What began as a quiet evening ended in an explosion of sound and color, as artists Ruby The RabbitFoot and of Montreal took the stage at the Ready Room this past Thursday night. The audience, though slowly trickling in near the beginning, ultimately grew into a large crowd swaying back and forth to the musical and a highly theatrical performance presented by of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes and the band. While everyone was in for a psychedelic treat by the end of the night, the early bird, or set, got the worm. Ruby The RabbitFoot’s solid performance seemed to offer concertgoers a refreshing surprise of new, palatable alternative music that grabbed their attention and kept them engaged with a soothing sound and an appreciative humility. Transitioning then into the main performance that proved both wild and stimulating, attendees could likely attest to a more exotic Thursday evening than most.

Even before Ruby The Rabbitfoot began to perform their spunky musical vibes, they hit their audience with another sensory experience of sight. Entering the stage clad in shiny red short shorts and a blue band uniform coat counterbalanced by bleached blond hair and bright red lips, Ruby herself brought a plethora of color to the night, and the band—clad in every fashion statement from jean shorts to a blue suit—did just the same. It was not until three songs in that Ruby introduced herself and the band. Short but sweet, her set list ran for about 30 minutes, varying in song style and including songs of varied renown, from her more discreet “Blue Jean Jacket” to her most popular work, titled “Ways.” Near the middle of the performance, the band also threw in a rendition of Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One.” Though the clashing designs, fashions and sounds on stage may seem a bit disorienting, the band’s suavity amidst the sensory chaos gave it an authentic alternative feel, and prepared attendees for the truly sensational experience in their very immediate future.

Entering about 30 minutes after the first act’s end, of Montreal had the audience on the edge of their seats as they walked onto the pitch-black stage wearing black capes, and only exposing themselves upon the introductory song “It’s Different for Girls” from their newest album, “Let’s Relate.” Underneath the cape standing center stage hid Kevin Barnes, wearing a bright white apron and a glitter-covered face beneath the black disguise. And, with the release of the capes, they were off on a journey of music that did not stop for a quick introduction—let alone a silent song transition. With three costume changes, a bright screen filled with outrageous imagery and constantly changing backup dancers on either side of Barnes wearing eccentric outfits related to the theme of each song, it is fair to say that the performance may have been a bit much for those attending solely for the purpose of an adventurous night out.

However, the band did not fail to set the audience into a foot tapping groove from the very start of their show, initiating the entire set list with several of their most popular songs from their most recent album, including the album’s title song, “Let’s Relate.” Other more memorable performances include “Wraith Pinned to the Mist” and “Women’s Studies Victims.” While it might have been better had Barnes addressed his audience through a bit of typical audience/artist conversation, the lacking sociality was certainly addressed through song lyrics and the passion he exuded with each and every performance. By the end of the night, everyone witnessed a powerful display of music and madness. Blurring the lines between the colorful fantasy appearing on stage and the peaceful tranquility of that quiet Thursday evening, of Montreal and Ruby the RabbitFoot together made for an experience for the books and resonated in individual psyches well beyond the Ready Room doors.