Best In Show… June 24

NXNE Highlights 2010

NXNE can sometimes feel like it’s more hassle than it’s worth, but this year the great outweighed the awful x 1,000,000. These were the best shows of the five-day fest:

The Great Bloomers – Thursday, June 17th @ the El Mocambo

The venue was far from packed and yet once the country-licked rock n’rollers hit the stage, it felt as if we we’re at a sold out show. This was the kind of show your heart beats for during festivals like NXNE. No crowds and no pretension; just you and your friends experiencing the best untapped local talent… Although, Gordon Lightfoot has been onto their album for awhile now…

“SPEAK OF TROUBLE highlights the abilities of Lowell Sostomi as singer/songwriter and brings together a talented band of musicians with amazing dexterity, loads of energy, and very original arrangements. I’m impressed.” – Gordon Lightfoot

dd/mm/yyyy @ Garrison

Mega Ultra Badass Zouk. Their set was kinda like that time The Meat showed up at Rancho and I told them they could do whatever they wanted and they did just that, only these guys played the tightest 45 minutes of the day, by far. Buzzing in Europe and Asia, they’re sorting out their North American deals, and in good time I have a feeling something real is gonna pop over this way. Seamless. Live Techno Rock. Bring mdma and birthday hats. Bottom line: better than Free Energy, happy their local. -klv

Bad Tits – The Drake Underground – NXNE – Thursday June 17, 2010

What do you get when you mix the 1980s with robots and acid?  Well, you get Bad Tits.  This two man group, consisting of Josh and Sebastien, on keys vocals and drums create a fantasy sound that reminds me of a Crystal Castle however stray from the chiptune sound and give a lil’ more punk rock attitude.  This show and sound definitely made me feel as if I was tripping on some serious drugs and I kind of liked it.  The music was good but the group seemed to be lacking in the interaction department.

Words and Photos by Ama Scriver

Anamanaguchi – Whippersnapper Gallery – NXNE – Thursday June 17, 2010

Walking into the Whippersnapper, I felt like I had entered a 12 year olds bedroom and stolen someone’s old school Nintendo. First of all, I think I had to be one of the oldest people at the Anamanaguchi show.  Which was totally fine by me. But second, they were playing some serious Chip Tune sounds with a live band.  Pretty awesome, if you ask me.  OK, so they did have a computer helping them out.  But for the most part, it was all them.  Did it help that they whipped the crowd into a frenzy with free Pizza Nova pizza and proceeded to play the Pizza Nova theme song?  Probably.  Overall, pretty memorable show for it being packed full of minors.

Words and Photos by Ama Scriver

Live in Bellwoods – Friday, June 18th, 2010

During NXNE, MuseBox and Humble Empire came together to give us an alternative to the sweaty, loud, dark tavern approach to experiencing new music and instead we enjoyed our favourite rock tunes stripped down. What better way to spend your NXNE hangover than lounging in a park, under the sun, and seeing your favourite bands play modestly beside you?

The Imaginary Cities

Make Your Exit

Gramercy Riffs

The Balconies finished off the afternoon with an impressive classical arrangement of their songs. Pretty ridiculous (in the best way possible)

Honorable Mentions:

Sandman Viper Command

Free Energy

We Are the Take

Words and Photos: Courtney-Lee Yip

Big Freedia – Wrongbar – NXNE – Friday June 18, 2010

Holy fucking hell.  Sissy bounce music (and bounce music, period) better be making its way into Toronto in a big way or else I’m going to be having some words. Might it have been the hypnotizing ways of Rocky, one of Big Freedia’s dancers working her magic on stage.  Big Freedia rhyming and calling out two-timing boys on stage with her Southern charm.  Or just the bounce music that made me want to get down and fucking boogie.  I would have to say, personally, that Big Freedia was one of the BEST performances of NXNE 2010, bar none. The crowd was so into the music and I know once I’d left Wrongbar that I was going to be seriously stalking me down some more Big Freedia.  Expect big things for dem.

Words and Photos by Ama Scriver

Jeff the Brotherhood – The Garrison – NXNE – Saturday June 19, 2010

The great thing about NXNE is you happen to stumble across bands completely by accident.  Well, what happened with me going to see Box Elders (who apparently cancelled last minute).  I ended up with me seeing an equally amazing and trashy band called Jeff the Brotherhood.  Their set started off loud and abrasive and in your face with lead vocalist Jake Orrall starting off in the crowd roaming around playing his guitar on his knees and basically getting into the pit with all those who wandered over from the Iggy & the Stooges show.  The music is dirty and reminiscent of The Black Lips. I can totally dig it.  Something I wanna get drunk and rock the fuck out too.  Hell, I fucking did.  I got right into that mosh pit like I was a homeless gypsy!  Woo.

Words and Photos by Ama Scriver

The Schomberg Fair: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Horseshoe, Dakota, The Rancho

As far as I’m concerned The Schomberg Fair is one of the better bands Toronto has to offer, and to boot they were all over the festival this year. With three sets last the weekend, Matt, Nate, and Pete are your hot summer ticket. Gospel is lovely record and dirt-in-your teeth, country rock n’ roll is their game. Sick of seventeen year old’s and garage garbage? Me too. Bottom line, you’ll love ‘em when you see ‘em. -klv

Comanechi – Silver Dollar Room – NXNE – Saturday June 19, 2010

This two piece band is sick.  Doesn’t help that their lead singer / drummer is the lovely Akiko – who gives this band a unique sound all its own.  It’s fuzzy.  It’s distorted.  It’s raw sounding punk rock.  The live show reminded me of something that the White Stripes had put together back in the EARLY days, cept this wasn’t garage rock.  This was real rock and roll.  I had heard so much buzz about Comanechi leading up to NXNE and prior to their performance, so I was glad that all the buzz and hype really lived up to it.  Would definitely check them out again and highly suggest you check them.

Words and Photos by Ama Scriver