HOW TO NXNE - NOW Magazine

inside
Iggy & the Stooges 56
Essential bands 66-72
Thursday at a glance 61
Friday at a glance 63
NXNE
zach slootsky
NORTH BY NORTHEAST
all access
Saturday at a glance 65
Critics’ picks 66, 68, 72
Complete band index 73
Film fest highlights 84
With 650 bands playing at 50
venues across town, there’s a hell of
a lot of music to catch at NXNE.
those of you who’ve spent your rent
money on beer can still hear great
bands for nothing at yonge- Dundas
square, at seven free park and
public- space stages and on two
stages at Pearson airport. keep
in mind that many of the bigger
names will also be
playing intimate club
shows, including secret
late-night parties. For
the rest of us, there are
three ways to get the most
out of NXNE. hit nxne.com for
info on where to pick up your
wristbands/passes. and if you’re intent
on leaving it to the very last
possible minute, you can purchase
wristbands at the door for all shows.
festival guide
North By NorthEast is bigger, better and crazier than
ever before. Are you ready for a week of music madness?
HOW TO NXNE
Wristbands
NXNE wristbands are the cheapest
way to see the greatest number of
bands, and will get you into all club
shows and film screenings. Not only
that, but they also allow you to bypass
everyone paying cover and go
straight to the front of the line. your
options are the five- day
($50), the one- day ($25)
and the film-festival-only
($25) wristband.
Passes
If you’re not fond of waiting
in line, you’ll want to
spring for a Priority Pass
($200, students $100),
which will get you in
before everyone
else, including
wristbands.
these are also the only way you’ll be
able to catch folks like Mudhoney
and X speaking at all the great conference
events.
Cover charges
of course, you can always just pay
the cover charge at the door, but
that only makes financial sense if
you’re set on checking out just a
showcase or two.
Party till 4
ontario’s puritanical
liquor laws
still have a long
way to go compared
to the rest
of the free world’s,
but things are loosening
up a bit every year. No, you’re
still not allowed to drink on the
street, but more than half of NXNE’s
venues offer 4 am last call. so no
matter where you are in the city,
there’s likely to be an after-party
nearby. keep an ear to the ground for
rumours of secret late-night gigs by
many of the fest’s bigger acts. For a
full rundown of 4 am
licences, see the schedules
on pages 61, 63 and 65.
NOW june 17-23 2010 55

DavID atlas / REtNa Essential
NXNE festivAl guide
shows
PoP
goes
NXNe
freshly inducted into
the rock ’n’ roll hall
of fame, iggy and the
stooges get set to
tear up yonge-dundas
square at north by
northeast By MICHAEL HOLLETT
Iggy & THE STOOgES at yonge-Dundas square,
saturday (June 19), 9:30 pm. Free. nxne.com.
iggy pop is steering his sleek ferrari
F430 sports car from the Miami
home he shares with his glamorous
wife, Nina Alu, toward Miami Beach.
He’s running some errands during
brief downtime off the road after playing
Europe this spring.
“We’re on a break until July and August. The
only exception is the outdoor show with you in
Toronto, and I’m really psyched,” says Pop of
the NXNE gig he and his resurrected Stooges
headline at Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday
night (June 19).
Things are sunny in Iggy & the Stooges’
world, and it’s not just the Florida skies that are
bright. The band that invented punk rock now
sells out bigger shows than they ever played in
their early years. The Stooges reunited in 2003
to meet an apparently insatiable appetite for
the punk pioneers’ dangerous rock and Iggy’s
anarchic athleticism.
Their legendary 1973 album, Raw Power, has
been re-released with full remaster treatment,
and a film about the disc’s recording, Search
And Destroy, screens at the NXNE film fest. Pop
also acts in Toronto filmmaker Rob Stefaniuk’s
inspired vampire film, Suck, also screening at
Northby.
And Iggy & the Stooges were finally inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March, with
proto-punk protege Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong
handing them the hardware at the corporate
bunfest at Man hattan’s Waldorf As to ria.
“The Hall is a game, and it operates on a lot of
levels,” laughs Pop, recalling the night at the
Wal dorf, when the Stooges’ deranged performance
of I Wanna Be Your Dog added to the
band’s legend and scared the shit out of the
suits in the front row.
“I think they were a little fascinated,” says
Pop of the stuffed shirts who stuffed the tables,
“a little snake and mongoose thing going on. I
just wanted to let them know I was in town.”
He wasn’t just in town – he was in their laps
also playing
saturday
when he jumped off the stage and stormed
through the crowd trying to incite the expenseaccount
set.
“I had done the Hall once for Madonna [the
Stooges sang two of her songs at her induction],
so I knew there’s a hierarchy of those who can
afford to pay and who ‘deserve’ to sit in those very
front tables. It’s a whole industry power thing.”
While clearly pleased to pick up his prize,
Pop has no illusions about the awards.
“The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame originated to
honour and make amends to the pioneers of
rock who were not educated people and got
screwed, to make the industry look a little more
human and to ultimately boost sales of the back
catalogues. Most important, they set it up to be
able to tie all these great R&B artists into an artistic
ancestry that you could trace to many of the
groups that were making the labels more
money.
“So by the time the whole experience was
over, I thought, ‘My god, I’m Bo Diddley.’”
He laughs.
“But the Hall is the sort of thing that gets outside
the subculture of music lovers. It resonates with
the broader public. And because it is an industry
thing, you feel a little bit of that ‘I prevailed’ thing.
“Other than that, you just want to go, ‘Ah,
fuck off – all of you just fuck off.’”
Industry accolades were unima gin able in the
Stooges’ early days. The promising band from
Ann Arbor quickly became a headache for label
execs who had no idea how to handle the group’s
poor record sales and out-of-control live shows.
“The people we freaked out – you know [the
Who’s] Won’t Get Fooled Again, ‘Meet the new
boss, same as the old boss’? We freaked out the
new bosses. In the late 60s there was an alternative
hippie infrastructure of pod people or
body snatchers that were at every gig. They
con gregated around the local psychedelic ballroom,
the clubs, the FM station and managed
the local bands. They didn’t like us, and neither
did the top of the industry.
“But the people liked us.”
Pop recalls, “The music was very, very hardhitting,
the lyrics and the way the music was
put together daring.”
RaveoNettes coNtRol YoNge-DuNDas
THE RAVEONETTES at yonge- Dundas
square, saturday (June 19), 8 pm. Free.
nxne.com.
I catch Raveonettes guitarist/singer
Sune Rose Wagner at the album cycle
equivalent of low tide.
Now that tours in support of the
Danish garage pop duo’s last album, In
And Out Of Control (Vice), are over, he’s
sneaking in some downtime,
vacationing in london, England, with
friends from Brooklyn band the Drums.
But Wagner and fellow Raveonette
Sharin Foo aren’t resting for long. the
hardworking pair are already writing album
number five (due in 2011) and
prepping a B- side and rarities compilation
for later this year.
“that’s how it works,” says Wagner
over the line. “We do an album, then we
tour, then we immediately get into a
But the Stooges approach
didn’t trans late into record sales:
bad news for record execs, no big
deal to Iggy.
“I’d always thought that was the
right amount to sell. I would say, ‘If this is
handled right, there might be 50,000 in America.’
I couldn’t even conceive of the outside world
yet, who might like this stuff, and that’s fine.
“I didn’t understand the tenets of capitalism.
I thought surely somebody could make a little
profit selling records like that. We could do
shows and we could all live together in a house
and eat brown rice, smoke hash and fuck, listen
to music and read The Teachings Of Don Juan.
What’s the problem?”
Desperate to get a return on its floundering
investment, Elektra tried to get Iggy to ditch
the band.
“I’d hear again and again, ‘Lose the group. I
can get you with some real musicians. You’re
cute and you’ve got an interesting act.’”
Pop says he pushed his band to new extremes
for the Stooges’ second album, Fun
House, but the release sold only half as well as
the first. The label never did formally drop the
band, but did try to get Pop to sign what he calls
a boy band deal.
“I weaselled out,” says Pop. “I didn’t do that.”
Instead, he got introduced to David Bowie,
who encouraged him to move to London. Pop
talked the Stooges into joining him and finishing
Raw Power, with Bowie doing the final mix.
It sold as poorly as the earlier Stooges releases,
and the band eventually collapsed, a victim of
corrosive life on the road, addiction and an industry
grown impatient with their false starts.
But Pop remains proud of the Stooges.
“We tried to do something that had enough
of familiar rock format so that people would
pay attention. But – and nobody else had done
this – we brought influences from John Cage,
Harry Partch, Lebanese belly dancing music,
Turkish orchestral music, Bedouin music, slave
chants, Balinese stuff and Carl Orff, little touches
of all that and jazz.”
Pop says the sleigh bells on I Wanna Be Your
Dog were lifted from avant-garde jazz player
NXNE
rocks
YoNgE
& DuNDas
for the complete
Yonge-Dundas Square
lineup,
see page 62
studio and work on a new album.
“there is very little free time. We try
always to be occupied with creative
stuff.”
these moments between touring
and recording are crucial; they’re when
songs get written and decisions get
made about sound, artistic direction
and whom to include in the creative
process.
on In and out of control, sune and
Foo brought in Danish pop whiz kid
thomas troelsen to co- write and co-
produce. Will they do that again?
“No,” says Wagner forcefully.
“absolutely not.”
a jab at troelsen? Maybe not.
Wagner has a thing for changing up the
process.
“We like to do albums that are very
independent from one another, so after
the last one, which has tons of production
on it, we want to cut back and do
Pharoah Sanders, and there’s
some of Johnny Cash’s I Walk
The Line in No Fun.
“I worked in a record store as a
stock boy, and I’d often stay late restocking
and playing odd records. I
wanted to learn. I listened to Balinese music
and to those monks who blow those big Tibetan
long horns.”
Then Pop unleashes a bellowing blast, an
imitation of the otherworldly horns that inspired
him.
“I like that music – it’s good shit. I still listen
to it. I listen to what people would think is
pretty weird stuff, but it gives me pleasure.”
He got no pleasure, however, from watching
punk finally take hold years after the Stooges
collapsed.
“It was difficult emotionally. I knew I couldn’t
go back. I intuited that they were doing things
based on what I did, but in a more palatable
form, a little more commercialized. New Rose
(by the Damned) and God Save The Queen (Sex
Pistols) and later some of the early Clash stuff,
that’s slicker, a little different.
“And of course they had a smaller, more receptive
country to spring it on.
“In America, it’s like trying to wake up a
large, wet hippopotamus – no, not even a hippo,
something very large, damp and flaccid. And
you’re trying to wake it up, and America won’t
get a stiffy. It’s very hard to get America behind
something, even to notice. In Britain, music is
more important.”
Even now, he says, the pasteurization of
punk continues.
“They figured out a way to defang it. Cutie it
up and we can sell this shit. Especially post-
Green Day, neo-punk has to be kind of cute and
kind of funny. Green Day still has a lot of raw
talent, but when you start getting into Blink-182,
you start getting into jokes.”
Punk’s no joke to Pop, as we’ll see when he
brings his ferocious show to Toronto. 3
michaelh@nowtoronto.com
more online
Interview clips at nowtoronto.com
something raw, noisy and darker-
sounding.”
this love of contrast is also hardwired
into their music.
“I like to write songs that musically
sound really happy but have lyrics that
are actually quite far from happy,”
laughs Wagner. “I like to lure people
into what they think is paradise, but it
turns out to be hell.
“It just messes with their minds.
they think they’re dancing to a cute
little song, but it’s really all about evilness.”
as for the B- sides and rarities collection,
Wagner says they’re still wading
through piles of old recordings to decide
what makes the cut.
“[there will be] a healthy dose of
between 20 and 30 songs,” he promises,
“mainly for our hardcore fans, who
deserve to hear them.” JORDAN BIMM
56 june 17-23 2010 NOW NOW june 17-23 2010 57

NXNE festivAl guide
Essential
shows
MUDHONEy at yonge-Dundas square, tonight
(thursday, June 17), 9 pm. Free. and
at the horseshoe (368 Queen West), Friday
(June 18), 1 am. $25 or NXNE wristband/pass.
nxne.com.
I’ve written one music-related fan letter
in my life. It was addressed to seattle
and my favourite 90s grunge band,
Mudhoney. We’re talking pen to paper
to mailbox and then anxiously waiting
for a reply.
It took three years for singer Mark
Arm’s photocopied all-purpose response
to arrive, and by then the
ripped-out magazine photos had long
since come down from my bedroom
walls.
“We took things casually back
then, maybe too casually at
times,” guitarist Steve Turner
considers.
No hard feelings. That laidback
approach proved to be
integral to the band’s longevity.
Bands like Mudhoney, the ones that
can stick together for over two decades
and still remain relevant, usually
don’t take themselves or the music biz
too seriously.
Instead of chasing trends and dollars,
inevitably burning out and hating
each other in the process, they stayed
true to themselves and let everyone
else come around to find them.
grunge
“We never really had any grand expectations,”
says Turner. “Mark and I
got further than we ever thought we
would within the first six months of
being a band. Everything else was just
gravy. The fact that we took it so casually
probably helped us stick around.”
Though their tour schedule has
lightened over the years, their recorded
output remains consistent and well
received. Their latest, appropriately
named The Lucky Ones (Sub Pop), is a
far cry from the sound of four greyhairs
playing “dad rock,” as Turner calls
it.
Compared to current Sup Pop Seattle
successes such as mellow gold rockers
Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses
(now on a major), Mudhoney sound
downright heavy.
“A bit of a mid-life crisis,” is
how Tur ner describes Lucky
Ones. “That’s our hardcore record.
We did it fast and raw, and
it turned out great.”
You can almost hear Turner’s jaw
clench when I mention that he’s on a
NXNE panel to discuss the Seattle explosion,
grunge and Sup Pop’s early
days. At this point he’s justifiably sick
of the subject and says he hides from
authors still writing on it.
“Whatever. We’re part of it. You
can’t escape your past, as they say, and
I wouldn’t want to.” JASON KELLER
Where the critics will be thursday
MICHAEL HOLLETT
BENJAMIN BOLES
JORDAN BIMM
CARLA gILLIS
JASON KELLER
ANDREW RENNIE
RICHARD
TRAPUNSKI
gLASS CANDy at Wrongbar (1279 Queen
West), tonight (thursday, June 17), 1 am.
$15 or NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am 1 am 2 am 3 am
Andy Kim
lee’s Palace
Rituals
Drake hotel
Clothes Make
The Man
silver Dollar
Rituals
Drake hotel
Brant Bjork &
The Bros
yonge-Dundas
square
young galazy
Mod club
Old World
Vulture
Rancho Relaxo
The Besnard
Lakes
Mod club
zola Jesus
sneaky Dee’s
Mudhoney
yonge-Dundas
square
Final Flash
El Mocambo
Main Floor
The Besnard
Lakes
Mod club
Demon’s Claw
the Great hall
Demon’s Claw
the Great hall
If there’s such a thing as an earthy
disco queen, it’s Ida No.
the silken-voiced singer for cosmic
beat-pumping duo Glass Candy isn’t as
urbane as you might expect. In
fact, many of her lyrics, mel-
odies and themes are inspired
by hikes in the lush tree-lined
hills that surround her Portland
home.
“I go on really long walks and
won’t come back for four hours,”
says No. “I’ll go for a walk and a theme
will come up or I’ll get overcome by a
feeling.”
she then conveys these vocal lines
to long-time musical partner Johnny
Jewel, who writes and composes Glass
candy’s analog-synth-based jams.
these writing sessions have become a
long-distance affair of late. Jewel re-
synth
disco
Bad Tits
Drake hotel
Modern
Superstitions
silver Dollar
Times Neue
Roman
El Mocambo
Upstairs
Bad Tits
Drake hotel
Free Energy
horseshoe
tavern
X
yonge-Dundas
square
X
yonge-Dundas
square
Jim Cuddy,
Hawksley
Workman
lee’s Palace
Mamabolo
Wrongbar
Bishop
Morocco
Drake hotel
Anamanaguchi
Whippersnapper
Gallery
Best Coast
the Great hall
Misfits
opera house
METz
the Garrison
Mini Mansions
Bovine sex
club
Junior Boys
the social
The Coast
Gladstone
hotel
Lily Frost
the Painted
lady
The Beauties
lee’s Palace
Bitters
silver Dollar
The Pack A.D.
