New York production company Matte provided shelter from the cold at their Black party, held Thursday, February 21st, at the Capitale. The beloved synth-pop duo Chairlift replaced the Virgins on the line-up, though it’s perhaps a surprise that the perennial crowd-pleasers weren’t booked in the first place. Led by the effortlessly elegant Caroline Polachek, they delivered a set list heavy on tracks from 2012’s Something (QRO review) that fit well in the bank-turned-venue.
Following Chairlift, electronic maestro Matthew Dear took the stage. The ever-evolving producer/singer/DJ is perfectly at home fronting a band, bringing the focused energy of a mad scientist in leather pants. Live, songs from last year’s acclaimed album Beams take on a darker, heavier quality. They’re brought to life with the help of a four-piece backing band, which pushes tracks like the bass-heavy “Earthforms” and the steadily building “Temptation” to their fullest potential. Dear’s still sharp and sophisticated, but his live show shows a rawer side that suits him well.
