“The spirit of a musical genre not yet dreamt up”: Lia Ices played a singular set at Boot and Saddle

Lia Ices | Photo by Chris Sikich

 

The ethereal, dreamy and utterly unique Lia Ices played a swift 10-song set at Boot & Saddle this past Wednesday. Weaving her voice between her keyboard strokes, the guitar strumming of her twin brother Eliot and striking percussion, she entranced a small, enthusiastic crowd.

With her 2014 record Ices as the set’s main thrust, tracks “Tell Me” and “Thousand Eyes” warmed up the room. Gliding across the Saddle’s intimate stage, Ices was like a spirit of a musical genre not yet dreamt up. And with the closing number of her alone on keys playing “You Will” from her first release, Necima, she showed the versatility of her vision, with semi-piano ballads being just as engaging as her electro folk dance numbers.

Montreal-based Seoul opened. The four-piece delivered ambient harmonies in what they declared to be their favorite environment — precipitation. Their debut record I Became A Shade is forthcoming.