The 500m high club claimed new members last night during Audio Blood’s NXNE kickoff party  at Toronto’s highest venue, the CN Tower. Musical guests The Balconies, Hollerado and The Meligrove Band wooed a very VIP guestlist almost 2,000 feet high above the city.

Getting past the air-blasting metal detectors, through about a dozen mystery puff pastries, and a few over-priced Budweisers, opening act, The Balconies, quickly reminded us that this wasn’t just a shmooze and booze, but the precursor for music events to come this NorthX weekend.

Jaqcuie Neville

Liam Jaeger

Steve Neville

As the Balcs wrapped up, a few die-hard smokers braved the 24-minute adventure to land level while we took a quick detour to the tourist attraction around the corner; the glass floor.  After successfully scaring the beejeezus out of a few foreigners (don’t jump up and down next to an elderly woman facing her fears and expect to make friends) we ran back in time to catch Hollerado.

Ryan Steels of Olympic Island

The Manotick foursome played a brief and modest set in order to make a Much Music interview and get to their full-length performance at The Piston. I’ve seen Hollerado before and something was definitely missing. But I soon realized it wasn’t them, it was us! The sparse crowd was no fair pairing with the usually off-the-walls energetic group. I was starting to realize this was more of a media frenzy than an actual rock’n rolla party, which this photographer won’t complain about!

Menno Versteeg of Hollerado

Dean Baxter.

Versteeg can’t get high enough!

Pete Nema of Sticky Magazine catches Boyd on drums getting some air of his own

Baxter gets a little help from his friends.

Nixon Boyd.

One last break before the last act, and it seems everyone was talking about our Saturday destination across the lake: Olympic Island for the Pavement, Broken Social Scene, Zeus show. Pink Mafia will be there, so come back on Sunday to check out our review.

Friends await the headliners: The Meligrove Band

This was my first experience with Toronto’s final expose of local talent, The Meligrove Band. Their So-Cal sound popped brightly over harmonic rock and made for an incredible end to the evening’s lineup. I’ll  be definitely checking out their future shows as should you.

Jason Nunes

Darcy Rego

Brian O’Reilly

Rego sings something that starts with a “th”?

Liam Jaeger shoots some media of his own.

Michael Small on bass.

Although the event was more of an industry showcase than an outright NXNE bender, it still felt like we were a part of music history. Thanks to Audio Blood Media for actually swinging this feat of a party and starting off the rocking weekend right. It might be hard to match the high altitude of expectation after this opening night, but I’m sure some messier memories are about to be made in the endless days and nights to come. Now get the hell out there and see some bands already!

Jeremy Tompkins of Audio Blood and Aaron Harvey of Sandman Viper Command try and hold it together on the ride down.

Photos and Words by Courtney-Lee Yip.

Click each band to see when their next show is in the city:

The Balconies

Hollerado

The Meligrove Band

JULIA SET GENERATOR @ THE VELVET UNDERGROUND JUNE 16, 2010 NXNE

At what point do you stop going to shows just because it’s “your friend’s band” and you feel obligated to support them? I’ve been going to shows long enough that maybe I’m at that point where, when you’re presented with a number of wicked shows to see at a festival, you don’t HAVE to go and see your friends. Maybe you can see something else and they won’t be offended. Or will they?

I was mulling that question over in my head last night on my way to The Velvet Underground on Queen Street to check out exactly that–a friend’s band (to be more specific, my boyfriend’s friend’s band). I had seen the Julia Set Generator once before at Horseshoe and left feeling less than impressed. Needless to say, I was a little worried about how the show was going to turn out, but I tried my luck.

But–I’m really glad I did. Julia Set Generator is the perfect blending of a number of genres that showcase each member’s individual talents and strengths. Switching seamlessly between folk stylings and more raucous, distinctly rock songs–these boys have a bright future in the Toronto music scene. They’re fun, they’re quirky and they’re self-depreciating–a loveable quality not nearly enough Toronto bands seem to possess.

Bottom Line: These guys have grown up a lot, and they’ll be a force to be reckoned with at next year’s NXNE.

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL @ THE PHOENIX , JUNE 16, 2010 – NXNE

Of all the things that I was looking for on opening night of NXNE it was everything that Eagles of Death Metal was selling to me: sex, alcohol and mostly importantly rock and roll!  I mean, I’ve heard so many things about Eagles of Death Metal and the amazing performances that they put on.  But never have I had the full experience of their shows.  I was one of the lucky 200 pass holders to get in and experience the show, up close and person.  Thank god, because Jesse Hughes is a pimp and I’m buying into his gospel of rock.

The band played an epic hour + set playing classics such as “Cherry Cola” and “Wannabe in L.A” spanning their three albums.  Everyone in the crowd super into it with bras and panties a flying onto stage and Mr. Hughes taking full advantage of the ladies throwing themselves at him opportunity.

Take note bands, THIS is how NXNE is done.

Words and Photos by Ama Scriver