Dakota tavern
cently relocated to Montreal to be with
his romantic interest.
“Even when we lived in the same
apartment, we were on opposite sides
of the continent,” she laughs. “he’s
always been really headstrong and off
in his own creative world, and I am,
too, so not much has changed.”
Jewel’s move to Montreal to shack
up and make music with his female
partner follows a familiar
pattern for the texan. after
years of living with No and
doing Glass candy (which
formed in 1995), he formed the
similar-sounding chromatics in
2006 with girlfriend Ruth Radelet. Desire,
a synth-pop unit featuring Megan
louise on vocals, is his latest love/
music partnership.
“From an outside perspective, that
must look like [makes cat fighting
noises], but there’s no competition. It’s
more like a good family feeling. the
people in those bands are like my best
friends.” JASON KELLER
Thee Oh Sees
the Great hall
glass Candy
Wrongbar
young Empires
Dakota tavern
glass Candy
Wrongbar
DVAS
El Mocambo
Upstairs
The Strange
Boys
silver Dollar
Thee Oh Sees
the Great hall
Special guest
silver Dollar
Trust
Wrongbar
Special guest
Dakota tavern
Trust
Wrongbar
Walter
Schreifels
Bovine sex
club
gregory
Pepper & His
Problems
Mitzi’s sister
Special guest
Dakota tavern
A Primitive
Evolution
the hideout
Mikey Apples
Wrongbar
Mikey Apples
Wrongbar
Mikey Apples
Wrongbar
A Primitive
Evolution
the hideout
METz at the Garrison (1197 Dundas
West), tonight (thursday, June 17), 11 pm.
$10 or NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
the members of Metz don’t believe in
gimmicks. they’re making their name
through sheer volume and intensity.
taking a cue from early 90s posthardcore
greats the Jesus lizard and
Drive like Jehu, the toronto trio
eschews conventional song structure
for dissonance and drone, burying
twitchy hooks under piles of sludge.
“For better or for worse, we can’t
really tone it down,” says lead guitarist/yelper
Alex Edkins. “there’s this
energy that exists between me, Chris
[Slorach] and Hayden [Menzies], and
we just put that energy out there. It’s
not really something we talk about,
but when the three of us get together,
that’s how we play.”
With only two 7-inch
weirdo
punk
singles to their name
(and a third ready to be
pressed), the band’s
palpable hometown
buzz is based mostly on
their powerful live show.
It’s an event not so much experienced
as endured, and it hits with a
raw force not often found in toronto’s
crowded indie scene.
“there’s so much great stuff
happening in the city that it doesn’t
matter if we sound like anyone else,”
says Edkins. “Fitting in has never been
our goal.” RICHARD TRAPUNSKI
X at yonge- Dundas square, tonight
(thursday, June 17), 10 pm. Free.
nxne.com.
X’s trademark male/female vocal dynamic
influenced many of your favourite
punk rock acts. the l.a. band,
formed in 1977 by vocalist Exene
THE STRANgE BOyS at the silver Dollar
(486 spadina), thursday and Friday (June
17-18), 1 am, and saturday (June 19), 2
am. at the Garrison (1197 Dundas West),
saturday (June 19), 11 pm. $10- $15 or
NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com. also at
kops Records (229 Queen West), thursday
(June 17), 1:30 pm. Free.
the Strange Boys are making
every visit to toronto count.
Back in March, the young
texas garage rockers opened
the highly anticipated spoon/
Deerhunter show at sound
academy before rushing to
Rancho Relaxo for an unannounced
headlining gig later stage- crashed by
kindred spirits the Black lips.
Back in the city for the second time,
they’re making the most out of their
first NXNE. the band plays five shows
over the course of three busy days, including
a three-night stand at the Silver
Dollar, where they’ll road- test a
few new tracks from their still-
Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe,
guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer DJ
Bonebrake, built their sound from
sources outside the genre.
“We were inspired by everything,
from country to blues to folk rock,”
says cervenka from her l.a. home.
“We were inspired by everything ever
recorded. you can print that.
unnamed follow- up to 2010’s swagger
ing Be Brave (In the Red).
singer/guitarist Ryan Sambol
admits the new material isn’t a huge
departure from the band’s established
mix of Nuggets- era R&B, electric Dylan
blues and texas twang, but he refuses
to talk about inspiration.
“I’ve stopped answering that question
because I don’t want us to be
pegged down to just one or two
influences,” he says over the
phone from austin. “I like a lot
of music from all different
periods. I would say I just like
music.”
It’s this don’t- give- a- shit attitude
that makes the strange Boys
such an appealing live act and a difficult
interview. Unwilling to think deeply
about the band, sambol would rather
just get up onstage, down a few
beers and have a good time.
“there are more important things in
the world than bands,” he says. “We’re
just a group of kids playing music. It’s
really not a big deal.” RICHARD TRAPUNSKI
“things were different in the late
70s. Punk rock was more of an umbrella
term. there was nothing to say that
you couldn’t drop a jazz solo into the
middle of a song.”
over X’s three- decade, seven- album
career, they dabbled in rockabilly,
country, folk, alternative rock and then
some. along with avant- garde ele-
ments, they peppered the tunes with
deeply personal lyrics.
“Under the Big Black sun was a
once-in-a-lifetime album,” says cervenka.
the 1982 recording was written
as she was grieving her sister’s death in
an auto accident. “It is the most melancholy
album we’ve recorded. It’s also
my personal favourite.”
cervenka’s traumas have never
slowed her down, not even a recent
diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
“It hasn’t affected me one bit,” she
says cheerfully. “I take some holistic
things, some medicinal things. But
everyone’s got an affliction, if you
think about it. Diabetes, hIv, hepatitis.
Everyone’s gotta fight their own battles,
and I take solace in that.”
ANDREW RENNIE
66 june 17-23 2010 NOW NOW june 17-23 2010 67
proto
punk
garage
rock

NXNE festivAl guide
Essential
shows
TRUST at Wrongbar (1279 Queen West),
tonight (thursday, June 17), 2 am, and
Friday (June 18), 9 pm. $15 or NXNE
wristband/pass. nxne.com.
Trust have only been a band for five
months, but the duo’s spooky, artinfused
synth experiments have
already made them a hit with tastemakers
lurking in the grittier corners
of toronto’s lively elec-
tronic scene.
Featuring percussionist
Maya Postepski (who also
drums for katie stelmanis and
performs solo as Princess century)
and synth player/vocalist Robert
Alfons, trust name-drops everyone
from outsider vhs music-video
queen Jan terri to the unsettling
kraut-pop of Malaria! and the Real
Mccoy’s early-90s hi-NRG as inspirations
shaping their sound and perfor-
synth
pop
mance style.
Postepski says she wants their end
product to sound like “crying on the
dance floor,” accomplished through
“demon growls and arpeggiators.”
their dark, danceable sound is
working out for them. so far they’ve
convinced local DJ and former crystal
castles manager Mikey apples to
manage them, and that’s already
resulted in a pretty big second
gig; trust opened for local
buzz band Parallels at their
super-packed record release
party at Wrongbar back in
February.
While the duo has only a few
songs posted on their Myspace page,
they’re readying two 12-inch vinyl singles
for release over the summer, one
of which will feature a remix by l.a.
chillwave magicians Nite Jewel.
they’re going to be big, trust us.
JORDAN BIMM
Where the critics will be friday
MICHAEL HOLLETT
BENJAMIN BOLES
JORDAN BIMM
CARLA gILLIS
JASON KELLER
ANDREW RENNIE
RICHARD
TRAPUNSKI
8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am 1 am 2 am 3 am
Nive Nielson &
The Deer
Children
silver Dollar
Mathemagic
Gladstone
hotel
The Futureless
Neutral
lounge
Mathemagic
Gladstone
hotel
Brutal Knights
horseshoe
tavern
Brutal Knights
horseshoe
tavern
Brutal Knights
horseshoe
tavern
222s
horseshoe
tavern
ghost Bees
Gladstone
hotel
KATIE STELMANIS at Wrongbar (1279
Queen West), Friday (June 18), 10 pm. $15
or NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
Many things about Katie Stelmanis
are tba right now.
The buzzed-about Toronto
electro nic artist with the big
voice, orchestral leanings and
dramatic melodies (and
videos) has a full-length album
80 per cent in the can, set for release
in early winter. So which label is
behind it?
“I don’t think I can say that yet,” says
Stelmanis, freshly returned from the
gym. “I’ll just say tba.”
Has she settled on a title?
“Nope,” she says. “The name is
SILJE NES at Whippersnapper (578a college),
Friday (June 18), 10 pm. $15 or
NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
Stop Die
comfort zone
The
Polymorphines
Rancho Relaxo
The Weirdies
the shop
Sloan (9:30)
yonge-Dundas
square
Soft Copy
the Garrison
No one will ever accuse Silje Nes of
being uninventive.
the Norwegian singer/songwriter
does it all. she plays piano, guitar, cello,
xylophone, trumpet, recorder and
drums and landed herself a record deal
after sending a demo to Fatcat, the
esteemed Uk label that puts out sigur
Rós and Black Dice.
Naturally, she also home-produces
indie
pop
AA Bondy
the Great hall Wavves
lee’s Palace
Timber Timbre
Gladstone
hotel
Boys Who Say
No
silver Dollar
Katie
Stelmanis
Wrongbar
AA Bondy
Gladstone
hotel
Timber Timbre
Gladstone
hotel
Timber Timbre
Gladstone
hotel
Best Coast
the Garrison
Wavves
lee’s Palace
Wavves
lee’s Palace
John Doe &
Exene
Cervenka
the Great hall
Wavves
lee’s Palace
DD/MM/yyyy
Gladstone
hotel
Man or
Astroman?
horseshoe
tavern
Big Freedia
Wrongbar
The Two
Koreas
comfort zone
Evening
Hymns
Dakota tavern
Man or
Astroman?
horseshoe
tavern
Big Freedia
Wrongbar
Japandroids
lee’s Palace
usually the very last thing I think of.”
One certainty is her upcoming
three-song 12-inch single, tentatively
titled The Beat And The Pulse. It comes
out in August on One Big Silence, the
new 12-inch-vinyl-only label set
up by Fucked Up’s Mike halie-
chuk, who’s said his goal is to
document Toronto’s vibrant
electronic music scene.
“When Mike started the
label, he was like, ‘I want to make
a scene in Toronto,’” explains Stelmanis.
“I was like, ‘You can’t really do
that.’ I felt like he was fabricating one.
But now that things have really started
moving, I do feel like part of it.”
Stelmanis cites as examples Diamond
Rings, whose Show Me Your
her own music – serene folk tempered
with experimental flourishes like the
ticking of a distant typewriter or
the sound of a bleating sheep
submerged deep in the mix.
“Basically, I just use
things that are around. I also
have this video camera that I
pick up sounds from,” she explains
softly from her place in Berlin,
where she’s awaiting a FedEx package
containing a visa that will allow
her to tour the U.s. with fellow multiinstrumentalist
DM stith.
While she’s foremost a soloist, for
trippy
folk
Mudhoney
horseshoe
tavern
PS I Love you
lee’s Palace
84.85
Drake hotel
PS I Love you
lee’s Palace
Mudhoney
horseshoe
tavern
Mudhoney
horseshoe
tavern
Mudhoney
horseshoe
tavern
Special guest
Bovine sex
club
Special guest
Bovine sex
club
NOW DJ’s
Gladstone
hotel
Special guest
Bovine sex
club
NOW DJ’s
Gladstone
hotel
Huoratron
Wrongbar
Women
silver Dollar
Murder Ford
Monument
silver Dollar
Murder Ford
Monument
silver Dollar
DJ Ed Lover
Drake hotel
DJ Ed Lover
Drake hotel
The Cheap
Speakers
Rancho Relaxo
Stuff 12-inch launches the label at the
Friday (June 18) NXNE showcase, and
Trust (also on the bill), her drummer,
Maya Postepski’s, new band.
“Because I didn’t know many people
[making electronic music], I was kind of
on my own figuring out the programs
and the basics of MIDI. With more people
to collaborate with now, I’m learning
so much more, even just in the last six
or seven months.”
That collaboration extends to the
Katie Stelmanis project, which is now a
four-person band that includes the
aforementioned Postepski plus bassist
Dorian Wolf and guitarist Carmen Elle.
The lineup additions, which debuted at
SXSW, prompted Stelmanis to switch to
a band name, Private Life – an effort
that was ultimately thwarted.
“I feel like ‘Katie Stelmanis’ doesn’t in
any way describe what my music
sounds like. It tends to be a description
of what it doesn’t sound like; I’ve shown
up at a ton of gigs where peo ple assumed
I was a solo girl on piano.
“But two months into owning [the
name], a friend pointed out a band with
the same name that released a record
on Warner in 1989. My friend managed
to get hold of an email address and then
asked if we could share. We were
basically told no.”
A new name is, unsurprisingly, tba.
“We’re in the process of thinking of
one right now.” CARLA gILLIS
her NXNE show at Whippersnapper Nes
will be accompanied by two musicians
and a loop pedal, owen Pallett-style,
to create a lush sonic tapestry be-
neath her restrained, whisperquiet
vocals.
since the release of her 2007
debut, ames Room, expectations
for her upcoming second album,
Optiks (FatCat), have been high. although
the record’s september release
date is fast approaching, she’s still figuring
it out.
“I don’t really know what it is yet. It’s
still a work in progress.” JASON RICHARDS
COLD CAVE DJ set at the Garrison (1197
Dundas West), Friday (June 18), 1 am. and
live set at lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West),
saturday (June 19), 1 am. Both $15 or
NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
Cold Cave return to NXNE with a hotnew-thing
aura surrounding Love
Comes Close (Matador), their noisy
synth-pop debut album.
SLOAN at yonge-Dundas square, Friday
(June 18), 9:30 pm. Free. nxne.com.
the members of Sloan are already kicking
around ideas for next February,
which marks the 20th anniversary of
their first show. (super-fan trivia: it
took place at the Nova scotia college
of art and Design in halifax.)
“I’d like to play some older albums
front to back in a concert setting,”
says guitarist/vocalist
Jay Ferguson. “Twice Removed?
One Chord To Another?
Perhaps a bit trendy
these days, but it’s something
I’ve wanted to do for a while.
“Maybe the 20th anniversary is the
right time to relearn Lemonzinger. Actually,
scratch that. The lyrics are total
trash. Good riff, though.”
In the meantime, the Toronto-based
But Wes Eisold, the brain behind the
Manhattan-based band’s hooks, actually
has a long history as a singer and
lyricist in hardcore punk bands. he formerly
fronted the loud, guitar-driven
american Nightmare, Give Up the
Ghost and some Girls, among other
bands.
“I wanted to start my own band
where I would write all of the music
indie pop legends are keeping busy
with releases – B-Sides Win, a new collection
of bonus tracks, extras and Bsides,
and last November’s Hit & Run
EP are available from the band’s digital
store. And let’s not forget fatherhood.
Last week, bassist Chris Murphy welcomed
a new son into the world.
Then there’s Sloan’s free Yonge-
Dundas Square show during NXNE.
Besides squeezing in a rehearsal
with the new dad and checking
out Iggy & the Stooges Saturday
night, what do they have
planned for their show?
“Hit after hit after hit followed
by an obscure album
track to allow people to go purchase
a hot dog or jeans, and then
back to the hits,” jokes Ferguson. “It’ll
be good. Under the stars. And billboards.
I miss Licks restaurant on that
corner.” CARLA gILLIS
and there would be no confusion or
compromise,” says Eisold about his
stylistic switch from hardcore to cold
cave’s art-damaged electro. “this is
how it sounds.”
