If it seems the upcoming Peterborough Musicfest presentation of Metric has been a long time coming, there’s good reason — the free-admission concert on Wednesday, July 17th at Del Crary Park was announced on March 5, more than two months before most of the festival’s 2024 headliners were revealed.
Some things are well worth waiting for and, in securing Metric, the festival’s brain trust not only stirred up early interest in this year’s lineup but has also benefited from the buzz associated with bringing one of Canada’s most successful indie alternative-rock bands back to the city.
Metric traces its roots back to 1998 when India-born and Fenelon Falls-raised Emily Haines and England-born James Shaw, performing as Mainstream, released a five-track EP before changing their moniker to Metric — a nod to a sound that Shaw had programmed into his keyboard while working on a song.
Upon hooking up with drummer Joules Scott-Key and bassist Jarrett Mason, Metric went into the studio to record what was to be its debut album, Grow Up and Blow Away. However, its release was delayed until 2007 due to a change in the band’s record label. When released, it was actually Metric’s third album.
So it was that 2003’s Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? became Metric’s de facto debut album, with Joshua Winstead now on bass. “Combat Baby” and “Dead Disco” were released as singles on the way to the album being certified gold in 2005.
That same year saw Metric break out in a big way, its second album Live It Out providing the springboard with its singles “Monster Hospital,” “Poster of a Girl,” and “Empty” contributing to the album eventually achieving double platinum status for Canadian sales in excess of 200,000.
VIDEO: “Monster Hospital” – Metric
Nominated for a 2006 Juno Award as Alternative Album of the Year, Live It Out didn’t earn Metric that coveted honour but 2009’s Fantasies did the trick, bringing Metric two 2010 Juno Awards for Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year. Assisted by the singles “Help, I’m Alive” and “Gold Guns Girls,” the record was also shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize.
Meanwhile, Metric’s eclectic sound was catching the attention of a number of television and film producers. For example, “Front Row” was featured for an episode of ABC’s medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy while “Gold Guns Girls” formed part of the soundtrack for the 2009 horror comedy film Zombieland starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Emma Stone. In the 2010 action comedy film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, “Black Sheep” was performed by Brie Larson (with Haines singing the actual vocals).
June 2012 brought forth Synthetica, Metric’s fifth studio album and the single “Youth Without Youth.” It too was a nominee for the Polaris Music Prize, albeit longlisted this time around. More impressive, it brought Metric five 2013 Juno Award nominations, with wins in the Producer of the Year (Shaw), Alternative Album of the Year, and Recording Package of the Year categories.
Four albums — Pagans in Vegas (2015), Art of Doubt (2018), Formentera (2022), and Formentera II (2023) — have followed, with the latter earning a 2024 Juno Award nomination as Rock Album of the Year.
But for all its recording and touring success, Metric’s biggest achievement arguably lies in the fact that Haines, Shaw, Scott-Key, and Winstead are still together after all these years. That is a rarity of sorts in a world where band members change addresses more than they do socks.
Also a rarity is the fact that, while working on Fantasies in 2007, Metric turned down multi-million dollar deals from two record labels, opting instead to form their own company, Metric Music International, with Haines and Shaw as co-CEOs.
VIDEO: “Youth Without Youth” – Metric
A gutsy move, for sure, but as Haines explained in an October 2022 interview with Sage Holt of SLUG Magazine, a move that had to be made for creative control.
“There was never a massive marketing machine to sell us to anyone, you know?” Haines said. “The music speaks for itself, sure, but it’s a different longer path than having the machinery of a big global company behind you. But it’s led to a really beautiful thing that we really value.”
Haines added that creating music is “all we ever wanted to do. Our whole operation is just making music and connecting with people.”
Even when on the road, the creative juices still flow, she said.
“We show up in a new town (where) there are people to meet and things to do. From trying new arrangements, to bringing on a new song, or exploring any place we can. There’s not a lot of time to think, like ‘Hey, what should I do with myself?’ Truthfully, I feel that way more when I’m off the road.”
Metric’s Musicfest appearance is its first in Peterborough since 2010 when it played the Memorial Centre. Like then, this visit will likely see a bit of a family reunion for Haines — her brother Tim owns and operates Bluestreak Records in downtown Peterborough. We’re guessing it’s a pretty good place to come across a Metric album or two.
VIDEO: “Days Of Oblivion” – Metric
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 37th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 17th.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2024 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2024 season.
