Watching Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton's performance at Hiro Ballroom was like witnessing a noir film unfold. There were dark tales of knives and sexual suicide, which were relayed through an echoed whisper. There were also the stark black-and-white projected film clips by Guy Maddin that ranged from innocent (a couple hugging in the snow) to grisly (severed hands and bleeding eye sockets) to literal (the words "Tragic" and "End of the World" stretched across the screen). And of course, at the center of it all was a woman of mystery. Backed by a string quartet, drummer, and guitarist, Haines unveiled her solo material off Knives Don't Have Your Back, including "Our Hell," "Detective Daughter," "The Lottery," and a joint performance of "The Woods" with opening act Tall Firs. "It's like Broken Social Scene all over again," the Metric frontwoman quipped from the crowded stage. And, unlike most dark thrillers, this story had a happy ending: after a chilling rendition of "Winning," she declared, "Everything is okay in the whole world." GINNY YANG / PHOTOS BY ERIC NOWELS

On SPIN.com:
Metric's Emily Haines Talks Solo
Review: Emily Haines - Knives Don't Have Your Back

>> Listen to Emily Haines on Napster

We asked: What other director/musician collaboration would you like to see onstage? COMMENT

Name: Jean Bush
Age: 21
Hometown: Flint, MI
Occupation: Make-up artist
"David Lynch and Nate Young."

Name: Laurin Kurtz
Age: 22
Hometown: Long Beach, NY
Occupation: Administrative assistant
"Mel Gibson and Matisyahu."

Name: Dianna Block
Age: 22
Hometown: Long Beach, NY
Occupation: Subcontract administrator
"George Lucas and Kevin Federline."

Name: Melanie Mosher
Age: 28
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Occupation: Journalist
"Robert Altman and Essie Jain."

Name: Andrew Prinz
Age: 32
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Book designer
"Harry Smith and Arcade Fire."

Name: Ana Breton
Age: 33
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Design project manager
"Hal Hartley and Ulrich Schnauss."

Name: Alan Caras
Age: 23
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Occupation: Finance analyst
"Sam Mendes and Junior Boys"

Name: Anthony Volodkin
Age: 21
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: The Hype Machine
"Chris Cunningham and Karen O."

Haines looks at home

Haines hiding her back from knives

Comfy onstage kicks

Tall Firs' Dave Mies