PHOTOS: RICHIE DOWNS | From the first haunting note delivered by lead vocalist Katie Stelmanis at the Black Cat on Thursday night, electronic act Austra made clear their intentions to deliver a powerful performance to an eager, enthusiastic crowd.
It didn’t hurt that the band chose to lead with “What We Done?” the first song off of their second studio album, this summer’s Olympia. Just as the song sets the stage for the thoughtful grandiosity that pervades the album, so did it preview the Canadian band’s live show.
I have seen Stelmanis’ voice called “massive,” and I cannot think of a better descriptor. A classically-trained singer with an opera background, she filled the Black Cat’s main stage more robustly than any singer I had heard there before. Perhaps surprisingly, her range beautifully complements the musical beats and electronic backings delivered by drummer Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf.
Austra kept the lights mostly dark, often obscuring the band members and keeping the focus on Stelmanis’s vocal power and the band’s music. Visually, the stage was peppered with white umbrellas, back-lit by purple or neon lights. The dramatic lighting complemented the music and was beautiful to watch, though I would have appreciated more of an opportunity to see the actual musicians on stage.
Even with the dark lighting, Austra’s members made their presence known. From what we were able to see, Stelmanis and her band mates were strong, passionate performers—arms raised in time with the music, facial expressions reflecting the lyrics’ dark emotions.
The room was not quite half full, but fans were pushing to the front toward the stage. The audience was a fascinating mixture of young high school and college kids channeling earlier punk and goth eras, and older fans dressing with a nod to ’90s grunge. Stelmanis sang directly to audience members from the first song, boldly making eye contact and bringing the crowd in.
With their set lasting just over an hour, Austra chose to cut the show off at the right time. As impressive as Stelmanis’s voice is, the soaring, holding notes and slow delivery can start to feel just a little repetitive. Olympia has often been described as Austra’s dance album, though there are certainly beat-driven acts on their debut Feel It Break. But despite the sound on the studio albums, at times during the live show I found myself wishing her vocals would keep pace with the strong bass backing her up.
The audience seemed to be holding back, waiting for permission to let go and dance. Even with several songs featuring notable dance beats, it wasn’t until the last song before the encore that the band itself seemed to let go, jumping and dancing, their fans easily and excitedly following suit.
But despite any shortcomings, Austra put on an exciting, deeply beautiful show. The band has a mature stage presence and they know how to highlight the impressive vocals of their talented lead singer and songwriter. When Austra’s sound comes together live, it is quite the powerful experience—and not at all a bad way to spend a Thursday night.
