Metric @ The Wiltern, Los Angeles 6/8/09
Andrew Youssef
Metric's tour on the back of Fantasies and its many videos brought them to L.A. last night, where the band played their biggest, most sold-out show yet. Props were paid onstage to the various Los Angeles venues they've performed and outgrown along the way -- Silverlake Lounge, El Rey Theater, Henry Fonda Theater. It's a good stage-banter device, simultaneously inviting, humbling, and self-congratulatory; it's also one that their BSS-mate Feist loves whipping out whenever she's in NYC (like at Town Hall and McCarren last year). Anyway the crowd ate it and their set up last night, including a theremin-ed "Twilight Galaxy," the "summer jam" "Gimme Sympathy," and the "Monster Hospital"/"Live It Out" encore. Opening the show was the non-MSTRKRFT half of DFA1979, Sebastien Grainger and his Mountains, along with Band Of Skulls, who our photographer Andrew Youssef tells us have been playing a slate of L.A. showcases over the past week. A few more chances to see Metric remain:
06/11 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
06/12 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada
06/13 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
06/14 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
06/15 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
Posted at 10:26 AM by amrit in Concert, Photo, Tour Dates
Tags: Band Of Skulls | Metric | Sebastien Grainger
she's making a strong case for indie-rock crush o' the yr
Score = 5
I was at that. Sadly, the crowd was by far the worst I've ever been a part of, regardless of what Stereogum says. Sebastien Grainger was great though, and Metric was actually even better.
Score = 3
What was wrong with the crowd Iceman?
Score = 1
They weren't moving at all for the two openers (though I wasn't especially enthused with Band of Skulls myself), and nobody on the floor, save for maybe the first 3 rows and myself, was doing anything but head bobbing. It looked like the balcony was dancing more than the people I was next to.
Score = 3
i was at the show also. metric was really great. emily has an awesome stage presence.
i have to agree with iceman16 that the crowd (or at least the second tier and from what i could see, the pit tier) were kind of un-enthused and dull. not a whole lot of energy.
not so much with metric, but they were definitely lacking support for SG and BoS. after the first few songs SG even said 'i'd recommend moving a little.'
it was a downer fighting to get a decent standing spot at that venue just to realize you're surrounded by people that don't seem to be having much fun. or are trying to unapologetically muscle their way in front of you when they're taller.
though i don't think the wiltern ever really attracts the best of crowds for the more mainstream shows. and the ground layout of that venue does a good job at infuriating people.
i wish the set was a tad longer and had some more tracks from grow up and blow away, but the fantasies and live it out songs were great.
Score = 3
i saw them sunday. it was nuts to say the least
Score = 0