“I hardly trust anyone who wasn’t
involved in hardcore at some point in
their life.”
the trust issues stem in part from a
well-publicized incident in 2007 when
pop-punk poster children Fall out Boy
admitted they plagiarized Eisold’s
lyrics on two of their biggest-selling
records.
Eisold’s writing extends outside the
world of music. he operates heartworm
Press, an independent publishing
house in Manhattan, and has published
Deathbeds, a book of poetry and
prose.
For now, though, he’s focused on
music, touring and tightening up the
four-piece’s live performances. Following
the summer shows, he plans to
hibernate in order to focus on cold
cave’s next record.
“last month we made the transformation
from being better on record
to being better live,” Eisold says. “I’m
very pleased with this.” JORDAN BIMM
68 june 17-23 2010 NOW NOW june 17-23 2010 69
power
pop
electro
pop

NXNE festivAl guide
Essential
shows
LIBRARy VOICES at the horseshoe (368
Queen West), saturday (June 19), 9 pm.
$15 or NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
you’d never glean it from their
countenances, but Library
Voices may just be the unluckiest
band in canada.
In February 2009, the saskatchewan
eight- piece was
the target of theft, losing their
tour van and a good deal of gear.
then, just three weeks after releasing
the critically acclaimed full- length
Denim On Denim (Young Souls) in
april 2010, their basement studio in
indie
pop
the Regina cultural Exchange flooded,
ruining most of what was left of their
equipment.
But it hasn’t been all bad news. as
word of the band’s misfortune spread,
fellow Prairie rockers the Weakerthans
played a library voices
benefit concert, and donations
poured in from fans and well-
wishers. Uneasy about taking
char ity, the group recorded a
cover of the Beatles’ help! and
gave it away for free on their website
as a thank you.
“When something like this happens,
the feedback and the response you get
really help put things in perspective,”
says keyboardist/lyricist Michael Dawson
over the phone from Regina.
“our motivation to play in a band
came from growing up going to shows
and supporting indie music, so it’s reaffirming
to see other fans and musicians
doing the same on our behalf. It
reminds us why we got into it in the
first place, and why we spend so much
money each year on our little hobby.”
those familiar with the group’s
brand of upbeat indie pop shouldn’t be
surprised by Dawson’s positive outlook.
a mix of literary, self- conscious
lyrics, catchy bubble-gum hooks and
unbridled enthusiasm, a library voices
song is the musical equivalent of a big
goofy grin.
“When we started, pop was totally a
four- letter word, even though it’s really
three letters,” Dawson says. “at
some point we decided if we’re going
to make pop music, we might as well
do it unabashedly. so we had some t-
shirts printed up that said ‘Pop as
Fuck!’ and we just went for it.”
considering that the average library
voices performance leaves both the
band and audience satisfied, sweaty
and utterly spent, “Pop as Fuck!” is an
apposite slogan.
“It can be exhausting piling all of us
into a van or a hotel room, but once
you’re onstage literally surrounded by
your friends jumping around and having
fun, it’s impossible not to smile. It’s
infectious.” RICHARD TRAPUNSKI
C’MON at the Gladstone (1214 Queen
West), Friday (June 18), midnight. $15 or
NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
as the years passed after the release of
C’mon’s 2007 album, Bottled lightning
(of an all time high), and as Ian Blurton
continued to take stages with his
“hippy rock” happy Endings side project,
it was easy to wonder if the hard-
rocking trio had called it quits.
“that’s a legitimate ques-
tion,” Blurton admits.
“Basically, I was making the
happy Endings record over the
past five years during sessions
producing other people’s records.
We knew c’mon weren’t going to play
until the new record was out, and I just
wanted to play. I kind of go crazy if I’m
not playing.”
Now it’s happy Endings’ turn to go
hard
rock
on hiatus, since Blurton is intent on
putting his energy behind c’mon’s new
album, Beyond The Pale Horse (Blown
Speaker/Yeah Right). Despite the time
off, c’mon are sounding even louder
and heavier than before.
“It’s way more aggressive- sounding,
and everything is over the top. It’s
basically our Boston album; there are a
million guitar and vocal tracks. Katie
[Lynn Campbell] sings on more
than half the record.”
campbell’s increased presence
is somewhat surprising,
since she and Blurton are no
longer romantically involved.
combined with the fact that she
lives in New orleans, you’d think it’d
be tough to make it work.
“Well, it sure didn’t change anything
when we practised for the first time a
couple of weeks ago.” BENJAMIN BOLES
PS I LOVE yOU at lee’s Palace (529 Bloor
West), Friday (June 18), 1 pm. $20 or NXNE
wristband/pass. nxne.com.
When there are just two of you in the
band and the room is packed and
noisy, how do you rise above it? Guitar-
ist/vocalist Paul Saulnier and
drummer Benjamin Nelson
from the kingston indie pop
two-piece PS I Love You tackle the
problem with crushing volume and a
bass pedal organ.
“Getting a huge sound while playing
live works best when my guitar
amp is completely dimed,” says Saulnier.
“And my pedal bass organ has to
be just as loud. If I’m screaming to
make my voice heard, then we’re
sounding right.”
Unfamiliar with a bass pedal organ?
You can watch Saulnier play it in
the video for the sublime Facelove, a
song from 2009’s sold-out split
7-inch with Diamond Rings. A 13-note
analog keyboard, the pedal sits on
the floor by his foot, and he steps on
its giant keys to produce extremely
low frequencies.
“It takes a lot of practice to step on
the right notes while playing guitar
and singing,” says Saulnier. “It’s really
the third member and essential to
our sound. I get offers from bass
players who want to join, and I’m like,
‘Uh, we already have a bass player.
It’s my right leg.’”
Also essential are the blistering,
emo tional guitar leads that crop up
between Nelson’s propulsive drumming
and Saulnier’s yearning,
yelping vocals, all of which can
be heard on their almost finished
debut full-length and
recent Starfield 7-inch (Thing
Itself). Saulnier grew up on a
diet of Jimi Hen drix, Kirk Hammett
and Thurston Moore.
“The part of my brain that remembers
melodies from pop songs is full
of Metallica instead of the Beatles.”
CARLA gILLIS
70 june 17-23 2010 NOW NOW june 17-23 2010 71
indie
rock

NXNE festivAl guide
Where the critics will be saturday
Essential
shows
MATHEMAgIC at the Gladstone (1214
Queen West), Friday (June 18), 8 pm. $15
or NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
In the last year, Guelph’s Mathemagic
have gone from an unknown
bedroom recording project by
brothers Evan and Dylan Euteneier
to a group with a
debut self- titled EP released
on Paper Bag who are getting
written about on hip
music blogs and being tagged as
canada’s answer to the chillwave fad.
Funnily, it was only recently that
they learned of blogs and chillwave.
“We made a Myspace page for the
first song we did, and some guy from
transparentblog in the Uk asked us if
he could post it,” says Evan. “We didn’t
even have a single friend on Myspace. I
don’t know how he found us.
gHOST BEES at the Gladstone (1214
Queen West), Friday (June 18), 9 pm. $15
or NXNE wristband/pass. and at c’est
What (67 Front East), Friday (June 18),
midnight. $10 or NXNE wristband/pass.
nxne.com.
ambient
pop
Identical twins Sari and
Romy Lightman, aka Ghost
Bees, are polite, soft-spoken
and quite charming in person.
But there’s something
strangely disconcerting about
the way they communicate wordlessly,
as if they’re having a private conversation.
Good thing the pair relish reactions
to their twin weirdness.
“I don’t think we creep each other
out, but I do think we creep other people
out,” says sari as she shares a sandwich
with her sister. “We can definitely
be creepy at times.”
indie
pop
“hell, I didn’t even know what a
music blog was. I went to his site and
was blown away by all this music I’d
never heard before. Now that’s where I
get all my new music.”
While the instant blog love may
have been a flukey accident, the
brothers’ shimmering ambient
pop soundscapes fit perfectly
with the sudden surge of bands
exploring similarly tripped- out
tangents.
But whereas most of their competition
use 80s pop as reference
points, Mathe magic have a subtle
tropical vibe that makes you think they
live closer to the equator than north of
the 49th parallel.
“We recorded the EP just as the
summer was ending and it was starting
to get cold,” says Evan. “I guess we
were trying to make it feel like it was
still summer.” BENJAMIN BOLES
their music pits ethereal melodies
against dark, gory subject matter. Parents,
be warned: this might be what
happens when you expose sweet
young girls to horror movies at an early
age, as the lightmans’ father did.
on Through A Glass Darkly, their
just-finished follow-up to 2008’s
tasseomancy, they tone down
the folk influences and beef up
the atmospherics. It was produced
by timber timbre’s taylor
kirk and simon trottier, who will
back them up at the Gladstone.
they’re also about to change their
name to tasseomancy, a word for the
art of reading tea leaves.
“Ghost Bees was a childhood inside
joke for us and kind of a secret,” explains
Romy. “It feels like we’ve outgrown
that name. this album is just so
much heavier and darker than what
we’ve previously done.” BENJAMIN BOLES
MICHAEL HOLLETT
BENJAMIN BOLES
JORDAN BIMM
CARLA gILLIS
JASON KELLER
ANDREW RENNIE
RICHARD
TRAPUNSKI
8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am 1 am 2 am 3 am
Hollerado
Mod club
Raveonettes
yonge-Dundas
square
Digits
Whippersnapper
Gallery
Raveonettes
yonge-Dundas
square
Raveonettes
yonge-Dundas
square
Raveonettes
yonge-Dundas
square
Hollerado
Mod club
garage
punk
Iggy & the
Stooges (9:30)
yonge-Dundas
square
Iggy & the
Stooges (9:30)
yonge-Dundas
square
Uncut
sneaky Dee’s
Iggy & the
Stooges (9:30)
yonge-Dundas
square
Iggy & the
Stooges (9:30)
yonge-Dundas
square
Iggy & the
Stooges (9:30)
yonge-Dundas
square
Iggy & the
Stooges (9:30)
yonge-Dundas
square
TEENANgER at the silver Dollar (486 spadina),
saturday (June 19), midnight. $15 or
NXNE wristband/pass. nxne.com.
toronto garage punk outfit Teenanger
have no problem getting vulgar. take
their grotesque poster art or the title
of their sophomore album, Give Me
Pink, out on Telephone Explosion.
“We were in a hotel in Montreal,
pretty fucked up, watching free French
porn because we’re too broke to pay
for the regular kind,” says guitarist G.C.
Gary from a couch in toronto.
“all of a sudden, the words ‘Give me
pink!’ started flashing across the
screen, interspersed with a giant
dildo.”
teenager members Gary, vocalist
Alex Lekay, bassist/backup vocalist
Sharon Needles and a drummer
known as Salvatore use aliases for
practical reasons.
“We don’t exactly cross borders
legally,” says Gary cryptically, “which
makes touring especially difficult.”
there’s a sort of last- minute urgency
to everything they do, and it’s
evident in the songs themselves.
“We basically recorded the whole
album in the span of a day,” Gary says.
“It was a daunting task, but that’s how
we’ve always worked.” ANDREW RENNIE
The
Paperbacks
c’est What
The grates
Wrongbar
Small Sins
lee’s Palace
The
Paperbacks
c’est What
Hannah
georgas
horseshoe
tavern
Small Sins
lee’s Palace
Hannah
georgas
horseshoe
tavern
The Soft Pack
lee’s Palace
The Strange
Boys
the Garrison
Spaceships Are
Cool
cameron
house
The Soft Pack
lee’s Palace
The Soft Pack
lee’s Palace
Comanechi
comfort zone
The Magic
sneaky Dee’s
The zeros
El Mocambo
Main
Jeff the
Brotherhood
the Garrison
The
D’Ubervilles
Drake hotel
Jeff the
Brotherhood
the Garrison
Surfer Blood
Wrongbar
Teenager
silver Dollar
Room
Jeff the
Brotherhood
the Garrison
KID SISTER at yonge- Dundas square, sunday
(June 20), 8 pm. Free. and at Wrongbar
(1279 Queen West), sunday (June 20),
midnight. $10 or NXNE wristband/pass.
nxne.com.
If there was any question about Kid
Sister’s sincerity on Pro Nails, her
break out kanye- featured manicure
anthem, I can confirm that her enthusiasm
is very real.
From the start of our interview, she
talks excitedly about how she just did
her own nails, listing her favourite
salons and explaining her manicure
contingency plan when
she’s in remote places like australia.
the electro- rapper only
cools down a bit when I mention
that Pro Nails was my jam a
couple of years ago.
“I’m glad you liked the song,” she
says dryly from her place in chicago. “It
was a pretty good song.”
Maybe her change in tone comes
from the fact that she hasn’t followed
up the single with anything quite as big.
after multiple delays, her 2009 debut
album, Ultraviolet (Universal), was neither
a commercial nor critical smash.
Les Savy Fav
Wrongbar
Quintron &
Miss Pussycat
the Garrison
Cold Cave
lee’s Palace
Comanechi
silver Dollar
Les Savy Fav
Wrongbar
Les Savy Fav
Wrongbar
Comanechi
silver Dollar
hip-hop
Violent Soho
sneaky Dee’s
Classixx
Drake hotel
Special guest
Wrongbar
Special guest
Wrongbar
Classixx
Drake hotel
Special guest
sneaky Dee’s
The Strange
Boys
silver Dollar
Static In The
Stars
the hideout
Drunk Woman
silver Dollar
Hatchmatik
Drake hotel
AC Slater,
Udachi, B. Rich
the social
The Peelies
sneaky Dee’s
still, she does acknowledge that Pro
Nails put her on the map.
“I’m grateful for that song every day,
cuz it’s really what started everything,”
she says. and despite Ultraviolet not
exactly taking off, kid sister is in the midst
of making some power moves. shortly
after our conversation, the rapper will enter
a los angeles studio with a couple of
the biggest names in pop music.
“I’m recording with travis Barker and
will.i.am,” she reveals nonchalantly.
“yeah, will.i.am came to a show
with apl.de.ap [also of Black Eyed Peas]
about a month and a half ago. My
manager was like, ‘yeah, you’re
gonna go into the studio with
them.’ I’m like, ‘okay. cool.
awesome.’”
she’s also busy prepping
new collaborations for other
people’s albums.
“I did a song for the Jersey shore
soundtrack with Nina sky, and I have a
song with Bun B on Paul Wall’s album,
coming out July 13.”
and while much of her upcoming
work will happen in l.a., kid sister
balks at the idea of ever abandoning
her chi- town roots.
“yeah, I’m not moving. let’s not get
crazy.” JASON RICHARDS
Punk pioneers the Zeros play
the El Mocambo main floor
Saturday (June 19) at
midnight.
the Bands
Who’s playing where, what and when
Thursday,
June 17
The Boat
Krupke art rock, progressive jazz, show tunes,
post- punk and old- fashioned whimsy. 9 pm.
EX~PO Blending indie rock, noise and shoegaze
with strong pop sensibilities. 10 pm.
autumn owls critically acclaimed Irish quartet
craft finely pitched atmospheric songs. 11 pm.
sleepy vikings loud country shoegaze songs
about stalkers and summer. Midnight.
Modernboys Moderngirls a sweat- drippin’ rock
‘n’ roll show. 1 am.
72 june 17-23 2010 NOW NOW june 17-23 2010 73
Bovine Sex Club
miesha & the spanks crosses crooning country-
soul and gritty, in- yer- face garage rock. 9 pm.
The Barrens Explosive psychedelic rock blends
punky guitars and frozen melodies. 10 pm.
Terracotta Pigeons sound Garden meets Muse
and terracotta Pigeons. 11 pm.
Mini Mansions Psych- popsters mix baroque
pop, Motown and Merseyside. Midnight.
222s First live performances since these Montreal
punkers split up in 1981. 1 am.
Walter Schreifels 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Bread and Circus
Rakkatak Indian classical rhythms, lustrous
melodies and waves of synths. 8 pm.
Brenda Macintyre Medicine Song Woman
award- winning artist and healer fuses folk, reggae-
soul and healing songs. 9 pm.
