Austra

After sold out shows in Los Angeles and New York City, plenty of love from music blogs and websites (including “Beat and the Pulse” being named “Best New Music” by Pitchfork), Austra returned home for one of Canadian Music Week’s most buzzed-about sets. Technical problems kept the band from hitting the stage on-time, but if that bothered the near-capacity crowd at Wrongbar,  they certainly weren’t showing it. Austra is the new electronic project of singer-songwriter Katie Stelmanis, a name that should be familiar to many Toronto music fans. She has previously released solo music through Blocks Recording Club, worked with the likes of  Fucked Up and Owen Pallett, and dedicated Austra’s most recent EP in memory of Toronto queer rights activist Will Munro.

The quartet was rounded out with the addition of raven-haired twin sisters Romy and Sari Lightman (also known as Tasseomancy), who provided back-up harmonies and danced around in shiny, belly dancer tops. For the most part though, all eyes were fixed on Stelmanis, who with her long blonde hair, green dress, and haunting vocals, looked and sounded completely in charge. She didn’t so much sing to the crowd as she sung through the crowd, cutting through the band’s icy synths, keyboards, and pulsating drum beats.

The band played a selection of songs from their EP and their upcoming debut album Feel It Break (due out May 17 on Paper Bag Records). Predictably, they saved the six-minute “Beat and the Pulse” until the end of their set, and it was every bit as anthemic live as it is on record. If this performance was any indication, we’ll be hearing a lot more from Stelmanis & Co. in the near future.

Photos of Metz opening HERE!

More photos of Austra HERE!