Click Click: The Sounds @ 9:30 Club

Maja Ivarsson of The Sounds. (Kyle Gustafson / www.photokyle.com)

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It's hard to take your eyes off of Maja Ivarsson, lead singer of The Sounds, while she is performing, and not because of her blonde hair, leggy physique or hot pants and track jacket clothing ensemble. She's a cross between Debbie Harry and Mick Jagger, somewhat of an uncoordinated hot mess, strutting across the stage, all slinky and sinewy. She's no slouch when it comes to controlling a crowd either, as she had a rapturous audience eating out of her hand all night.

The Sounds play up-tempo, four-on-the-floor electro-pop, the kind their home country of Sweden is known for, and they play it very well. I had caught them earlier this summer opening for No Doubt, but they were much better Monday night. Touring behind their latest release, Crossing The Rubicon, the band packed 20 or so tunes into a taut 90-minute set. Most of the set was one long dance party, save for two wistful, slower songs in the middle of the set that provided the crowd with a chance to catch their breath. Not bad for a random Monday in September.