Metric, Scala, London

Ever since Metric singer Emily Haines first garnered attention in 2003 singing with fellow Toronto musicians Broken Social Scene, she has proved herself a star. Sparkling in a slinky emerald green glittered dress, she has the sassy rock'n'roll sex appeal and charisma of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O. Tonight she switches from vulnerable and waif-like to feisty energetic and outspoken frontwoman, shaking and disheveling her blonde hair as she stabs at two keyboards.

In their opener and latest single "Empty", Haines' soft lilting vocals and Jimmy Shaw's flawless melodic guitar picking erupt into raucous and aggressive punk-rock thrashing. Throughout, intricate synth-infused melodies are juxtaposed with Joules Scott Key's disco cymbal-heavy drumbeats.

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Bassist Josh Winstead inspires dancing and clapping, but it's Haines who controls the crowd. As she emerges to the front in their final song, an epic version of the electro-punk "Dead Disco", arms reach out to a hero. In wild abandon she chants "if I jump, will you catch me" before crowd surfing over male audience members' eager hands.