Concert Thu May 29 2014

MØ Brings Down the House @ Lincoln Hall

By Emma Gase

It all started with the sublime "XXX 88," a Diplo-produced absolute siren of a jam the Danish 25 year-old dropped last August (and which played an integral and much-repeated part in my Indian Summer playlist).

Mø seems to be a member of a rising crop of new artists on the brink of mainstream success--Sam Smith, Banks, and Charli XCX among others--who legitimately seem to be exploring new territory in the pop music landscape. Mø's music is hard to describe, a quality that most likely contributed to her early hype. Part pop, part modern electronic, part dance, part R&B-- these disparate parts make up a whole that is more original and engaging and raucous than 99% of the dreck that currently occupies the mainstream charts.

Mø graced Lincoln Hall this Wednesday night, accompanied by fellow Scandinavian Erik Hassle, the latter of who delivered a heart-melting rendition of his blogosphere hit "Talk About It" to great effect. But it was Mø, whose stage name means "Maiden" in Danish, who unequivocally owned the night, the audience, and the venue.

Mø left no corner of Lincoln Hall unexplored, determined to reach every member of the audience in a city that she had never been to until that same day.

She sang from the balcony. She crowd surfed multiple times. She even got up on the bar, Coyote Ugly style (minus the gyrating stripteasing). This girl goes hard, and it's difficult to assume she doesn't do this for every show. Here is an artist who actually enjoys her own music--she owns her songs, and gives herself up to the music--which is wholly refreshing when compared to the sullen and un-emotive alternative.

Now, I'm no concert novice. I've seen shows that left my ears ringing for a full 24 hours, but the bass--and synths and guitar and 808s--at this show were of a class unto themselves. Particularly, the bass was so potent and booming it's difficult to describe without resorting to hyperbolics. It's a miracle the audience left with their internal organs intact.

If Mø's EP Bikini Daze was a late summer soundtrack to the winding down party of the warm months, then No Mythologies, with its 808's and massive synths, represents the genesis of a new season. This particular spring night, she barreled through almost her entire debut, opening with "Fire Rides," bringing down the house with single "Glass," and serenading the audience Romeo-and-Juliet-style from the second level.

Scrunchie high on her head, face matted with sweat, voice hoarse by the end of show, and what had to be a severely sore neck from her insistent headbanging and Stevie-Nicks electro-gypsy dancing, Mø backed up every promise of her album and early hype to the entire audience at Lincoln Hall last night. Safe to say no eardrums will be spared as Mø makes her way through her North American tour. It's well worth the ringing sensation.