Metronomy at Here at the Outernet for BRITs Week War Child 2023

By now, Metronomy are elder statesmen of British indie pop. They’ve been around for years and have garnered a large following. Where this really shows, however, is in their live performances, which are exhilarating. 

The Outernet is a new development at the entrance to Tottenham Court Road station; it’s very difficult to miss. Within its walls are a variety of entertainment venues, and one of them is Here, an underground concert space where, last night, Metronomy put on an incredible show in support of War Child. 

Kicking off their 2023, the quintet roared through a setlist of new tunes and old favourites with flair, competence and lashings of energy. The setlist was wonderfully weighted, mixing classics such as The Bay and The Look with some of the more ballade-like songs and even a few breathtaking instrumental breaks. The main takeaway, however, was that they were clearly having fun, which meant it was impossible for the audience not to.

The same can easily be said of support act Panic Shack, a Cardiff-based punk group that lit up the venue with their Dead Kennedys meets Sleater-Kinney vibe. Particular highlights from their set included mannequin-inspired dance moves and a hilarious tune about getting The Ick when your partner puts the milk in first while making tea.

Praise must also be heaped on the quality of the audio mixing. There are far too many occasions when individual band members get washed away in the live mix, and vocals being lost in the sound of a snare drum ruins gigs every week. Luckily, the mixing last night was fantastic and every element of the group’s interesting sound shone through. 

Few moments produce the same level of collective joy as live music, and Metronomy’s set acted as the perfect poster child for that feeling. Their faultless transitioning between songs and their delightful on-stage antics, alongside masterful control of dynamics, demonstrated that there is no substitute for experience when it comes to performing.

Joe Milo
Photos: Bethan McConnell

Metronomy performed as part of BRITs Week presented by Mastercard for War Child 2023. For further information on Metronomy and future events visit here.

Watch the video for the single It’s Good to Be Back here: