Battleme and Canadian indie rock giants Metric chilled and charmed the crowd of mainly mid to late 20-year-olds at the Cleveland House of Blues on Nov. 25 on a bitter cold night.
Photos by Jordan Gonzalez, 2013.
Matt Drenik, founder and lead singer of Battleme got the crowd prepped for Metric with his smooth brand of folk/indie rock, starting things off with some of his first hits from the show Sons of Anarchy, where his latest project was birthed (he is the former lead singer of Austin-based stoner rock band LIONS). Playing a flawless 40 minute set, his more upbeat songs like “Just Weight” worked as a great appetizer for what was to come with Metric, and softer songs such as “Here With Me” (featured on NBC’s Chuck) bewitched the front rows as they softly moved with the music.
The crowd, donning every hipster outfit known to mankind, seemed to enjoy Battleme’s soaring vocals, flamboyant outros and pounding baselines, but many didn’t know the lyrics, so interaction was difficult. Despite that, Drenik kept the crowd focused by his chill personality and his natural humor.
“I realize I’m spitting a lot,” Drenik said mid-set. “It happens. My mom hates it, but she’s not here.”
A round of chuckles went through the crowd as he began the next song. He also got the crowd fist pumping and cheering when he mentioned his parents were from Cleveland (he was raised in south Ohio).
Metric came on after a 30 minute or so wait as their technicians set up the stage, sneaking in with the cryptic “Nothing But Time” and then rocking out with “Youth Without Youth.”
Their set boasted wind and blue strobe lights, and most fans on the floor happily danced. After some calmer songs from their latest album “Synthetica” such as “Speed the Collapse,” they got things rocking again with “Empty” and fan favorite “Help I’m Alive,” which easily got the best response and dancing from the crowd.
Metric puts on a clean show, and their latest tour is on the calmer side, probably since their latest album is a calmer album. Lead singer Emily Haines has an awkwardly charming presence onstage unlike many other leads with her simple dance moves and brief crowd interaction. After the pounding anthems “Sick Muse” and “Stadium Anthem,” the show ended with a five-song encore began with fairly anti-climactic songs from their 2005 album “Live it Out” like “The Police and the Private” and “Glass Ceiling” – perhaps too old for some of the younger fans on the dance floor. But the fans, who seemed rather frustrated during the beginning of the encore, let it all out for the easily danceable hit “Gold, Guns, Girls.”
Finally, any decent fan of Metric knew the catchy smash “Gimme Sympathy” was coming, and it did in the form of an acoustic version – which the fans loved. Just about the entire venue was singing.
The absence of the rocky version of “Gimme Sympathy” encapsulated the concert’s mood and overall atmosphere. Although at times it got animated, overall the concert took on a sit-down-and-relax vibe. The typical House of Blues problem of the back-row chatterboxes and awkward drunk fans put a slight damper, especially during the calmer songs from Battleme and Metric, which is a shame since Drenik and Haines have gorgeous soft vocals.
But in the end, it was the die-hard fans and excellent music that won. If only all opening bands had the maturity level and excellence of Battleme. Drenik’s passion for his music and his genuine personality make it that much more enjoyable. He’s the type of guy you could sit down at a coffee shop and talk philosophy for hours. Metric was solid and seemed to truly enjoy themselves during the show, and many fans left the venue satisfied.
“I can die now,” said a fan who knew all the lyrics during the show and was raising his hands in the air while looking upwards. “I’m so happy right now.”
