photo credit: eric s. aka groovehouse for houston press

Robyn had a hell of a 2010. Culminating in the three-part Body Talk series, which was universally acclaimed by music critics worldwide, the Swedish dance-pop starlet poured real emotion into her unique brand of forward-thinking dance music, reinventing herself yet again from the fledgling pop star we first heard in the 1996 made for radio single “Show Me Love.” Though hardly having truly broken through on American soil due to lack of push by her labels, Robyn wrapped a successful Body Talk tour with a spectacular packed show at Houston’s Warehouse Live last Saturday, affirming that some of music’s best kept secrets are anything but.

Hit the jump for the review.

– sunbear


photo credit: eric s. aka groovehouse for houston press

The tension leading up to Robyn’s set was palpable, the sea of bodies, the majority of which were a colorful cast of characters from glitzy drag queens to neon-haired hipsters, were restless and in need of a serious dance party. Enter, to the tune of that thunderous THX synth hum Robyn’s hazmat-clad band, two drummers and two synth-players apiece. Kicking the party off with the pulsing “Time Machine” from the aforementioned Body Talk series, the platinum blonde queen of dance bounded onto the stage with relentless energy, immediately leading the charge in a no holds barred dance party plus.

I’m gonna take a moment here to talk wardrobe – in mere seconds of the first number, Robyn shucked off her jacket, revealing an intricate woven top reminiscent of an avant-garde mummy. More impressive to me personally was the attention to detail, namely that in a song that name checks Back to the Future’s time traveling Delorean, Robyn sported her skin-tight jeans inside-out, pockets flipped on the outside. After all, kids in the future wear their pants inside-out. Brilliant.

photo credit: eric s. aka groovehouse for houston press

Not once did the lady of the night take a proper breather from her tenacious dance moves, which looked equal parts rave, robot, and aerobics. She dropped it low, windmilled her arms, and vogued her way through every song, sounding absolutely stunning every (dance) step of the way. Robyn’s years of experience as a pop star have Jedi-trained her to be not only pitch-perfect but a true beacon of emotion throughout her stylishly futuristic songs. “Call Your Girlfriend” was an especially captivating vocal performance, full of both vulnerability and bravado – Robyn slid effortlessly between the two.

I’d say Robyn brought out the big guns early with the anthemic “Dancing on My Own” being unsheathed a mere three songs into the set, but every last song sounded grandiose and theatrical in their live setting due in large part to the stellar band Robyn had employed. The four piece turned it to 11, pushing the levels to an uncompromising red-line, giving us in the crowd a beat we could feel reverberating deep in our bodies.

A two encore set would follow the call and response finale of “Stars 4-Ever,” with the former being highlighted by the reggae-infused Diplo jam “Dancehall Queen” and the latter being a stripped down, personal set with Robyn segwaying ABBA’s eternal “Dancing Queen” into the song that introduced her to the world 15 years ago, the surprisingly stirring “Show Me Love.” The song was played as basic and acoustic as possible, the band taking a backseat to Robyn’s captivating voice. As if hearing some life-affirming song from their childhoods, nearly everyone in all of the sold out Warehouse live show had their arms wrapped around each other swaying blissfully to the sound of Robyn’s voice. We came to dance, and Robyn had tuckered us out. It’s a wonder how she had the energy to carry on in such a animated and dynamic matter all night long. A final bow from her and her band as the band capped of the final date of their tour bid us a fond farewell. Houston doesn’t often get as lively as it did last Saturday. Robyn, Queen of dance music, came and conquered.

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SETLISTS:

[Robyn]

Timemachine
Fembot
Cobrastyle
Dancing on my Own
We Dance to the Beat
Don’t Fucking Tell Me What to Do
Love Kills
The Girl and the Robot
Indestructible
Call Your Girlfriend
Stars 4-Ever

encore 1:

Get Myself Together
Dancehall Queen
Hang with Me
With Every Heartbeat

encore 2:

U Should Know Better
Konichiwa Bitches
Dancing Queen (ABBA cover)
Show Me Love

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CHECK OUT MORE PICTURES FROM HOUSTON PRESS’ ROBYN SLIDESHOW HERE.