NXNE

An Eulogy: Broken Social Scene (1999-2011, Coachella 2013-?)

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Ricky in Everything, Rickys Random Articles | 3 Comments

Toronto – In an interview published earlier today by esteemed online music journal Pitchfork Media, Kevin Drew of the popular Canadian rock band Broken Social Scene declared that the band was going on hiatus indefinitely after concluding their current tour for their most current LP Forgiveness Rock Record. Arguably one of the most significant bands to emerge in Canada in the past fifteen years, the 67 members of Broken Social Scene have done their part in shaping the landscape in Canadian music for years to come. Alumnus of the band have gone on to great success, especially bands such as Stars, Metric and of course, Feist. The abrupt news of their impending hiatus is sure to bring tears of sadness to many music fans all around.

My own experience with this Toronto band has surprisingly been quite minimal. I only saw Broken Social Scene once. It was 2009, during SXSW of all places. I was walking back to my hotel (the Sheraton..yeah THAT one) and it was about 1:15. As I was approaching Stubbs, I quickly remembered that BSS was playing there. Having never seen the band before, I decided to break my SXSW rule (never see a Canadian/Toronto band in Austin) and check out this act. Forgiveness Rock Record was about to be released later on in the summer and I was lucky enough to hear the track The Sweetest Kill performed then. It was a track I enjoyed. Kevin Drew then introduced some very special guests – Emily Haines and James Shaw to perform Anthem for/of/? a Seventeen Year Old Girl. The crowd went kinda nuts, and I was like “really? is this surprising? Metric is also playing at SXSW, what was the odds of this happening? 1 to 1?” Anyways, the two came out and then performed a beautiful rendition of the track. I then got hungry and went and got a panini, thus ending my first BSS experience.

My second/third BSS experience happened last year during the NXNE charity soccer game, Brendan Canning was on one team and I was on another and I ran into him almost full speed during the game. I kind of expected his seemingly frail body to collapse in a red hairy heap, but it turns out Brendan Canning is a beast on the soccer field so instead, he took the ball away and ran with it. He would later score a goal or two. This year I was in the same soccer game and at the barbecue afterwards, he made me a cheeseburger and I was rather happy about that, even though they used processed cheese instead of the real thing.

There you go, not only were Broken Social Scene important musicians to the industry, they are also people. People with real lives who have to move on, just like you or me. I never saw BSS here because I figured they would always play Toronto, and they would always bring random people on stage to sing songs, and I would always be able to roll my eyes and say ‘that’s so obvious’. Only now, it’s over and I lost my chance. That’s life I guess. The only blessing is that we won’t get to see any more crappy concert films disguised as some weird drama films like the one released last year. For that, I am thankful.

Best of luck to the band in the future, we’ll see you at your eventual reunion.

Broken Social Scene – 7/4 (Shoreline) by artsandcraftsmx

Jessica’s NXNE Round Up Part 2: Dora Alexander, Action Makes, Crocodiles, Paper Lions

Posted on June 23, 2011 by jessica in North By Northeast | Leave a comment

Now that North by Northeast 2011 is over, it’s time to reflect over the good, the bad and the sweaty. Here’s a recap of what I experienced over those four days.

Part 1 is here

Friday June 17
This night I saw pretty much every band I intended on seeing. It was also a night when I went to three different venues, agonized over feet in pain, stayed out until 4 and spent the latter half of the night in the back of Sneaky Dee’s sweating and chatting with friends in town for the fest.

I started off at the Velvet Underground, a venue I had never been to in the city. It was empty when I got there, but by the time Armen at the Bazaar finished his first song, there was a healthy crowd there to take in his solo electronic set-up. I’ve recently been digging his Noor EP, and I noticed that live he expands his songs into longer, more dramatic adventures as well as dives into more dance/DJ territory. It was a neat set to see.

ZED by Armen at the Bazaar

Locals Dora Alexander took the stage next. I saw them once months ago, but this time was a whole new experience. They were solid throughout, rotating who played the keyboards and seemed totally comfortable. They have a good balance of dreamy vocals, three explorative guitars and a steady percussive pace. After that, I stayed for a few songs of Hexes & Oh’s set. I was curious to see what it would be like as I remember hearing an album of theirs a couple years ago now. Turns out they had been on hiatus, so they played all those same songs. It was cute (and not just because of their attire, cough bow tie and suspenders cough), but I didn’t feel any pull to stay.

Music Box by Dora Alexander by staticzine

I was too excited to get to the Silver Dollar for locals Action Makes, another recent favourite of mine. I’ve wanted to see them for a while now but kept missing their sets, and I’m so glad I got to see this one, even though someone spilled beer all down my side. I often use ‘bad ass’ to describe them, as they have the attitude and dark hooks down. Their self-titled album is great, and Let Them Go among other songs on there have become anthems I like to let loose to. Seeing them take over this small stage that they’re used to playing meant that I got to see them in their right element. It went by all too fast, though, which has left me wanting to see them again.

Action Makes: Let Them Go by OpticalSounds

I was looking forward to seeing Crocodiles, a garage-rock duo-turned-quintet from California, who went on right after Action Makes. They played the Silver Dollar three nights in a row at NXNE and were clearly one of the top highlights. I only got to stick around for a few songs as the temperature in the venue became unbearable and friends wanted to get to the next venue. But what we did see was something we want to get to know more, especially after seeing the Dum Dum Girls jump up on stage during a song.

