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Grimes stands out — and stands up for herself — at Made in America

Claire Boucher, the Canadian indie electro mixmaster who performs as Grimes, was the only female-fronted act to perform on either of the main stages all weekend long at the Philadelphia half of the festival. Grimes didn’t mention her singularity when she played the Liberty Stage late Sunday afternoon. She just let her music explain what makes her so singular.

The Made In America crowd seemed evenly split among genders.

Up on stage, though, it was a bro fest.

How much of a bro fest? So much so that Claire Boucher, the Canadian indie electro mixmaster who performs as Grimes, was the only female-fronted act to perform on either of the main stages all weekend long at the Philadelphia half of the festival.

Grimes didn't mention her singularity when she played the Liberty Stage late Sunday afternoon. She just let her music explain what makes her so singular.

Bouncing around the stage in platform ski boots, the blue-haired programmer and singer was accompanied by two dancers, but was otherwise a one-woman show, looping her own voice and manipulating beats in real time on rubbery dance tracks like "Be A Body" and "Genesis."

Urging the crowd to dance, she appealed to independent folks in the place where America was made. "One thing I know about Philly," she said, "is you guys do whatever you want." She also took the time to single out audience members who made extraordinary efforts to get superior sightlines to see her show. "I know it's probably illegal," she said, "but thanks to everybody who climbed a tree."

— Dan DeLuca

For more coverage of Made in America 2014: http://data.inquirer.com/thetalk