Lykke Li plays Toronto's Sound Academy
by Downtime on 2011-11-17Sound Academy - TorontoA big space that inhibits intimacy, the Sound Academy - through my experiences - houses some of the most uninspiring shows becoming fun only with the consumption of large amounts of alcohol.This being said, I was surprised with Lykke Li's ability to own the stage and crowd in such an inspiring and captivating way. I had gone with my girlfriend, and was only familiar with a handful of songs ( I Follow Rivers, Little Bit, I Know Places, the song about being a prostitue) which were all performed well; the faster jams got the crowd dancing, while the slower acoustic songs were about swaying, head nodding, and leaning on your boyfriend's arm - my personal favourite. Tying these songs together, I was really impressed with the feeling of a continually growing set list. Lykke Li didn't just play her songs, she performed them. The use of light, smoke, and minimal stage decor created a simple, but visually apealling performance and coupled nicely with her set list. The profiles of her band appeared as rock 'n' roll apparitions, - the physical incarnations of Sound - head banging, or swaying with us as Lykke Li moved about them uninhibited A young woman swelling with a creative and artistic spirit, Lykke Li infected the Sound Academy with her high-energy. Her presence was missed as soon as she left the stage.