After City Builder’s long-anticipated ‘City Hall’ show, the fan consensus was that this was “their best show yet!” City Builders is a hyper-pop/alt duo from Toronto consisting of members Grace Turner on vocals and Theo White on keyboard and guitar.
Although I originally thought the venue for this performance was actually going to be Toronto’s City Hall, the show took place at Studio Homme, a versatile event space in the heart of Chinatown Toronto. This venue choice was a clever pick for this intimate show. You first walk up to the unassuming entrance and are led up the stairs to the space. It felt like you were at an exclusive house party with a coat rack at the door, comfortable couches, lounge chairs, eclectic furniture and a dining table.
City Builders have grown a close connection to their fans. They fostered this connection through venue choice, as well as some small things they did before the show. They had a ballot box and cue cards that people could write on to leave a message for the band, and tons of fun stickers people were taking home. Fans were also offered small star-shaped charms at the drink shand that were to be attached to key chains handed out at one of their previous shows. Through small actions like this, they are building a sense of community with their fans that I think will drastically help their fan base grow.
Although the venue only held roughly 50 people, the room felt packed with energy. They started their show with the track “Vengeful Spirit” which immediately brought the crowd to life. This dynamic alt track had fans nodding their heads along to the beat and cheering from the start. With ad-libs on a megaphone from Theo White, it brought a liveliness to the first track. Grace Turner even brought a fan on stage for a ‘fit check,’ further showcasing their love for their fans.
Teasing their next track, “Convo Killer,” Turner gave the crowd some backstory to the track by telling us that it was about an “ex-roommate’s ex-boyfriend which brought some familiarity to the song and made the lyrics connect with the crowd even more.
During their song “Pretty” we got some backup vocals from White. What really stood out to me though was their slowed-down tracks, “Learning To Miss You” and “Live Again.” We were given a powerful vocal performance from Turner and vulnerable lyrics that really resonated with me and the rest of the crowd.
They closed out their show with a cover/remix of Charli XCX’s club classics, “I Love It” and “360.” This was the perfect ending to the show as Turner and White brought a spark to the stage, having everyone singing along to the hyper-pop tracks.
While Turner and White mingled with fans after the performance, I heard an overwhelming consensus that this show was their “best show yet,” and I’m glad I was able to be present for it. With their energetic spirit and appreciation for their fans, I have no doubt that City Builders will do great things for the pop scene in Toronto.
