Metric Bring Acoustic 'Fantasies' to Museum of Modern Art Gala

On Wednesday night, the Museum of Modern Art hosted a gala to honor acclaimed indie director Kathryn Bigelow and it's not surprising the event organizers chose Metric to play at the afterparty. Singer Emily Haines and guitarist Jimmy Shaw performed songs from 2009's 'Fantasies,' treating the audience to unique, sweeping arrangements provided by longtime collaborator Todor Kobakov. With acoustic versions of 'Gold Guns Girls,' 'Help, I'm Alive,' 'Gimme Sympathy' and Neil Young's 'Expecting to Fly,' the Canadian duo matched the electrifying and dramatic style of Bigelow's work, only delivered with a live back-up string quartet.

The performance drew an A-list crowd that included Arcade Fire's Win Butler, as well as event co-chairs Ralph Fiennes, Harrison Ford and Jodie Foster. Honoree Bigelow, looking striking in a knee-length dress, introduced Metric on the first floor of the museum, and a curtain was pulled back to reveal the band decked in all black. Haines pulled double duty during the four-song set, playing both the piano and the tambourine for 'Help, I'm Alive,' which inspired an impromptu sing-along with the audience. For the final song, 'Gimme Sympathy,' the singer got up from the piano and joined Shaw to deliver a dreamy version of the tune.

Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who played a benefit at the MoMA in May, served as the DJ earlier in the evening. Meanwhile, visual artist Nate Lowman closed the night by spinning an old-school set that included songs by Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and Aaliyah.