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CartRobyn - Troubadour, Los Angeles
Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:19:51
There's no need to mince words about Robyn's performance last Saturday at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. The pint-sized Swedish sensation was nothing short of electrifying, as she brought her universally appealing brand of pop music to Los Angeles for the very first time. The sold out crowd was primed and ready to adore, having already read the gushing blog praise heaped on her from a showcase at New York's Highline Ballroom the Tuesday before. Cheers erupted as her small but worthy band, consisting of two drummers and one keyboardist, made their way on stage. From the first glimpse of Robyn descending the backstairs, until the time she left the stage at the end of the night, it wouldn't be getting any quieter.
Robyn - "Handle Me"
Obviously happy with the warm reception, she was smiling from ear to ear, dressed in a white shirt with matching bandanna hanging from her neck and a leather mini with tights beneath. Her blue patent leather shoes put the perfect exclamation point on an outfit that, much like her music, could have come across as mixed-up in lesser hands, but looked playfully perfect on her.
Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat"
Kicking off the celebration with the slinky keypad tones of "Cobrastyle," Robyn came ready to put on a show. Hands shot straight up in the air as she tore into the song, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that her style truly was "the bomb didi bom di deng gi deng digi digi." It was a hit parade from that point on, and she never had to worry about forgetting a word because the audience sang along to every song. Leaning into the front row, she gave mic time to the obliging audience on "Who's That Girl" and "Handle Me." Dropping a Bukowski reference about guys you love against your better judgment, she sang "Bum Like You" to a lucky boy upfront, who seemed ready to fill the role of bum in question, if asked. Slowing things down a bit, the entire house edged to get closer as the lights dimmed for her sweetly sorrowful rendition of "Eclipse."
Robyn - "Jack You Off"
There was no doubt there would be an encore, as she closed the initial set with her #1 UK hit "With Every Heart Beat." Disappearing only long enough to grab a new bottle of water, she returned for an encore marked by an updated version of her '90s hit "Show Me Love," before closing the show for good with her spritely cover of Princes' "Jack You Off." The house emptied with smiling faces all around, as Robyn exceeded all expectations and guaranteed herself a return trip to Los Angeles whenever she wants.
—Chas Reynolds
02.11.08
