Click Click: Metric @ 9:30 Club
Last night, indie rock darlings Metric performed at the 9:30 Club to a sold out crowd. Metric are no strangers to the venue and like clockwork every year, seem to amaze their D.C. fans.
Metric plucked the opening act, Smile Smile, straight out of Dallas, Texas to help support the U.S. leg of their tour. Smile Smile are a piano/acoustic folk indie-pop group who have a simply charming approach to their songwriting. The duo, consisting of Jencey on keys and Ryan Hamilton on guitar, reminded us of the headliners they were supporting -- specifically, the recent stripped-down tour as an acoustic duo Metric's James Shaw and Emily Haines embarked on, with their soft crooning and heart-felt lyrics.
In contrast, Sebastian Grainger and The Mountains brought a different perspective to the table, always on 10... all the time. You may know Sebastien Grainger as the former drummer/vocalist of the greatness that was Death From Above 1979. He certainly is not at a loss for creative and inspiring music, however. With this new project, he mixes his dance-punk past with a classic rock n' roll edge. He really shines when he steps out from behind the drums. His confidence and swagger are undeniably entertaining, parading around the stage as if giving the crowd lessons on how to properly attain the proper “rockstar” pose.
Finally, Metric took the stage before a crowd of older and newer fans alike, many of whom arrived at the 9:30 Club early in high anticipation of the evenings events. Metric are touring in support of their new album, Fantasies. Put out on Metric's own label, the album presents a slight departure from their heavily social and political commentary approach on earlier albums. It's very romantic, and all together, optimistic. Throughout the years, Metric has proven to be a consistent crowd pleaser, cultivating a mix of their aforementioned political and dancy indie rock tunes. Frontwoman Emily Haines converses with her audiences as if they are all friends, all on the on the same team, and working towards the same goal: to live in the moment and enjoy every last energetic second of the evening.