Making people do a double-take is nothing new to Merrill Garbus or the band she performs with. At a Sunday show at the 9:30 Club, that’s exactly what Garbus and tUnE-yArDs accomplished.

“You are extremely quiet for a sold-out crowd,” emoted Merrill Garbus, the creative force behind tUnE-yArDs. “That isn’t a bad thing,” she explained. “It means that you can see that I’m working hard.” Indeed, tUnE-yArDs songs appear to have a plethora of components; sounds quickly created and looped by Garbus for very complex and patterned compositions. Yet, but for her admission of heavy concentration, Garbus’ work appears to be second nature. Her flow from looping one instrument to another was seemingly effortless so of course the audience was quiet; they were closely following her every move.