Born Gold
Having seen the same Born Gold set twice (first time with Grimes at Hillside) I was excited to see what these uber creative folk had come up with for this tour. It was darker and different, both the music and the showmanship. To start with the lights were completely down to allow for a light-theremin of sorts to work. Essentially one member danced with a custom-built light-up jacket such that he would light a sleeve or a shoulder or a patch and wave it to produce noise. He also held different colored lights in his hands to raise a sound before whipping it away. This was pretty neat both visually and for the way it produced the sounds. Meanwhile his compatriots manned their stations either on keys, synths, programmed boards, tapping an electronic drum pad with a drumstick, or some combination of the above. The new music tended toward deeper beats, I hesitate to say the word techno but feel it had some aspects, that seemed well-produced though came across less danceable.
Now for the other aspects of their show. The electronics-bearing shovel and stilts made a reemergence on the first of only two old tunes, End of Days (the other being Lawn Knives). Another had them carry a thin sheet over our heads while flashing a strobe light underneath it reminiscent of Rich Aucoin's parachute (though admittedly not as fun). They donned creepy, dark masks and flashed synchronized, lit fans which looked quite cool too. All the while multicolored strobes burst on stage to the beat and gave the show a blinding element in the dark. Granted the presentation was visually unique and absolutely creative; put head to head with the previous incarnation the music and the band interactions were less crowd-participation inducing. That being said to compare to the last show is already a tall task and this is absolutely worth checking for the sheer spectacle of it.
Grimes
Grimes was finally playing the rescheduled Horseshoe, hometown gig. Okay, sure it had only been a week postponed due to sickness but ever since it was announced Grimes has blown up making this a hugely anticipated, sold out $8 show. It was anything but a polished, tight set, what with a few technical issues, including one spot of prolonged screeching feedback, some flubbed transitions, another time where the music cut out altogether, and the fact that Grimes was still recovering from the sickness that had caused her to cancel the show in the first place. Despite, or perhaps because of, all this it was a thoroughly enjoyable set. Sure she sputtered a series of obscenities when she couldn't hit the notes she was aiming for early in the set but that didn't stop her from giving everything else her all. Like her barely perceptible lisp, it may be in the imperfections that she succeeds.
Before playing a note this young artist was rambling. First thanking the openers, some of whom she is friends with, others she couldn't remember the names of. Then introducing her accompanying dancer, Duffy, who she promised would dance throughout and boy did he ever - scarf and chest hair swaying all over that stage! Introing the set she did her industrial 'non-song' and continued to play with her assortment of electronic dials and knobs, plus keyboard, all the while singing into one of her mics, also employing a variety of reverb and effects. Between songs she ran the vocal tracks backwards until the next song started up.
Everyone from Born Gold joined her after a few solo (don't forget Duffy) songs and they stayed up until, but not including, the final track. There were definite moments of danceability, including Vanessa, and the single, Oblivion, and some Torontonians actually attempted to dance despite the close quarters. Being primarily electronic music it did come across similarly to on album, though for her finale she did build up a massive wall of sound before closing out. The encore cheers could not persuade her to return, even after the stage lights came up, the house music came on, and brighter lights shone. As the minutes passed people were still looking expectantly sides stage. It wasn't to be, but the performance was worth it and a marked improvement over her bare bones set back in the summer.
Majical Cloudz
Majical Cloudz was a kinda awkward act of this somewhat out of place looking guy in black jeans and a white t shirt singing over some backing music provided by a second guy programming it. He wasn't a terrible singer but when he wasn't singing he wasn't doing much of anything but staring out at the crowd expressionless.
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