Jingle Bell Rock @ The Sound Academy

December 15th, 2008

Photo by Allisa Murphy

Friday, December 12 marked the first of ten Jingle Bell Rock shows featuring a cornucopia of Canadian acts. Sebastian Grainger and The Mountains, The Dears, Tokyo Police Club and Metric each play a set, with a portion of ticket sales going to various local charities.

Unfortunately that night I missed the first two acts. Blame the Sound Academy for being in the middle of nowhere and having surprisingly early set times! I know I wasn’t the only one disappointed when they found out that they had missed token Toronto hipster Sebastian Grainger, and the smooth, cool sounds of The Dears.

Tokyo Police Club was up next and I was decently stoked to have made it in time for their set. The youngsters played a bunch of upbeat favourites with huge bursts of energy. Everyone smiled and added in his or her own vocals, and almost every song featured a clap-along. Clearly having a great time, the Newmarket band felt at home and were very thankful for everyone’s support.

Did I mention that there was a giant Christmas tree next to the stage? Isn’t that just adorable?!

Back to the show, the crowd couldn’t wait for headliners Metric to take the stage. Earlier in the fall, I wrote about how their new album is expected January 2009, and how up until now we all hadn’t really heard from them. The wait is over, folks. As the neon lit backdrop spelled out “METRIC”, and the lights dimmed, everyone cheered in anticipation.

Usually when I go to a show and bands take a turn to play “the new stuff”, the crowd calms down. This was definitely not the case when in came to Metric. Their set was a showcase of new songs and every single one was a hit.

They started off with their new single Help I’m Alive, and then went into one heard before at Virgin Festival 07 where Emily Haines asked us “Who would you rather be, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?” Out next came Poster of a Girl which is older and well loved, then back to the new stuff with as Emily put it “A song for exponential times,” titled Gold Guns Girls, which the crowd loved.

Other new songs included Emily singing softly that she can, “feel your ghost when I’m alone”. Another instructed to, “hold me closer I’m a lazy dancer,” and we were told that, “burnout stars they shine so bright”.

Mixed in with the new were some old favs. Empty was sleeker than sleek, and Dead Disco set off many to begin crazily dancing. Calculation Theme was sped up into a steady funky track, and Combat Baby was nothing short of a party. They closed with another new song, rocking out with Stadium Love.

They then left the stage, leaving everyone chanting for more Metric. It was at this point that a single green eye appeared on the background screen staring down. Creepy, but oh so cool.

The band came back by demand and played another new song, followed by Monster Hospital, which was accompanied by much moshing. Quick little reason why Canadians are the nicest: When someone lost their glasses in the mosh pit everyone stopped to help them find their eyewear. Isn’t that just kind?

The night finished off with Emily talking to us all about the bands enormous amount of appreciation. She told us how, “it’s a tough world out there, and some of you are just too cute and too young to understand.” They then began their farewell lullaby version of Live It Out.

The new Metric album is gonna be great you guys. Get excited. And check out the rest of the tour if you can!

Upcoming Jingle Bell Rock dates…
December 15, 2008 @ Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg
December 16, 2008 @ Prairieland Park – Hall D, Saskatoon
December 17, 2008 @ Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton
December 18, 2008 @ MacEwan Hall, Calgary
December 19, 2008 @ MacEwan Hall, Calgary
December 21, 2008 @ The Vogue Theatre, Vancouver
December 22, 2008 @ The Vogue Theatre, Vancouver
December 23, 2008 @ The Vogue Theatre, Vancouver

Links:
More Info: Jingle Bell Rock
MySpace: Sebastian Grainger and The Mountains
MySpace: The Dears
MySpace: Tokyo Police Club
MySpace: Metric