There was something fitting about the way the All the Feelings Tour unfolded at Dublin’s 3Olympia on Wednesday night. Rather than three separate bands simply taking turns on stage, Stars, Broken Social Scene and Metric arrived as something closer to a musical ecosystem, three strands of Canadian indie rock history continually crossing, colliding and complementing one another.
The sold-out 3Olympia was already buzzing when Stars opened the night, setting an emotionally charged tone. Their set carried the bittersweet elegance that has long been central to their sound, but the real novelty of the evening quickly became apparent, this was never entirely just a Stars show. Members of the other bands drifted on and off stage, adding new textures and voices to familiar songs and establishing the collaborative spirit that would define the night.
Broken Social Scene followed, naturally expanding the scale and energy. Their famously communal approach seemed perfectly suited to a tour built around musical cross pollination. With musicians joining them from both Stars and Metric, the stage increasingly resembled a gathering of old friends rather than three distinct touring parties. Songs stretched and shifted, taking on a celebratory looseness without losing their melodic core.
By the time Metric took the stage, the boundaries between the three acts had become almost meaningless. Metric brought the biggest punch of the evening, their sharper, more muscular indie-rock sound filling every corner of the 3Olympia.
That constant exchange was ultimately what made the All the Feelings Tour feel special. Rather than presenting three bands as separate chapters, the night told a bigger story about the interconnectedness of the Canadian indie scene, musicians who have shared stages, friendships, influences and histories, now celebrating those connections in real time.
The sold-out crowd was rewarded with something considerably more memorable than a conventional three band bill, a constantly shifting, occasionally chaotic and deeply affectionate celebration of Canadian indie rock. By the finale, the 3Olympia felt less like a venue hosting three bands and more like a room full of musicians who happened to have invited an audience along for the ride.
Stars photos:
Broken Social Scene photos:
Metric photos:
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic