Gig: METZ @ Strange Brew, Bristol
METZ by Ross Peacey
Last night was one of the final chances to witness METZ live, the penultimate date of their final tour before an indefinite hiatus. They’ve been promoting their boundary-pushing record Up On Gravity Hill, released on Sub Pop in April. METZ has a reputation as a great live band, holding nothing back every night! It came as no surprise that tickets sold out in advance with people clamoring to see them one last time. Opening for them were THE NONE, a thrilling and relatively new band from London, quickly gaining attention for their pin-sharp noize rock.
THE NONE
The night began early with the venue filling up fast. THE NONE took to the stage whilst the temperature continued to drop outside. THE NONE feels fresh, but also self-assured and fully formed. They fly through their 9 song set, drawing a great response from the crowd. Tracks like ‘Pigs Need Feeding’ from their debut EP released earlier this year MATTER getting people dancing. It’s quick to see why METZ chose them for this part of the tour. They’re a great pairing, sharing some musical similarities, driving bass and drums, bone dry guitar,r and vocals from Kaila Whyte that switch from melodic to a scream.
METZ
As the lights dropped METZ took to the stage amidst screams from the crowd. Their set felt triumphant. Playing songs from throughout their catalog it reminded me of each time I’d seen them in different venues across the city over the years. They dedicated ‘Get Off’ to those who’d seen them play at Start the Bus in 2013. I still hear people talk about that show now. Metz described it as mayhem when news broke of the venue’s closure years later.
The gift of seeing METZ live now is hearing the evolution of their sound. From tracks like ‘Acetate’ from their second record. A classic example of their ferocious attack. Chris’s bowling ball heavy bass, Alex’s harsh distorted guitars, howl and Hayden’s blasting drums. Yes, Hayden Menzies is one of the best modern rock drummers you’ll hear! All the way to ’99’s’ pop repetition and ‘A Boat To Drown In’ with its drawn-out dreamier quality.
‘Mess of Wires’ was dedicated to the late Steve Albini who sadly died in May. Someone who clearly had a huge influence on the band, and many of the people in attendance.
I looked across the audience at one point to see so many people dancing / crowd surfing and smiling including Kaila from THE NONE. This felt like a special moment. Alex thanked the crowd for their support over the years and urged them to seek out great new music and support their local scenes.
METZ has always felt like one of those special bands. Fans adore them, taking every chance to see them live with friends, hear their latest record, and buy the new t-shirt. Their music feels honest, passionate, and immediate.
‘Wet Blanket’ blasts out for the encore. A perfect way to say goodbye.