It was then off to Sneaky Dee’s down the street where we caught the end of Paper Lions’ set and it was even hotter in there than it was at the Silver Dollar. Up to the front my courageous photographer friends went for the rest of the night and I found some other pals towards the back. Paper Lions sounded much more upbeat and excited than I remembered, and the place was packed and jumping (Sneaky’s floor is notorious for shaking) so I’ll try to catch them when they come back. Great Bloomers took the stage next, which undoubtedly many people have been looking forward to as the band hasn’t really played around here in quite some time. My night then ended with a raucous set by Sheezer, a you-guessed-it female Weezer cover band that’s made quite the name for themselves around the city. Sneaky’s went wild for the group.

Paper Lions – Lost The War by musebox

Stay tuned for part 3!

Jessica is an occasional contributor to the Panic Manual. She also writes for her own blog – Roundletters and is a key founding member of Static Zine

Jessica’s NXNE Round Up Part 1: Suuns, Slow Down Molasses, etc.

Posted on June 22, 2011 by jessica in North By Northeast | 2 Comments

Now that North by Northeast 2011 is over, it’s time to reflect over the good, the bad and the sweaty. Here’s a recap of what I experienced over those four days.

Wednesday
I quickly figured out this time around (I’ve been attending NXNE three or four years now) that even if you make a schedule with who you plan on seeing, it can change for factors other than the music. I was originally going to see Pat Jordache – an experimental guy from Montreal whose album I’ve been digging lately – but I ran into many friends while picking up my media pass, knowing they’d be at the Rivoli that night, I decided I’d rather go see locals The Meligrove Band rock Ramones covers, which I was curious about anyway. It ended up being a really fun night in which I got to see a completely different side to a band.

Pat Jordache – Radio by snakesplusladders

Thursday
I had come into this festival with the thought that I would take it easy on the weekdays. It wasn’t like I got trashed or stayed out till the wee hours of the morning, but I did end up seeing later sets I originally thought I wouldn’t make (man, I’m tame). So, on this night I indulged in a soothing early evening at the Music Gallery with gorgeous sets by Snowblink, Evening Hymns and Forest City Lovers, three Toronto bands I’ve wanted to see for some time and never have, and this was the perfect occasion.

Not ready to go home just yet, I trekked over to the Dakota to see Saskatoon’s indie rock collective Slow Down, Molasses. I ended up filming their entire set for them, so look out for a video of some sort from them soon. They played to a crowd that seemed mostly fresh to them, and I think they left with a good amount of new fans.

Feathers by Slow down, Molasses

After that, I rushed and miraculously made it to the Horseshoe with time to spare before one of my more recent favourite bands, Suuns, took the stage. This was my third time seeing them, but it was definitely the best. They unleashed a little more than usual, letting all that tense energy run the venue into a ragged, thrilling, black hole. I came home that night completely happy that I decided to stay out later than intended. This was probably my favourite night of the fest.

Suuns – Arena by The Drift Record Shop

Stay tuned for part 2!

Jessica is an occasional contributor to the Panic Manual. She also writes for her own blog – Roundletters and is a key founding member of Static Zine

NXNE Highlights Part 2 – Sheezer, Jenn Grant, Bruce Peninsula, Evening Hymns

Posted on June 22, 2011 by stacey in North By Northeast | 1 Comment

Toronto – This is part 2 of Stacey’s NXNE highlights. For part one, click here.

Sweatiest show

Sheezer at Sneaky Dee’s. Without a doubt. We were completely jammed like sardines (they had to have been breaking fire code), primed for a good time after great sets from The Ruby Coast, Paper Lions and Great Bloomers. Every single person was an exuberant fan, joyfully singing every word to every song, jumping along so hard that it made the floor feel like it was going to fall out from under us, and contributing happily to the steam that made you feel like you were leaving a sauna at the end of the night.

Worst dancer ever

Some poor sad sap in a white tee-shirt at the same Sneaky Dee’s evening, who I am sure has given himself whiplash, dancing around as though he is having a seizure. At one point, gesturing emphatically along to the beat with waving gun fingers, he karate chopped his neighbour (a stranger) in the head.

Most endearing songstress

Jenn Grant at the Horseshoe. Despite the technical glitch at the beginning of her set that let us hear about her upcoming nuptials, and permitted the perfect timing for an unexpected collaborative number with Buck 65, Jenn in her usual way put on a lovely, upbeat and beautiful set that left the whole audience smiling.

Oh My Heart – Jenn Grant by joshuadj

Most lively show

The Bruce Peninsula at the Rivoli. For their first show after a hard break, The Bruce Peninsula put on an amazing set. Every member of this band was clearly throwing it all down on the stage, and the audience gave it right back to them, creating one of the most electric atmospheres of the weekend. The singing, dancing and stomping started immediately and lasted throughout the set. I left feeling somehow exhausted and invigorated all at once.

Steamroller by BrucePeninsula

Most poignant set

Evening Hymns at the Music Gallery. Back-lit with the setting sun through the stained glass, the beautiful, haunting music started with a quiet piano solo by Jonas Bonetta. Playing both old, well known songs, as well as a number of amazing new pieces, this band had the crowd mesmerized from first note to last. With the explanation that the new album deals mostly with the death of his father, Jonas couldn’t have introduced the material in a more meaningful way – playing the weekend of father’s day, at the place where he saw his first show after his Dad’s death.

Evening Hymns – Lanterns by evening hymns

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