New Zealand-born singer Kimbra is a pop star in every sense of the word – her look, personality, and voice all equate into a record exec’s wet dream. Her debut album Vows went platinum in both Australia and New Zealand, and hit the US Billboard charts hard, debuting at #14. She’s a rising star, and her set at the Metro confirmed just that.
The show reached capacity – line out the door, curling around Clark Street. There was a steady downpour, but it didn’t sink the spirits of the young, giddy teens. Inside, the crowd crammed to the front, jeering at every slight movement on stage hoping for a glimpse of Kimbra. When she emerges girly shrieks and shrills pour out from the crowd. It feels like high school.
The set opens with “Limbo,” a mid-tempo burner with sparse instrumentation. The crowd erupts, singing right alongside her:
Show me that there’s something I could go back for (show me that there’s love)/Cause we’re running round in limbo, running round it all (show me that there’s love)
It’s clear from the beginning that Kimbra is not a great singer. She churns through 
“Posse,” “Good Intent” and “Plain Gold Ring” pushing herself to the limit, missing notes here and there and struggling with pitch. But what she lacks in vocal range she makes up for in stage presence. She glows up there, commanding the stage like a true star. There’s no denying that.
Having faltered a bit, Kimbra did have some highlight moments. “Old Flame,” a slow-cooked R&B love song, was a pleasant surprise – a glimpse into her wide range of influences. She eased her pace, scaled back on the stage antics and belted out a nice rendition. The crowd still with her:
We flickered and swayed/Each time the winter soul came/I remember gold days/Under love’s warm haze
After rounding out the set with hits “Settle Down” and “Cameo Lover,” she exited the stage, waiting for the encore. She came out moments later joined by openers The Stepkids for “Call Me,” which proved to be the perfect anthem to close the show. She had her fans eating from the palm of her hands and they joined her – almost nostalgically – in the closing hook:
Nothing’s gonna bring us down/Nothing’s gonna bring us down (come bring your love around me)/Call me
