If Canadian-based rocker Emily Haines is not on your radar yet--she should be. Haines leads the band Metric, whose 2005 song "Dead Disco" put these Toronto based rockers on the map. Metric's newest album Synthetica (Metric Music International) was released last month, and the band played at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco on June 19th. Rasputin Music gave away 25 tickets to their show, and winners were given VIP seating.

If you appreciate the completely badass dancing and vocal style of Karen O. from the NYC-based Yeah Yeah Yeahs, then Haines may just be your new female rock idol. She put on a fantastic show and her band played impeccably. The stage lighting and light-up drums added to the throwback synth feel. Their hit "Gimme Sympathy"  from their last album Fantasies provided the perfect moment to slow down in the encore--the band loves to play that song acoustically and encourage the crowd to join in on the chorus "Who would you rather be, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?". In an interview with the Guardian Newspaper, Haines gushed that she recently decided her answer to that question would actually be the Velvet Underground, thanks to Lou Reed's appearance on their new song "The Wanderlust." Haines was flattered and starstruck when Reed asked the band "Who they would rather be?", quoting their own song to them.

Haines is a fantastic musician because she clearly loves her fans, and isn't afraid to get into the crowd. Watching her perform is a completely involved experience because she dances almost into the front row of general admission crowds who are packed right against the stage--and thanks to the layout of the Great American, this meant her biggest fans were able to get plenty of chances to receive a quick handshake or high five from Haines during her performance.

Standout tracks on the new album include: "Breathing Underwater" and "Clone". If you're looking to dance, you may want to practice your cat-walk to "Lost Kitten". Synthetica  is available at all Rasputin Music locations.

By Shauna C. Keddy