With 500 bands playing around the city, Toronto’s North By NorthEast is a challenge for music lovers to see the best music they can in only three days. Sometimes you get lucky and others you don’t. Sometimes you favourite band plays a small club or you have never heard of anyone. So we hit the streets with pads of paper and cameras in tow ready for the challenge. Here is what we found:

For photos click on day.

Thursday
The Delinquents/Carpenter
June 12, 2008
The Kathedral
Grade D

The opening bands for a show with The Flatliners was just what you would expect. Four young guys mad at the world and maybe their parents and the only way they know how to release their anger is by beating on some instruments and screaming at the top of their lungs. Everyone who enjoys concerts frequently has seen a million bands like both these bands. The Delinquents had more of a street punk vibe with an intimidating looking singer with tall hair and a leather jacket, while Carpenter was more low key punk with a singer who couldn’t keep up with his own songs. Both of these bands have potential somewhere, but when will people learn that screaming songs about the things you hate won’t get you anywhere these days, everyone and their uncle has had a band like that?


Aspirations
June 12, 2008
The Kathedral
Grade Q (For confusing)

Just when I thought that Hostage Life was about to take the stage I got a nice surprise! Everyone in the club got a firsthand look at what a very bad Canadian Idol audition looks like! Seriously, I thought for the first couple of minute that what these two guys, one of which who looked like he just came out of his log cabin in the great Canadian north and the other who looked like a paperboy with his over sized cap and baggy pants, were doing was not a joke. I couldn’t even hold in my laughter. Is this rap for punk-metal boys? Maybe these guys were just playing the wrong kind of show in the wrong part of town but then again the crowd was digging it. There were many bobbing heads in the crowd and singing along. Maybe I am getting old and don’t understand the music of today. Throw these dudes up on youtube maybe they can get some more laughs all across the world!


Hostage Life
June 12, 2008
The Kathedral
Grade A+++

So I'm a little bias, but everyone should love these guys as much as I do. They have so many great tunes and the just keep coming with their new LP. These guys play so hard that lead guitarist Hai Vu broke a string on the second song and his guitar gave out in the third and had to find a replacement and he never missed a beat. Including his solo in “This Song was Written by a Committee” and when he had to kneel on the floor to hold onto the guitar. The crowd started moshing and singing along as Hostage Life pumped up The Kathedral. The best part about Hostage Life is that they’re always right to the point, mostly because most of their songs are under two and a half minutes, and it leaves you craving more so do yourself a favour and go out and see these guys, buy a cd and a T-shirt and get ready to rock!


The Flatliners
June 12, 2008
The Kathedral
A

The Flatliners make me want to be 16 again. They have that hard hitting no nonsense fast punk rock that screams out for a crazy mosh pit. Since these guys are locals, their fans gave them what they needed. The band seems to be on a pretty steady upward climb and their show is only getting better with it. They played songs off of both of their album. The newer songs sound better from the band, but the older stuff definitely got a better response from the fans. Fast paced favourites like “Fred’s Got Slacks” sounded great when mixed up with the new ‘reggae’ single “This Respirator.” The Flatliners don’t need me to tell them they are doing fantastic, but here’s another pat on the back.


Friday
One Grand Canyon
June 13, 2008 9:00
El Mocambo (downstairs)
Grade D+


The early bird show was supposed to be Empire Air, but they were absent and One Grand Canyon performed in their spot. They were very grateful to be there, but weren’t prepared and every song the change and tuned their guitars and left the crowd hanging. In a style close to Dashboard Confessional, the former Moneen drummer Peter Krpan showed off his new project. With a little more focus and time to work it all out, I think City & Colour fans could be fawning over him. When they played the acoustic set with soft relaxing sounds it wasn’t half bad, but as the lead singer said forty-five minutes is a long time not to fall asleep listening to easy rock. Good thing the drinks were strong.


Casey Baker and the Buffalo Sinners
June 13, 2008 10:00
El Mocambo (upstairs)
Grade C

These guys hail from St. Catherine’s, which is quite the little rocking town. I think that they have a great hard beat, but the vocals sound a little sally in comparison. They are lost somewhere in the alt-country scene and still need to find a way to really stand out. They have improved big time since CMW, so it’s clear they are on the move quickly. The crowd upstairs was already getting packed and there seemed to be a lot of toe tapping going on. Unfortunately the stand out event of their set for those in the front was not a good one as at the end drummer Patrick Sirianni threw his drumstick a little too hard hitting one of the kids in the front row in the eye causing some serious blood flow. I hope wherever he is the kid is ok and Casey Baker keep rocking.


