Grimes @ the Berkeley Suite, 7/5/12
This is Rokbun’s first time in the Berkeley Suite and there pretty much couldn’t be a better night for it.
Canadian solo electronic artist Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, has had hype constantly grow around since her emergence in 2010, which lead up to the brilliant Visions coming out earlier this year.
Tonight is the ideal opportunity to see her in action on a relatively small stage before she makes the step up to the Arches in August.
Support tonight comes from US duo Tonstartssbandht, who guile the already packed venue with melodic harmonies drenched in reverb creating a type of freak folk feel.
A switch from keys/guitar to drums/guitar sees the band set off, playing out a heavier elongated track that touches on the right side of noise pop and ends in climactic expressive vocals shouted without mic to a more than impressed crowd.
Tonight is sold out, and has been for a while, rightfully so, Boucher is a treat, her hyperactive charms and entrancing dance floor teasing music has been winning her fans by the thousand and she more than justifies this tonight.
Bobbing about around a plyth of electric equipment she is clearly excited by the music she makes and delivering it live, her constant requests for the sound to be turned up so she can really “get into it” only back this up further.
The Berkeley Suite isn’t particularly designed for everyone to see the stage, but you don’t really need to, the smoke filled room acting as a cavern for Boucher’s sound, if there only was a touch more room dancing would surely break loose.
There’s something mesmerisingly cool about Grimes as she spills disco enthused beauties, changing to euphoric beats all under some of the catchiest dream pop vocal hooks you’ll hear.
It’s enough to plaster a smile on anyone’s face, even new tracks don’t sound out of place as Boucher works with her new sample set up, cheat sheet and all, and makes it all look too good.
Her enthusiasm is engaging and by the end of the set she seems to have got a touch carried away as she has to apologise for running out of tracks she’s able to create to her satisfaction, a perfectionist too.
She can be instantly forgiven though as the set is more than impressive and as she starts to spin a few tracks before leaving the stage those who can’t see could be forgiven for thinking she’s still up there Djing, I’m sure she would be if she were allowed.
Grimes is a gem, tonight is more than proof of her talent and her enthusiasm for what she does is constantly evident, make sure you catch her at The Arches cos the course she’s on she’s only going to get bigger.
Words: Iain Dawson
Photos: Angela Canavan





























