Montreal Jazz Festival Review: St Vincent + Groenland – Métropolis (05.07.14)

It wasn’t that long ago that Annie Clark – aka St Vincent – was in Australia as part of VIVID Festival, continuing the international celebratory tour for her eponymous fourth solo album. And this week, the run of shows brought her to Quebec in Canada for a special show as part of the Montreal Jazz Festival, supported by local up-and-comers Groenland.

I arrived as the sextet – playing at the festival as an octet with an expanded brass and string repertoire – kicked off their set, with lead vocalist Sabrina Halde on the ukulele, while the violinist plucked their stings in an Andrew Bird fashion, a melodica was heard loud and proud and the cello helped round things out. Like fellow Montreal group Arcade Fire, this is a group devoted to jumping between instruments, creating an orchestral indie pop landscape.

After the mentioned melodica/ukulele experience, they moved into a Fiona Apple-esque number that was heavy of the keys. “Immune” proved one of the more popular tracks off their debut LP The Chase, with the hometown crowd singing and cheering along. It was a favourite of the set for a newbie to the band like myself, too, with extra drumming from the lead singer, and the added benefit of the saxophone and the trombone. The set was certainly best when all eight members were involved. “The Things I’ve Done” was another favourite from the record, and they also included a couple of new tracks! You can get a taste of what they got up to here:

As we leave a band to keep your eye on, we enter an artist who needs no introduction. After an extended wait between sets, the incredible Ms. Clark entered the Métropolis looking every part the glamorous rock star, ready to take us on an artistic journey through the world of her latest album, and the intense experience that it must be to live inside her ever creative mind.

For the tour of her acclaimed eponymous new record, St Vincent has created a stylistically simple show that is big on the “idea” but stripped back on the production, accompanied only by a three piece band (two on keys/effects – and occasionally the bass guitar – and one on the drums). What she is able to achieve without a band, costume and set changes is nothing short of extraordinary. There’s just some great lighting and a staircase at the back of the stage. Gagas and Beyoncés of the world take note – she’s (literally) giving you a run for your money here.

Having seen the tour early in its run in Austin during SXSW, I can safely say two things. Firstly, Clark knew what she wanted from this production early on. The set I saw then was very similar to what we saw tonight. Same setup, same choreography and almost the same setlist – ten of the eleven tracks played at SXSW were also played tonight. There has been some fine tuning, and with added set time comes a larger set, but all in all, it’s impressive how true to the original vision Clark has kept the show. But when it’s this good, why wouldn’t you?

All in all, nine tracks off the new LP were played, mixed in with some old favourites. “Cheerleader” is naturally high on this list for your average St Vincent fan – myself included – and the version that sits as part of this tour, seeing her rise glamorously to the top of the staircase (well, more a podium for the purposes of this observation), singing defiantly “I don’t wanna be your cheerleader no more”, is spellbinding.

Songs like “Prince Johnny”, meanwhile, show off Clark’s impeccable vocals. Her range and control, while she throws everything into her electric guitar, is outstanding. Her banter is as enjoyable as it is rehearsed – it becomes as much a part of the canvas that is her live show as does the music itself. She sees it and presents it as art – nothing more, nothing less.

For many artists who want to “live the dream” while professing to “maintain their artistic integrity” – St Vincent is living proof that this can happen. It took five records*, but in front of her audience of “freaks and others” that she now commands, St Vincent is a bonafide pop star (even if she lyrically protests the label); achieving her vision as thousands sing her words night after night. It’s one of the rarest categories in the industry, and I for one am beyond thrilled she’s made it here and can’t wait to see what comes next…

Watch some of what you missed in Montreal in this video from the show:

Full St Vincent Setlist:
Rattlesnake
Digital Witness
Cruel
Marrow
Every Tear Disappears
I Prefer Your Love
Laughing With a Mouth of Blood
Surgeon
Cheerleader
Prince Johnny
Birth in Reverse
Regret
Huey Newton
Bring Me Your Loves
Encore:
Chloe in the Afternoon
Your Lips Are Red

Video and imagery provided by Montreal Jazz Festival.

*Including the brilliant David Byrne collaboration, of course!

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.