Senaya Jazzy, soulful francophone singer/songwriter
and composer is a Juno nom. 10 pm.
Jaffa Road Juno noms mix ancient and original
poetry with belly dance and dub. 11 pm.
Kobo Town calypso- injected trinidadian sounds
infused with reggae and dub. Midnight.
All Star Mash Up cutting- edge artists from the
night’s lineup collaborate live onstage. 1 am.
Cadillac Lounge
The JD Edwards Band Raspy voiced alt- country
rock with bits of funk- folk and ballads. 8 pm.
Daniel Sky Band open- road roots rock sound of
the Band and Blue Rodeo. 9 pm.
Brett Caswell & the Marquee Rose soaring
piano ballads and sardonic rock songs. 10 pm.
Sons of an Illustrious Father Roots- driven rock
for fans of tom Waits and Patti smith. 11 pm.
Kasey Anderson Evokes steve Earle, townes van
zandt and Paul Westerberg. Midnight.
Derek James Tilley country rock music with
wide appeal for fans of Rascal Flatts . 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Cameron House
The Eatons Passionate rock music to remedy
suburban living. 9 pm.
Crazy Diamond organic vocals and guitar, deep
punk rock roots in brutally honest pop. 10 pm.
StereogoesStellar Bitchin’ power- piano- pop
combo from Windsor. 11 pm.
Jody glenham sex, drugs and grand pianos in
highly addictive coffee shop pop . Midnight.
Karyn Ellis Welch, Waits, amos, Brickell and
Peyroux all rolled up into one tiny body . 1 am.
C’est What
Sara Kamin compared to Jann arden, India.arie,
Nina simone and Bessie smith. 8 pm.
Mark Mandeville with Raianne Richards F o lk-
and country- styled indie trio. 9 pm.
Kathryn Rose artful, cerebral, cinematic pop. 10
pm.
Sunbear a Parkdale- based country/folk trio
fronted by kate Boothman. 11 pm.
Praise the Twilight Sparrow Dreamy music reminiscent
of moonlit southern woods. Midnight.
hopeful monster think Banana splits taking
over from post- meltdown Brian Wilson. 1 am.
Clinton’s
Jennifer LFO Ex- Pursuit of happiness member
goes solo with smart, catchy rock tunes. 8 pm.
Chris Page crosses Billy Bragg’s levi stubbs’
tears and the shins’ kissing the lipless. 9 pm.
Andy Swan country pop sounds piped in by
heartbroken Nashville session players. 10 pm.
Camp Radio heavily influenced by the Nils and
slow, camp Radio crank can- rock to 11. 11 pm.
The Michael Parks Featuring andy swan, Greg
smith , shayne cox and sandro Perry. Midnight.
Andrew Vincent vintage- sounding songs are
pure heart- on- sleeve nuggets.. 1 am.
Comfort zone
VIVIV subdued vocals, fingerpicked guitar over
cello, violin and electronic beats . 8 pm.
eElvyn catchy tunes influenced by the Replacements
and the Flying Burrito Brothers. 9 pm.
The Champion Heartache subdued, melan cholic
rock with a touch of alt- country. 10 pm.
Another Blue Door a vulnerable sound similar
to Pavement and the Replacements. 11 pm.
The Diableros an intense sound full of brooding
post- punk, honestly delivered. Midnight.
The Stables traditional country three- part harmonies
delivered with electric energy. 1 am.
Crown & Tiger
Rebecca Kohler this stand- up comic says she is
not offensive, life is. 8:30- 8:40 pm.
Nick Flanagan stand- up comedian and Brutal
knights singer hosts a showcase. 8:40- 8:50 pm.
Christina Walkinshaw
Crazy Diamonds
Upstart t.o. stand- up
comic is on ctv’s comedy Now! 8:50- 9 pm.
Barry Taylor telling jokes or dominating at
Mario kart, he makes girls horny. 9- 9:10 pm.
claire brosseau comedian and writer wrapped a
film with aidan Quinn. 9:10- 9:20 pm.
gavin Stephens Balances playful irony and morbid
silliness. 9:20- 9:30 pm.
Czehoski
HOTCHA! high- energy swing duo blends bluegrass,
early swing and country gospel. 9 pm.
Emma Hill and Her gentlemen Callers Folkie
offers pedal steel and cool harmonies 10 pm.
Samantha Savage Smith Pretty melodies and
personal lyrics tinged by blues and rock. 11 pm.
Julia and her Piano singer/songwriter reminds
us of Regina spektor and tori amos. Midnight.
Anais Mitchell Intimate folk delivered with
punk rock passion. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Dakota Tavern
The Sheepdogs old-school rock and roll, faithful
to its classic 70s influences. 9 pm.
First Rate People Part folk rock, part soul, part
dance group. 10 pm.
ghostkeeper a raw and colourful mix of heartfelt
blues and noisy pop out of calgary. 11 pm.
The Pack A.D. a two- woman demolition squad
specializing in bombastic blues rock. Midnight.
yOUNg EMPIRES Well- manicured dance tracks
full of swagger, sexuality and angst . 1 am.
Special guest 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
The Drake Hotel Underground
Rituals three- piece, psychedelic, post- punk pop
band that cranks their casios up to 11. 8 pm.
Fields of Fur Garage rock from holy Fuck’s Brian
Borcherdt, with Foxfire’s anna Edwards. 9 pm.
Bad Tits Josh Reichmann and sebastien Grainger
proggy/krauty/synthy garage rock. 10 pm.
Bishop Morocco Reverby dream pop, Roy orbison
meets New order and the smiths. 11 pm.
Little girls lo- fi pop takes its melodies from
post- punk and goth’s glory days. Midnight.
Mymanhenri local fave entertains west- end
crowds with his own tasty, sweet beats. 1 am.
FaltyDL catchy garage- fuelled beats, insistent
2- step infused 12- inches and remixes. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
El Mocambo (Main Floor)
Final Flash lo- fo indie psychedelia, part Wolf
Parade, part spaceman3 or Neil young. 9 pm.
little foot long foot aggressive blues rock by a
girl and a seth Rogen look alike. 10 pm.
The Warped 45s Blends melancholy, joy, anger
and honesty. 11 pm.
Fox Jaws affable indie rock featuring carleigh
aikins’s belt- it- out voice. Midnight.
great Bloomers Roots rock with delicious hooks
and stunning harmonies. 1 am.
TapeDeckBros French- inspired electronic dance
music with disco, pop and rock elements. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
El Mocambo (Upstairs)
Mille Monarques young indie rock sounds like a
mix of arcade Fire and Malajube. 9 pm.
Times Neue Roman Nintendo rap- punk with a
white- hot live show. 10 pm.
MADRID Pitchfork- approved toronto “psych-
tronic” duo marry shoegaze and electro. 11 pm.
The Russian Futurists Preserves its punchy pop
sound but ups the dance quotient. Midnight.
DVAS a dangerous and sexy journey through
disco, funk and souls. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Free Times Cafe
Abigail Lapell combines the intimacy of folk
with fiery, punk rock passion. 9 pm.
Chloe Charles Reaching back into sultry jazz and
forward to Portishead and Feist. 10 pm.
Allison Lickley her haunting vocal work and
lyrics have captured fans across canada. 11 pm.
Nicola Watson Jazz parlour chic with a contemporary
indie folk twist. Midnight.
Hayley Stark Pop/rock duo play like their acoustic
guitars are electrified. 1 am.
The garrison
Neon Windbreaker Noise/chillwave/pop/rock
has critics buzzing. 8 pm.
Iroquois Falls Priya thomas’s new band is way
outside, dirgelike, noisy and explosive. 9 pm.
The Racoon Wedding country, punk and Dylanesque
lyrics anchor these five guys. 10 pm.
METz channelling early 90s sludge rock via sub
Pop and touch and Go’s catalogues. 11 pm.
DD/MM/yyyy a mess of spastic art rock with
80s video game synthesizers. Midnight.
Burning Love hardcore that’s keenly restrained
enough to be melodic but still abrasive. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
gladstone Hotel Ballroom
Volcanoless in Canada Energetic dance jams
borrowing from rock, folk and punk. 8 pm.
The Mountains & The Trees too many effects
pedals for folk, too many banjos for rock. 9 pm.
Olenka and the Autumn Lovers tenderness, turmoil
and paradoxical melancholia. 10 pm.
Rock Plaza Central Rolling stone called them
“stars in waiting.” 11 pm.
The Coast Beautiful guitar- driven indie rock,
energetically performed. Midnight.
A Horse And His Boy heavy guitar, melodic bass
and battling synths. 1 am.
Amos The Transparent Indie pop with lush arrangements
and seductive melodies. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
The great Hall
Friendo Inspired by 90s experimental rock, 70s
punk and 60s pop. 8 pm.
Demon’s Claws the Guess Who meet scat Rag
Boosters meet stompin’ tom connors. 9 pm.
WOMEN they toured with Deerhunter and abe
vigoda and are celebrated by Pitchfork. 10 pm.
Best Coast Bethany consentino seems obsessed
with weed, guitars and the beach. 11 pm.
CoCoComa Part garage, part psych-pop and all
punk in a bash- and- crash quartet. Midnight.
Thee Oh Sees “tripped- out, noisy psych- rock
jams melted our brains.” – NoW. 1 am.
Harlem
The get By Bridging the mainstream/underground
divide in urban music. 8 pm.
Okay City hip- hop featuring Bill Maka’s edgy
delivery and Ray Black’s smooth flow. 9 pm.
iSH Blending multiple genres and influenced by
hip- hop, reggae, pop and dance music. 10 pm.
Illa Brown 11 pm.
Cale Sampson Intricate rhymes, energetic stage
presence and storytelling aptitude. Midnight.
Ricca Razor Sharp stage presence, wit and three
decades of hip- hop influence. 1 am.
Rebel yell Riffin’, rappin’ and drumbeats in a
punkster hip- hop party sound. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Hideout
Bella Clava aggressive new- wavey rock and roll
from the mean streets of thunder Bay. 9 pm.
Isle of Thieves harmonious blend of punky alt-
rock, Britpop and new wave. 10 pm.
The North the North carry on the great tradition
of canadian alt- country. 11 pm.
De Staat the rattly, locomotive energy of the
hives with a touch of funk. Midnight.
Birthday Boys Raw garage rock reminiscent of
Nick cave/Birthday Party. 1 am.
Queen Kwong aggressive and haunting rock,
toured with Nine Inch Nails. 2 am.
A Primitive Evolution lye, Play dead cult and
Darkside exes put groove into hard rock . 3 am.
The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Dinosaur Bones Danceable New york- inspired
indie rock laced with post- rock ambience. 9 pm.
Free Energy Melodic, hook- laden tunes dusted
with bombastic glam and classic rock. 10 pm.
WARPAINT all- girl quartet with intricate guitar,
hypnotic vocals and post- punk rhythms. 11 pm.
Elliott BROOD Deeply menacing roots music, an
enigmatic presence. Midnight.
The ghost is Dancing Flamboyant mini- symphonies
with exultant harmonies. 1 am.
The Junction take Beatles, add a dash of Replacements,
season with experimental. 2 am.
Lee’s Palace
Andy Kim Golden touch behind sugar sugar
and Rock Me Gently tours new album. 8 pm.
Justin Rutledge, Oh Susanna, Danny Michel
three takes on folk- infused balladry with songs
that travel highways and history. 9 pm.
Andy Maize, Amelia Curran, Royal Wood canucks’
songs can mend broken hearts. 10 pm.
Jim Cuddy, Hawksley Workman, Colleen Brown
a city- meets- country- tinged set. 11 pm.
The Beauties Filthy, whiskey- soaked, tobacco-
stained rock ’n’ roll. Midnight.
continued on page 74 œ

NXNE festivAl guide
the Bands
œcontinued from page 73
Joel Stewart and the Future Hall of Famers altcountry
songs about disappointment 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Mitzi’s Sister
The Hey Now this trio channels influences from
the kinks to the strokes. 9 pm.
Andy Brown Folk rock compares to David Gray
and coldplay. 10 pm.
Before the Flood alt- rock and folk fusion experimenters
draw on diverse genres. 11 pm.
Buckets Of catchy, spacey, indie- styled ditties
recall the sadies and Wolf Parade. Midnight.
The Hunting Horns Gritty, passionate roots rock,
like Nick cave sitting in with the Band. 1 am.
gregory Pepper & His Problems head- scratchingly
great orchestral pop. 2 am.
Mod Club Theatre
Imaginary Cities hook- laden choruses recall
R&B and synth- driven pop. 7 pm.
young galaxy Warm silver flames shoot from
speakers and cup your nether regions. 8 pm.
The Besnard Lakes Majestic, sprawling vision of
guitar bombast and pop experiments. 9 pm.
Neutral Lounge
porcelain synth sounds and Uk rock ballads lie
beneath the anthemic alt- rock outfit. 9 pm.
Violent Kin orchestral and synthetic instrumentation
and pop-rock arrangements. 10 pm.
Beekeepers Society Music- making bunch plays
on any sound- making devices handy. 11 pm.
TBA Midnight.
TBA 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
NOW Lounge
Cat Malojian Beautiful harmonies and brush ’n’
snare drums cross celtic and americana. 9 pm.
Luluc Quiet, stripped- back, haunting folk songs
from Melbourne. 10 pm.
CALLmeKAT Icy- cool chanteuse makes melancholic,
other- era cabaret- pop. 11 pm.
9yrs alt- pop rockers carry the torch set out by
Blondie, Bette serveert and Metric. Midnight.
Opera House
Death Leppard 9- 10 pm.
Bastard Child Death Cult 10- 11 pm.
Misfits 11 pm- 12:30 am.
The Painted Lady
Megan Bonnell Intimate piano ballads and
ghostly, swirling vocals. 8 pm.
Smile Smile Pretty boy/girl outfit sing with
drum machines, a guitar and a keyboard. 9 pm.
Emma- Lee handclaps, folky guitar and cat- and-
mouse strings bolster ethereal pop. 10 pm.
Tristen Playful pop sensibilities injected into a
newly introspective brand of folk. 11 pm.
Lily Frost Blending film noir and stark minimalism
with a soul- stabbing honesty. Midnight.
Ruth Cassie Powerful, multi- octave voice recalls
Regina spektor and kate Bush. 1 am.
The Piston
The Evelyn Room a perfect accompaniment to
just about any David lynch movie. 9 pm.
The Subtitles Upbeat, synth- drenched pop- rock
with an edge. 10 pm.
Hyperpotamus a cappella one- man band
makes muscled music. 11 pm.
Ramona Melodic and infectious tunes in the
tradition of the kinks and the cars. Midnight.
The Bats Pajamas hard- hitting punky garage
rock for Black lips and the shrines fans. 1 am.
Rancho Relaxo
Old World Vulture Rock, drone, psychedelia and
electronica in a heavy yet melodic sound. 8 pm.
The Cunninghams Rockers styled after “...the
Rolling stones, the Police and U2.” 9 pm.
The Seedy Seeds Pop- punk and alt- country,
using accordion and toy keyboards. 10 pm.
Jane’s Party sparkling acoustic pop with rustic
americana and jangly rock elements. 11 pm.
Make Me young a high- energy combo of punk,
rock, country, pop and krautrock. Midnight.
Corduroy sounds like volcanic ash coating the
shimmering skies like nuclear fallout. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Rear View Mirror
wordPEOPLE a unique blend of Motown, rock ’n’
roll and hip- hop. Big fun. 8 pm.
Formula412 hip- hop/rock outfit for fans of the
Roots, N*E*R*D and/or Metallica. 9 pm.
T- West tight, revealing rhymes that reflect
urban struggles. 10 pm.
Brockway Biggs Fun rapper sports b- boy moves
and bunny hand puppets. 11 pm.
Fineprint a gritty, fun- loving blend of samples
and live instruments. Midnight.
Manafest compared to Eminem and linkin
Park, Manafest got a Juno nod. 1 am.
Rivoli
Chris Velan acoustic folk/pop influenced by
Paul simon and James taylor. 9 pm.
zeus timeless songs complete with fuzzed- out
guitars and shimmering harmonies. 10 pm.
