All The Feelings
Something that may not be entirely apparent, especially given the majority of shows I’ve covered, is that I like more than just metal music. Shocking, I’m sure, but true nonetheless, and as a kid who grew up through the 90s and very early 00s, the wave of Indie rock and indie pop was unavoidable. One thing I did have, however, was a bit of a discerning palate, but when a friend turned me on to Stars and then another to Metric in 2004, it was inevitable that I would go on a deep dive into a then-mostly unexplored genre for me, ultimately leading to a plethora of bands, but specifically to Broken Social Scene. So anyway, when I saw that not both Metric and Broken Social Scene not only had new albums coming out, but were to embark on a tour together, supported by Stars, well, I jumped at the opportunity.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Stars, and damn if they don’t still have that spark that made me fall in love with them when I was young. Songs that brim with all the anxiety, anger, and hope that are born out of love and loss with equal measure pour from this band, and they are no less vital now than they were when I first heard them. Tarquil Campbell and Amy Milan exude so much presence when singing both leads, duets, and harmonies that make them impossible to look away from.
Andrew Whiteman of Broken Social Scene came out to play 2nd guitar on “He Lied About Death,” a song that is not so secretly anti-conservative. Tarquil was full of somewhat self-deprecative humor, at one point quipping “Terminally uncool since 1998, we’re Stars from Montreal.” I, for one, will be damned if they aren’t one of the coolest fucking bands on Earth.
The first thing I need to admit is that of the three, I am the least well-versed in Broken Social Scene. However, everything I had heard stayed with me, lingering in my subconscious, always there when I’m feeling a little melancholic and just want something to share that with. This band truly is a large family, with members first meeting as far back as 13 years old. Whether at summer camps or high school, the friendships forged endured and led to so much music and unadulterated joy in its creation.
I suspected that members from each group might make small appearances during BSS’ set, as there has been a history of such in shared tours in the past, and I was absolutely right. Amy Milan stayed on to sing lead on “The Good I Keep” since the newest collaborator –and solo artist– Hannah Georges couldn’t join the tour. Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw came out a few songs before the end of the set to perform “Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl.” While perhaps not as popularly known as Metric, they certainly perform with all the same power and gravitas and are more than worth it to see live by even the most casual of listeners.
Metric truly has become a powerhouse of a band over the years, showing no sign of slowing down or mellowing with age. They are a tight-knit group that exudes both confidence and a commanding presence on stage. Playing songs from their new album as well as sprinkling in a solid dose of tunes from across their catalog, the band held the stage for an hour and a half of energetic, thoughtful rock and roll.
As was the theme of the evening, members of Stars and BSS joined them on stage during “Synthetica,” “Gold Guns Girls,” and “Loyal.” Throughout the night, Haines marveled at just how lucky everyone in these three bands are and how they’ve maintained friendships with one another since their teenage years, noting that she’s been friends with Amy Milan of Stars since they were 15. Watching them on stage together, you could see the absolute joy in their eyes as they played. Calling the tour “All The Feelings” was no understatement.
