If you were expecting Robyn to revisit the '90s pop of her earlier career last night at House of Blues, you may have left slightly disappointed. But I doubt it. The Swedish singer-songwriter has been known to drop “Show Me Love” as an encore, but last night's set was heavy on the recent Body Talk, and all the better for it.
This was the perfect time to catch Robyn live. She’s coming off a tremendous 2010, in which she released two EPs and a full-length like she was rearranging her closet and couldn’t wait to let you see all the cool shit she found. And Cleveland had a chance to get our hands on her before Katy Perry snatches her for a summer tour that will surely net a wider fanbase.
There were plenty of fans last night to ensure you weren't dancing on your own. Contrary to the surplus of indie cred she’s collected lately, last night's audience was an older, gayer-than-thou club crowd. She has secured a distinct following of people who adore smart dance pop. And for a year now, Robyn has been the queen.
Beyond Body Talk, Robyn dipped into Röyksopp’s “The Girl and the Robot,” a cover of Teddybears’ “Cobrastyle,” and “With Every Heartbeat” as an encore. Her band, dressed in laboratory outfits, occasionally played songs as a medley or seamlessly morph into the next song, like Daft Punk does so well onstage.
Opener Diamond Rings, an androgynous Canadian who dabbles in synth-pop, served as a male approximation of Robyn. He hasn’t won me over yet, but if he’s really like Robyn, maybe I need to give him another 10 years. —Michael Tkach