Buck 65 a celebrated hip- hop artist explores
blues, country, rock and avant- garde. 11 pm.
grand Analog seasoned record collectors, musicians
and self- described beat junkies. Midnight.
Kate Rogers Band sophisticated folk- influenced
pop. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
The Shop
Rehab for Quitters high- energy punk- edged
rock with slicked- back 50s flair. 9 pm.
High Five Drive technical and very fast pop-
punk/punk rock from Winnipeg. 10 pm.
The Action one of canada’s first punk bands,
aiming to top their legendary gigs. 11 pm.
Cinema, Cinema Drums- and- guitar duo’s psych-
leaning experimental freak-outs. Midnight.
Doll Gritty, angst- ridden 90s grunge that
doesn’t fuck around. 1 am.
Silver Dollar Room
Clothes Make The Man NoW and chartattack-
approved 90s- influenced pop rock. 8 pm.
U.S. Royalty Inspired by americana, roots and
the sleeve- worn indie strains of spoon. 9 pm.
Modern Superstitions Pop songs played at lightning
speed and thunderous volume. 10 pm.
Turbogeist British garage- leaning rock- revival-
ists mine 80s alternative and 70s rock. 11 pm.
The Bitters Ben cook (Fucked Up) and aerin
Fogel craft dark surf- pop scraps. Midnight.
The Strange Boys ”classic rhythm and blues
augmented by psych and blues. 1 am.
Special guest 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Sneaky Dee’s
zola Jesus opera- trained singer reworking
gothic rock. 9 pm.
gold Panda hip- hop saturated with bright colours
and chopped- up vocal samples. 10 pm.
Indian Jewelry a van gang from texas: blood on
the streets. No genre, no rules, no help. 11 pm.
HEALTH artfully crafted noise and raw synth,
haunting vocals and drum skills. Midnight.
Kidstreet 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
The Social
Lucy Lo 100% hip- hop: DJ, producer and member
of the group 84.85. 10 and 11 pm.
Junior Boys sonically rich, emotionally charged
pop with experimental genres. Midnight.
Bordello Electro/house stalwart of arcade Fridays
is building a west- end following. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
74 june 17-23 2010 NOW NOW june 17-23 2010 75
SPK – Polish Hall
Vandermark 5 8- 11 pm.
Supermarket
Molly Rankin catchy country- tinged indie rock
fronted by the sultry and playful Rankin. 9 pm.
Michael Rault a minimalist blend of garage,
roots, rock ’n’ roll and blues. 10 pm.
Michou Bowed banjo parts and slide guitar
from a sort of audio gymnastic. 11 pm.
We Are The Take Dual lead singers/guitarists
write smart, hook- laden songs. Midnight.
Ben Stevenson Punk rocker turned soul singer,
with just- right rough edges. 1 am.
Velvet Underground
Neon Factory sonic landscapes with loud guitars,
reverb and synths. 8 pm.
Dead Famous soulful garage rock played with
soul, indie, psych and assorted cat calls. 9 pm.
Comanechi Grungy riffs, high- speed rhythmic
pounding and murderous screeching. 10 pm.
Commandeers Rooted in New york Dolls’ swagger
and snarling classic- rock. 11 pm.
TBA 2 am.
Whippersnapper gallery
Alphabot! he has been compared to Beck, the
Flaming lips and they Might Be Giants. 8 pm.
Pop Winds Experimental 80s pop with weird
beats, blasts of chiptune and saxophone. 9 pm.
Donlands and Mortimer a kaleidoscope of driving
melodies and tight musicianship. 10 pm.
Anamanaguchi specialists in hyperactive,
hyper- melodic 8- bit punk. 11 pm.
La Casa Muerte trippy locals deliver a psych-
garage punch in the face. Midnight.
Wrongbar
Matt Paxton troubadour nods to leonard cohen
and Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde. 9 pm.
teen tits wild wives 80s- inspired fuck- pop art
punk – psychedelic with an indie edge. 10 pm.
Mamabolo Infusing the spirit of Erykah Badu
and lauryn hill. 11 pm.
Foxfire Riffing off the best of disco, Motown
and sweaty rock and roll. Midnight.
glass Candy Electronic pop music, dirty disco
classics and pounding analog arpeggios. 1 am.
TRUST darkness calling//candles burning//wine
pouring// eyes are open//two//trust// 2 am.
Mikey Apples Uber- cool DJ always spins the
hottest/newest tracks. 3 am.
yonge-Dundas Square
Free Energy hook- laden tunes with a hit of
bombastic glam and classic rock. 6- 6:40 pm.
The Icarus Line Frenetic poundings – highly
volatile and threatening chaos. 7- 7:40 pm.
Brant Bjork & The Bros Psychedelic classics from
ex kyuss and Fu Manchu member. 8- 8:40 pm.
Mudhoney Part of the original seattle grunge
scene, they inspired kurt cobain. 9- 9:40 pm.
X the legendary punk band. the original lineup
is back! 10- 10:50 pm.
Friday, June 18
Bovine Sex Club
New France Ex and pre sent members of Groovy
Religion, la casa Muerte and more. 9 pm.
De Staat Rattly, locomotive energy of the hives
or the Monks. 10 pm.
Queen Kwong highly melodic, off- kilter rock,
aggressive and hauntingly confessional. 11 pm.
Brant Bjork & The Bros Psychedelic classics from
ex kyuss and Fu Manchu member. 8- 8:40 pm.
Drive Like Maria stadium rock influ enced by led
zeppelin, zz top and Neil young. 1 am.
Special guest 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Bread and Circus
Christopher Smith this generically named songwriter
makes music that is anything but. 8 pm.
Templo Diez Mixes alt- country and dark pop
influences into an intimate sound. 9 pm.
The Runaway Catholics Fuzzy meets jangly, cana
da’s answer to Belle & sebastian. 10 pm.
Code Pie Jangly, joyful indie rock along the lines
of arcade Fire and Plants and animals. 11 pm.
Rah Rah a veritable cacophony of pop, rock and
alt- country musical influences. midnight.
gramercy Riffs Grand- sounding, haunting indie
rock poised for big things. 1 am.
Cadillac Lounge
The Treasures country- inflected gems guaranteed
to warm your heart. 8 pm.
Romney getty commanding voice anchors infectious
roots rock. 9 pm.
Kirsten Jones the best ele ments of alt- country
and contemporary folk. 10 pm.
Uncle Sinner Uses banjo, dobro and 12- string
guitar to create gritty american folk . 11 pm.
The Heartbroken Johnny cash and Bowie meet
for a drink at Willie Nelson’s bar. midnight.
Flashlight Radio Mod ern roots music blends
textures, soaring vocals and melodic riffs. 1 am.
The North canadian alt- country, nodding to
Neil young, Blue Rodeo and the hip. 2 am.
Cameron House
Luluc Quiet, stripped- back, haunting folk songs
from Melbourne. 9 pm.
Jess McAvoy honest, pop ballads by a veteran
indie from down under. 10 pm.
The Jack Stafford Foundation sardonic songs
punctuated by honest storytelling. 11 pm.
fanshaw singer/songwriter com pared to Feist
and New order draws you in. midnight.
Che Aimee soulful pop follows you home, then
leaves daisies at your doorstep. 1 am.
C’est What
Ben Wilkins Multi- instrumentalist blends
breezy sounds into his own brand of pop. 8 pm.
Paper Thick Walls humble and honest folk
tunes by a hyper- literate chicago outfit. 9 pm.
Chasing Pandora Malta- based duo weaves fragile
vocals with keith anthony’s guitar. 10 pm.
gold Lake cool spainiards channel Rilo kiley,
Nada surf and tegan and sara. 11 pm.
ghost Bees theatrical songs with timeless lyrics
and shimmering har mo nies. midnight.
Henry Pre- baroque/post- punk reinterpretations
of composer henry Purcell. 1 am.
Comfort zone
Tundra Fun a raw take on funk, soul and blues,
bursting with fun spontaneity. 8 pm.
Stop Die toronto threesome of steady- grinding
rap electro whiz kids. 9 pm.
Ten Kens For fans of liars, Black Mountain and
Black heart Procession. 10 pm.
Comanechi Grungy riffs, high- speed rhythmic
pounding and murderous screeching. 11 pm.
continued on page 76 œ

76 june 17-23 2010 NOW
NXNE festivAl guide
the Bands
œcontinued from page 75
The Two Koreas an amalgam of garage rock,
krautrock and 80s post- punk. midnight.
Turbogeist Mines 80s alternative and 70s rock
for loud riffs and oversexed lyrics. 1 am.
Crown & Tiger
Andrew Ivimey Named by Downhome Magazine
as one to watch for 2009. 8:30- 8:45 pm.
Steve Scholtz truly bizarre observations with a
love of the English language. 8:45- 9 pm.
Laurie Elliott twice voted funniest female standup
at canadian comedy awards. 9- 9:15 pm.
gavin Stephens Pulling from cartoons, 80s movies
and stephen J. cannell tv. 9:15- 9:30 pm.
Czehoski
Nicola Watson smoky jazz parlour chic with a
contemporary indie folk twist. 9 pm.
Trevor Tchir subdued and iconic stylings in wonderfully
evocative songs. 10 pm.
CALLmeKAT Icy- cool chanteuse makes melancholic,
other- era cabaret pop. 11 pm.
Julian Bachlow synth- styled indie rock band
with threads of New order, Postal service and
Mgmt. midnight.
Brit & the Cavalry offering an exhilarating
blend of psychedelic and alt- folk. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Dakota Tavern
T. Nile Band a west- coast female singer/songwriter
who plays claw- hammer- style. 8 pm.
Old Man Luedecke Juno winner old Man luedecke
plays uplifting country tunes. 9 pm.
David Myles an artist with a knack for effortlessly
straddling jazz, blues and pop. 10 pm.
The Wheat Pool amped- up indie rock that
evokes the spirit of Neil young. 11 pm.
Evening Hymns Melodic, experimental pop uses
loop pedals, omnichords and keys. midnight.
young Doctors in Love Refreshing music with
bloops up top and a bluesy groove below. 1 am.
Special guest 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
The Drake Hotel Underground
giant Hand this indie darling uses guitar,
vocals, harmonica and a drum machine. 8 pm.
Old Crowns old crowns are a young stoner
country band. 9 pm.
La Strada think Beirut and Neutral Milk hotel
with a focus on traditional americana. 10 pm.
Boxer the Horse this charlottetown quartet
maked the familiar sound new. 11 pm.
Burn Planetarium high- energy, dance grooves
with infectious vocals. midnight.
84.85 hip- hop/electro duo known for rocking
crowds with a mix of diverse influences. 1 am.
Dj Fase 2 am.
DJ Ed Lover Nyc on- air DJ and former show co-
host with Doctor Dre. 3 am.
El Mocambo (Main Floor)
Love in October combining international musical
influences and indie pop. 8 pm.
Monogold If you like the antlers, prepare to
love Monogold’s layered tunes. 9 pm.
Ten Bears lock David Bowie and Mgmt in a
small room with some instruments. 10 pm.
White Cowbell Oklahoma Wake up next to a
sasquatch the day after a Wco show. 11 pm.
Rich Aucoin you can be sure that Rich aucoin’s
lush indie pop will touch your heart. midnight.
THE gOLDEN DOgS Manic pop rock with energetic,
over- the- top live performances. 1 am.
Special guest 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
El Mocambo (Upstairs)
Elizabeth Purveyors of chiming Interpol guitars
and dancey disco beats. 9 pm.
These Electric Lives Nice, clean- cut boys with a
song in their hearts. 10 pm.
The Framework catchy synth-rock epics in the
vein of the killers and Metric. 11 pm.
HOT HEAD SHOW hhs do avant- rock that’s melodic
and unconventional. midnight.
Afterparty synth-pop and dance rock with edgy
guitars, disco beats and powerful vocals. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Free Times Cafe
Jerry Stamp Building on his previous work
fronting local rockers king Nancy. 9 pm.
Kristin Sweetland a commanding blend of folk,
jazz, classical and flamenco. 10 pm.
Romina Di gasbarro Rooted in opera, classical
guitar, jazz, funk and world. 11 pm.
Elissa Mielke honest folk ballads that engage
audiences in a genuine way. midnight.
Jenny Allen Dynamic folk rock with a twist of
rootsy blues. 1 am.
The garrison
Soft Copy soft copy’s sound combines early
post- punk and later avant- rock. 9 pm.
zola Jesus ”you don’t hear singers like this every
day.” – Pitchfork Media 10 pm.
Best Coast singer who appears to be obsessed
with weed, guitars and the beach. 11 pm.
The Soft Pack ”No frills, no ego, no fat, no bullshit.”
– Drowned in sound. midnight.
Cold Cave DJs Matt Groening muses entertain
behind the turntable. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
gladstone Hotel Ballroom
Mathemagic Dazed guitars, synths and blissed-
out harmonies. 8 pm.
ghost Bees theatrical songs built around timeless
lyrics and shimmering harmo nies. 9 pm.
Timber Timbre ”Gothic rockabilly blues” with
violin, lap steel and looping pedals. 10 pm.
DD/MM/yyyy spastic art rock with jagged guitars,
80s video game synthesizers. 11 pm.
C’Mon ”a freak flag that flies in the face of all
that is safe, sanitized and soulless.” midnight.
STyROFOAM ONES spacey synth lines float
around percussive bass and drums. 1 am.
NOW DJs Many of NoW’s music critics have
done time in the DJ booth and in bands. 2 am.
Torro Torro this duo has quickly become a hot
commodity in the dance world. 3 am.
The great Hall
Avi Buffalo (solo) signed to sub Pop, these kids
write breezy indie pop gems that recall Wilco,
Built to spill and the shins. 9 pm.
AA Bondy songs cribbed from dusty american
blues and country pioneers have won him fans
amongst hip urban cowboys. 10 pm.
John Doe & Exene Cervenka from X Founding
members of l.a. punk legends X perform a rare
acoustic set. 11 pm.
Mini Mansions Psych-pop band (w/ Michael
shuman from Queens of the stone age), playing
a mix of pop and soul. midnight.
The Icarus Line shows that are frenetic poundings
à la Refused – highly volatile and threatening
chaos wherever they play. 1 am.
Hard Rock Cafe
Amanda Rheaume an exciting performer who
combines alanis Morrisette vocals with a holly
McNarland rock edge. 9 pm.
Ty Hall and the Ez3 this eclectic fusion of rock,
reggae and R&B is connecting with fans and
programming directors alike. 10 pm.
Amos The Transparent their critically acclaimed
indie debut won praise for lush arrangements
and seductive melodies. 11 pm.
Hollerado taking canada by storm with their
DIy ethic, insanely catchy guitar pop and
boundless energy and imagination. midnight.
A Plot Against Me Brawny, ballsy, bodacious
rock, these dudes might be the next superstars
in the world of alternative. 1 am.
Harlem
Elise Legrow her captivating stage presence
and hauntingly silky vocals have been compared
to Ella Fitzgerald’s. 9 pm.
Erin Hunt a head- turning combo of R&B, soul
and jazz, her timeless tunes blend inspired
vocals and angelic harmonies. 10 pm.
Halabisky’s Uprising Blending jazz, hip- hop,
rock and electronica, sax man Dave halabisky
takes you on a fast- paced journey. 11 pm.
Weak Size Fish Maritime reggae- rock fusion;
have gigged with Grand theft Bus and slowcoaster.
midnight.
Hibou Uptempo jazz- influenced indie electronica
by folks into the smiths and Metric. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Hideout
THE COPPERTONE a blues rock duo conjuring up
visions of the White stripes, the Black keys and
the kills. 9 pm.
The Mercy Now this new project from ex- shikasta
frontman Russell Fernandes is all about
the hooks and singalong melodies. 10 pm.
Kirk Special kirk’s loud- ass music gets compared
to the Ramones covering Rl Burnside. 11
pm.
