time slots at major festivals, and toured the country as proud headliners, mainly on the tremendous success of "Come with Me Now."
Not bad for a song released in 2011.
If the band has any tips to share on how to get a three-year-old song on national radio, I'm sure other local musicians would love to hear.
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