Saturday NXNE Part 1
Wayside Ramblers @ The Second City
Not technically part of NXNE, but these guy played after the Boiled Weiners “Take a Chance on Meat” show, and they were fantastic. 4 guys swapping a guitar, bass, mandolin and banjo between themselves, they played mostly unamplified on the Second City stage, and it was pure, warm tones, smiling faces all around, in the crowd and on stage. Worth staying after the show. Worth tracking down in their Queen West / Ronces stomping grounds.
Old Man Luedecke @ The Rivoli
The crowd, it seemed, was a mix of about 1/3 OML fans (some of whom singing along to the words) and 2/3 indifferent nu-Queen St. snobs. I didn’t grow in Toronto, was there ever a time when the Rivoli wasn’t a haven for club-yuppies? (Cluppies?) Crowd and venue aside, the music was fantastic. Heart-warming lyrics, brilliant banjo-playing, and foot-stomping catchiness. In between songs, we’re held rapt by charming stories about Pete Seeger’s environmental chastising, Nina Simone records, and self-deprecating jokes. Great from start to finish.
Elder Roche @ The Hideout
He was advertised as an Irish Tom Waits. He’s not. I don’t like hearing a solo artist playing keyboards very often (even a nice Korg like Roche had). The electronic amplification inevitably sounds cheap and cold, especially compared to a real piano, and that was a poor match for his otherwise decent voice, and his earthy folk songs. It would have been great to feel real piano chords resonating in the room… musically, Elder Roche was OK, although I get the feeling I’d like him better playing in a pub on a cold day, with lots of beer and friends.