Joywave w/ Metric
Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA
02.21.16
Rochester, New York’s boys wonder Joywave always put on a fantastically good show, witness their slot at 107.7 The End’s 2015 Summer Camp, where they had the crowd dancing right along with them for their entire short set. There were high hopes once again for their set opening for Metric at Seattle’s historic Moore Theatre, and the guys, led by the nerdy-charismatic Daniel Armbruster, gave it their all. But opening for cult dance-pop favorites Metric is a tough slot to fill. I listened as many fans failed to know anything about Joywave, and as Armbruster joked that the “last time I played to a seated crowd was a high school talent show.”
Sure, it was a tough house, in the strangely seated theatre, with a lukewarm audience. But hand it to Joywave for being as tongue-in-cheek and emphatic as ever. Though their set was simple, the guys rocked out hard. One of the best parts of watching Joywave is that even though Armbruster is, at times, an over-the-top front man, the entire band gets down. They play like they’re having the time of their lives, tracks like “Parade” and “Nice House” from their 2015 debut full-length How Do You Feel Now? slowly convincing the crowd that they’re worth a second chance. They showcased their new song “Alice” from the upcoming Alice in Wonderland film, which is a nice coup for a young band and closed the set out with their hits “Tongues” and “Destruction.” If you haven’t heard of them by now, here’s your chance. Go, right now, and listen to these guys. It’s fun, it’s funny, it’s smart.
After a short break, the mixed crowd – kids with headphones to middle-aged guys seated front row – was engulfed in darkness as keyboards covered in spangles and fur and billowing smoke took over the stage. Strobe lights swept across the room, and Metric – the Toronto band that could – appeared through the depths. They opened the show with “IOU” from their 2003 debut record Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? and the rest of the set proved just as throwback. They mixed it up nicely, showcasing hits and deep cuts alike. “Artificial Nocturne” had the crowd singing along, and singer Emily Haines donned multiple capes, and gave some serious face time to the crowd, with plenty of interaction and just the right amount of friendly banter.
“Dreams So Real” saw about 40 VIP fans join the band on stage for a sweet acoustic sing-along, before diving into a hearty “Sick Muse.” Metric sounds great live, surprisingly great almost, Haines’s vocals crisp and clear, killer guitars, and a non-stop beat. While the crowd is mostly on their feet at this point, it’s near-shocking to see some still chilling in their seats, barely moving. But at least they’re paying attention. And they should. For a band that’s been pumping out indie-electro hits for fifteen years, Metric are still very much in fighting form, and they put on a great show, including a four-song encore featuring favorites like “Gimme Sympathy” and “Breathing Underwater.”
Review and photos by Stephanie Dore
Joywave
Metric
