The Henry Clay People/Metric/Against Me!/Silversun Pickups @ Great Plaza 06/28/2010

Posted 04 Jul 2010 in Music,Shows

On Monday, Radio 104.5 presented a summer show featuring a diverse group of bands. I was lucky enough to win tickets to the show the night of, thanks to The Henry Clay People. Check out a review of each of the acts, some mp3s, and a ton of photos below.

The Henry Clay People opened the show with a rousing rock set. Brothers Joey and Andy Siara lead the five-piece up and coming group. Playing a guitar- and drum-heavy set, their sound was complimented by the piano and bass. They seemed to draw upon a lot of older rock influences. Combined with a touch of newer stuff, the material they presented was accessible, but not overly simple, rock and roll. Compared with their recordings, their sound was a bit more aggressive, which made for a great live show.

Up next was Metric, a band I’ve been wanting to see for a long time. The Toronto-based group started things off with “Help I’m Alive”, a perfect opening anthem. Emily Haines took her role as frontwoman seriously, hyping up the crowd and displaying a powerful stage presence. Haines demonstrated versatility, not only singing but also playing keyboard, synth, guitar, and tambourine. She worked the crowd, moving around and coming out to the edge of the stage. She displayed seemingly endless energy while belting out impressive vocals. The group incorporated big buildups to enhance their live sound. Wrapping things up with “Stadium Love”, Metric put on an great set that I only wish had lasted longer.

The third act was Against Me!, a punk rock outfit that’s been around for a while now. The venue was filled with lots of diehard fans sporting the band’s T-shirts. Frontman Tom Gabel received lots of help on vocals from the other members of the band. Every member moved around the stage, intensifying the set. There were a few surprises throughout, including an accordion feature. A highlight of the set was the group’s most recent single, “I Was a Teenage Anarchist”, which had all of their fans singing along.

After a fairly long wait, the time had come for headliners Silversun Pickups, and the crowd was excited. They opened with “Growing Old is Getting Old”, off of their latest LP, Swoon. The ensuing set was full of new tracks from that album, as well as some favorites off of Carnavas. Brian Aubert lead the group of guitar and vocals, while bassist Nikki Monninger brought a feminine flair to the stage. Aubert’s signature vocal style translated well to the live stage, and all members brought a ton of energy. After the set, there were huge cheers for an encore. The band rewarded the crowd with a rendition of “Catch and Release”, as well as their hit “Common Reactor”. The spirited set was a perfect ending to a full day of great live music.

Slow Burn – The Henry Clay People

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Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix) – Metric

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Little Lover’s So Polite – Silversun Pickups

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