NXNE 2008 Showcase
I’ve barely written about the festival that I’m volunteering at. I’ve been busy and I owe a lot of other posts to various bands but with filling in for Jess and it being the exact day that the music portion of the festival begins it’s perfect timing.First off I’ll be volunteering at the Supermarket venue, so if you’re there and you see an Asian volunteer, you can yell at Allan! if you’d like. (lol)
First let’s take a look at the bands playing at my venue (they’re getting coverage good or bad!).
Thursday:
The Hots - Local female-fronted 5-piece. Not bad from a few listens. Some potential.
MP3: Almost Anyone by The Hots
Cancel Winter – I’d like to cancel winter too. Another local band.
Amos The Transparent – Band from Ottawa, pretty good folk. Duet with unknown female vocalist on the mp3 below. Absolutely awesome. (I found out it’s Amy Millan of Stars and I also feel like an idiot)
MP3: After All That, Its Come to This by Amos The Transparent
Great Bloomers – Local band with influences from Fleetwood Mac and Springsteen to name a few.
ANGEL PIER - Irish band a bit of a post punk band. Some good stuff though I don’t really hear anything overly endearing.
Friday:
Jason Bajada a pop folk artist from Montreal. Very surprised. His stuff is EXCELLENT! He has has over 100,000 myspace views for a reason. The track Home Still Your Bones is quirky with the funniest lyrics (it makes me laugh hysterically). “You’re a beautiful girl in the ugliest town!” and “I’m not quite as horny as you’d like me to be”. He’s getting another post.
MP3: Home Still Your Bones by Jason Bajada
Green Go band from kinda nearby Guelph. An electro band that gives that weird but “cool” vibe. Will be interesting to see…kind of like their music but at this point I’m getting lazy with the mp3s.
Beast – From Montreal a experimental/trip-hop band.
Candy Coated Killahz – Local electro/hip-hop duo. Pretty good music very danceable. They belong on the radio/mainstream as clubs would love their music.
OPOPO – Local talent, with some pretty good electro. 200k myspace hits. Pretty good music otherwise…taking the Daft Punk look too seriously.
Other bands playing that may tickle your fancy (that I’ve heard of):
EL Mocambo on Friday has popular bands like Moneen, The Black Lungs (side project of Wade MacNeil) and Bedouin Soundclash.
Brand Van 3000 – Plays @ Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday
MP3: Drinking in LA by Bran Van 3000
Great Lake Swimmers – Friday @ The Reverb. Had his music on my hard drive…buried in a place where I’d never listen to it and I didnt…
Hilotrons – I dug their album Happymatic a whole lot. Playing at the Horseshoe Tavern Saturday at 3AM. I’ll probably be there.
MP3: Caught On Video by Hilotrons.
Hercules & Love Affair - They got an extremely high score of 9.1 from Pitchfork. Playing at the Wrongbar on Saturday. I could see them…but not that interested.
Illscarlett – I saw them live for free for the Grey Cup. Very good live…even if they had jail bait drooling for them.
Jon McKiel - Reviewing his album later this month/year. Recommended listen. Playing Friday @ Cameron House.
Junior Pantherz – CD of Rejoice, Remain is currently in my computer. Not sure what to think…but I’ve heard of them.
Ladyhawk – I heard of their album Shots but I just never bothered to check it out.
Magneta Lane – I remember the tracks Ugly Socialite and The Constant Lover. Saturday at the Rivoli.
MP3: Ugly Socialite by Magneta Lane
Matt Mays & El Torpedo – Cocaine Cowgirl anyone?
Static Of The Gods – Got a press release about them. Liked what I heard
Besnard Lakes – Pitchfork called their album overlooked last year. I tried to like them…
The Flatliners – All I know is Nancy likes them.
There’s also Sloan (who I’m a fan of) but he wasn’t listed or wasn’t sure.
I did this post at 3am. I’m tired I’m off to bed and then it’s NXNE time!
. Besides isn’t the radio your friend? A year ago you didn’t even listen to RATM!
hmm jailbate