Photographs by Sean Chin.
Last year when I attended Osheaga out in Montreal I was excitedly awaiting for Phoenix to play the headlining set on one of the nights. My friend and I wanted to get really close to the stage (side note, it was totally worth it being a few rows back from Thomas Mars!). One of the acts before the big finale though was someone who I wasn’t all that familiar with. I knew her name, and knew she was a pop singer but I couldn’t name a song for you. Even though I didn’t know her that didn’t stop everyone around me getting all giddy between sets. One guy was screaming out that he couldn’t wait until Ellie got on stage. How could I have never heard someone’s music when they have such a fervent fan base? After Ellie Goulding’s early evening set I walked away as not only a fan but also someone blown away with her live performance so much I know consider her one of the best live acts working today. Since Goulding was headlining CHUM FM’s Fanfest I was anticipating the same outpouring of adulation from the crowd, which of course was very much present.
After Tegan and Sara finished their set, a shockingly large number of patrons left the Kool Haus, which allowed the die hard ‘Ellie-ites’ to get right up close for her. When the lights went down chants of “Ellie! Ellie!” started up, just like it did in Montreal last year. Flashes of lightning appeared on the LCD screen covering the back wall, while a sustained electronic note sounding like a crashing ocean was playing. Ellie walked onstage in the dark and a blood red flash of lights came up while she jumped right into Figure 8 off her latest album Halcyon. Her husky English voice is the perfect mix of seduction and aggression that is so soothing to listen to.
All of her music was notched up a few BPM, which made the Kool Haus feel like it was its neighbor The Guvernment with its club like atmosphere. Starry Eyed came on which lit the room up. She played a drum machine that had her own vocals as effects to create the beat. Some of her songs also were performed differently, included one that sounded like a glitch-y gospel song that could have been a Destiny’s Child remix by a dubstep DJ. Goulding goaded the crowd on to cheer louder. “Let’s get some energy in this room! This is the final night of my tour and I couldn’t be happier finishing it in Toronto!” She then proceeded to go straight into a banging version of Anything Can Happen, which was the highlight of the show.
Her band looked like they were having the time of their lives and everyone gave it their all. Ellie danced around in a grey sportsbra, some harem pants and had some jewels on her forehead like she was early 90’s Gwen Stefani. She was never stationary for very long and her mid-back length blonde hair bounced around with her. She had some MC Hammer-eqsue moves during parts of the show, which was pretty playful and fun to watch.
The night was finished off with Burn, with flames spreading across the back screen. She had a guitar slung around her back and during the breakdown she played her own solo, shredding away like a pro. It seemed like each song throughout the night got more and more dance-y, or maybe people were just loosing up and letting their bodies take control. Either way, Ellie Goulding is the only artist where straight bros, the village community and club girls who shout woo can all agree on.
This chick rocks.
Thanks to CHUM FM, Bell and Audioblood for media access.
