KT Laine / boyhood / Eliza Niemi at La Sala Rossa

Tuesday July 28 was a pretty dark and rainy evening, but that’s not what the crowd at La Sala Rosa noticed during the KT Laine / boyhood / Eliza Niemi performances that night. As the audience grew throughout the night, it felt like a microcosm of the Plateau culture – with a mix of people in their 20s to 30s in classic Montreal styles. Before anyone took to the stage, it already had the intimacy of a university dorm show.

As KT Laine opened the night, there were around 50 people, but her music captivated the audience with its peaceful strums and contemplative lyrics. I felt at home with her music and performance. She walked onto the platform stage placed in the middle of the room in her red mary-janes and a white dress, with lighting that made her feel like a mermaid (her words!). Her subtle style radiates pure warmth and positivity, making her the perfect opener for a rainy evening.

After the peacefulness of KT Laine, boyhood came onto the stage with a bang. More people, around 75 now, had filled the space between the sets, and the four person band knew just how to command the attention of the crowd. I felt the joy radiating throughout the group, with everyone dancing and bopping along as they played. boyhood is the project of Ontarian musician Caylie Runciman, who came onto the stage with a striking red beret. Her music is filled with gritty guitar moments that feel like rock, mirrored by enchanting synth lines, striking a balance between the two ends with deadpan lyrics that feel like growing up. With dynamic lighting, and a funky song using audio from a radio or tv show (I'm not quite sure), boyhood brought up the energy of the crowd, leaving everyone feeling joyful as the set came to an end.

Rounding out the night came Eliza Niemi with her cello and three musicians to support her act – playing another cello, the drums, and guitar. Since they needed time to adjust the tech for the cellos, the audience had settled in for this last act. Some people decided to sit on the ground in front of the stage, making the room feel more like an intimate show in someone’s living room. Those groups remained happily sitting as Niemi took the stage, sitting down with her cello. The ethereal music filled the room, bringing the energy back to a peaceful sway. At times, the music felt like something that might accompany a video game or film – fitting, since Niemi is also a film composer. She ended her set by playing some more upbeat music, while still sticking to her “ASMR cello-pop” style. 

The night started with the peaceful performance of KT Laine, moving to the gritty music of boyhood, and ended with the ethereal performance of Eliza Niemi. As the audience cleared out of the room, I was struck by the performers intermingling with the audience, talking with friends and fans alike. Walking out into the now clear evening air, I felt calmer and happier than when I entered. The audience felt the same as they filled the air with their laughs. 

In the end, this concert transported me back to the intimate garage band performances of my youth, and the audience felt right at home under the blanket of the music.