FRICTION NYC

Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton played a double set at the intimate Joe’s Pub last night. She didn’t perform blindfolded like the venue had advertised, as we suspected. This was all the better, giving the audience more personal time with the artist and plenty of banter in between songs. She even started the show by rummaging through her purse to dig out a disheveled set list. The trio performed beautifully and fed off each other all night.

The opener, Our Hell set the tone with Haines’ mellow, but distinct voice leading the piano-driven tunes complimented by soft strings and bass lines. The album Knives Don’t Have Your Back, out this September 26th, is a welcome contrast to Metric’s bold sound. It is a long time coming for Haines, after four years of work. Much of the album pays homage to her personal life over the past decade. This was evident in her heartfelt performance showing a softer side of the usually hard-rocking Haines.

Set list and additional pictures on flickr and after the jump: