TR/ST with ELLIOTT VINCENT JONES at Velvet Underground, Friday, February 12. Rating: NNNN
The dark brooding electro pop of TR/ST (formerly Trust) was a good fit for the grand reopening of the Velvet Underground, connecting the Queen West venue’s goth past with its new incarnation as a live music club. Fans of the original era will be pleased to find out that new owners Embrace haven’t drastically changed the room: they just stripped away all the excess furniture and decorations, added a second bar, and put in new sound system and stage. TR/ST vocalist Robert Alfons used every inch of that new stage to his advantage, hyperactively bouncing around while he growled out his gloomy vocals.
TR/ST have always been an engaging act to watch, and it’s nice to see how much Alfons’ vocal range has grown since their early days. The older songs got more of a reaction from fans, but the newer material helped keep the set varied. Elliott Vincent Jones’ opening set stood out especially strongly, sounding at times like David Bowie taking a stab at modern dance pop, but with a punk edge. Don’t be surprised if he blows up big over the next year.
benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | @benjaminboles
