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. Continue reading “Show Review: Garbage, Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds, and Metric at Concord Pavilion, 6/6/23”
Tag: Metric
BONUS SINGLE: “Doomscroller” by Metric
It’s looking like the new Metric album is going to be a winner. We are on the second single, “Doomscroller,” and its a 10 1/2 minute epic of jittery emotions that’s an epic dance song, a boombastic rocker, and dark piano ballad. The song is a journey that’s over before you realize it started, much like actual doomscrolling. Only this song won’t send you into a dark depression that fills you with a deep distrust of the universe.
Formentera is coming your way on July 8th. Preorders are happening right now, including a “natural” vinyl pressing and some super cute shirts! (Seriously. I may have to buy that one myself…)
Single of the Week: “All Comes Crashing” by Metric
There are few songwriters that really understand how to convey the feelings of anxiety, desperation, and fear quite like Emily Haines. I’ve been waiting eagerly for the first pandemic-era release from Metric, because I was pretty sure we would get a track that would clearly validate the feelings of being stuck in a madness that’s out of our control. and they delivered tenfold. “All Comes Crashing” in a lot ways is classic Metric- pure, emotive vocals, post-punk guitars appearing out of nowhere beneath warm synths, and danceable beats to help ease the burden of the anxiety and provide just a little bit of optimism.
“All Comes Crashing” is the first single off their upcoming release, Formentera, which is due to be in your hands and ears July 8th. Preorder details coming soon. Also, there are few nights more cathartic than a Metric concert, and their 2022 North American Tour goes on sale TODAY at 10am local time. Check tour dates out here!
Single of the Week: “Auld Anxi” by Metric
I’ve had one frightening thought that has repeated in my head throughout most of the last four years, but has been amplified greatly over the course of the last 8 months: “Many Americans are so against the notion of caring about each other that when faced with the prospect of doing ANYTHING that will help improve the lives of one another, the request itself won’t just be shrugged off, but will be treated with such utter scepticism that the request itself would be viewed as purely evil and certainly will destroy our way of life.” The reality of life isn’t quite as dire as that, but the anxiety lives on. Emily Haines has always had a great gift for writing about anxiety in a clear, empathic manner. “Auld Anxi” is a rewrite of the classic “Auld Lang Syne” that might be one of the more optimistic songs ever written about anxiety. It’s like getting the warm hug from a dear friend that understands you and listens without judgement that we so badly need right now, but aren’t likely to get for another several months.
Today is the first day of 2021. This means we made it through that hellscape of 2020. I hate how few of us made it through, and it sucks that things are going to keep getting worse for a bit. BUT- the light is at the end of the tunnel. We have less than three weeks of the Trump administration left. The first two vaccines have been approved in the US, and there’s likely to be one more in the next week or two. For now, stay safe- mask up if you MUST leave your home, if you still are working, give money to causes that will help people stay home that otherwise are forced to put themselves in dangerous situations for survival. I love you, dear reader, and I want you to be there when we can finally get back to shows next year.
Noise Pop Show Review: Metric at The Masonic, 2/23/2016
It’s a little jarring when your relationship with a band isn’t reflected by the show you see them put on. I’ve had this happen before; when I saw Marina and the Diamonds the first time, I was surprised to see a woman playing an intimate set at a piano. I was confused; where was the pop dance sarcastic and snarky dance diva I’d fallen for? I learned to love this other aspect of her, however, because being a fan means being open to compromise and loving new angles on bands you like. Metric has flirted with so many genres and sounds over their long career that I didn’t know what to expect from their show. I had no doubt that they would deliver a hell of a performance, and looked forward to watching them put their raw emotion and technical versatility on display.
Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Metric at The Masonic, 2/23/2016”
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 10/17/13-10/23/13
Thursday, October 17th
An Evening With Lionel Richie at SAP Center (formerly HP Pavilion)
Yes. Lionel Richie. Everyone needs to see Lionel Richie before they day. I saw him in Austin a last year, and he killed with a high energy, two hour set that started at 11:30 at night. Every song is a classic, and he’s one of the finest performers out there. There is nothing more fun you could do this night than dance all night long. (all night)
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Push The Feeling at California Academy Of Sciences
Friday, October 18th
Paramore, Metric, hellogoodbye at SAP Center (formerly HP Pavilion)
Paramore’s “brand new eyes” was a one of the best albums of 2009. It was a glorious peace of emotionally dynamic guitar rock. However, I didn’t know how deep those emotions ran until learning that half the band left during the tour for the record. It required Paramore to take stock if itself, and managed to take four years to produce a follow up. What we got was one of their most aggressive and ferocious record to date.
Braids, Hundred Waters, Kodak To Graph at Rickshaw Stop
Saturday, October 19th & Sunday, October 20th
Treasure Island Music Festival at Treasure Island
There is never any reason to do anything other than Treasure Island Music Festival if you are in town the weekend of said festival. It is the best music festival in America. Of course, you should read this for maximum enjoyment! The best part is that there is no overlap. So you don’t need to decide between Animal Collective and Sleigh Bells or Tricky and Atoms For Peace. It’s the best value for your festival dollar.
Monday, October 21st
The Sounds, Gemini Club at The Fillmore
I bet you forgot about The Sounds. They’ve put out several wonderful records filled with Blondie-inspired dance rock, and they aren’t showing any signs of stopping. Just because radio station programmers have decided to stop getting behind these wonderful Swedes doesn’t mean you should. I think you should be shaking your booty at The Fillmore tonight, because Mondays are hard, so your Monday night should be pure bliss.
Hunx & His Punx, Wet Drag at The Chapel
Tuesday, October 22nd
Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck w/ Al Jardine & David Marks at The Paramount Theater – Oakland
It’s official. There are now more original Beach Boys touring with Brian Wilson than touring in the actual Beach Boys. This show is, essentially, an extension of last year’s epic Beach Boys reunion tour, only instead of Mike Love, we’ve got guitar legend Jeff Beck. Which means that this show might actually be better than last year’s tour.
Laura Marling, Willy Mason at Great American Music Hall
Wednesday, October 23rd
Au Revoir Simone, Genuis, CALLmeKAT at Slim’s
Fact: Au Revoir Simone took their name from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. If that’s not enough of a selling point, then just listen to their super fun brand of synth pop:
Fred Frith, Patrice Scanlon, Grex at The Knockout
Fauxchella Review: Metric with Mona at The Fox Theater – Oakland, 4/18/13
Fauxchella is a brutal time for music fans. The night Metric played at The Fox, we also had to contend with like minded bands How To Destroy Angels and Savages playing across the bridge. It was a tough night of you enjoy powerful women fronting danceable rock bands. And, as much as I truly love this band, I was thinking hard about what I was missing. I didn’t want to feel buyers remorse. Deep down inside, I knew this was the right place to be. And the sold out crowd at The Fox tonight knew it, too.
Continue reading “Fauxchella Review: Metric with Mona at The Fox Theater — Oakland, 4/18/13”
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/18/13-4/24/13
More prime Fauxchella shows making it really hard to get a good night’s sleep on a school night. But you only live once, eh?
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/18/13-4/24/13”
Show Review: Live 105’s Not So Silent Night at Oracle Arena, 12/7/12
Live 105 has managed to put together, once again, a fantastic line up for their annual holiday spectacular. So much so, that they had to split it into two days. One day was a bit more “new wave” oriented, and another day was purely guitar driven. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to check out the first night, the “guitar” night. It was, surprisingly, one of the most interesting and diverse arena rock shows I’ve ever been to, filed with a wide array of guitar music, from acoustic folk to earnest, working class punk, all the way to classic blues rock. I don’t know how they are going to one up this one:
Continue reading “Show Review: Live 105’s Not So Silent Night at Oracle Arena, 12/7/12”
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 12/6/12-12/12/12
I know that December tends to be a time to purchase gifts for friends and family members. But Shopping kind of sucks. Instead, go to a show?
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 12/6/12-12/12/12”