Credit: Brooklyn Benjestorf
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  • Brooklyn Benjestorf

Last Wednesday night, I dragged my cough-syrup-fueled body over to Neumos in hopes for an early set from Toronto-based dark electro outfit, TR/ST. I was in the midst of battling Fall Death Flu 2014, but with doors opening at 7pm, I figured I could call it an early night. The bandโ€™s eponymous 2012 debut is one of my favorite records from the past five years, and Iโ€™m absolutely entranced by singer Robert Alfonsโ€™ eerie wail and gravity-defying hair.

The band, much to my personal dismay, didnโ€™t play until after 10pm, so I only ended up staying for about half of their set, but what I saw was really strong. The songs from this yearโ€™s new record, Joyland, blended easily with the older material, which I was a little surprised by since I find Joyland to have a much brighter feel overall than TRST. Alfons, draped in a simple cotton sheath maxi dress set the stage aflame with his erratic, frenzied dance moves and displayed an enviable vocal range as he easily drifted between a deep, gravelly bass to a pinched and throaty tenor. The crowd was ravenous for a blustery Wednesday night, and TR/ST seemed to be giving them everything they were looking for. The instrumentals were on point and driving, fueling the pounding dance floor of the packed house. I slipped out the side door by the stage when I got too hot to deal, but left impressed by the show and wishing I was in better condition to enjoy it.

More photos after the jump.

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  • Brooklyn Benjestorf
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  • Brooklyn Benjestorf
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  • Brooklyn Benjestorf
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  • Brooklyn Benjestorf