at WaMu Theatre

Deck the Hall Ball started a little late. The excellent opening band, Visqueen, started their set about twenty minutes later than the posted start time of 5:10. All was mostly forgiven the minute they took the stage, though, blowing through a short, twenty-minute set mostly of songs from their latest album, Message to Garcia. Their catchy power pop most of us here find irresistible (myself included) was accentuated by frontwoman Rachel Flotard’s hilarious banter. This time she asked for the lighting guy to turn off the lights for one second for everyone in the huge crowd to have a quick make out session. It didn’t happen (was it just me, or did the lights actually get brighter at that moment?) but they followed through with their set, closing out with their old hit “Vaxxine”. When I got there during soundcheck, bassist Christina Bautista remarked that the crowd was the biggest she’s ever soundchecked before. It was good to see the big crowd of listeners of 107.7 The End taking to this really great local band.

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Last night was 107.7 The End's annual Deck the Hall Ball with Muse, 30 Seconds to Mars, Metric, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend and Visqueen. While I'm working on my review of the night (I didn't stay for 30 Seconds to Mars or Muse), we had an excellent photographer there in David Lichterman. A lot of blogs found they were only approved to shoot one band; fortunately for us, the band we were approved to shoot was Metric - who were my favorite band I watched last night and their frontwoman Emily Haines is quite photogenic. I wanted to post a few of Dave's photos to hold everyone over until I finish my review.

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With their latest album, Fantasies, Canadian rock band Metric doesn't really break any new ground, at least as far as their sound goes. Instead, the band does exactly what they've always done: craft some excellent rock music. There are plenty of lyrical and melodical hooks on Fantasies and is carried by the lyrics and harmonies of lead singer Emily Haines.

What Fantasies is, though, is Metric's most consistent and strongest album. It's a fine collection of synth and guitar-driven rock songs, with plenty that could be standout singles. "Help, I'm Alive" and "Gimme Sympathy" are my favorites at the moment but "Stadium Love" is the type of catchy song that will get entire crowd to hum along to the "oooh oooh oooh"s.

This show will be a homecoming of sorts as Fantasies was recorded just outside of Seattle at Bear Creek Studios in Woodinville. Haines explained to me it was because "It’s a beautiful studio in the woods, and being far from home was the whole point."

Watch Metric perform "Help, I'm Alive" on "Letterman" in July below:

{Metric plays Bumbershoot on the Broad Street Stage at 9:30pm on Monday, September 7}

Justice @ Showbox Sodo 03.24.08

It's astounding how many things are going on tonight! ChrisB will be at Metric at Showbox (read his interview with them), Keenan will be at Jens Lekman (Oh sweet Jens) at the Crocodile, imaginary victoria is at Neko Case (at the Paramount), imaginary hyme is all about the Desolation Wilderness show. Even our imaginary gal in LA, CA has chimed in with a recommendation to see recent Barsuk singing artist The Wooden Birds at Chop Suey tonight.

And then there's these other show's we'd be freaking out about if the above didn't have us scattered everywhere:

* Spanish for 100 will be at the Sunset with At-The-Spine and Autolite Strike -- Word has it that the Spanish for 100 show is going to be especially killer as they have special reason to cover both old and new songs tonight
* Y'alternative crooners The Felice Brothers will be taking over the Tractor
* Even Cafe Vita is in the action with a performance tonight to raise funds for the Vera Project: Say Hi, Grant Olsen (Arthur and Yu), Mount Eerie, and Shawn Smith
* Jason Lytle of Grandaddy is going to be at the Mars Bar tonight (not a joke! He's heading over there after he opens for Neko at the Paramount)

And then there's SIFF!

Where are you headed tonight?

(Photo by Jeanine Anderson)

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I'm getting really excited for Metric's upcoming (sold out) show on Thursday at the Showbox at the Market and the band has now released their third (!) video from their excellent album Fantasies. This video is for the song "Sick Muse" and was directed by Justin Broadbent and Michael Leach.

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Here's another video I had to share with all of you. It's to the song "Help I'm Alive" from the excellent new Metric album Fantasies.

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Metric plays at the Showbox at the Market on Thursday, June 4.

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Metric's new album, Fantasies, was recorded at Bear Creek Studios, just outside of Seattle and is being released on April 14. The band is self-releasing the album in US and Europe (and putting it out through their label, Last Gang, in their home of Canada).

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I made one this afternoon. You can listen to it at imaginarychrisb.muxtape.com. What would be on yours?

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at Showbox at the Market

Think of Shirley Manson singing vintage Beck’s lyrics behind the tightest prog rock band you can imagine and you will come as close as possible to realizing the genius that is Metric.

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