BY APRIL S. ENGRAM

What better way to wait out a hurricane of a rainstorm in sweltering Toronto than in a sweltering club with Lykke Li and Miike Snow providing the entertainment? Ok, perhaps you can think of a multitude of ways but roll with me here. Together Lykke Li-whose reputation of putting on a banging live show preceded her-and Miike Snow-who is quickly building a following with their electrifying dance beats-put on an amped up, dance-filled two and a half hour show.

Sound Academy was packed with spectators eager for the excellent show to begin...of course we had to wait for the opening act to cease their auricular torture method. Apparently harmony and variety in sound was not of importance to this forgettable Toronto act. After the grueling thirty minutes was over, the curtains were drawn and Miike Snow started the night off right.

The trio, comprised of three experienced music producers, has managed to create a fun and sophisticated dance album. And as expected of music producers, they fashioned a solid album, but how are they live? "Outstanding" is the answer to that rhetorical question. Singer Andrew Wyatt, with mixers Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg crafted an extended mix of each song performed and the audience loved every single sweaty, pulsating minute. And many in the Toronto audience were quite familiar with the fledgling band; fans shouted their name in delight, happily danced and sang along with Wyatt.

"Slyiva," "In Search Of," "Animal," and even the calmer "Sans Soleil" were played this night, and though this Blurter wished "Cult Logic" was part of the setlist, their performance was great. To bring the sound to the stage Miike Snow recruited the help of three other gentlemen as Karlsson and Winnberg worked controls and Wyatt sang. Winnberg proved a quiet soul while Karlsson danced feverishly during the entire set methodically beating his electronics. Miike Snow's set was shorter than desired, not only a personal opinion, even the audience shouted for Miike Snow's return. If only that damned opening act didn't waste our precious time...

But Miike Snow most definitely warmed the crowd up for the main event: Lykke Li. Possessing a knack for sending shockwaves through her usually serenely buoyant songs when performed live, when Li graced the stage the music exploded into the air. Even slower songs such as "Window Blues" were jolted with a new vigor. With just a drummer, bassist and another working electronics, Lykke Li's crew did an amazing job providing the tunes while Li crooned effortlessly into her mic.

The petite singer pleased the audience with her antics. For a shy interviewer-I listened to an interview in which she professed her shyness to a KEXP DJ-Li is unashamedly cheeky on stage. She lifted her dress-exposing her tights-cursed us out a few times and strutted her pixyish, sexy self to and fro. The audience loved every minute of it as they sang and danced along with Li. She also introduced a few new songs with the forewarning that the songs were VERY new, "so don't be judge-fuckin-mental, have a drink, and enjoy." Someone cursing you out AND telling you to chill is a bad thing; however, the ever adorable Lykke Li can get away with it. The crowd laughed and cheered as Li began dancing and awing us again with her incredibly infectious energy. However the moment that seemed to create the loudest roar from the audience was when Miike Snow joined Li on stage.

Though a brief encounter, Snow and crew played the song to its end and just as quickly as they appeared, disappeared into backstage. However singer Wyatt remained; he and Li sang their own version of Kings of Leon's "Knocked Up." Once the mellow duet was finished and Wyatt bid another farewell to Toronto, Li immediately jumped back into it with the catchy "Let It Fall." After a few more songs and a charismatic hour and a half performance Li left the stage; yet, the audience was not ready to leave. They cheered, applauded and shouted for Lykke Li to return. After a moment she did and casually swaggered around the stage as the music was being played. "Nice strut" someone shouted as the tired songstress approached the mic. Though she may have appeared fatigued Li poured out two more songs and brought the house down in style.

[Photos by April S. Engram]