Review: Polica enchants a small but devoted Union Transfer crowd

All photos by Melody Chiang

Minneapolis based act, Polica graced the stage at Union Transfer Tuesday night, playing to a small but devoted crowd. Frontwoman Channy Leaneagh’s dreamy distorted vocals, lithe dance moves, and endearingly self-deprecating talk between songs had the audience enraptured from the moment she first stepped out. Chris Bierden provided intricate and powerful basslines and dual drummers Drew Christopherson and Ben Ivascu delivered synchronized, grounding beats. Standout songs included “Tiff”, “Vegas” and “Chain My Name” off the new record, Shumalith. Old favorite “Wandering Star” got a stripped back, shortened and more lyrical remake while “You Don’t Own Me”, a Lesley Gore cover, treated the crowd to impassioned vocals from Channy.

Marijuana Deathsquads, whose members include Polica producer Ryan Olson and drummer Ben Ivascu, provided support. The experimental band’s high volume and high energy performance coupled with their creative onstage projected light and image effects successfully pumped up the Tuesday night crowd.

Setlist
Spilling Lines
Lay Your Cards Out
Very Cruel
Amongster
Torre
Tiff
Warrior Lord
Vegas
Chain My Name
Dark Star
I Need $
Smug
So Leave

Encore:
Wandering Star (short)
You Don’t Own Me
Matty