A Feist concert is an experience in itself and last night’s show accompanying the singer’s new album Metals also proved to be the ideal remedy for a belated birthday party hangover.

Since a pasty mouth, glassy eyes and the most severe headache known to man were crippling me, I unfortunately missed Bry Webb’s performance. The Constantines’ singer was opening for Leslie Feist and introducing the Montreal crowd to Provider, his first solo record.

When Feist’s feet finally touched the Metropolis stage, the crowd went berserk before hanging to every word sung, the venue turning into a church bringing together a motley cult of fans, of course, but also shushing Lilith Fair Amazons and gentlemen with a distraught look on their face as their girlfriends screamed in ecstasy in addition to the saddest man in the universe: a thirtysomething who chatted with his “date” from the first note to the last.

If only it were lively discussions fueled by Feist lyrics, but no, our infamous concert-goer was telling his future ex – in boring, vivid details – how he spent his entire Saturday afternoon assembling his new computer. Needless to say, he presumably spent the rest of his evening in front of his purchase, accompanied by a nearby box of Kleenex, but I digress…

As you’ve probably read elsewhere – or experienced “live” through social media – the Feist concert was indeed lovely. Although the concert was, obviously, based  on Metals, the singer still performed Sealion, her Nina Simone cover featured on her previous album The Reminder, and more daring reinterpretations of her hits of yesteryear like Mushaboom.

Although I didn’t enjoy this new version, I still have to salute Feist’s audacity.

A few caveats, however: the set list was a bit tepid and the video projections accompanying the performance would, sometimes, remove the torque behind some songs (The Circle Married the Line with a close-up of the bassist’s arm… come on!).

Also worth noting: a man asked his girlfriend to marry him during Let It Die“ Thanks for nothing for upping the ante for all of us, man. Not cool, dude. Not cool.

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