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MS MR at the Academy, 16th November 2013

New York duo MS MR are in town – a town much smaller than their own of course, but they’re fitting right in. The electro-pop pair are touring their debut album ‘Secondhand Rapture’, and tonight the hurricane is hitting Dublin. Bright-haired Lizzy Plapinger is the Ms to Max Herdhenow’s Mr. Both have been recording together since 2010, and their fresh familiarity glows on stage.

Opening with Bones, the somber track made popular on the likes of Game of Thrones, it’s instantly recognisable and gets things off on a bass-heavy right foot. Plapinger’s stage presence, while entrancing, is a a whisper in comparison to Hershenow’s loud and dominating synths. Her tone is husky, unaffected, but her persona is pretty much ‘yeah, I’m delighted to be here and not ashamed of it’. Just get the sound right.

Of course, the huge question hanging over the night is what colour hair Lizzy would have. Green, is the answer. Probably something to do with our national colour; it’s appreciated.

She’s an entrancing performer, blasé as fuck and very much carrying most of the performance herself, in what could otherwise bang of button pressing. The set itself is short and sweet, with Salty Sweet a saccharine clap-along, slightly theatrical but a whole lot of fun. It’s a little bit cerebral, but not above a good synchronised, crowd-sourced percussion.

Dark Doo Wop changes the mood, being more of a ballad. It’s strong and demands attention, and definitely one of their stronger live tracks. Introducing the slower groove, Plapinger pronounces us all “free to make out.”

Some of them probably do, and she’s delighted with audience, declaring them “fan fuckingtastic”. Despite a brief mishap calling us UK (who doesn’t?) the vibe is firmly on her side. The likability is there, the songs risk being soulless live without it. The thick fog of Think of You is our ‘group therapy’ straight after the wailing chorus of Fantasy. Ups and downs, plenty.

The covers are also out in force to flesh out the set, with a slightly blander version of the Arctic Monkeys’ Do I Wanna Know still managing to erupt the room. Lizzy, in fairness, brings the chic, and gives cause to listen to the lyrics a whole different way. LCD Soundsystem Dance Yrself Clean also makes an appearance, a fail-safe song to mimic.

The pair, and their rather multi-talented backing band, switching to whatever needs an injection – finish with Hurricanes, bringing it to life in the live setting with as much impact as you’d expect.

The set may have been tiny, but so is their history. There’s just enough here to whet the appetite for the inevitable shower of glitter that’s about to come.

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Photos: Kieran Frost

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