Metric @ House of Blues, Boston

2009 has brought a lot of great shows to Boston so far, but to every rule, there is an exception.  Unfortunately, for me, that exception was Metric.


The band filled up the House of Blues (capacity of over 2,400 people), which is always a good omen.  Their track "Twilight Galaxy" was a great opening song - a relatively slow-mo tune with a strong synth foreshadowing an electro-rock explosion.  The band followed this with "Help, I'm Alive".  You would've expected that their hit-single would have brought the so-called explosion, but it didn't.


Emily Haines barely spoke to the fans, and although I know artists are not politicians or professional speakers, what's wrong with showing some appreciation to the fans?  It's simple math; I call it establishing a connection with the audience. And so... without this connection, the show went on with a few peaks along the curb (like their performance of "Dead Disco"), but altogether it felt like a listening party, where you join the masses, give away beer and press play.


My friend said I wasn't feeling it largely because of the venue; at least, for him, the House of Blues was "the McDonald's of concert halls".  I'm not sure I agree with this.  Although the atmosphere might be slightly fabricated, I've felt more pumped in other shows with similar features (in terms of audience capacity, size of venue, genre of the show and target audience).

Anywho... I love concerts, and I got to see the Canadian-US band live.  I must say that, although on a much smaller scale, the show You Can Be a Wesley put up after Metric at the restaurant of the HofB was great.  It is not the best place they've performed, as in there is no real stage and the sound could be better tuned, but the Wesleys' signature beat and familiar faces made the night worthwhile, after all.

Local Bands Throwdown ... YCBW and Banana Phonetic

So although this might be a little last minute, but I'd regret it if I didn't say a word or two about two upcoming acts.... My two favorite local bands will be having shows back-to-back this weekend, so... hit the venues.

Banana Phonetic - Cask n' Flagon @ 10:30 pm
This Allston-based band has slowly worked its way up the Boston indie radar.  They are slightly influenced by Wilco and Pavement and I personally love their constant change of tempos, which makes every show a dance off... and... it's also worth mentioning that Akhil, their front man and also main contributor to IndieMuse, has an awesome mane which can't stand still while they are jamming.  Seeing them live is a blast.


I heard they were recording in Vermont a few days ago, so maybe we'll get some great stuff from their new recordings.

You Can Be A Wesley - House of Blues, the restaurant @ 9:45 pm
You know about the Wesleys because I've written about them a few times.  But, just in case you need to understand why I love them so much... when they're on stage you know they are not playing to get a cult-like following, they play for the love of music, something many artists have forgotten about. 


Their music is an energy builder with unique vocals, and musical juxtapositions: heart-throbbing lines with soothing harmonies, explosive drum strokes with dreamy guitar riffs, and unexpected change of tempos with metaphorical lyrics.




So, people... no questions asked... two great shows.   Sounds like an awesome weekend is ahead of us.

The Grates - Aussies invade the Bean

One word: cute.
This is true! The vocalist of The Grates, Patience, is the embodiment of cuteness.  How can you resist a lovely, bouncy girl with an adorable, golden shinny dress and a yellow cape?  Her gleeful presence is just contagious.


The Australian band paid a visit to the Bean and shared the stage with three other local bands (Verb the Adjective Noun, Viennagram and, my favorites, YCBW) at the Mid East.


Their music came in as a lovely surprise.  I mean, it seemed they were unknown to the larger crowd, including myself.  Best description? In a few... they're a combination of pop with grunge, punk and electro. One thing is for sure: their energetic vibe is bound to infect all listeners.  


Patience  joined everybody on the dance floor, and they loved her.  In between a dancing frenzy, hilarious remarks about spirit fingers and elbow indicators for hi-fives, she became one of them.  "And they said Boston was a hard crowd.  You guys are amazing!" she said.


DO listen to their tracks and dare to dance to a couple of them... possibly with minor garments in front of a mirror "Cameron Diaz in Charlie's Angels" style.  And be on the look out! They've scheduled a full US-tour to keep on spreading the love the way only aussies can.


Note: Pay attention to their drummer, Alana.  This lovely lady is a-mazing!

THE GRATES

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You Can Be A Wesley... Album Release

So right now it seems indie rock bands are "hip". Yes, to the delight of many, the disgust of others, the hipster scene has taken over the main cities, but... you know what they say: if you can't fight 'em, join 'em...


I'm not trying to build a case in favor of the plaided shirts, the greasy one-week-without-washing hair do's, the fixed gear bikes and the Pabst tall boys.  In fact, it has nothing to do with the new wave! Don't take me wrong.  Honestly, I hate the derogative connotation of this term, and the fact that it has become an over-misused social label.  But I might be digressing...


The bottom line is that in terms of music, I have to say that what some people like to call hipsters DO know what's going on.  And I applaud them.  At least they're daring to put their music out there and put on last minute gigs in basements, local cafes and small bars.  

I say: keep - it - coming!

A few weeks ago (July 20th), I had the chance to see an Allston-based band that go by the name You Can Be A Wesley.  In fact, it was at the Middle East Upstairs on the release party of their album Heard Like Us where I got to sway at the beat of their tunes.  Their bass and guitar riffs inevitably remind me of the Strokes and the Pixies; the vocalist's voice and the dreamy, airy, sweet lyrics are in the style of Of Montreal or Los Campesinos! and... their strong drums are reminiscent of Phoenix? TV on the Radio?  If you love/recognize any of these bands, then you will love this quartet.


Now... what makes YCBW different from any other local, improvised, we-met-back-in-college rock band?  The answer lies on the effect they provoke on the crowd.  I remember talking to a friend a few days ago and arriving to the conclusion that rock concerts were no longer IT.  The crowds were dead, static and pretty much... lame.  But YCBW managed not only to break the crowds, but to elate them and bring them to a complete sing-along hysteria.


They're planning on making it big (yes!) and rumor has it they will begin a US tour soon (which we hope it's true for the benefit of all you indie-music junkies out there).  In the mean, and should you be in the Boston Area... they have scheduled two shows for the month of September:  Middle East Upstairs (Sept. 3rd) and Great Scott (Sept. 26).


Fav tunes:  "Rearrange the Sea", "Balloon Head", "Make Up For God" and "Feed the Moon Starve the Sun".

YOU CAN BE A WESLEY

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