Like Peanut Butter And Chocolate, The Secret Machines And Metric Go Together Great Live On Tour With A Dunk In Chicago

Oct 19, 2022 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By Harrison Kristoph

Metric is out on a massive tour with a month long jaunt in the US that includes 26 shows with The Secret Machines opening. Last night, the show at The Chicago Theatre was nearly sold out with fans of both filing in up until show time. Even the merch line was packed with guests waiting for signed copies of Metric’s latest album, “Formentera”.

The Secret Machines, one of the most underrated bands from the 2000’s, joined Metric on this leg of the tour and gained new fans with the old along the way. They played a short, but laser focused seven song set opening the night with the classic track, “First Wave Intact” off their debut album, ‘Now Here Is No Where’ (2004). Sadly, they encountered some technical difficulties as the stage monitors were not working and they could not hear themselves. Brandon Curtis said mid song, “Sorry folks, we’re not hearing ourselves in the monitors. So if we sound bad, that’s why.” The silence was defining and lasted way to long. The band waited for several minutes, talked amongst themselves, as they asked us to do, before finally walking off stage. Almost 15 minutes later, and leaving the blinding white lights blasting us in the eyes the entire time, the sound was fixed, The Secret Machines walked back on and picked up right where they left off, mid song, the stride seemingly unbroken and the fans rejoiced. Not sure what happened but they recovered like pros. As for the soundman in charge, his days might be numbered.

You could tell there was an unease in the band from this. The mood was down. The vocals not as powerful as Brandon could be. Garza and Karnats tried to bring the energy back but the damage was done and Curtis wasn’t having it. Staying professional and in key, they rolled through six more songs that included songs throughout their carrier but a heavy emphasis on, ‘Now Here Is No Where’ and ‘Ten Silver Drops’ and surprisingly only one track off the latest album, ‘Awake In The Brain Chamber’.

This was just a teaser to what a Secret Machines show is. I’ve been following them since the beginning and seen them many times in clubs and festivals. They have much more to offer. I hope this tour brings that out and they get out on their own with full sets. This is a band to hear live to truly appreciate. You have to feel the kick drum from the power of Garza, see the energy that Karnats brings to the trio and dig that sentiment that Curtis croons from behind the keys.

Metric’s set was completely different. The digital live world stage they’ve created popped against the bleak low lights of The Secret Machines. With the feel of an 80’s teen movie, Emily Haines and company brought the pop. The synth pop they’ve crafted since the late 90’s brings a powerful energy that radiated through the crowd of parents and their youth to support the love of the Canadian rockers.

They kicked off the show with the track, ‘Doomscroller’ off their new album, “Formentera” (2022). Haines bounced back and forth between two keyboards set across from each other on stage. A giant digital screen raced colors and shapes across it melding with the lighting up front creating waves of motion to match their energy.

Highlights from this nights set being, ‘Help I’m Alive’, ‘Combat Baby’ (done acoustic), ‘Synthetica’ and ending with ‘Gimme Sympathy’ during the main set. For encore, they broken out ‘What Feels Like Eternity’, ‘Monster Hospital’, ‘Black Sheep’ and ‘Breathing Underwater’ for the close.

It’s amazing to see the energy, passion and fun Metric bring to a live performance after over two decades of playing together. The fans are not only still there, but growing as a new generation of youth make it their own.