Metric, Islands at Webster Hall, 3/10/2006

It was a moment of intense personal drama for all of us when we arrived individually outside Webster Hall Friday night. A few hours earlier we had discovered that Islands were to go on at 7:30 sharp, a slot that was considerably earlier than we had previously anticipated. Dankster #1 had to cut out of band practice early and hightail it over from Brooklyn. Dankster #2 bounced prematurely from a lease signing that had taken a unexpected turn for the worse, causing him much anxiety. Dankster #3 had to courageously accept taking out his sushi instead of dining in because the line at Tomoe was too long. Nevertheless, we all three managed to catch the majority of Islands’ set.

For those who don’t know, Islands is a group that is made up of the former guitarist and drummer of the Unicorns, now backed up by two extra guitars, two Asian kids on keys and violin, and a black dude on bass. The music is bigger and more drawn out than you might expect from retired Unicorns, but still sounds similar enough to draw comparisons. Islands’ set was interesting and fun to hear but not all that inspiring.

I first became aware of Metric when I saw them open for Broken Social Scene at a small club in Nashville in the Fall of 2003. They quickly won my friends and I over with their bombastic dance-punk grooves tempered by front woman Emily Haines’ sometimes-sweet-sometimes-ironic vocals, combined with her ability to connect intimately with her audience. That show was part of the Old World Underground tour. Last weekend found Metric supporting their latest effort, Live It Out, fresh off their somewhat surprising stint opening for the Rolling Stones.

Metric’s set kicked off mostly with songs from the new album and managed to be largely average sounding. Some songs, such as “Poster of a Girl” and single, “Monster Hospital,” were able to get the crowd rocking, but the performance didn’t really take a turn for the better until the old gems like “Succexy,” “Wet Blanket,” and “Hustle Rose,” were broken out. Metric closed with an energetic rendition of “Combat Baby,” and for the encore served up a very drawn out and broken down version of “Dead Disco.”

It wasn’t the best Metric show I’ve ever seen, and I kind of wish the new material had been more inspiring, but it’s always good to see them in action. You can tell the band is just as happy to be there as their fans are, and if all else fails you’ve always got Emily’s nipplitis (which lasted the entire show) to get your spirits up.

Dankster Rating: 7/10