This evening at Broad Ripple’s The Vogue Theatre on Thursday night started out fairly chill with woman-led band Venus and the Flytraps. The California-based garage punk band started with a slow, chill song that broke into something much harder halfway through.
The opener put on a good show, giving grunge vibes and engaging the crowd in between songs. Halfway through their set they revealed that it was the guitarist Max’s birthday and explained that all of the band members were dressed as him in tribute. They played the first song they ever released, “Boys are Cuter When They’re Crying,” as well as a new, unreleased song called “I’m Sorry I Was Born.”
By the time Metric came on, the venue had filled out, the packed bodies and heat in the air making it clear that this was a sold out show. The band started with a dancey-pop song “Cascades,” off their 2015 album “Pagans in Vegas” before going into “Doomscroller” off of one of their most recent albums, “Formentera.”
The third song was a classic and fan favorite, “Gold Guns Girls,” and with it came both band and crowd energy as singer Emily Haines began to jump around. Fans seemed to know every word as they sang along and danced with the band.
The band brought with them a recognizable, familiar sound, with Haines’ voice being so unique that even the lesser-known songs were so clearly Metric. Their music was accompanied by ever-changing lighting and fog effects, setting the vibe for the indie rock show.
Towards the end of the show, Metric did a brief acoustic set with their song “Combat Baby” before moving into a few of their most popular songs for their finale: “Breathing Underwater,” “Black Sheep” (popularized by Brie Larson in the 2010 film “Scott Pilgrim vs the World”), and finally “Nothing is Perfect” off their most recent album, “Formentera II.”
Overall, the show was nothing short of spectacular, made even more impressive by the intimate venue and the sea of enthusiastic fans. The crowd’s energy never waned, and Emily Haines’ dynamic performance mirrored their excitement. She bounded across the stage, her every move electrifying the audience, and even took moments to connect with fans at the barrier, creating unforgettable memories.