blogUT Does NXNE: Day One Recommendations
June 12th, 2008 by Richard Trapunski
What has 9 arms and sucks? Def Leppard. What has 500 bands and (for the most part) rocks? North by Northeast. If you’re new to Toronto, or you’ve just been living under a rock on mars, I can explain NXNE in 6 words or less: Live Music. And lots of it. Picture just about every live music venue in the city and then picture 5 or 6 bands playing sets every night from tonight until Saturday. That’s pretty much it.
I know what you’re thinking: that sounds a bit overwhelming. True, but you have access to an invaluable source. That’s right, blogUT has got your back. Expect recommendations every day for that night’s music and a recap of our experiences from the night before. I told you we’ve got your back.
So, let’s start with some recommendations for tonight:
8:00 PM, Mod Club Theatre: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – This D.C. band is essentially a vehicle for singer/songwriter Ted Leo. They’ve built up quite a loyal following over the years, playing a unique mix of pop, rock, and hardcore.
9:00 PM, Dundas Square: Teenage Head – Teenage Head (or in the United States, just “Teenage”) should need no introduction. These guys were one of the first Canadian punk bands, and exploded onto the scene with party anthems like “Let’s Shake” and “Teenage Beer Drinking Party” about, well, dancing and drinking beer. It’s a little more sad when they’re all in their late forties, but the sentiment still remains.
10:00 PM, El Mocambo (Down): The Vibrants – An unsigned 5-piece from London, these guys have been getting a lot of that prized music biz commodity, buzz, largely from their incessant touring. Don’t blame us if they collapse on stage.
10:00 PM, The Horseshoe: The Wet Secrets – I’m not going to lie. A lot of this Edmonton band’s appeal comes from their name. That and their marching band costumes. Oh, and I guess their all-nonsense fun-rock.
11:00 PM, Bovine Sex Club: HELL YEAH FUCK YEAH – PUNK! TATTOOS! TORONTO! SEX! VIOLENCE! JELLY BEANS! YEEEEAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11:00 PM, Funhaus: Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (USS) – You may have heard this Toronto band on 102.1 the Edge. The word’s still out on whether or not they’ve got staying power. If they do, you can say you saw them at the beginning.
11:00 PM, Now Lounge: The Hunting Horns – This band is the best Chamber Death Folk band around. I promise.
12:00 AM, El Mocambo (Up): The Vestaloynes – U of T, represent. Yet another band performing in costumes, The Vestaloynes play their own brand of balls-to-the-wall garage rock. Think The Hives, but not quite as Swedish.
12:00 AM, The Horseshoe Tavern: Money Mark – Money Mark is a legend of funk keyboarding, having played with both Beck and the Beastie Boys. You know that catchy keyboard intro at the beginning of “Devil’s Haircut”? Pure Money Mark.
1:00 AM, El Mocambo (Down): Major Maker – This band is a product of today’s indie music scene. Get your song in a commercial or become a YouTube hit and you’re set. At least for a while. Think of that catchy “Rollercoaster” song from the Maynards candy commercial. That’s pretty much all you need to know about Major Maker.
1:00 AM, Reverb: These New Puritans – This England band has got a lot of buzz, but it may be all hype. I’ll help you out here. Have you ever worn a keffiyeh? If so, then you’ll probably fit right in. Got your back.
