Metric, Metric, And More Metric

A week ago today, on April 17 2008, I went to my fourth Metric concert and have yet to post a review. This is partly because I have been a little obsessed on trying to find more photos or videos of that awesome night. Plus, I have been busy with a few other things but here it comes.

The last time I saw Metric was two years and sixteen days prior, to be exact. Which may not seem that long to wait for some other bands but there was a time there I was seeing Metric roughly every six months. Needless to say when I heard the announcement on the radio for the show I was pretty excited, and maybe had a moment of uncontrollable shooting.

The day started like any other, as I still had to go to work. Most of the day was counting down.

• Till the end of work – which I actually got out of early.
• Till I had to go get the rental car.
• Till the time I had to leave my apartment.
• Till the opening band came out.
• And finally till Metric actually came out onto the stage.

Which was a pretty long count down. Did I mention I had been waiting for these for over two years? Oh yeah I did …

When I got there I was welcomed by a lovely line-up around the block. Which was right when doors open. I was a little surprised as the only other time this has happened was when I saw them the second time at a earlier all-ages show. Luckily I was still able to get one of the final front row spots. Which I really wanted!!

The opening band wasn’t that bad. The bassist was awesome! When he was playing, he was dancing, and when he wasn’t playing, he was for sure dancing. And he didn’t just play the bass, oh no. He had a small keyboard on the floor in front of him – which gives the band a total of three people possibly playing a keyboard. At one point he was adding extra beats to the drum as the drummer was play. Finally he went over to the other keyboard guy and was playing around with a sound effect thing on his keyboard as he played. The drummer had this really cool shirt that lit up based on the sounds around it. So of course when they were playing it was well lit up.

They soon ended their set and the removal of their equipment happened and the set up for Metric began!! It was a little weird that the Commodore – which is known for it’s great vantage points -  has now set up two screens on both sides of the stage which showed five different camera angles (3 still and two guys filming). Really is this necessary at a smaller venue?? And the Commodore none the less?

These is how it all went down … I got the set list off the Metric fourm, it looks about right.

They opened with a new song called “Freddy” – YouTube Video Here. I am really enjoy these new songs and can’t wait for the album to come out. After that song, they lead into “Poster of a Girl” which is a crowd pleaser for sure.

Now I am pretty sure I saw Kevin a.k.a. k-os at the side of the stage. I know he is also a big Metric fan but what is he doing in Vancouver?? Could this mean we are also going to have a new k-os album too?! Then again, maybe I was having a little deja vu as I saw him their before, during the first metric show I went to. Where he took a stage dive into the crowd, pretty awesome. But anyways after “Poster of a Girl” they played a classic “Dead Disco”. Emily went over to Kevin and sang a little bit to him which kind of makes me think it probably was him.

After that they went into yet another new song “Cupid & Psyche”. Emily said this was the second time they played it live – playing it the night before in Victoria. Aren’t we special? Hear and see it for yourself at YouTube right here. I think this song was the one  with the sick bass.

Then they played one of my favorite songs “Empty”. I love how it starts off slow and then totally speeds up and everyone goes crazy then slows down a bit again. Emily also does the whole hands on hips and shakes he head.

Then they lead into “Hustle Rose” which is a typical song they like to play live and always a good one.

After, that they played the third of the four new songs ”Satellite Mind”. Emily gave a little speak at the beginning of the song about how they like to come play at the Commordore. They got to open up for a band once and thought it was such a great venue to play. Then they got to headline there and how awesome that was. It really made me think how things have really changed for them in just the past three years. Selling out shows in no time … lines around the block.  I am happy for them, yet kind of scared for the future. Listen to Emily’s speech and “Satallite Mind” at YouTube right here.

Now outside of the new songs that they played they were all typical live songs you are going to hear in any set. But then they played “Rock Me Now” and “Calculation Theme”. Those were really awesome to hear because your not going to always hear those ones at every show. I also really enjoy “Rock Me Now”. I really wish they would play a song or two more from “Grow Up and Blow Away”.

After that brief moment of something different they went right back into a classic fan pleaser “Combat Baby”. Which is a great song live or not. The fans were totally into it and so was the band. Near the end of song Emily came down from the stage to visit with the fans. I didn’t notice until she was in eye range. Everyone had their hands out to get a touch. My hand was up but not straight out like everyone elses. All of a sudden hear free hand came up and held my hand. It was a completely surreal moment that I wasn’t expecting at all. It felt much longer then it probably was but she had to have stood there for 10 to 30 seconds holding my hand with her singing … me singing … and everyone else around us singing.

She then moved to the person beside me and held her hand. I was so excited and in disbelief she had just done that!! I kept singing and then she came back in front of me and pointed the mic to the crowd. She put it in front of my face for a couple of seconds I was totally shocked. Check the YouTube video out and see if you can hear my voice at the end …

Finally they ended with a lovely acoustic “Live It Out” leaving only Emily and Jimmy on the stage. Hear and see it for yourself at YouTube right here. For a very high energy song it is pretty great slowed down too. Once they finished that they left stage but we sure weren’t done with them yet. The chanting, hand clapping and foot stooping happened and of course they came back. They played another crowd favorite “Monster Hospital”.

Sadly they only played one more song after that, a new song called “Stadium Love”. This has to be my favorite new song I have heard so far. I saw a video of this song before I went to show on YouTube. Loved it then, and couldn’t wait to hear it with my own ears.

I have to say that Metric is for sure my number one favorite band! Not to say that they weren’t before this show. They were probably tied for first but there is no doubt they desever first place in my heart.

More photos here … enjoy!

– Andrea