Joseph Mount stands as the architect of his own career, guiding Metronomy with a calm, steady smile and a firm grip on the wheel. He may not be the flashiest frontman in the world, and one audience member once joked that he resembles Oriol Junqueras wearing a wig. Yet in concert, he crafts a vivid, exuberant live music experience built on bright, sophisticated synthetic pop. That synthesis has become the band’s signature across seven pristine albums. (Source: contemporary music press)
The latest, post pandemic collection Small World, was anticipated to debut at Primavera. Instead, circumstances shifted the plan, setting up a collision between their energetic Eurodance tendencies and the band’s lush, arena-ready sound. The 2011 record The English Riviera offered a different spotlight — hits like The Bay, Corinne, and Everything Is Going My Way, punctuated by Anna Prior’s driving drumming — and the group chose to lean into a kinetic, dance-floor-centric Euro influence as they prepared for larger stages and bigger crowds. (Source: music festival reports)
pop machine
What began as Mount’s nearly solo studio project finds a new, collective energy on stage. Olugbenga Adelekan’s bass anchors the set with a relentless pulse, while every member contributes bright moments that feel both intimate and grand. The live show evolves into a festive, electronic pop machine, nodding to idiosyncratic art-pop while weaving in nods to classic synth acts. The mood sits between Talking Heads’ restless experimentation and the crisp, danceable edge of mid-80s pop. (Source: concert reviews)
Mount greets the crowd with warmth, inviting listeners to sing along and share the moment. In a playful moment during Salt Caramel Ice Cream, a communal chorus lights up the room as keyboards dart and a chorus of phones lights up the venue. Songs like Love Letters and You Can Take Me Anywhere anchor a progression toward a spirited finale that blends punk guitar edge with polished, pop-forward musicianship. The outcome feels well rehearsed yet fearless, a performance that honors craft while inviting a sheer sense of revelry. (Source: live performance notes)