Metronomy & The Teenagers

Friday, January 9, 2009

Kings Arms, Auckland

This was a highly anticipated gig, and I was not disappointed. While many maintain that they were a bit bored by the lack of live instrumentation, which I agree greatly detracted from the gig, it was still hugely energetic, entertaining and exciting. It was far beyond capacity for a reason: this promoter knows how to somehow magically bring a band that’s at its peak internationally; one that hasn’t quite made it to music television or mainstream radio but is being talked about hotly.

The Teenagers played first, and largely as expected them to, but were compellingly energetic and strangely enigmatic (I think it was their seductive French accents). They were fun to watch and dance to, though their set seemed to drag slightly, and really highlighted the mediocrity of their songs. For the famously smutty score-song Homecoming they dragged girls on stage to be their ‘cheerleaders’, which was cringe-inducing. Though they’re certainly not super talented or interesting beyond their novelty pulling power, they filled that expectation more than well, and served the hungry hipsters who clawed and shrieked at their jumpy singer.

To me Metronomy stole the show. They were electric! The crowd was so intense that the promoter asked me to stand in front of the door to the bands’ dressing room the whole night and act as a human barricade. This made for a much better vantage point to watch the guys doing cheesy ‘naff’ action dance moves that were kinda hilarious, hitting their push lights and moving their arms to the music. It was like signing for neu ravers! Not that this was a neu rave gig. But the lack of live playing detracted from their set greatly, considering at some points they’d all just stand and bop to the music, their hands at their sides, while the backing tracks continued to play. But that’s pretty much my only gripe. Their dancey, catchy electronic pop was perfect party music, and they played it with technical skill and natural talent. Intermingling their student radio hits with lesser known electro-jams made for an absolutely AWESOME night out!

More Metronomy & The Teenagers live photos

 

Posted by Sarah Gooding under France, UK
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