Jessy Lanza plays like a musician further along in her career, so it felt oddly lucky to see her play at the compact Divan Orange. Her afternoon set was a minor triumph; with just two synths, a laptop and an effects pedal, Lanza somehow made the day-lit venue feel moody; maybe it's her voice, which sounds as good if not better than it does on her debut, Pull My Hair Back. She lent songs like "Giddy," "5785021" and "Kathy Lee" a little extra verve, and though she was straight-faced and professional while playing, she couldn't help but crack a smile each time the audience broke into applause. Lanza comported herself like a pro, not missing a beat despite slight feedback and being on her first tour. She closed with the burbling "Keep it Moving," which inspired something of a dance party near the stage. Given Lanza's showing here, expect the party to keep getting bigger.
See more photos from Pop Montreal in our gallery here.
See more photos from Pop Montreal in our gallery here.