Our final review for NXNE 2013 was the duo touring their critically acclaimed new album. They are Montreal’s Majical Cloudz. Venue: BLK BOX, the hottest venue outside of the centre of the Earth First Impressions: Some good preshow banter. At...
Heading up the 11pm show on our NXNE schedule was Eight and a Half. We had previously enjoyed their opening set for The Jezabels last fall. Venue: BLK BOX First Impressions: Solid rhythm section. Promising electronic parts.
We headed as far north as North By Northeast would take us, and checked out The BB Guns up on Bloor Street. Venue: Lee’s Palace First Impressions: Girl guitar assault. Fronted by 3 ladies, with Clint Rogerson (from Action Makes)...
Dublin’s Villagers were the first post-Bruise Cruise band that we saw on Saturday night. However, it wasn’t a full set, but a solo acoustic set by Conor O’Brien. Venue: Sidedoor (aka the Soho House)
The last act on the Bruise Cruise around Lake Ontario was Mikal Cronin. Venue: Bruise Cruise (partly out on the lake, but we actually docked for the majority of the set)
Our Booze Bruise Cruise continued, as we got shitfaced checked out Odonis Odonis. Venue: Bruise Cruise (out on Lake Ontario)
We probably shouldn’t have, but we skipped Fat Tony to enjoy some beers and fun in the sun out on Lake Ontario on the Bruise Cruise. The first act we ventured inside to see were We Are Wolves. Venue: Bruise...
The 1am treat after the free show by The National were Vancouver’s Gold & Youth. We interviewed them the day after their debut album came out, so check it out here. Venue: BLK BOX (which should be renamed HOT BOX,...
The big act at this year’s NXNE and the centrepiece of the Yonge-Dundas Square free concert series showcase was a band from Brooklyn called The National. Heard of them? They’re friends with President Obama, so they have some influence. Heck,...
The final band, which definitely stretched my usual 8pm bedtime was Sunclef, assisted by Justin Peroff (from Broken Social Scene and also Eight and a Half), better know as Sunclef + Peroff. Venue: Sneaky Dee’s First Impressions: Very cool vibe....
The penultimate show on this Thursday night was by Montreal’s BRAIDS. Venue: Comfort Zone First Impressions: “Cool song. Oh, they’re only sound checking.” Fooled us! The venue was also compact and hot as fuck. Once they came on for real,...
Act number 2 on Thursday night for PeteHatesMusic was Brooklyn’s Modern Rivals. Venue: Rancho Relaxo First Impressions: The sound wasn’t the best to start. Really like the Toews Blackhawks jersey though. I felt bad for the “we need WAY more...
PeteHatesMusic kicks off NXNE with their first show. The lucky act? Animal Parts. This is ignoring the fact that there was an open bar at The Hoxton, DJ’ed by Brendan Canning from Broken Social Scene. And I drank a lot...
Toronto’s version of Austin’s SXSW – North By Northeast – is finally about to kick off. I know Canada gets mocked for being cold, but I think Austin in March is going to be warmer than June in Toronto, based...