The Speaking Tongues this toronto two- piece
injects blues with punk energy. half Detroit
garage, half Mississippi boogie. midnight.
yOU HANDSOME DEVIL cross Mötorhead with
50s rockabilly. they kick ass, so don’t plan on
going to work the next day. 1 am.
Hidden Towers Melodic hooks on a canvas of
post- rock and doomy metal, with touches of
jazz, world, metal and punk. 2 am.
continued on page 78 œ

NXNE festivAl guide
the Bands
œcontinued from page 76
Opus Road Underground alt- rock five- piece
with a sound reminiscent of the tragically hip,
My Morning Jacket and Pearl Jam. 3 am.
The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Modern Superstitions the superstitions write
economical pop songs played at lightning
speed and thunderous volume. 8 pm.
222s one of Montreal’s earliest punk bands.
these NXNE shows mark their first live performances
since they split up in 1981. 9 pm.
The Poison Arrows an intricate, propulsive rhythm
section and challenging melodies. 10 pm.
Wussy Wussy draws on plenty of sexual and
existential tension, with alternately droning
and jangling guitars. 11 pm.
Man or Astroman? crazy, infectious blend of
60s surf rock, 80s new wave and science fiction
– think Dick Dale on Mars. midnight.
Mudhoney Part of the original seattle grunge
scene, Mudhoney are pioneers who inspired
the likes of kurt cobain. 1 am.
Lee’s Palace
grooms Grooms play noise pop featuring blissful
interplay, sonic experimentation and song
destruction. 9 pm.
The Happy Hollows their art rock sound is characterized
by breathy, high- pitched vocals juxtaposed
with heavy guitar rock. 10 pm.
Wavves Punk- pop heavy hitters are Nathan
Williams and former Jay Reatard musicians Billy
hayes and stephen Pope. 11 pm.
Japandroids “terminally catchy music played
with punk’s enthusiasm and velocity” – Pitchfork
Media. midnight.
PS I Love you hard- hitting beats, sweet guitar
hooks and bass organ. “Perhaps kingston oN’s
most high- profile act.” 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Mitzi’s Sister
Tyler Ellis a songwriter’s songwriter à la John
Prine, Ellis was once a fixture in toronto’s scene
but now performs only rarely. 9 pm.
Shade shade plays warm, honest and catchy
pop, likened to the velvet Underground, lucinda
Williams and cat Power. 10 pm.
smokekiller Poppy 90s guitar alt- rock, like a
one- man teenage Fanclub drawing on the Beatles.
11 pm.
Chris Velan velan’s world- influenced acoustic
folk draws comparisons to Paul simon with
shades of James taylor. midnight.
Alun Piggins a staple in toronto’s live scene,
Piggins’s crafty blend of indie rock and alternative
always delivers. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Mod Club Theatre
Domenica 7 pm.
gloryhound 8 pm.
Hail the Villian 9 pm.
Neutral Lounge
The Futureless ”sounds like Depeche Mode in a
bar fight: dark, ridiculously catchy, perfect for
the dance floor.” – the Pop! stereo 8 pm.
TBA 9 pm.
Barton Fink Barton Fink are two Russian brothers
who deal in hard- hitting electro- funk with
rock flare. 10 pm.
THE LOVE MACHINE Intense guitars, huge synth
lines, pulsing bass, stomping drums. have
gigged with Metric and Moneen. 11 pm.
NOW Lounge
Joel Battle Battle’s attracted mucho cBc attention
and comparisons to springsteen with gritty,
issue- driven songs. 9 pm.
Lanan Adcock she’d fit in fine on a playlist with
kathleen Edwards and lucinda Williams. 10
pm.
Ian La Rue & the Condor the music ranges from
wistful atmospheric à la Death cab to ripping
outlaw roots rock. 11 pm.
The John Punch Band strong, understated songwriting,
with subtleties suggesting Bon Iver
and Rural alberta advantage. midnight.
The Painted Lady
laura borealis Montreal’s laura Borealis makes
experimental sounds that have caught the ears
of steve albini and sebadoh. 8 pm.
78 june 17-23 2010 NOW
Synth pop upstart Diamond
Rings plays Wrongbar, Friday
(June 18), 11 pm.
Neutral Uke Hotel a live performance of In the
aeroplane over the sea on ukulele by shawn
Fogel and others. 9 pm.
Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party these streetwise
troubadours write three- chord tunes with
incisive lyrics. 10 pm.
Cat Malojian Beautiful vocal harmonies and
brush ’n’ snare drums breathe new life into an
upbeat cross of celtic and americana. 11 pm.
Rival Boys ”airtight pop songs that are memorable
without gimmicks, melancholy without
pretense.” – the Untold city. midnight.
Boats a clusterfuck of pop noise that you don’t
want your cool friends to see you dancing to. 1
am.
The Piston
Saidah Baba Talibah saidah Baba talibah,
daughter of salome Bey, struts out some bluesy
rock, deep funk and hot buttered soul. 9 pm.
Vacuity DIy band committed to developing
their sound and skill also produce their own
recordings, website and artwork. 10 pm.
My My My Witty, heartfelt pop that’s light and
fun but still smart and sophisticated. 11 pm.
Sex With Strangers they’ve been gaining international
momentum with their unique brand
of futuristic “robot- rock.” midnight.
Special guest 1 am.
Rancho Relaxo
The Parkdale Hookers they’re like a trio of accountants
who figured out a way to make Marshall
stacks tax- deductible. 8 pm.
The Polymorphines Jams reminiscent of Mc5
and the stooges, with an edginess found in only
the dirtiest of today’s garages. 9 pm.
The Setting Son Denmark’s the setting son play
acid- infused pop rock from the 60s. Go- go dancers
apply within. 10 pm.
We Are The City Progressive indie in which symphonic
piano arrangements flow into guttural
guitars and pounding drums. 11 pm.
Mercy, the Sexton think the cars meet Phoenix
at a bar on a barren rock in the North atlantic.
midnight.
Revolvers Revolvers channel the Rolling stones
at their best, the Beatles at their trippiest and
t.Rex at their rawest. 1 am.
The Schomberg Fair they fuse the soul and spirit
of the deep blues with the frenetic energy of
the birth of punk. 2 am.
The Cheap Speakers Explosive pop rock that
sounds both modern and familiar. 3 am.
Rear View Mirror
abstract random 9 pm.
The Nix Dicksons catchy, concise, upbeat,
happy, fun, indie pop that gets compared to
Modest Mouse and Pavement. 10 pm.
We Were Lovers Indie electro dance rockers ash
lamothe and Elsa Gebremichael display their
penchant for post- punk guitars. 11 pm.
Bon Chapeau this teenaged twee riot grrl/boy
quartet brings to mind a younger Rilo kiley
hanging out with los campesinos!. midnight.
Matthew de zoete Falling somewhere between
pop and folk, they combine rhythmic inventiveness
with a gift for melody. 1 am.
Rivoli
Stef Lang catchy, radio- friendly pop from this
energetic young west coast performer, blending
elements of rock and R&B. 8 pm.
Carmen and Camille these sisters write feel-
good pop jams that are currently getting eaten
up by the glossy Mtv set. 9 pm.
Leah Daniels a rising star, leah Daniels combines
keith Urban’s edge with taylor swift’s
sleek pop influence. 10 pm.
Nightbox Pounding rhythms, soaring melo dies
and manic energy combining punchy bass,
chiming guitars and synths. 11 pm.
Whale Tooth Poppy indie rock with guy/girl
vocals and nice harmonies. think Born Ruffians
meet Rilo kiley. midnight.
Prototype- A Five young men laughing hysterically.
1 am.
Modernboys Moderngirls a sweat- drippin’ rock
’n’ roll show; put them on your mixtape with
the kings of leon and the stooges. 2 am.
The Shop
The Weirdies Imagine Betty Boop fronting the
Ramones and you’re close to this 50s- styled
crash- and- smash punk rock outfit. 9 pm.
HotKid somewhere between traditional coun-
try twang and noise, this gutsy two- piece
makes gritty rock that’s going places. 10 pm.
Lali gurans throwback grunge alt- rock anthems
with piercing guitar hooks and big, fuzzy choruses.
11 pm.
Permanent Bastards this Woodbridge punk
band has had the pleasure of playing shows
with illscarlett and the Flatliners. midnight.
Decapitado Ex- members of Die kreuzen and
Realm fuse ambient noise, industrial and metal
into their own edgy soundscape. 1 am.
Silver Dollar Room
Nive Nielsen & The Deer Children an Inuk singer
from Greenland, Nielsen creates indie folk pop
with her ghostly voice on top. 8 pm.
grimes this solo artist combines electronic and
organic sounds in a colourful goth- pop- noise
medley. 9 pm.
Boys Who Say No Raucous, noisy roots rock. a
mashup of indie, alt- country and folk, with
shades of early talking heads. 10 pm.
Silly Kissers Perfect 80s synth pop with infectious
hooks. cheesy, love- obsessed and innocent
– fun stuff! 11 pm.
By Divine Right they’ve played countless
shows, and past members have included Feist
and Brendan canning. midnight.
The Strange Boys ”a rhythm and blues chassis
augmented by desert- scarred psych and blues.”
– tinymixtapes.com. 1 am.
WOMEN they’ve toured with Deerhunter &
abe vigoda and their debut album has been
celebrated by Pitch fork and beyond. 2 am.
Murder Ford Monument Epic- sounding dapper
indie rock in step with brooding Nyc bands like
the Walkmen and the National. 3 am.
Sneaky Dee’s
Dark Mean Well- crafted laid- back indie pop
that can travel between overt classical pop and
obtuse ambience. 8 pm.
Leif Vollebekk this Montreal singer/songwriter’s
acoustic guitar tunes are accented by
strings, piano, drums and harmonica. 9 pm.
Sandman Viper Command Bubbling with the
type of youthful rage you can’t fake, it’s intelligent
rock with a fuzzy pop edge. 10 pm.
Wildlife Wildlife relocates pop rock in a hotbed
of driving melodies, riffs and vocals spiked with
punk ferocity. 11 pm.
Make your Exit simply honest music that’s
stripped down yet amped up. country- fried
anti- rock. midnight.
The Leathers ottawa Mc kicks out high- concept
lyrics and has the citizen raving: “Fine mix
of tone, timing and turn of phrase.” 1 am.
Spirits hipster- friendly synth- rock from hamilton,
they’ve shared the stage with the Pixies
and the ting tings. 2 am.
People in grey Raw, jagged and heavy, People in
Grey make no apologies for their bold mix of
springsteen and Psychedelic Furs. 3 am.
The Social
Nav C and Hutch 10 pm.
8923zz 11 pm.
Dada Life swedish house/electronica band consisting
of olle corneer and stefan Engblom.
midnight and 1 am.
Nav C and Hutch 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Sound Academy
girl Talk w/ Key N’ Krates & Kidstreet 10 pm.
Supermarket
Sally Seltmann very marketable indie fare by
the award- winning australian songwriter formerly
known as New Buffalo. 9 pm.
Birds of Wales 10 pm.
The Envy on Gene simmons’s label, these local
rockers have recorded with producer Gavin
Brown. 11 pm.
The Reason Blending strands of indie and emo
rock, this hamilton five- piece specializes in passionate
songwriting. midnight.
Dean Lickyer young hamilton phenoms making
music with a nod to classic Who, hendrix and
Deep Purple. 1 am.
Velvet Underground
The Fantasy Defender 80s pop sensibilities with
a goth- glam sound to darken the mix: clever,
catchy and undeniably fun. 8 pm.
The Scarlet Fever this outfit is bent on delivering
a pounding assault of classic punk and dark
rock sounds. 9 pm.
The Torrent these rockers bundle surly guitars,
haunting vocals and synths to make loud, mel-
odic, drony electro- sleaze. 10 pm.
People you Know Melodic, thick, hot and slick
without ever looking like they have to try, Pyk is
a plague you won’t mind catching. 11 pm.
TBA 2 am.
Whippersnapper gallery
that’s the spirit Breezy, wistful songs that share
high- end production values with power pop
bands like the shins. 8 pm.
Inlets sebastian krueger marries baroque pop
with lo- fi intimacy, with the complexity of owen
Pallett & Grizzly Bear. 9 pm.
Silje Nes loops and effects create a winning
combination of hooks and lush detail from this
talented instrumentalist/singer. 10 pm.
Wooden Wand James Jackson toth conjures a
world with characters that could have been
pulled from a Faulkner novel. 11 pm.
DM Stith David Michael stith layers strings and
horns on top of guitars and piano to create cerebral
orchestral indie pop. midnight.
Wrongbar
TRUST darkness calling/candles burning/wine is
pouring/flames are dancing/film is rolling/wind
is howling/crystals sparking. 9 pm.
Katie Stelmanis Big vocals, big scattered beats,
big dense walls of keyboards. Formerly known as
Private life. 10 pm.
Diamond Rings Diamond Rings is the emotional
MIDI- pop outlet for the D’Urbervilles’ lead
vocalist, John o. 11 pm.
Big Freedia Big Freedia is a “bounce” rapper from
New orleans. the single azz Everywhere should
explain. midnight.
We Are Enfant Terrible an electro dance beat
with indie rock sounds, performed with guitars,
drums and a Nintendo Game Boy. 1 am.
HUORATRON the solo project of Finland’s aku
Raski, who uses two Game Boy consoles to produce
experimental electro. 2 and 3 am.
yonge-Dundas Square
Said The Whale Electronic indie rock that forays
into backwoods folk and danceable ukulele/
glockenspiel rave- ups. 7:30- 8:10 pm.
K- os Juno- winning hip- hop artist has earned accolades
from critics and audiences worldwide.
8:30 - 9:10 pm .
Sloan sloan’s bagged one Juno and recorded
what chart calls the best canadian album ever.
9:30- 10:30 pm.
Saturday,
June 19
Bovine Sex Club
songs from a room take smooth harmonies, add
clever bass lines, a screaming organ and splashes
of piano. 9 pm.
Mockingbird Wish Me Luck Driving, melodic,
punky emo rock with hooky guitars and big
choruses. 10 pm.
The Hyena Dog Robbery 11 pm.
Stark Naked & The Fleshtones legendary toronto
punk rockers reunite to mark their 30th anniversary.
midnight.
Trigger Effect Remember when punk rock was
still about danger, and not selling shoes? 1 am.
The Icarus Line shows that are frenetic poundings
à la Refused – highly volatile and threatening
chaos wherever they play. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Bread and Circus
The Clear Inspiring pop anthems that sound familiar
the first time you hear them. Echoes of coldplay,
Radiohead and the cure. 8 pm.
Hexes & Ohs heartfelt boy- girl synth-pop that
sounds like the submarines collided with Woodhands.
9 pm.
NLX this forward- looking singer/songwriter specializes
in electronic- edged dark pop. 10 pm.
Winhara compared to Depeche Mode and
Radiohead, this three- piece mashes together
alternative, pop and electronica. 11 pm.
Airheart combining elements of electro house
and trip- hop with 1930s dancehall vocals, it’s a
fresh take on jazzy breakbeat. midnight.
PURRR a blistering blend of guitars, synths and
pulsating beats, it’s a cutting- edge rave- rock
sound that’s infectious and raw. 1 am.
Cadillac Lounge
the wilkins the Wilkins blend electronic- heavy
music with the traditional folk style and magi cal
three- part harmonies. 8 pm.
continued on page 80 œ

NXNE festivAl guide
the Bands
œcontinued from page 78
Katie Moore haunting music that lies somewhere
in the no man’s land between folk, altcountry,
bluegrass and americana. 9 pm.
The Statesboro Revue stewart Mann’s blend of
rock, blues and country is all about soul, something
his band has in spades. 10 pm.
graham Brown & The Prairie Dogs a founding
member of 80s rockers Jr. Gone Wild, Graham
writes roots/rock with a crunch. 11 pm.
Five Star Trailer Park Name- dropped by Gord
Downie and the cBc, these dudes play passionate
stadium- sized pop rock. midnight.
gentlemen Husbands alt- roots with a smattering
of rock energy culminates in an inspiring
performance. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Cameron House
Svavar Knútur capturing the windswept winter
sounds of Iceland with ghostly, slow acoustics.
