I like it.

The three words that pretty much sum up my feelings today, being an undergrad student here at U of T.

As with any brand-new student, there’ll always be that time of transition and change. Nothing can change that – it’s a part of life. However, I have to say that it’s not as scary as I thought.

Then again, I’m taking the Music program. Which everybody dislikes. For some odd reason.

Wait, wait, wait, don’t click the Back button – I know that reading a rant about an undergrad at Music might seem extremely boring, but please hear me out.

Let me introduce myself first (more…)

Thursday, June 18th was day 2 of the venerable 15-year-old North by North East (NXNE) Music Festival.

Spiral Beach, Burning Brides, Black Lips

My compatriot and I were making our way to Yonge and Dundas Square for the first of 3 nights of free concerts thrown by the festival at the square.

Though the concert at YD Square had been going on since 6pm that night, we were making a fashionably late arrival at 9:30pm. Unfortunately, that meant we missed the powerhouse and up-and-coming Toronto band Spiral Beach, who had kicked off the show at 6pm. As we arrived, the band Burning Brides were just finishing up their act, and there was already a slow-growing trickle of people arriving in anticipation of the Black Lips’ show at 10pm. We left to grab a quick bite to eat (sorry Burning Brides, food more important) and by the time we had returned the Black Lips show was already underway.

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North by North East (NXNE), for those who don’t know, is the annual music festival in Toronto that has more than 500 international and Canadian bands playing 50 venues over 5 days, and in the past few years has also added a film festival of 30 music related films. This year was its 15th anniversary and it took place from June 17-21 (Wednesday-Sunday) and had a stellar lineup in comparison to some of the more lackluster past years, with notably The Cool Kids, The Black Lips, GZA of Wu-Tang Clan, and The Zoobombs among many, many others. For the uninitiated, prices are usually $10 to $15 a show but the best value is definitely in the $50, 5-day wristband that gets you into all the shows. However, there is no priority or even guaranteed entrance if the show is packed, so one should get there early. Of course there are various others in between and above and beyond ticket levels available ranging from $25-$250 as well. This year was my first year as music reviewer, so those who are looking for really erudite obscure band comparison references should jump ship to Pitchfork now. On the other hand, NXNE has yet to reach the level which would demand attention from Pitchfork, unlike Austin, Texas’ South by South West (SXSW) which NXNE owes name reference to. For those who are looking for descriptive reviews of general vibe, venue, music, and experience, read on!
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The Scott Metcalf Trio will be performing next Friday as part of the Hart House music program that takes place in the beautiful Arbour Room. Here’s what Hart House had to say about the trio:

A newly formed band, conceived of some of the key members of the Cafe Ole, an award winning flamenco jazz ensemble. Although rarely playing as a trio, the members have been playing together for the last 3 years with the Cafe Ole and many other ensembles. The trio have been performing throughout Toronto and the GTA and are all graduates from Humber College’s prestigious music program.

Website: Scott Metcalfe Trio Web Site
When: October 10, 2008 , 9:00 pm
Where: Arbour Room Hart House

With lyrics like “we keep on fighting for a free world”, “enough’s enough, youth be tough”, and “we only care about what’s right for us and what’s right for humanity”, RedEye Empire (myspace) manages to deliver poignant, socially-conscious messages in a rich concoction of ska, reggae, and rock. That’s why it’s no surprise that Gabe Davis, Mike Redmond, Eric Stephenson, Ben Brown, Andre Arsenault, and Ali Siadat have played to packed crowds throughout Canada and parts of the United States.

A personal favourite is “Trippin on Babylon”, with its instantly dance-worthy melody, lyrics, and beats. Another crowd-pleaser is “Blood Right”, perfect for chilling under the summer sun.

Experience the catchy, high-energy beats in a casual, laid-back setting at El Mocambo this Saturday night, where they’ll be playing crowd favourites from their latest album, The Diary of Everett Miley. The event will be part of the Toronto Freedom Festival, which is happening this Saturday at Queen’s Park. If you’re curious about the festival, check out the BlogTO post.

When: Saturday May 3, Doors: 9:30pm. Redeye Empire – 12am
Where: El Mocambo (464 Spadina Avenue)
Details: $10 cover