NXNE is finally over. Compared SXSW, the various NXNE venues were all over the map. Some were clump together, but for the majority of locations, you had to take the Transit everywhere! This can prove to be a problem, especially during rush hour (and drinking hours, because of the overpopulated taxis in the city). Still, for what it was, it was still relatively a minor problem.
Due to sleep and recovery, I was only able to recap the "major" bands, so now I'll concentrate on the smaller bands/various random events that went throughout the day. Big thank you to everyone (Flip, M for Montreal, NOW, NXNE staff) for welcoming us to Toronto. I had a wonderful time, and if I can afford it, I will attend again in the future.
Thursday daytime started with a meet & greet at Sneaky Dee's for Flip Publicity, who really know how to throw a great party. Did not stay too long because I wanted to head back to the hotel, where a few blocks from there was another NXNE party and book launch, courtesy of Pop Montreal. Unfortunately, due to poor public transport and time restraints, I could not attend. The party was mostly for Colin Medley's first book, All I Want Is More Than I Ever Had, which is a collection of photographs that Medley took on tour with his band PS I Love You.
Instead, what ended up happening was walking to the Hyatt to hopefully see Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) get his NOW Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. The waiting and buildup time was incredible, only to have Wilson show up and gone in under 30 seconds! Blink and he was gone!
To be fair, we were warned that Wilson was in a rush on his way to his first-ever Canadian tour. I don't know if he had a limo waiting or what the big deal was, but I felt the whole thing was a bit rude and a brush-off, especially considering that NOW Magazine clearly devoted a lot of time and energy putting this together. I gently crossed his name off my itinerary of bands to see for Saturday.
Evening, I had high expectations to see either Goldenboy or Luyas or DD/MM/YYYY or The Dig, but with transport and overcrowded venues, I did not end up seeing any of those bands. The only decent show was at Lee's Palace, to catch Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield, so we got there just barely in the nick of time to see Washo again.
Megan Washington (aka Washington), did a different setlist from her previous night at Supermarket. Between the two performances, I have to say that Supermarket was more fun, due to the fact that she spent a lot of time talking and telling stories about her songs. Her show at Lee's Palace was strictly "by the books" as it were.
As you can see from the setlist I've laid out for you, she did three cover songs. The last (Paul Kelly) was done in acapella and it was perfect for a very quiet room.
Kevin Seconds is the founding member and lead singer for the 80s punk band 7 Seconds, who had their moment in the sun when they were signed to Sony Records in the mid-90s. The band is still around, complete with the original Kevin Seconds and his brother Steve Youth.
Kevin's live show was understandably a little less than hardcore punk, and I am assuming he did material from his solo work. He sure seem to have a lot of stories about being his travels and his experiences and he generally was happy to be back in Toronto (apparently his band have come through town many times).
Kevin Seconds ended his set with an optimstic "Happy Beginning" song, from his last release, Good Luck Buttons.
Due to sleep and recovery, I was only able to recap the "major" bands, so now I'll concentrate on the smaller bands/various random events that went throughout the day. Big thank you to everyone (Flip, M for Montreal, NOW, NXNE staff) for welcoming us to Toronto. I had a wonderful time, and if I can afford it, I will attend again in the future.
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All I Want Is More Than I Ever Had by Colin Medley |
Instead, what ended up happening was walking to the Hyatt to hopefully see Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) get his NOW Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. The waiting and buildup time was incredible, only to have Wilson show up and gone in under 30 seconds! Blink and he was gone!
To be fair, we were warned that Wilson was in a rush on his way to his first-ever Canadian tour. I don't know if he had a limo waiting or what the big deal was, but I felt the whole thing was a bit rude and a brush-off, especially considering that NOW Magazine clearly devoted a lot of time and energy putting this together. I gently crossed his name off my itinerary of bands to see for Saturday.
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Brian Wilson receives NOW Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award, Toronto (06/16/11) |
Evening, I had high expectations to see either Goldenboy or Luyas or DD/MM/YYYY or The Dig, but with transport and overcrowded venues, I did not end up seeing any of those bands. The only decent show was at Lee's Palace, to catch Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield, so we got there just barely in the nick of time to see Washo again.
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How to Tame Lions Swallow 80 Miles Want (Rufus Wainwright cover) The Hardest Part I Believe You Liar Cement Shivers (Nick Cave cover) Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air (Paul Kelly cover) |
As you can see from the setlist I've laid out for you, she did three cover songs. The last (Paul Kelly) was done in acapella and it was perfect for a very quiet room.
Kevin Seconds is the founding member and lead singer for the 80s punk band 7 Seconds, who had their moment in the sun when they were signed to Sony Records in the mid-90s. The band is still around, complete with the original Kevin Seconds and his brother Steve Youth.
Kevin's live show was understandably a little less than hardcore punk, and I am assuming he did material from his solo work. He sure seem to have a lot of stories about being his travels and his experiences and he generally was happy to be back in Toronto (apparently his band have come through town many times).
Kevin Seconds ended his set with an optimstic "Happy Beginning" song, from his last release, Good Luck Buttons.
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Washington at Lee's Palace, Toronto (06/16/11) |
Kevin Seconds at Lee's Palace, Toronto (06/16/11) |
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