9 pm.
Keser synth- drenched guitars that meld shoegaze,
art rock and ambient with post- rock and
electronica. 10 pm.
spaceships are cool stylophones, glockenspiels,
theremin, vocoders, tape decks and acoustic
guitars create sci- fi sunshine pop. 11 pm.
Pete Samples samples coined the term “mugician,”
the combination of music and magic.
could be oMG or WtF. midnight.
Chris Velan singer/songwriter whose finely
crafted world- influenced pop draws comparisons
to Paul simon. 1 am.
C’est What
Oh My Darling these four young women are big
in the canadian country roots scene. they can
shred, holler and make you dance. 9 pm.
The Paperbacks Weakerthans- approved confessional
indie rock with crunchy guitars from the
snowy landscapes of Winnipeg. 10 pm.
Imaginary Cities sounding at once like vintage
R&B and synth- driven pop, their songs feature
great choruses and driving verses. 11 pm.
The Details Driving guitars, catchy melodies,
electro beats and glockenspiel make these pop
jams perfect for dancing. midnight.
Abstract Artform this prairie Mc cooks up beats
and rhymes reminiscent of Jurassic 5 and the
Roots. 1 am.
Comfort zone
DJ Shine 8 pm.
Let’s go to War Party- rap crew specializing in
crazy electro/disco house/breakbeat jams. 9
pm.
Fritz Helder 10 pm.
Danger! Danger! combining folk, punk, country,
pop, surf and alternative influences. 11 pm.
Action Makes midnight.
Queen Licorice loud, dense and sufficiently trippy,
Ql offer up energetically rendered strands
of psych and glam. 1 am.
Czehoski
Dave Borins compared to loudon Wainwright
III, Dave Borins finds the heartbreak and humour
in everyday life. 9 pm.
F&M F&M are a gently sardonic, dark and hopelessly
clever art folk/libraryrock duo. 10 pm.
golden Bloom sPIN Magazine named them an
“undiscovered band worth a listen.” 11 pm.
Chasing Pandora Melissa Portelli weaves beautiful,
fragile vocals alongside keith anthony’s
sparkling folk guitar. midnight.
Jack Miz Mid- 90s alt- rock taking some pop cues
from the Beatles and cheap trick. hooks galore,
and a great voice. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Dakota Tavern
Jack Marks and Lost Wages local country troubadour
specializes in whisky- sipping, two- stepping
country and blues music. 8 pm.
AA Bondy songs cribbed from dusty american
blues and country pioneers have won him a cult
following amongst urban cowboys. 9 pm.
The Morgansterns Gritty Dylanesque rock
meets a wall of blazing guitars, organ and a
driving 70s rhythm section. 10 pm.
Colin gilmore a texas alt- country artist whose
americana/pop tunes hint at psychedelia and
the spirit of punk. 11 pm.
The Schomberg Fair they fuse the soul and spirit
of the deep blues with the frenetic energy of
the birth of punk. midnight.
80 june 17-23 2010 NOW
Ali & The Dts an eight- piece punk/soul group,
these guys nail the blues in the blues. think
Nick cave and canned heat. 1 am.
Mille Monarques young indie rock band from
Montreal sounds like a mix of arcade Fire and
Malajube. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
The Drake Hotel Underground
VALLEyS lo- fi with psychedelic folk and haunting
melodies. valleys’ delicate vignettes signal
Modest Mouse and Beach house. 8 pm.
Sean Nicholas Savage ”a restrained mix of 60s
folk melodies, upbeat drum machine pop and
hints of 50s teen idol ballads.” 9 pm.
The Hoof & The Heel a mix of indie pop, sentimental
melody and unpretentious joy, featuring
dreamy duets and dancey beats. 10 pm.
Jane Vain calgary- bred Jamie Fooks has reworked
her band and released a sophomore
album of beautifully dense, noisy pop. 11 pm.
The D’Urbervilles shouts, crashing drums and
tight, layered guitars pound out melodic post-
punk à la the early constantines. midnight.
Hatchmatik keeps busy DJing Montreal’s legendary
Peer Pressure parties – and touring the
world. 1 am.
Classixx Dance- floor- ready electronic pop mixing
elements of R&B, hip- hop and soul in classic
collages. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
El Mocambo (Main Floor)
Monster Truck 9 pm.
Darlings of Chelsea the insight of costello, the
stubbornness of strummer and the ferocity of
the Mc5; nuff said. 10 pm.
.moneen. 11 pm.
The zeros a seminal west coast punk band, the
zeros played with the clash and were once
joined onstage by Patti smith. midnight.
The gin Riots the Gin Riots hail from london
and play dirty Britrock in the vein of the libertines.
1 am.
Porcelain Forehead they burst onto the scene in
1982 with their unique brand of punk and
bursts of hardcore. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Free Times Cafe
Bunmi Adeoye tracy chapman with a dash of
New Orleans’s Big Freedia hits
Wrongbar Friday (June 18) at
midnight, the Garrison Saturday
(June 19) at 2 am and
Yonge-Dundas Square
Sunday (June 20) at 6 pm.
ani DiFranco, Bunmi’s tunes bring out your inner
scorned ex- girlfriend. 9 pm.
Rob Moir honest country songs backed by guitar,
banjo, harmonica, accordion, upright bass
and lap steel. 10 pm.
Daniel guy Martin haunting, along the lines of
Ry cooder’s soundtrack to Paris, texas. Improv
and heartfelt stories. 11 pm.
Bird & Bear Jillian Freeman is a powerful indie-
styled songbird perched on the back of grizzly
multi- instrumentalist Jon Janes. midnight.
Shawna Caspi 1 am.
The garrison
PC Worship Psych- damaged millennium punk
that slides into stoner grunge and free “jazz” in
the blink of an eye. 9 pm.
Julianna Barwick ”Ethereal harmonies have the
devotional quality of gospel choirs,\ and the
allure of Björk.” – Ny times. 10 pm.
Box Elders this currently buzzing trio makes
off- kilter fuzz pop that sounds like bratty punk
meets Nuggets- era garage rock. 11 pm.
JEFF the Brotherhood ”Just try to get through
one of their sets without stomping your foot.”
– Nylon Magazine. midnight.
Quintron & Miss Pussycat Barely controlled
electronic chaos, swamp beats, homemade
everything and puppet stories. 1 am.
Big Freedia Big Freedia is a “bounce” rapper
from New orleans. the single azz Everywhere
should explain. 2 am.
gladstone Hotel Ballroom
Maurice young pop four- piece signed to David
Foster’s 143 label touring behind their 2010
release young People With Faces. 8- 8:20 pm.
Alexz Johnson Gemini- nominated actress lays
strong vocals over a smooth mainstream pop
bedrock. 8:30- 8:50 pm.
Alex Lacasse one of canadian R&B’s up- andcomers,
he’s set to release his debut single
through Universal. 9- 9:20 pm.
Dylan Murray 9:30- 9:50 pm.
The zolas this duo incorporates guitar, drums,
piano, trumpet and vocals into their cute, melodic
songs. 10- 10:40 pm.
Dane Hartsell 11- 11:40 pm.
Dearly Beloved Unique rhythms influenced by
70s Uk punk, early 80s pop and Detroit rock
and roll. midnight- 12:40 am.
TBA 1- 1:40 am.
These Kids Wear Crowns Mainstream radio-
friendly pop rock from these young, photogenic
lads. Get your dance shoes. 2- 2:40 am.
Hideout
The oOohh Baby gimme Mores this fashionable
Ffro- punk trash rock duo could be the surprise
hit of this year’s festival. 9 pm.
Future in Plastics you’ll find Future in Plastics
somewhere on a stretch of rock highway between
Minor threat and liza Minnelli. 10 pm.
DIg IT UP a Montreal- based punk band that
digs big guitar solos, maracas, tambourines,
singalongs, sweat and partying. 11 pm.
Drive like Maria stadium- sized rock influenced
by led zeppelin, early zz top, Neil young and
Queens of the stone age. midnight.
Nikki’s Trick hard- hitting alternative drawing
on 80s metal and 90s grunge; polished and
ready to storm modern rock charts. 1 am.
Fugitive Underground an alternative band with
a metal edge, the group’s dark songs blend
alexisonfire and alice in chains. 2 am.
Static In The Stars ”visceral and engaging,” 80s
cock rock with modern influences like the Foo
Fighters. 3 am.
The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Library Voices hyper- literate saskatchewan 10-
piece excels at stripped- down indie pop anthems.
9 pm.
Hannah georgas this vancouver- based songwriter’s
memorable songs will captivate your
heart and stick a smile on your face. 10 pm.
Bruce Peninsula Feted locals mix aspects of gospel,
appalachian folk and blues with pop, prog,
punk and world influences. 11 pm.
Attack in Black attack in Black have been and
will be on tour with bands such as alexisonfire,
Billy talent and Moneen. midnight.
Huron huron’s tunes run the gamut from full-
blown southern- fried riffin’ to psych to 90s pop
rock. 1 am.
The Stanfields a maelstrom of rock ’n’ roll, celtic
and bluegrass hailing from the gritty post-
indus trial towns of Nova scotia. 2 am.
Lee’s Palace
TBA 9 pm.
Small Sins Formerly the ladies and Gentlemen,
small sins are the brainchild of former carnations
frontman thomas D’arcy. 10 pm.
The Soft Pack smart, danceable classic garage
rock. “No frills, no ego, no fat, no bullshit.” –
Drowned in sound. 11 pm.
Avi Buffalo signed to sub Pop, these kids write
breezy indie pop gems that recall Wilco, Built to
spill and the shins. midnight.
Cold Cave Dark, danceable, infectious synthpop.
Fans of crystal castles will like their lo- fimeets-
nu- rave approach. 1 am.
We Are Enfant Terrible an electro-dance beat
with indie rock sounds, performed with guitars,
drums and a Nintendo Game Boy. 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
Mitzi’s Sister
Melting Pot a powerful rock sound that pays
homage to the Black crowes, otis Redding, the
Beatles and led zeppelin. 9 pm.
Jeff Stuart & The Hearts Intricate roots pop
that’s “elegant, sophisticated, daring and brilliantly
creative.” 10 pm.
Mass Echo Unique- sounding electro- prog- psych
rock from hamilton, with a foot in the industrial/trip-
hop door. 11 pm.
The Speakeasies their angular blue- collar rock
has opened doors to gigs with arkells and the
trews. midnight.
graydon James & the young Novelists heartfelt
harmonies and intricate arrangements and
crowd- pleasing beards. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Mod Club Theatre
Violent Soho Four long- haired marijuana- smoking
youngsters play a brand of honest, balls- tothe-
wall punk rock. 7 pm.
Hollerado taking canada by storm with their
DIy ethic, insanely catchy guitar pop and
bound less energy and imagination. 8 pm.
Hot Hot Heat Masters of synth- heavy dancepunk
anthems, hhh hit NXNE to coincide with
the release of a new album. 9 pm.
Neutral Lounge
Volcano Playground swirling together sounds
of shoegaze with elements of modern electronica.
8 pm.
1977 synth- happy, upbeat songs about sunshine,
love and good feelings. like kim Deal recording
Beach Boys songs. 9 pm.
Not Animals hip, new- wave pop songs styled
after Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Jesus & Mary
chain and Modern English. 10 pm.
The Craft Economy their high- energy synth
hooks and catchy vocals have been compared
to los campesinos and the B- 52s. 11 pm.
NOW Lounge
fanshaw this singer/songwriter has been compared
to Feist and New order, but it’s her dark
storytelling that will draw you in. 9 pm.
Jess McAvoy honest, folk- leaning pop ballads
by a veteran indie singer/songwriter from
down under. 10 pm.
gold Lake Possibly the coolest band in spain
right now, Gold lake channel Rilo kiley, Nada
surf and tegan and sara. 11 pm.
Vanessa Hanson her haunting blend of old- time
songs and distorted guitar shows a knack for
sonic experimentation. midnight.
Opera House
DJ O Nonymous 8- 8:30 pm.
Toronto Bboy Breakdancing Championships
8:30- 10 pm.
DJ Dopey and DJ grouch 10- 11 pm.
gee Wunder 11- 11:10 pm.
Angerville 11:10- 11:20 pm.
Sporadic 11:20- 11:30 pm.
Alex Dimez and King Jus 11:30- 11:45 pm.
Eternia & Moss 11:45 pm- 12:45 am.
DJ O Nonymous 12:45- 2 am.
The Painted Lady
Harvey Cartel Raw garage alt- country: strong,
original, with an aversion to commercialism. 8
pm.
James Kasper kaspar’s folk noir features rich,
dynamic vocals and dreamy blues harmonica
solos that keep crowds coming back. 9 pm.
Colin Moore Moore is influenced by springsteen,
Petty and Dylan. he’s got a great, raspy
voice and thoughtful lyrics. 10 pm.
Pink Moth there is real magic in this band, all
natural reverb, grand piano, group vocals,
strings and thundering drums. 11 pm.
The Black Atlantic they coax their charm from
vocal harmonies mixed with softly strummed
guitar melodies. midnight.
Parks & Rec Folk/indie rock/pop guitar twang,
sweet harmonies and soaring energy that’s
been turning heads around the city. 1 am.
The Piston
Circle Research classic hip- hop, funk, soul, electro-
boogie and futuristic beats, cR’s Nik and Gil
are veteran producers and DJs. 9 pm.
The Jessica Stuart Few a uniquely gifted guitarist,
Jessica stuart’s groove is clearly rooted in
modern jazz and progressive folk. 10 pm.
Jeremy glenn Jeremy’s influences range from
Motown to new wave to garage rock, from old
school to new school to no school. 11 pm.
maylee 70s- style disco- funk beats with jazzy
vocal hooks that make it impossible not to
dance. midnight.
vitaminsforyou Electronica/pop from Winnipeg-
born, toronto- based Bryce kushnier, who
helms this critically acclaimed project. 1 am.
Rancho Relaxo
Wendy Leung Piano- based pop influenced by
indie rhythms and style, providing a strong
backdrop for leung’s powerful voice. 8 pm.
Cotton Mouth Featuring members of indie rockers
Parlovr, this quartet is influenced by the
smiths, and talking heads. 9 pm.
The Davey Parker Radio Sound Rockers who mix
garage, psychedelia and early rock ’n’ roll with a
high- energy, rowdy show. 10 pm.
Asteroid #4 stalwarts of the nu- psych movement
rooted in the hazy sounds of the 60s, but
with the influence of 90s Brits. 11 pm.
The High Dials Bright harmonies with jangling
guitars conjure up the smiths and stone Roses.
midnight.
The Darcys Five guys make energetic rock pop
soaked in beer and sweat, with the added firepower
of trumpet and lap steel. 1 am.
The Winks Recommended if you like cellos,
mandolins, confetti explosions, fairy tales, tap
dancing and timeless pop music. 2 am.
Krupke a bizarre combo of art rock, progressive
jazz, show tunes, post- punk, avant- garde and
good old- fashioned whimsy. 3 am.
continued on page 82 œ

NXNE festivAl guide
the Bands
Indie rockers Les Savy Fav
rock Wrongbar, Saturday
œcontinued from page 80
(June 19) at 1 am.
Rear View Mirror
my people sleeping opium- inspired dream pop
engineered to make you space out to their
trance- inducing minimalism. 9 pm.
The Jing Bang Show high- energy mix of ragtime/Gypsy
jazz with rock and cabaret. It’s stylized,
catchy and great for dancing. 10 pm.
Nolan Natasha Queer- positive rap mixing
heartfelt storytelling laid down on a deceptively
simple and elegant scaffold. 11 pm.
Mad June this female foursome delivers rock
with pure punk soul and a twist of indie, strong
hooks and powerful lyrics. midnight.
The Rough Sea Punk- folk distilled to its purest
form, with ukulele and banjo. 1 am.
Rivoli
Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold tim chaisson
ties together folk, pop, country and celtic inspirations
with fiery east coast flare. 9 pm.
