Live Reviews
Thursday June 12th NXNE Review
- by Tyler Wade
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Add to del.ico.us.(2008-06-14)
I’m tired already from a pre NXNE show the night before but I’ve got excitement pumping through my veins and the adrenaline is keeping me going. I snuck out of work to meet with Dan and Jeff at the Holiday Inn. I ran into Pete Nema, Lauren Schreiber, Emily Feist, Luke at Whippersnapper gallery and bands like The Speaking Tongues, Holoscene and The Books Elusive (and then booked them for the next Zygiella show!)
I was having a good time hanging out and watching Dan suffer through the seemingly endless stupidity of the system running the NXNE registration. CMW was a 5 minute in’n’out breeze and so after 2 hours waiting at the Holiday Inn I was forced to rush back to work leaving Dan to suffer a little more.
I biked to the Boat and met with Dan to pick up the press passes. Jeff ran late due to the Spadina streetcars…not running and no signs telling him otherwise. I boogied down to the ‘shoe and met Jeff outside just in time to run in and catch The Coast on stage...and Jenny inside. I liked their performances and their sound is classic canadiana rock with loads of harmonies, opportunities for clapping and an acoustic guitar with a pick up. It’s radio ready rock and a good opening act for Sam Roberts.
Jeff, Jenny and I made our way out to the Cameron to check out I see Rowboats but couldn’t get in even with our media passes. Awkward singing and huge warm strings bellowed out of the room but the muddiness of waiting in the hallway didn’t do themusic justice so we moved on.
Jen Polk, Brad Casey, the boys from Golden Hands Before God… a ton of people waiting to see the Rural Alberta Advantage rock The Boat. Keith Hamilton pushed me up the stairs when his number count hit capacity. I’ve waited for a year to see them. Paul Banwatt, their drummer, has been killing his kit being the other half of Woodhands and he hasn’t had much time for the RAA. I stood by the sound board with Wes Ryan of 68 porno mags and had the best sound in the room hitting my ears but I just had to move closer. I was sweating in no time, bouncing and bobbing to the sounds of deathbridge in lethbridge and Frank, AB. Everyone screamed for more but they couldn’t do it with NXNE’s guidelines. I bought a Tshirt, congratulated Nils on an amazing performance and made my way up to Sneaky Dee’s.
I locked my bike to the hydro meter since there were no other spots and walked upstairs. Nothing could compare, the Darcy’s didn’t matter – they were good, it was fun, I like their suits but I spent most of my time at the back hanging out with Dan and not paying much attention. It’s not the Darcy’s – their music was good and after a long night it was much harder for me to pay any more attention.