About a week before the Metric gig, I saw Morrissey live. I claimed that no gig could ever top Moz- that it was the greatest gig ever.

Oh how I take that back.

 

Coventry Kasbah is one of my favourite venues, there’s something special about it. Metric played the side room which is tiny. My favourite band in a small room, can it get any better? Yes, yes it can and I’m going to tell you exactly how and why!

The support act was a DJ, no idea what his name was. I have a hard time accepting that he is a DJ due to him playing off CD decks. He has no vinyl, in my mind this doesn’t make anyone a DJ- but that’s just me. Music on vinyl just sounds so much better. Anyway, back to Metric.

 

The band take to the stage and everyone goes rather mental, which is expected. How long has it been since they did a tour of the UK?

They open with Twilight Galaxy, with a nice little jam at the end of it. Perfect opener. Then it is straight into Help I’m Alive which is greeted by mass cheering. I never ever sing at gigs. This was the first…maybe second time I’ve sung at a gig. There are no highlights of the gig; the whole thing was pure perfection. Emily Haines is the greatest front woman around right now. The way Jimmy, Joshua, Joules and Emily come alive on stage just leaves you in awe. Jimmy Shaw is an amazing guitarist, when he plays it’s almost as if he is in some kind of trance having a fit- it is beautiful. This guy needs to be up in the list of greatest guitarists of all time.

Being right at the front, I am pretty much crushed but I don’t care and neither does anyone else in the same position as me. Tonight felt like a bunch of people who did not know each other coming alive for an hour and a half.

 

The big question, did Metric play any old songs? Hell yes! They blessed us with Empty (you have no idea how big of a deal that was!), Handshakes, and an extended version of Dead Disco. It was the encore that quite possibly made this gig something everyone will remember in years to come, even if they have a bout of amnesia. They came back and ripped the place up with Monster Hospital. Joshua and Joules left the stage for a few minutes, and Jimmy and Emily played a stunning version of Live It Out. Totally unexpected. I thought it was going to end after Monster Hospital. This stripped, slower version of Live It Out was beautiful. Every word was sung by the crowd. Emily made everyone use their mobile phones and lighters to light up the place; the atmosphere at this gig was the best I have ever seen. Coventry crowds are the best.

The only songs that were not played off Fantasises were Collect Call and Blindness (my favourite). However, although they did not play Blindness, I am about to tell you what made this gig better than the Moz gig.

 

During one of the songs, I have no idea which as it’s a bit of a blur. I think it was Stadium Love; Emily was grabbing the hands of those in the first two rows. She touched my friends hand (for the second time!), then the girl next to me, so on and so forth. But, Emily noticed she didn’t grab my hand so she stepped back grabbed my hand and smiled at me. Emily Haines grabbed MY hand and smiled AT ME. I think I died and went to Heaven.

There is no denying how much Metric love their fans and how much their fans love them. Metric have the best fans in the world.

 

Frequently Emily was complimenting the crowd, saying we were the coolest and how nice it was to see everyone looking different from each other.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one there wanting Metric to stay on stage and play every single song they have ever done.

 

The gig ended and we all pilled out. Covered in sweat and filled with extreme joy (yes that does sound wrong, I know). Walking to the bus station I shouted at my friend, as I couldn’t hear that I was never washing my hand again after Emily had touched it. A girl walking in front of us shouted back “ME NEITHER! SHE TOUCHED ME TOO!”

You can call us crazy if you want, but I have washed my hands numerous of times since the gig.

 

The morning after my body hurt, my hearing was worse than usual and my voice was rather delicate- this my friends is what makes the perfect gig. Oh, and Emily Haines touched my hand and smiled at me!

Oh, I took quite a few photos but I’ll only put one up. The photo above, just captures everything this gig was. If you were there, you’ll know what I mean.