Braids

Braids occupy a much-hyped and well-respected position in Canadian indie music, especially for a band with only one full-length to their name. That might explain why lead singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston's opening statement was so unexpected: "I was at a delicious barbecue today, but I got food poisoning. I have a basin, so in case I get sick, be supportive." You'd think such an utterance might make the opening sonic swirl of "Lemonade" less emphatic, but the tune, and the following "Plath Heart," were both as haunting as on record. Indeed, whether you subscribe to the band's hype or not, they carry off a complex live set with gusto; even Standell-Preston still managed to hit the vocal falsettos and full-throated heights of "Glass Deers." Not bad for any singer, let alone one the brink of puking into a basin.