Photo: Michelle Ho
Despite a decade-long career and four studio albums under their belts, this time last year most of Australia had probably never even heard of the band Metric. It makes you wonder if anyone could have predicted that an accidental sequence of events - the leaking of their song 'Help I'm Alive' on the internet and Triple J putting it on high rotation, and the subsequent local release and runaway success of the album it appeared on, Fantasies - could result in the Canadian band playing to a sold-out crowd on the other side of the world less than 12 months later.
Metric seemed intent on making an impression with audiences on their first Australian tour and despite a couple of unnecessarily drawn-out instrumental jams, their delivery was tight and impressive. Possessing the sweet voice of an angel with the feisty attitude and vivacity of a rock performer, frontwoman Emily Haines kept up the energy in the room, spurring the audience on with her lively dancing, fist pumps and hand claps, as Metric performed some of Fantasies' most energetic tracks, from 'Gold Guns Girls' to the wonderfully catchy and mosh-inducing single 'Gimme Sympathy' and the evening's highlight, a passionate and dynamic 'Sick Muse'.
As the clock rounded midnight, the Canadian quartet pulled it back a notch, easing into the hugely popular 'Help I'm Alive' and finishing with 'Stadium Love'. Haines and guitarist James Shaw returned to the stage to profusely thank their audience for all their support before ending the night with a surprisingly stripped-back "lullaby" rendition of their 2005 track 'Live it Out'. The excited buzz from fans as they left the venue said it all: Metric's debut performance in Sydney was stellar, and the band more than delivered.
Michelle Ho
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