The Novaks @ The Courthouse
Street Pharmacy @ The Kathederal
West Memphis Suicide @ Hard Rock Café
The Sonics @ Dundas Square
The Dogs @ Bovine Sex Club
Due to flight changes I missed a fair chunk of the NXNE Music and Film Festival. What I did get to take in was quite impressive. My NXNE experience began on Saturday afternoon at The Courthouse. We walked in too see The Novaks but saw more than we had anticipated. As we walked in I saw Mick from The Novaks sitting so I stopped and said hello (as I met him a couple weeks prior when he played my hometown with a friend’s band).
Between C’mon’s set and The Novaks performance was Inward Eye from Manitoba. These guys were on 11 with the energy and stage presence. They were so into it it wasn’t funny. Check these guys out when they are in your area.
Closing off my Courthouse experience was The Novaks from my home province of Newfoundland. They have just released a killer new album and showcased it during their brief set. Mick laid down some killer guitar riffs that got the small crowd into it. His voice was in great shape and for comparison reason’s sounded a little like Tom Petty in places. Seeing The Novaks live for the first time was an enjoyable experience and not one to be missed when they are in your area. I know I will be checking out their shows whenever I can. Mick and company leave an impression on you.
I now headed over to The Kathederal on Queen W. to meet up with some friends and to take in some more great music. Hitting the stage was a band called Street Pharmacy whose music blended a bit of Ska with some Rock…interesting and impressive.
Trying to take in as much of the festival in one evening we headed over to the Hard Rock and caught the last bit of West Memphis Suicide’s set. These guys played some deadly Metal. It was loud, fast and heavy, the way it is supposed to be. This is a great band that I will be checking out in the very near future.
Just outside the Hard Rock is Dundas Square where The Sonics were playing. We checked out some of their set before heading back to Queen St.W. to go to the Bovine Sex Club. The Sonics were good and came off as seasoned veterans. The addition of horns added a nice touch to their music.
At the Bovine Sex Club (which is possibly the best club around) we heard a US band called The Dogs play to a full house. They are a blend of MC5 and Iggy and The Stooges. I watched most of their set before catching the last train to Clarkson.
Unfortunately I missed most of this amazing festival. What I did see left a lasting impression on me as it was very well organized and contained something for everyone. Hopefully next year I will be up that way and take in NXNE in its entirety.
