Grimes + Myths @ Electric Owl

Grimes
Guest: MYTHS
Electric Owl
November 17th, 2011
Show 9:45 - 11:45pm

The hype about the opening act hadn't prepared me for what I was about to witness. Myths are comprised of two Vancouver-born female vocalists -- and the night began when the curtains were drawn back to show the two mysterious and taunting performers draped in DIY white dresses, which were splattered with florescent paint.

With their siren-like vocals they screamed white noise into their reverberating microphones with static-like and electronic backing instrumentals and moved like incredibly twisted swans. They electrified the audience and sent some of us into spastic dance. Their sound is unique and eclectic. It takes a particular type of music listener to be drawn into their experimental world, but it isn't hard to appreciate the intentional drift from the familiar song structures of verse and chorus. Disregarding some technical difficulties the show continued onwards with their interchanging war cries and vocal sounds.
Throughout the set their singing and uninhibited interpretive dance became enthralling and they slowly but surely cast their spell on all of us.

MYTHS - Prism Portraits


GRIMES finally graced the stage with her adorable presence at around 11 and here began the night we've all been waiting for. Her contagious ethereal sounds, childlike and quirky voice was what drew us all in. Dressed to set the mood, she donned a lime green leopard patterned robe which countered her all black ensemble and combat boots. Upon drawing back the curtains herself she introduced her personal interpretative dancer Jeff (?) (a well dressed hipster) who slowly but surely worked up a sweat bending and twisting his body into contorted shapes along with the sounds of Grimes, -- he danced with such intensity that his eyes could have bore holes into you.

Oblivion, Genesis and Vanessa threw the audience into a fury of dance. Body rolling, feet shuffling, hand raving and head bopping all carried the night along. Between songs she informed us it was her second time headlining her own show (after opening for the likes of Lykke Li and Austra) and so her set was short and a little disorganized but she would try to play one more song until the night would eventually end. Closing the set with a new song Claire Boucher performed with excited enthusiasm and wrapped up her 45 minute set.

What added to the show were the female (and male) audience members dancing onstage alongside Grimes, it was like we were invited to special house party. The show would have ended on a high note if it wasn't for one particularly drunk girl who felt the need to take the microphone and share that someone she knew had overdosed on Oxycontin just a year ago. It was not a good time for her sentiments, it was an awkward nightmare -- one where you just couldn't tear your eyes away from.

Disregarding this, Grimes ultimately stole the show with her eerie sounding vocals, who also kicked off her shoes early on in the set which pissed her off and unraveled her pinned braided pigtails. We all let our hair down and danced until all we saw were the blur of stage lights and heard nothing but the music of Grimes echoing in our ears.

** If you missed this show, don't worry, Grimes now calls Vancouver home and is scheduled to play at Fortune Sound on February 19th of next year.

Grimes
Get More:
Grimes, MTV Hive
Link

Lost in a Genesis.

Austra - Lose It


I thought the album recording of 'Lose It' was phenomenal.
I didn't expect Katie Stelmanis to sound this good live.
It makes me want to see them at Electric Owl this Wednesday Nov, 16th.
But it's SOLD OUT, and a little birdie told me that they will absolutely be touring again next year at a bigger venue.
I also hear that that there are assholes reselling Austra tickets on Craigslist for $70. (It's a shame the ticket will go to waste.)
Decisions, decisions.
------------------

On the other hand though, I did buy a ticket to Grimes for her show on the 17th at Electric Owl.
Maybe seeing Claire Boucher live will make up for perhaps missing Austra's show.

Grimes - Genesis


I read in recent concert reviews that Grimes had opened for Austra in Portland
That concert sounds divine and well... I think that should happen in Vancouver. Now.

Lykke Li + Grimes = Light Show + War Dance

Lykke Li
Guest: Grimes
The Vogue Theatre
May 27th, 2011
Grimes 9:30pm / Lykke Li 10:30pm

Where do I begin to try to describe the show I just witnessed?
It had been a few months since I'd seen a show at The Vogue and it was incredibly nostalgic walking in through the doors and into the heart of the venue. I arrived just past 9pm and walked into a packed theatre. There was an excitement in the air, it was almost palpable and electric. Concert-goers milled about with their drinks in hand waiting for the opener Grimes to begin her set.

At around 9:30 Grimes -- stage persona of Claire Boucher, a multi-instrumentalist who syncs and loops her bass, synth and electronic beats into her keys to which she sung to. Almost immediately I noticed her unique voice which carried itself distinctly through her experimental-pop/contemporary melodies. She blew me and I'm sure everyone away with her child-like voice and overall cosmic-ethereal weirdness. I found her to have adorable stage presence, I couldn't help but smile and dance throughout her set. She stood centre stage with two keyboards and sang her trip-hop/melodic word rhymes-- it really does take you someplace special.
She's a Montreal based, Vancouver artist and she has me hooked.
Her music is particular yet strangely beautiful, it is genre-bending and absolutely unique.
I regret not buying her album after the show -- it is now on my list of "must finds."

This song sounded so great live.
Grimes - Vanessa

Grimes - Vanessa from Arbutus Records on Vimeo.

(I think I love this song--- and it's only been a few hours since I first heard it)

After Grimes' set --
Lykke Li took to the stage at around 10:30. Might I add that Lykke Li strutted on stage in a black robe/cloak that revealed just enough to make you swoon. She looked like a ghostly dark phantom that emerged from the smoke and flashing lights to deafening applause and cheers. From what I remember she opened with Jerome ---- I think.
It really doesn't matter what songs she played, or in what order, all that really matters is that Lykke Li commanded the stage with her "war dance" amidst the seizure-inducing light show. It was an incredible visual, an experience that leaves you hollering with excitement, and wanting more.

Lykke Li was accompanied on stage by musicians clad in black. There were two percussionist and therefore drum-sets, a plethora of keyboards/synths, an accompanying singer and a bassist/guitarist who all encircled Lykke Li, who stood front and centre stage.
What sets this show apart form the many others I have seen is perhaps the brilliant stage design of long black drapes which tossed and danced in the "wind" around the musicians on stage. The music stands on its own, Lykke Li, a Swedish native absolutely embodies a distinctly powerful voice which carries itself across in anthemic songs like "I Follow Rivers" and yet can still deliver the sweet and delicate sentiments of "I Know Places." She played a cohesive mixture of songs from both her albums, Wounded Rhymes and Youth Novels. Bringing out audience favourites "Little Bit," "Dance Dance Dance" with a strong focus on her 2011 release.
She also played an unreleased track which she doesn't play often (?) ("Made Me Move/Made You Move?), she played this just after telling us that we were "the best audience so far" which is always a great thing. Brilliant

My favourite moment of the night:
Lykke Li's band left the stage and she proceeded to play "I Know Places" sans accompanying musicians. It was a beautiful moment, and the audience shushed up for those few moments..... until she launched into an upbeat song which prompt the audience to break the silence and cheer, dance and enjoy the music.

Lykke Li - I Know Places

(My favourite track off of Wounded Rhymes)