Having just released her third album Merrill Garbus, better known as her band name tUnE-yArDs, got a sweet spot in this year’s NXNE, headlining Massey Hall on night one! Nicki Nack was the highly anticipated new album, which came out to great reviews. Garbus came out with a colourful dress on and her forehead painted. She had her usual backing band consisting of a bassist and drummer, but also two back up singers who doubled as interpretative dancers including one in a full body leopard print body suit. It was revealed during the set all the people on stage were wearing face paint that glows under black lights.
The set was filled with lots of percussion to create their trademark looping beats. Early in the set they played “Gangsta” the freaky hit off the last album w h o k i l l. With the mix of sirens, tinny beats and oddball wailing people bum rushed the stage to dance with the band forgetting that the venue even had seats. The crowd stayed at the foot of the stage for the rest of the set, they just needed an excuse to move up. They played “Sink-O” from the new album but with an even more intense tribal sounding beat. Garbus exclaimed “It’s fun to be in Canada, and an honour to play at this venue” something all artists are aware of when setting foot in the hallowed venue. There was plenty of vocal looping and to make someone believe they had voices in their head, a compliment for sure.
