If “Metric hosts an album release party at a Brooklyn roller rink” sounds evocative of a period that’s since been dubbed the “indie sleaze” era, that’s exactly what the band was hoping for with last Thursday’s event at Xanadu Roller Arts. Celebrating the release of their 10th album Romanticize the Dive—over 15 years removed from sleaze-era staples like “Help I’m Alive” and “Gold Guns Girls,” though sonically within that same realm of hazy electropop—the band invited fans out to the venue to party like it was 2006 with their best era-appropriate threads as they also served as background figures for a forthcoming music video.
“To celebrate the release of Romanticize the Dive, we hosted a roller disco night like no other with our friend Cobrasnake at Xanadu,” band leader Emily Haines shares of the event. “We filmed the official music video for our new song ‘Crush Forever’ that night, too, and asked everyone to show up in their finest indie-sleaze attire, which you can see on full display in these fabulous photos.”
Find those fabulous photos documenting the night—shot by Kimberley Ross with captions by Haines—below, and listen to the new album here.
This was our official invite to our album release eve party for Romanticize the Dive.
This image is straight out of a dream and captures the look of the music video for “Crush Forever” that we shot that night.
So many sweet people showed up for our release party, so many smiles.
The carpets at Xanadu are bonkers. I hope some shots like this end up in the “Crush Forever” video.
[Left] This image reminds me of something you would see at the entrance to a house party. Xanadu has that feeling.
[Right] Excellent crew getting ready to roll.
These expertly ripped nylons are everything.
Love that there’s a random roller skate coming in hot over Jimmy’s shoulder.
You know it’s a good party when you're flanked by two dancing hot dogs.
She makes it look easy, but there’s an art to proper skate lacing.
Cinematic as hell.
I vaguely remember seeing that person with the green…hat? Is it a hat or a lizard? Am I hallucinating?
Liquid gold on wheels.
Liquid gold on wheels.
You can feel the energy.
What poise! What grace!
[Left] No indie sleaze party is complete without animal print—this babe came through.
[Right] Indie sleaze for days.
Legendary style.
Everyone in this photo is my favorite.
Chatting with my pal Leah Siegel, an incredible singer among other things.
This shot is straight out of a movie that I really want to see.
Kisses in blue.
Perfection.
Perfection.
Josh on fire.
The happiest kid in the room.
I loved how even the people who weren’t skating were dancing. There was a solid dance floor beside the rink.
Top marks for gorgeous eyes and deep commitment to the theme from these two party people.
[Left] It was surreal seeing these guys fly by on wheels.
[Right] Such a thrill to see the physical vinyl being held by physical hands.
Besties.
We’re always wary of the floor angle shot, but this one turned out great—that magical bathroom lighting!
