Grimes & Nicole Dollanganger played M for Montreal (pics)

photos by Bruno Destombes; words by Bill Pearis

Grimes @ Metropolis, Montreal 11/21/2015

M for Montreal always concludes their week of festivities with a big show at the gorgeous Metropolis Theatre. This year’s was maybe their biggest yet with very au courant hometown hero Grimes, who had just released her acclaimed new album Art Angels. The absolutely adoring crowd was determined to have the time of their lives and hung on Claire Boucher’s every move, shrieking when she picked up the mike or did just about anything else. With a team of dancers dressed in dayglo black light outfits, plus smoke machines and lots of lasers it was quite the spectacle. Despite having a walking cast on her right leg, Claire really gave it her all and seemed to be having a good time (perhaps finally over that flu that dogged her recent NYC appearances). No Aristophanes for this show but she did invite some of her friends onstage to dance to “REALiTi.”

Like at the NYC shows, Nicole Dollanganger opened the show, and as Andrew described, it was a bit incongruous to see her flanked by two very metal looking dudes. Her guitarist also played the kickdrum, as well as a crash cymbal with the head of his guitar (which is a little funny to watch from an otherwise deadly serious-looking dude, lets be honest). Chelsea Wolfe is indeed an apt comparison and while it’s not really my thing, it still mostly worked. The audience was definitely into it.

Saturday night also featured the official BrooklynVegan M for Montreal showcase with Duchess Says, Chocolat and more. Pics and writeup from that are coming soon. Meanwhile, more photos from Grimes and Nicole Dollanganger at Metropolis, below…

—

Nicole Dollanganger

Grimes

SETLIST: Grimes @ Metropolis 11/21/2015
Laughing and Not Being Normal
Circumambient
Genesis
Venus Fly
Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U)
REALiTi
Scream
Go
Be a Body
Oblivion
Phone Sex
Kill v. Maim