I’ve always felt a little uncomfortable at the Wiltern (it’s got the word “wilt “in the first half of its name!?) It’s a little too big, often too crowded, and a little too stuffy (Seat assignments? But this is standing room only?) But, I have to give it to them, they book a lot of good shows. I was excited to see Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains and Metric on a double bill. I hadn’t heard too much of Sebastian Grainger’s stuff post Death From Above 1979 (which I love), but you can’t hate on a drummer who sings simultaneously.

The venue was packed for Sebastian Grainger and The Mountains, and who wouldn’t want to see those guys in their sweet-ass white jumpsuits. (Ok only Sebastian and the bassist, Nick Sewell were in jumpsuits – everyone else was just dressed in white). The energy on stage was high – and the excitement off stage was on the move. Unfortunately, it seemed like the speakers at the Wiltern weren’t quite set to rock (they did manage to turn it up for Metric). The music seemed lackluster just based on the fact that you couldn’t hear it – it almost seemed like it was background music. Having a post-concert listen, I felt cheated. I missed out on some rock-ass dancing. The venue messed up – the fans were trying to rock out – the light show was pretty simple – they get extra points for jumpsuits – I should have been on vodka #3 by now, but I was slacking – the music was rock-out-able – the band was high-energy. So, the measure of Sebastian Grainger – sir you rock. Hopefully the next venue you play will turn it up to your level. (Also, your voice is sexy… who said that?)

The wait for Metric was shorter than expected. Just enough time for me to down a drink, grab my camera and take a couple of pictures. From lights on to lights off Metric rocked me like a hurricane – a hurricane going a glittery 100 kilometers an hour. Emily Haines entered the stage in a gold sequined dress and speckled the keyboards with light as she started playing the instrument every (hetero) male in the audience was jealous of. I was sorry to have been taking photos during both “Help I’m Alive” and “Monster Hospital” because I surely would have danced off what was left of my socks. (It’s hard to dance with a camera in hand and a bunch of photo-taking photogs standing around). When I ran back to the audience part of the venue – I was pleased to see dancing, singing, grinning fans. I grinned too as I looked around at fans voraciously dancing to the beats and melodies Metric spilled into their ears. The venue stepped it up and turned on the rock amps for this band – the fans stepped it up to rock amp time – glitter, ‘nuff said – we’ve passed the counting portion of vodka ingestion – the music sounded perfect – the band played with each musician’s “heart beating like a hammer.” A symphony of hearts. Thank you Metric.

Incidentally, I left the venue with no socks on.

—Linda Janota