Loud, sweaty, and uncompromising are three words that come to mind in describing Canadian noise rockers METZ. The trio, who signed to Sub Pop for the release of 2012’s self-titled debut, has been touted as one of the best live acts in punk rock. And for good reason.
METZ’s ferociously chaotic sound, though amazing on record, is a different beast onstage. While they may be using old tricks (guitar abrasion à la Sonic Youth, muscular rhythms à la Mission of Burma), they’ve managed to sound just as exciting as their idols without sounding overly derivative.
The group is amidst a relentless four-month tour that’s led them everywhere from Malmo, Sweden to… Madison, WI?! You don’t say?!? Why, yes… yes indeed. Mark your calendars now, as METZ will bring their shambolic live show to The Frequency this Saturday.
Better yet, METZ’s singer/guitarist Alex Edkins was kind enough to speak to Jonk Music ahead of the gig. Read his musings on “punk rock” and when college shows go terribly wrong.
You’ve talked about an effortlessness in METZ’s songwriting process. Do you feel that your music is an intuitive thing because it’s about release and letting oneself go?
“Yeah, I think we try not to think too much about it, or else you end up with something that’s beside the point.”
And what’s “the point”?
“The point is something that feels good and is exciting to play. We write in different ways but what’s important is that the energy works when the three of us are in a room.”
You have been a band for quite some time, but your debut album came out just last year. Do you feel that the incubation led you guys to better handling the press and touring?
“It had to have helped. It proved that we enjoyed being in a band together. It shows that we can work together and get along and not kill each other.” (laughs) “It definitely gave us the time to figure out what we’re good at doing. I’m glad that those 7 inches weren’t put together as our first album.” (laughs)
METZ gets press from a lot of indie rock-type publications. Do you ever feel alienated in a scene like that, where it’s quite obvious you guys are doing something different than the other bands?
“We’re happy that anyone likes the music or pays attention to it, but we try not to think about genre and just make what we want to make. They can talk about it but it never really concerns us much ’cause all we care about is sticking to what we’ve done. This record was made before we had a label or anything so it would have been out there regardless.”
Regarding your sound — “punk” is what gets thrown around quite a bit, but I’ve read about your affection for avant-garde noise stuff and pop music. Do you feel that to call your music “punk” would be to misinterpret your influences?
“I don’t have a problem with the term because it is a common thread running through our backgrounds. I don’t think nowadays we really think of ourselves as a punk band. We just think of ourselves as a band. Our tastes are super varied and we try to let whatever’s gonna come out come out naturally.”
Since there’s so much exertion involved in a METZ show, what do the three of you do to prepare? Any sort of pre-show rituals? I mean, it’s not like you guys are playing folk music with light singing…
(Laughs) “We make sure that the clothes from the night before are somewhat dry. The five minutes before we go on we’ll usually get together backstage. Sometimes I find myself pacing around a bit but it’s more of a nervous energy than anything.”
Your shows get pretty crazy, crowd-wise. Is there ever a breaking point where things get too intense? And what’s your favorite type of crowd?
“We haven’t had that moment of terror yet.” (laughs) “Most of the people are pretty cool. We love playing to an energetic crowd. We prefer when people move and sing, and if we could choose we would pick the super crazy, off the wall crowds.” (laughs)
Since Madison is most certainly a college town, how have your experiences been with those types of gigs?
“College shows are usually either extreme. It’s either a radio dude that curated some band he likes that no one else likes,” (laughs) “or it’s the total opposite and everyone in the crowd is super excited.”
Hayden [drums] has some tattoos and looks appropriately rough around the edges, but you and Chris [bass] are pretty everyday-looking dudes. Do you ever feel like you need to rough up your appearance to suit the music? Maybe a face tattoo or something.
(Laughs) “We’re strictly about being ourselves! It’s not an outlet for us to get a new haircut or anything. Though people do always comment on how I look like a science teacher or something.”
So you’re playing a few shows with shoegazers No Joy this tour. Do you guys enjoy the variety there? Of laying down the heaviness after a lighter fare like No Joy? Or do you prefer to play with a band like, say, Fucked Up [fellow Canadian punk band that shares a practice space with METZ] where there’s more continuity between acts?
“I think the best shows are those with a pretty varied bill. I don’t see the point in having, like, three bands that sound the exact same. With this last tour, wev’e had a lot of chances to pick people to tour with and play with friends. So that’s really awesome.”
Any last words for the fine folks of Madison?
“Nothing in particular, just that we’re psyched to play! It’ll be our first time there so that’s always fun.”