Maiko Watson 10 pm.
Colleen Brown Band Brown’s neurotic folk pop
songs have landed her on Emm Gryner’s Dead
Daisy label. 11 pm.
Holly McNarland this Juno award- winnIng
singer/songwriter is known for her unflinching
lyrics, and powerhouse voice. midnight.
KULAS Michael kulas was once a member of
Brit- rockers James, but now writes effortlessly
classy pop rock tunes. 1 am.
Amos The Transparent their critically acclaimed
indie pop debut won praise for lush arrangements
and seductive melodies. 2 am.
The Shop
Raid for Blood Diamonds Experimental and
melodic hardcore by friends who freak out,
have fun. 9 pm.
Blunt Fiction Billed as “Etobicoke’s finest party
metal,” Blunt Fiction have a passion for powerful,
technical rock. 10 pm.
Terracotta Pigeons stick Faith No More arms on
a sound Garden torso with a Muse head and
you get terracotta Pigeons. 11 pm.
Sinister Trailerpark Magic complex time changes
and pounding rhythms get these guys compared
to NoMeansNo. midnight.
The Bon the catchy fun of mid- 60s Nuggets
garage with the power and the fury of late 60s
freakbeat. 1 am.
Silver Dollar Room
Whiteboy Slim slim’s throaty blues recordings
are the real deal and have won several awards.
7 pm.
Alfie Smith alfie smith’s deep- throated blues
voice and loose style never betrays his Mississippi
Delta influences. 8 pm.
Blue Room acclaimed veteran bluesmen know
how to do it right. 9 pm.
The Johnny Max Band a combination of New
orleans & Memphis Blues with southern soul
and R&B sensibili ties. 10 pm.
Mutters Garage punk with brains! their loud,
scappy songs mix early new wave influences
with sinister amounts of reverb. 11 pm.
Teenanger these garage aficionados make
loud, sloppy, endearing, throwback rock ’n’ roll.
midnight.
82 june 17-23 2010 NOW
Comanechi Dense, grungy riffs, high- speed
rhythmic pounding and murderous screeching.
1 am.
The Strange Boys “a rhythm and blues chassis
augmented by desert- scarred psych and blues.”
– tinymixtapes.com. 2 am.
Drunk Woman these psych/country kids sound
like syd Barrett getting drunk with the Replacements.
No irony. 3 am.
Sneaky Dee’s
Rudely Interrupted Quirky and wonderful hook-
filled Brit- inspired anthems from australia’s
most unique indie rock band. 8 pm.
Uncut loud like swervedriver or Dino Jr, their
cascading guitar squalls and pounding rhythms
all but insist that you dance. 9 pm.
Savoir Adore Brooklyn pop collective savoir
adore create something unique with their addictively
lush slant on pop music. 10 pm.
The Magic a blazing dance- rock- soul band with
solid gold hit songwriting and danceable beats.
11 pm.
Special guest midnight.
Ruby Coast Boisterous mod rock with plenty of
dance- floor fun, with shows at halifax Pop Explosion
and Pop Montreal. 1 am.
Violent Soho Four long- haired marijuana- smoking
youngsters play a brand of honest, balls- to-
the- wall punk rock. 2 am.
The Peelies the Peelies are an all- girl punk band
sporting Raincoats- like swagger, punk technique
and garage rock singalongs. 3 am.
The Social
DMT 10 pm.
AC Slater, Udachi, B.Rich ac slater: Genre- mashing
Brooklyn producer mixes rave, acid and bass
line with hardcore roots; Udachi: Uplifting psyche
delic – emotronic party tracks; B. Rich: Electro/house/grime
with lots of bass. 11 pm- 4 am.
Supermarket
Ko 9 pm.
Quinzy 10 pm.
Daniel Wesley 11 pm.
Velvet Underground
Cut Throat Britva Memorable tunes and a show
that will make your mother sweat. 8 pm.
Paint Britrock and spectoresque walls of sound
as a backdrop for ice- cold, danceable pop hooks
and insightful lyrics. 9 pm.
Drive Faster Infectious synth rock – like the killers
with the attitude of Metric. 10 pm.
Black Mother Pearl Perfect for blaring on long
hauls through the backwoods and whiskeyswilling
round the campfire. 11 pm.
TBA 2 am.
Whippersnapper gallery
Digits Indie pop songwriting and danceable
electronic arrangements. likened to the Junior
Boys and hot chip. 8 pm.
CHRISTIAN HANSEN & THE AUTISTICS their
tongue- in- cheek lyrics recall sister scissors and
lcD soundsystem. 9 pm.
A.M. a nine- piece band serving up heaping
plates of electro- acoustic party music that’s
equal parts dance, funk and rock. 10 pm.
RÄUBERHÖHLE a drunken puppet show from
Berlin that incorporates live dancey electromanga
punk songs. 11 pm.
OPOPO Delivering driving club music with the
spirit of rock, oPoPo have crafted an act that
delivers an incredible party. midnight.
Wrongbar
The Meligrove Band Indie rock mainstays have
an energetic live show that often climaxes in
torn clothes and broken gear. 9 pm.
The grates Name- checked by many as one of
the buzz bands at sXsW, they’ve captivated
audiences the world over. 10 pm.
Mannequin Men “they make punk- tinged rock
as straight- ahead as anyone.” – Pitchfork Media
11 pm.
Surfer Blood Great guitar, great hooks, great
surf- infused pop from this critical favourite.
one of Pitchfork’s top 09 picks. midnight.
Les Savy Fav ”one of New york’s finest rock
bands, hands down.” – village voice 1 am.
Special guest 2 am.
TBA 3 am.
yonge-Dundas Square
Burning Boyz the Boyz – with a combined age
of just over 40 – perfect their own take on classic
tunes. midnight- 12:40 pm.
Queen Kwong Playing highly melodic, off- kilter
rock that’s both aggressive and hauntingly confessional.
1- 1:40 pm.
De Staat the rattly, locomotive energy of the
hives or the Monks, with a home- tooled funkyness
all their own. 2- 2:40 pm.
Mini Mansions Psych- pop band (w/ Michael
shuman from Queens of the stone age), playing
a mix of baroque pop and soul. 3- 3:40 pm.
The Soft Pack smart, danceable classic garage
rock. “No frills, no ego, no fat, no bullshit.” –
Drowned in sound. 4- 4:40 pm.
DD/MM/yyyy a mess of spastic art rock with
jagged guitars, 80s video game synthesizers
and discordant, dreamy vocals. 5- 5:40 pm.
Surfer Blood Great guitar, great hooks, great
surf- infused pop from this critical favourite.
one of Pitchfork’s top 09 picks. 6- 6:40 pm.
Wavves Noise- surf buzz act Nathan Williams is
joined by former Jay Reatard musicians Billy
hayes and stephen Pope. 7- 7:40 pm.
The Raveonettes Gorgeous vocals and layers of
guitar noise reference the velvet Underground
and 60s girl groups. 8- 9 pm.
Iggy and the Stooges Iggy leads Rock and Roll
hall of Famers who “almost single- handedly
invented punk.” – Rolling stone. 9:30- 11 pm.
Sunday,
June 20
Bovine Sex Club
Sights & Sounds 9 pm.
Saigon Hookers 10 pm.
Sixxxer 11 pm.
FATHOM / RIVIERA/ BRANDON SEK/ ALIXAN-
DER III/ MATT TASC/ yO EV midnight- 4 am.
El Mocambo (Main Floor)
Drive like Maria stadium- sized rock influenced
by led zeppelin, early zz top, Neil young and
Queens of the stone age. 9 pm.
Ali & The Dts an eight- piece punk/soul group,
these guys nail the blues in the blues. think
Nick cave and canned heat. 10 pm.
Rah Rah a veritable cacophony of pop, rock and
alt- country musical influences. 11 pm.
Ten Bears Imagine locking David Bowie and
Mgmt in a small room with some instruments
and you’ll end up with ten Bears. midnight.
The garrison
1977 synth- happy, upbeat songs about sunshine,
love and good feelings. like kim Deal recording
Beach Boys songs. 9 pm.
Karyn Ellis Welch, Waits, amos, Brickell, Peyroux
and the cowboy Junkies all rolled up into
one tiny body, one mournful voice. 10 pm.
Boys Who Say No a delightul mashup of indie,
alt- country and folk – with shades of early talking
heads. 11 pm.
Allie Hughes ”outra geous ly entertaining theatrical
flare and Broadway- bound voice.” – chart
attack. midnight.
Digits Indie pop songwriting and danceable
electronic arrangements. likened to the Junior
Boys and hot chip. 1 am.
TBA 2 am.
Rancho Relaxo
Svavar Knútur capturing the windswept winter
sounds of Iceland with ghostly, slow
acoustics. 9 pm.
The Withouts super- catchy indie pop rock
with choruses that’ll never leave your head.
Produced by Ian Blurton. 10 pm.
the DgB 11 pm.
The Archives soaring anthemic rock, infectious
energy and guitar- driven propulsion
blended with undeniable live swagger. midnight.
Sleep for the Nightlife ”atmospheric, winding
instrumentals that draw on the spirit of free
jazz and prog.” – lonely vagabond. 1 am.
Sneaky Dee’s
Ancestors Punk quartet creating primal music
delivered in short, thunderous bursts. 9 pm.
Brides they’ve played their “heavy weirdo
jams” on bills with such acts as the Jesus lizard,
abe vigoda and Japandroids. 10 pm.
Invasions Doomy Brit- style punk pop band. “a
uniform feel that’s vintage, doom gloom, and
irrepressibly cool.” – Pitchfork Media 11 pm.
The guest Bedroom ”Even though it’s fun, it’s
always emotionally rewarding.” – skyscraper
Magazine. midnight.
TBA 2 am.
Wrongbar
gold Lake Possibly the coolest band in spain
right now, Gold lake channel Rilo kiley, Nada
surf and tegan and sara. 9 pm.
Little girls ”lo- fi- tinged pop that takes its
melodies from the glory days of post- punk
and goth.” 11 pm.
Kid Sister kanye collaborator and BEt best
female artist nominee rocks parties and
causes all- around dance floor mayhem. midnight.
OPOPO Playing driving club music with the
spirit of rock, oPoPo have crafted an act that
delivers an incredible party. 1 am.
yonge-Dundas Square
Dominique young Unique ”Unignorable mix
of Miami bass, Neptunes, French house, dub-
punk.” – Rolling stone. 3- 3:40 pm.
Spookey Ruben an intense 70s/80s roller
coaster ride from this veteran performer.
shins meets Genesis! 4- 4:40 pm.
Chin Injeti as a producer and an artist, chin’s
worked with everyone from Dr Dre and Nas
to k’naan and zaki Ibrahim. 5- 5:40 pm.
Big Freedia Big Freedia is a “bounce” rapper
from New orleans. the single azz Everywhere
should explain. 6- 6:40 pm.
Phenomenal Handclap Band ”Psychedelia,
proto- disco, heavy rock ’n’ roll, 60s soul and
hip- hop – a perfect mix” – NPR 7- 7:40 pm.
Kid Sister kanye collaborator and BEt best
female artist nominee rocks parties and
causes all- around dance-floor mayhem. 8- 9
pm.
De La Soul hip- hop pioneers lay down their
immensely influential blend of quirky lyrics
and jazzy samples. 9:30- 11 pm. 3

NXNE festivAl guide
Film Fest
highlights
THIS MOVIE IS BROKEN (Bruce McDonald,
canada). 88 minutes. tonight (thursday,
June 17), 7 pm, Royal. Rating: NNN
Written by Don McKellar and directed
by Bruce McDonald, the agreeably
loose This Movie Is Broken charts the
relationship of two old friends (Georgina
Reilly, who co-starred in McDonald’s
Pontypool, and Greg Calderone)
thrown together in toronto on the
day of last year’s free Broken Social
Scene show at harbourfront.
84 june 17-23 2010 NOW
It’s not entirely a concert movie nor
entirely a conventional feature, but
the way the two modes weave in and
out of one another is awfully endearing
– and when they mesh up at a
crucial point, the moment is as exhilarating
as one of the band’s famous
crescendos.
some clumsy storytelling in the
last reel spoils the pleasant buzz, but
when it’s really cooking, this Movie Is
Broken feels like it’s just a breath
away from some new cinematic form.
NORMAN WILNER
online extra Read the Brendan Canning
interview at nowtoronto.com/nxne
Thursday, June 17
CIRCA 1977: THE DIODES (aldo Erdic,
ñcanada). 28 minutes. 3 pm, NFB
Mediatheque. Rating: NNNN
In just under half an hour, Circa 1977:
The Diodes creates a vivid picture of the
toronto punk scene of 33 years past,
when a local punk band opened a club
called the crash ’n’ Burn and changed
the musical landscape.
Using the Diodes’s NXNE 2008 reunion
as a jumping-off point, director
Aldo Erdic follows John Catto, Paul Robinson,
John Hamilton and Ian Mackay
on a walking tour of their old stomping
grounds, casually capturing how much
downtown Toronto has changed from
the glory days when you could run a
basement punk venue on Pearl Street.
The footage of the old A&A Records
and Sam the Record Man flagships
speaks to a more musically fertile culture
on Yonge Street as well. NW
yEAR OF THE CARNIVORE (sook-yin lee,
canada). 88 minutes. 7 pm, aMc yonge-
Dundas. Rating: NN
See review, page 92. And see related Q&A
at nowtoronto.com/movies.
WHEN yOU’RE STRANgE (tom Dicillo, U.s.).
100 minutes. 8 pm, hyatt Regency.
Rating: NNN
See review at nowtoronto.com/movies.
NXNE FILM FESTIVAL to saturday (June
19) at various locations. $10, free with
NXNE wristband/pass. For pass info, see
NXNE Essentials, page 55. For complete
film schedule, see Indie & Rep Film,
page 102 and the NXNE ad on page 64.
Friday, June 18
SUCK (Rob stefaniuk, canada). 90
ñminutes. 9:45 pm, Bloor.
Rating: NNNN
Writer-director-star Rob Stefaniuk’s
Suck is a comedy about a struggling
band that sees its fortunes take a turn
for the brighter when the bassist
(Jessica Paré) becomes a vampire.
sure, it’s a one-joke movie, but the
joke is really funny, played out in every
permutation imaginable by the deadpan
Paré and her slack-jawed bandmates.
(stefaniuk’s disappointed
befuddlement every time she eats
some one is a own running gag.) NW
Saturday, June 19
SEARCH AND DESTROy: Iggy POP
ñAND THE STOOgES’ RAW POWER
(Morgan Neville, U.s.). 45 minutes. 5 pm,
toronto Underground cinema. Rating:
NNNN
Putting Iggy Pop and David Bowie in the
same room seems to defy common
sense, but when the result is an album as
galvanizing as 1973’s Raw Power, com-
mon sense just needs to shut the hell up.
Search And Destroy reassembles the
band four decades later and go over
the creation of that landmark album.
(Bowie, whose interest in the band led
to his producing Raw Power, is regrettably
absent.)
Stooges fans will enjoy the tales of
manic, disorganized recording sessions,
and musico lo gists will come
away convinced they’ve just discovered
the missing link between glam
rock and punk. And they’ll be right. NW
STONES IN EXILE (stephen kijak,
ñUk). 61 minutes. 9 pm, toronto
Underground cinema. Rating: NNNN
Stephen Kijak’s entertaining documentary
explores the circumstances
that led to the 1972 recording of the
Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main street.
Using photos and home movie footage
to illustrate contemporary audio
interviews with the band and other
witnesses, kijak recreates the mix of
homesickness and stroppy defiance
that led the stones to record an american
blues mashup in the basement of
a mansion in the south of France –
when they weren’t indulging in
bacchanalian pleasures.
Essential viewing for stones completists
and for pretty much anyone
else who was on the fence about
Exile’s status as the band’s masterwork.
Four decades on, they haven’t
even come close to surpassing it. NW 3
Ñ = Critic’s Pick NNNNN = Best of the fest NNNN = Excellent NNN = Entertaining NN = Snore N = Who programs this crap?