You Can Drive MY Soul, Lights

Aaah, so I went to see Lights tonight at the Mod Club on College W. Just returned from touring in the States, Lights couldn't help but laugh at her adoring Toronto fans, comprised mostly of chic Queen-westers, wrapped in scarves and suede and teeny boppers all sporting Wonder Woman-esque headbands. "This is awesome," she said, apparantly not expecting the bumper-to-bumper throng inside the Mod Club.



Refusing to reveal her age or real name, Lights is a mystery, alright. She told Toronto Music Scene, "it’s kind of what people have been calling me for so long and it totally explains what my music is about." On her MySpace, she writes, "this world is a little dark, and I am Lights," and claims she is 104 years old.

Lights, though mistaken for a Toronto native, actually toured the world with her missionary parents for most of her life. It was a recent decision to move to Toronto, all on her own, and pursue her music career. And lucky for us, she did. The new-wave hippie, clad in a skin-tight yellow drop-line v-neck, black mini-skirt and signature headband, had checked any nervousness at the door this time. Charismatic and cheerful, she appeared to be relishing the tiny screaming fans all reaching for her at the front of the stage, and all crooning her lyrics along with the music. She would throw her head back and smile, as if thinking "I can't believe this is all happening."

She played all of the songs off her EP including February Air, Drive My Soul and White, an unreleased number with an odd forties' feel, called It's Over Casanova, as well as a new song. "There's lots of love in this room tonight," she yelled with a grin, "so sing along to this next one if you know the words," before diving into her version of Akon's Don't Matter. Everyone knew the words, even the teeny-boppers parents camped out up on the balcony. She concluded the show with a tingling performance of The Last Thing On Your Mind. Ripping off her headband, and scrunching her hair, Lights abandoned her set of keyboards and walked over to the edge of the stage. She reached out and grasped dozens of little hands. Her dark black hair hung over one Egyptian-like eye, while she crooned "sing the last thing on your mind, the last key in your head, I'll be the one to keep you, keep you at your best." She then came back for an encore and played Ice.

On stage, there were about 4 different keyboards, two each for Lights and bandmate Adam, as well as a keyboard-guitar, which allowed for the funky synthesized notes. Her drummer, Maurie, joined them, with a picture drawn by a fan taped with duct-tape to the front of the kick-drum. A sleek white Mac also sat upon a keyboard case in the middle of the stage. Needless to say, Lights had to hop over about 50 million cords to reach her fans.



The petite ageless exotic-looking Lights is full of love. Her EP is just a positive collection of songs that make her feel "apple-pie" happy, a feeling that transcends to her audience. And the girl can sing. Such a simple, yet refreshing commodity for a female artist - it's not always a requirement, these days.

Anyways, I totally enjoyed the show, it was upbeat and charming. I restrained myself from buying up all the merch in the back of the club - Lights headbands, bookbags, t-shirts, buttons - but I will be attempting the Wonder Woman look sometime soon. Hopefully, I can pull it off. If you like the sounds of Death Cab for Cutie/the Postal Service, you will love Lights. Her concerts are only $15.00, so try to see her before the prices rise, you won't be disappointed. Til' next time,


-- the golden girl