Metric
Last Sunday night, popular NYC music venue, Terminal 5, was filled with “Stadium Love” as the indie, electro-rock band, Metric took center stage and gave the island of Manhattan one rockin’ good show. I’ve been a fan of the band for maybe a little under two years now and had heard rumors of their outstanding live performances- needless to say, this awesome foursome (comprised of lead vocalist, Emilie Haines, Joules Scott Key on drums, guitarist, James Shaw and bassist, Joshua Winstead) did not disappoint!
Brooklyn-based experimental group, Bear in Heaven, opened up the night but was met with passive acceptance by the crowd. Though their ambient music might have perhaps held its own in a better acoustic setting than Terminal can provide often times, it still seemed overall a bit of an odd pairing for the show at hand. There seemed to be a disconnect and the crowd seemed to grow anxious as it waited for the evening’s headliners.
After a short intermission, the lights finally came and the crowd roared as Metric tore through the space like a spontaneous bolt of lightning, with lead singer Haines at the forefront (a true commanding presence and force to be reckoned with all on her own). It was from that moment forward that the audience was completely mesmerized. If there is one thing to be said for the band and their performance as a whole, it’s that they share a perfectly balanced charisma onstage and seem to have truly mastered the art of playing off each other in an effortless harmony. Haines especially excels at this – there was rarely a moment where she wasn’t bouncing rhythmically around the stage, her raspy, cooing voice as flawless and crystal clear as on the bands’ records, perhaps with a tad more honest grit and silkiness to boot.
Decked out in a silver sequined mini skirt and a crisp white tee that draped elegantly over her lithe figure, she let her haunting voice (which is possible even more angelic live) cut through the crowd’s heart, hook, line and sinker. A true performer, she came to life onstage and lyrics that were lost on me in previous listen’s before, suddenly rang true with a whole new meaning under her visual performance and guidance.
The Band played a wide range of songs from their various hit albums (Grow up and Blow Away, Live it Out, Fantasies, etc.) and the audience certainly knew they’re favorites. Popular songs of the night were Gimme Sympathy, Dead Disco, Gold Girls Gun and of course, one of their most mainstream overnight hits, Help, I’m Alive (I swear, I’ve heard from more than one woman claiming that this is their anthem, and honestly, how can you blame them? It’s catchy as all Hell!). Each song sounded vividly organic and unrehearsed and I was particularly impressed with their final selection of the evening – a heartfelt, stripped-down acoustic rendition of “Combat Baby” that turned the audience to jelly.
This was one of those rare shows that reminded the viewer that there are still those energetic powerhouse bands out there that still know how to deliver the goods, and if Metric keeps it up, the goods are just going get better.
Set List:
1. Twilight Galaxy
2. Satellite Mind
3. Front Row
4. Help I’m Alive
5. Empty
6. Collect Call
7. Gold Guns Girls
8. Gimme Sympathy
9. Sick Muse
10. Dead Disco
11. Stadium Love
Encore:
12. Monster Hospital
13. Combat Baby (Acoustic)
