Grimes

Onstage stumbles are common at a Grimes show, but Claire Boucher's absorbing songs and hypnotic vocal samples -- not to mention her awkward charm -- make most of her concerts a success, and this one was no exception. It was a shame that the sweltering Great Hall cleared half out after Chad VanGaalen, as Boucher mesmerized the remaining crowd with her playful stage moves and a surprise: a Boucher-proclaimed "experimental" collaboration with former Spiral Beach man Daniel Woodhead. Grimes' whole set was satisfying, but with Woodhead on percussion, the show really picked up steam, especially on extended highlight and climax "Vanessa," whose airy vocals and twinkling synths were imbued with drums pounding even more powerfully than usual.