This concert was an extremely rare event. Possibly described as a single-night festival hosting only the headliners. Despite the unique opportunity, the majority of the crowd was late to arrive. Unfortunately, this is typical for a mid-week show with a start time of 7 pm at a venue as remote as the Concord Pavilion. Garbage executed an aggressive grunge-punk vibe; Noel Gallagher and High Flying Birds flowing chill melodies. Metric was the perfect dynamic intro, as their versatile style lent a glimpse of what was yet to come.
For simplicity, the review will be in order of appearance with highlights, as each one could easily be a review of its own.
Metric commanded the stage from the initial cord to the final note. Emily Haines’s vocals alone would easily vibrate stadium walls. Tonight’s focus was lyrical without stage banter. The setlist was manicured toward a feeling with a taste from multiple albums. The intro was pop-rock, then changing the vibe into a serious synth and a finale with a pump of excitement. “Black Sheep” was a fun twist, which was written for Scott Pilgrim Saves The World. Some may argue it was molded for Brie Larson in the movie, yet, I would argue they should listen to both versions again.
The finale was a synth version of “Breathing Underwater.” It was fun and exciting, yet, my heart will also remain with the acoustic version. I would have loved to see Metric perform “Doomscroller,” but I understand a 10-minute song and a short set, that was outside the manicured intention of the evening. I can only walk away with the words “the world wasn’t mine to take,” understanding you will always be hungry for more.
Metric – SetList
- Gold Guns Girls / Fantasies (2009)
- Dark Saturday / Art of Doubt (2018)
- False Dichotomy / Formentera (2022)
- Help I’m Alive / Fantasies (2008/2009)
- All Comes Crashing / Formentera (2022)
- What Feels Like Eternity / Formentera (2022)
- Now or Never Now / Art of Doubt (2018)
- Black Sheep / Fantasies (expanded edition)(2009) and/ Scott Pilgrim Vs the World Soundtrack (2010).
- Breathing Underwater / Synthetica (2012)
Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds
Just after Metric exited the stage, a flood of stagehands added bunches of flower arrangements to the stage. Being that Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds just released the album Council Skies a few days prior, I questioned if this was prep for a wedding or a funeral.
Noel opened with four songs from Council Skies. Noel’s voice, with emotional bleeding, carried us on a sentimental road trip. This was accompanied by Super 8 footage of California and Nevada into Las Vegas from the early years. As the audience swayed, lip-syncing to words they haven’t quite memorized. The sentimental nostalgic vibe simulated a dreamy fantasy of a family road trip. Noel has said: ‘I want my music to be elevating and transforming in some respect…’
Noel Gallagher, a man of few words, then addressed the crowd, “So this is all stuff from the new album. For the rest of you, sorry, but that’s why we’re here.”
I then noticed the large cardboard cutout of Pep Guardiola proudly wrapped in a Manchester City scarf. Pep, whose playing and later coaching style is highly creative, hard-working, and with the ability to quickly read the game, had the city on the verge of winning their first European cup. That is when Noel started transitioning into Oasis songs. Everyone sang along and, in certain sentimental moments, held up their cellphones instead of lighters, empathizing with the light we wish we had. I am grateful the speakers were louder than my surrounding fans. Noel paused and asked if there were any fellow Manucians in the audience tonight before playing a surprise cover of ”Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division. Unsure if he was referencing his brother or affections for his friend Pep Guardiola
The set concluded with Noel’s version of “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” As the lights left them as, shadows then dropped to black. It was a magical performance with slight emotional pauses in dreamy moments.
Noel Gallagher and the Highflying Birds – Setlist
- Pretty Boy / Council Skies (2023)
- Council Skies / Council Skies (2023)
- Easy Now / Council Skies (2023)
- We’re Gonna Get There in the End (John Lennon cover) / Council Skies (2023)
- Open the Door, See What You Find / Council Skies (2023)
- We’re on Our Way Now / Noel Gallager’s High Flying Birds (2011)
- In the Heat of the Moment / Chasing Yesterday (2015)
- AKA… What a Life! / Noel Gallager’s High Flying Birds (2011)
- Also featured in Formula 1 2012 video game
- The Masterplan / Wonderwall B-Side [1995]
- Going Nowhere / Be Here Now [1997]
- Little by Little / Heathen Chemistry [2002]
- Live Forever / Definitely Maybe [1994]
- Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division Cover) / [Unreleased]
- Don’t Look Back in Anger / What’s the Story (Morning Glory) [1996]
Garbage
Once they entered, the vibe flipped to a rip’in punk-rock heartbeat. Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig are phenomenal as individual music producers in their own right. Yet, when these humble humans collaborate, it is a scrumptious experience. I assumed the focus would be on the exceptional 2021 album No Gods – No Master or their Record Store Day EP, Witness to Your Love. Overall I believe the setlist was a systematic pull from their vast discography to deliver a message of hope and response, ‘We are with you.’
They left nothing behind, delivering an excellent beat while moving at full 1980s punk-rock speed on stage. Only pausing to deliver spoken words that speak to the troubles we share, hope, and understand where we are now. Shirley mentioned the special influence Siouxsie Sioux had on her life before performing a cover of the Siouxsie and the Banshee’s classic “Cities in Dust”
As Shirley Manson paused during “Only Happy When It Rains” we fans were quick to respond to the cue, “pour your misery down on me.” Afterward, Shirley spoke about how she will remember this beautiful moment on her deathbed.
With another pause, Shirley spoke of the times of conflict leading to misunderstanding to the point of being picked apart. “They may not agree, but for fuck’s sake, can we get along?” The musical follow-up was “Beloved Freak.”
Some pauses were subtle, with flowers on the screen and a guitar cord held a bit longer as we exhaled. Before the house lights went on, they returned for an encore of “When I Grow Up” Yet when the house lights did come on, we all just stood in disbelief that it was over…
Garbage – Setlist
- Supervixen /Garbage [1995]
- #1 Crush / Vow B-Side [1995] & Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack [1996]
- The Men Who Rule the World / No Gods No Masters[2021]
- Run Baby Run / Bleed Like Me [2005]
- Special / Version 2.0 [1998]
- Wolves / No Gods No Masters [2021]
- Beloved Freak / Not Your Kind of People [2012]
- Bleed Like Me / Bleed Like Me [2005]
- Cities in Dust (Siouxsie and the Banshees cover) / Witness to Your Love [2023]
- I Think I’m Paranoid / Version 2.0 [1998]
- Stupid Girl / Garbage [1995]
- Push It / Version 2.0 [1998]
- No Gods No Masters / No Gods No Masters[2021]
- Only Happy When It Rains / Garbage [1995]
- Vow / Garbage [1995]
- Encore:
- When I Grow Up / Version 2.0 [1998]
Each of the Artists on the bill were unique on a variety of levels. The entirety of this experience can only be described as a personal journey via nostalgia for the past and excitement for what is yet to arrive. As seasoned artists, the songs and setlists were slightly altered to hold our hands through an alternative experience.
