ALESSIA CARA at the Danforth Music Hall, Saturday, January 16. Rating: NNNN
After an extended musical intro and glitchy light show, Brampton’s Alessia Cara appeared on stage sporting a black-and-blue, all-denim Canadian tuxedo look and bounced around while belting out I’m Yours and high-fiving fans pressed against the barricade. She upped the energy level with Wild Things and then caught her breath during a post-song thank you. “I think literally like 90% of you are my family and friends,” she told the sold-out crowd.
Despite a few technical difficulties – backing track timing and acoustic guitar issues – Cara made it clear why her star has risen so quickly. Against sparse piano her voice easily filled the room during emotional ballad Stars, and then demonstrated her playful pop appeal during the Bonnie and Clyde-inspired banger Outlaws.
Cara’s songs and live show are developing, but at 19 she was refreshingly unpretentious, comfortable on stage and her voice was astounding. The show’s climax was predictable: she sang her anti-party anthem Here, a break-out hit and her most original song. Before she launched into an encore with My Song, she took a Polaroid of the audience. She should hold on to it: soon her crowds will be filling much bigger venues with far stranger faces.
music@nowtoronto.com | @MattGeeWilliams
