Metric Touched Down In The Desert And We Felt All Of The Feelings
Photographer: Kili Goodrich
Metric performed during the All the Feelings Tour at Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix on June 17, 2026. Joined throughout the evening by members of Stars and Broken Social Scene, the show became a celebration of Canadian indie rock's shared history.
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Metric took the stage at Arizona Financial Theatre on June 17, it already felt like Phoenix had become the temporary capital of Canadian indie rock. The All the Feelings Tour brought together three bands whose histories have intertwined for decades. Metric, Stars, and Broken Social Scene. As the night unfolded, the line between opener and headliner slowly disappeared.
Metric emerged into darkness punctuated by bursts of stark white light that flashed behind the band throughout the night. The stage design was minimal, moody, and atmospheric. Allowing the music to carry the weight of the performance. Emily Haines, (lead) appeared in black leather and layered silver necklaces that shimmered every time the lights found her. There was an openness to the performance that made the room feel smaller than it was. The band carried an invitation for the audience into their world. There was no distance within their performance.
Opening with "Victim of Luck" before moving through songs like "Youth Without Youth," "Monster Hospital," and "Lost Kitten," Metric reminded the audience just how deep and enduring their catalog has become. I've photographed enough shows to recognize when a crowd is enjoying themselves and when they've fully committed to the experience. This audience was with the band from the first notes. Fans pressed against the barricade reached toward the stage while others deep in the theater sang every lyric back with equal enthusiasm, hands raised overhead as if trying to hold onto the moment for a little longer.
What stood out most to me was how naturally the newer material sat beside the classics. Metric's first new music in four years never felt separated from the songs that built their legacy. Tracks like "Crush Forever," "All Comes Crashing," and "Now or Never Now" flowed seamlessly alongside staples like "Synthetica," "Gimme Sympathy," and "Combat Baby." Nothing felt nostalgic for nostalgia's sake. It felt more so like progression. The sound of a band that was continuing to evolve rather than revisit old ground.
The connective thread running through the evening stretched well beyond Metric's own history. Both Emily Haines and Amy Millan of Stars spent time as members of Broken Social Scene, whose appearance on this tour also marked their first new music in nearly a decade. Together, these artists helped define generations of Canadian alternative and indie rock while continually crossing paths creatively. You could feel that history in the room.
Those connections became literal as the night continued. Sam Goldberg Jr. joined Metric for "Gold Guns Girls," while members of Stars and Broken Social Scene returned to the stage during "Loyal." Suddenly there were musicians everywhere. Guitars were being exchanged, harmonies layered on top of harmonies, familiar faces appearing from the wings. At one point, more than a dozen performers occupied the stage together. Quickly it all formed into a sprawling collective celebrating the music they had built together over the last twenty years.
The encore brought one final surge of energy with "Help I'm Alive" before closing with "Black Sheep," sending the crowd into the Phoenix night on a high note. Some tours celebrate an anniversary. Some tours promote a new record. All the Feelings Tour somehow managed to do both while also serving as a reminder that some of indie rock's most important voices are still pushing forward together.
Article by: Kili Goodrich
Plug In. Tune Out.
Metric have spent more than two decades carving out a sound that sits on neon lit synth pop and guitar driven indie rock. Led by the unmistakable voice of Emily Haines, the band pairs sharp lyricism with massive hooks. Songs like “Help I'm Alive” and “Black Sheep” helped define a generation of alternative music fans while proving the band's ability to make sounds anthemic. Onstage, Metric thrives on tension and release. Turning shimmering synths and ripping guitars into personal, yet explosive performances.