Give me a minute to think about this one.

So Elska opened. But it wasn't just Laura Boland this time. Alex Alexander (of Emmaline Twist and most of the other bands in town) stood behind a synth rig too. Double the fun. Boland played the leads on her keyboards, emitting crisp melodies recalling recognizable instruments – piano, harpsichord, organ – and slightly warped ones – distorted piano, strings. Alexander added synth washes that usually formed foundations, though he got a lead on the yet-untitled closer. It's always a good sign when the newest number is also the set highlight. Most songs were languid in a soul-satisfying way. Boland's voice was beautiful, frail, and haunting. Think This Mortal Coil or even late-period, post-histrionic Kate Bush. Films (presumably) created by Boland were projected behind (and on) the duo. Arty ones often layered one on another. Films of dance and intentional movement in flowing dresses. Of bird-filled beaches. Of Swedish Baroque merchant houses. The duo's set was long – and they hoped to play even longer – but after forty minutes they were told that the party was over. Afterward, Boland plugged her merch, announcing there were only two vinyl copies of the Elska's last album left. I was sad that I didn't have the money to take one home.

Ten minutes later Reviser began. How expeditious! In fact, the threesome did most of their soundcheck while the members of Elska were still offloading. Bravo! Reviser has been a trio of Krysztof Nemeth (vocals/baritone), Dedric Moore (guitar), and Breaka Dawn (vocals) for a while now. Long enough that the act's songs have been altered to include Dawn's overlapping vocal lines, her backing vocals, and her occasional turns in the spotlight. In particular, the refreshed version of "Shallows" where she owns the refrain is a delight. When she was not singing, she slinked around the stage like Axl Rose. That was fun too. Moore's stage presence was defined by removed cool. Hidden behind dark glasses, he appeared to be the mastermind. I love it when a plan comes together. The band's darkwave never rushes, yet still delivers a punch. "Dead Eyes" had a strong unseen thumping percussion. Keyboards were also unseen but omnipresent. Sometimes they even held the melody, but mostly they just provided beds for the baritone to exploit. There was a secret guitar twinkle that, if allowed to shine over the anchoring percussion, might result in something Cocteau Twins-esque. But the earthbound beat is important to Reviser, and it's what got the crowd dancing to "1000 Lashes." Live, that one steps away from classic 4AD shimmer, and instead provides something more modern. Something resembling MGMT. Okay, now I'm just dropping band names and need to stop. Reviser's new album will be out on vinyl on May 16th. I'll have to remember to find the money.

Mint Field is from Mexico. Maybe Tijuana. Maybe Mexico City. The lore is contradictory. The trio is led by the voice and guitar of Estrella del Sol with the bass of Sebastian Neyra figuring heavily into the act's sound, and the drums of Reona Sugimoto offering an unexpected warmth. The musicians performed in dim blue lights that hid them from the audience. Its dream pop was similarly woozy and Lynchian. Sparse compositions started the night, but by the third track rock slipped in, and we learned that Del Sol could make her guitar screech as well as quietly adorn. Neyra's smart bass lines were fundamental throughout, and always highlighted in the mix. Occasionally backing tracks of synth filled in the holes. Production shifted from song to song, and stylistic shifts were common. I must have looked like a dog, cocking my head to hear how bossa nova lifted one number, how dense shoegaze with twinkling verses and crashing choruses defined another, and how the motorik percussion and crunch all featured in the same hour-long set. The swings were impressive and welcome. Del Sol didn't speak much. There was only an introduction before the first song and a thank you before the last. Was there a story about playing in KC once before? Maybe there was. Anyway, the outfit was more about mystery than charisma. That's fine by me now that I think about it.