English new-new wave act Metronomy swung by Toronto's Phoenix to play in front of a packed house of people who passed on Victoria Day fireworks in favour of catchy synth riffs and pulsing basslines. Here's what you missed.
1. The fantastic harmonies of opening band Cloud Control
Maybe we have low standards, but we're generally not expecting huge levels of harmony from independent rock bands. Australian psych-rock act Cloud Control caught us off guard in the best way possible. Pretty much every song is laced with boy-girl harmonies courtesy of frontman Alister Wright and keyboardist Heidi Leffner, and four-part harmonies are not uncommon.
2. Cloud Control's Leffner singing, dancing, playing keyboards and tambourine at the same time
This doesn't sound particularly impressive, but then we tried it at home and managed to fail at all four. This is definitely harder than it looks.
3. Cloud Control dropping a verse from the Butthole Surfer's classic "Pepper" into the middle of one of their songs
That was certainly unexpected, but not at all unwelcome.
4. The vastly different stage demeanors of Metronomy's Joseph Mount and Olugbenga Adelekan
Both frontman Mount and bassist/secondary vocalist Adelekan have the ability to send their voices into registers that are pretty hard for adult men to achieve. They also have completely opposite, yet totally complimentary, stage presence. While Mount is cool, slightly detached and ever so slightly awkward, Adelekan looks like he's been hit with a live wire, grooving, dancing and jumping across the stage, smiling like he's having the time of his life and generally encouraging the crowd to do the same.
5. Metronomy's ability to change formations
With more instruments than people, pretty much everyone in the band is a multi-instrumentalist. Mount moves between guitar, keys and conga drums; keyboard player Oscar Mount sings occasionally, as well as playing a little tambourine; new fifth member Michael Lovett moves between guitar and synths. (In fact, pretty much everyone logs a little synth time.) There's something fun about seeing a band willing to mix it up and get out of their comfort zones.
6. Metronomy's dedicated cult following
Did everyone know every word to every song, including the new ones? Yes they did. Did the whole crowd recognize every song within the first three notes? Yes they did. Metronomy are a pretty big deal in Europe and the U.K., but in North America, there are no casual Metronomy fans. If you're going to see them live, you're either super into them, or being dragged along by someone who's trying to convert you.
7. Metronomy's slick white suits
OK, we're all for rock 'n' roll individualism or whatever, but we'd be OK for bands in matching outfits to make a comeback. All four male band members wore slim-fitting white suits with black shirts and red pocket squares, while the lone woman, drummer Anna Prior, wore a high-necked white jump suit with a black belt and red brooch. It's a pretty sharp look, and more bands should emulate it.
by Chris Dart via Electronic RSS
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