Moneen
June 13, 2008 11:00
El Mocombo (upstairs)
Grade B (by no fault of their own)

The club was packed with a ton of crazy Moneen followers, at least five people asked me if I was there to see them because they’re wicked. I hoped that I was in for a treat and then anything that can go wrong did! Mics stopped working during “Don’t Ever Tell Locke What He Can’t Do” and “The Passing Of America” so it turned into a great sing-a-long with the crowd shouting lyrics at the tops of their lungs. That got fixed and the guitars came in and out throughout some songs, but these guys have good chemistry and pulled through. They gave us a hint of their new stuff with ‘Song 8’ and it got a good response from the audience. The crowd didn’t care about any of it though because they were going wild. There was people hitting the roof literally as they tried to body surf in the El Mo. The front row was pushed right onto the stage at points. The formerly modest crowd went berserk. It’s too bad the venue didn’t work for them they can really rock a house.


Black Lungs
June 13, 2008 12:00
El Mocambo (upstairs)
Grade A

It is clear that Wade MacNeil really cares about the music he puts out and how he puts on a show. The debut disc for his side project, Black Lungs, has not even been out for a month yet and he is already mixing things up to keep it interesting for fans. For his NXNE showing, he brought out a few familiar friends. Attack In Black drummer Ian Romano ran up from downstairs to sit in, while MacNeil’s Alexisonfire costar Chris Steele almost stole the show with his wild style of playing keeping everyone entertained. In the end it was all down to MacNeil’s voice though. It seemed he was really giving it all for his short set. He made each song a little more up tempo than on disc making sure to keep the mood up in the El Mo. He cut his set shorter than the allotted time, but ended big with a fast paced cover that made us all ache for some more Black Lungs in our life.


Bedouin Soundclash
June 13, 2008 1:00 am
El Mocambo (upstairs)
Grade A

Sometimes you get a chance you can’t refuse, like seeing Bedouin Soundclash in the little upstairs space at the El Mo. The place was packed by the time they hit the stage. So they decided to start off with a bang and use this chance to have Alexisonfire/Black Lungs’ Wade MacNeil sing vocals on “St. Andrews” just like he does on disc. It was a great opener to a rare performance. The crowd went nuts pushing each other as close to the front as they could get. Bedouin themselves sounded perfect in this little venue from wherever you were standing. Singer Jay Mal.... seemed a little looser and more relaxed then he sometimes does at big shows. Maybe it was because all of his friends were there and joined him onstage for backup vocals, including Kenny Bridges of Moneen and label owner Joel Bedlam. Playing songs off of both of their albums they had most of the fans dancing around and drying off from the pouring rain outside.


Saturday
The Carps
June 14, 2008 9:00
The Mod Club
Grade A-

The Carps at the Mod Club: could they play a better venue? With their loud electric sound that almost resembles British underground they can really keep the crowd’s attention. These two Scarborough men can make as much noise and are twice as talented as most indie bands. A lead singer playing drums? Not since DFA and it works just as well here. I love it when the drums are in the spotlight. There is also a bassist who controls the electric sounds. Man these guys work hard and produce some great music. When they broke out their crowd pleaser Big Booty Girl they made sure that crowd got into it, including the singer/drummer running around the club and standing on the bar. They clearly thrive off of the energy of the crowd so they tried their hardest to make sure everyone there was dancing. It worked for a bit and hopefully that momentum of dancing will only follow them wherever they go. If you enjoy electric beats with a twist of rock your love The Carps!


Grand Analog
June 14, 2008 10:00
The Reverb
Grade B-

For the first time all weekend ninety present of the crowd was moving after Grange Analog got through their great ‘sound check’, I couldn’t believe it! With the turntables spinning and the beats flowing the Reverb was pumped up in no time. The great beats and little freestyles give these guys a k-os-ish sound and solid performance. Their singer was full of energy dancing around the stage in a little world of his own.


Run With The Kittens
June 14, 2008 11:00
Holy Joe’s
Grade A-

I climbed the stairs to Holy Joe’s and saw a big farm boy wearing a cowboy hat and a frilly shirt and wanted to turn around and run back downstairs but something compelled me to stay. Maybe it was the drum set which consisted of a snare, one tom, a bass, and the cowbell. Or maybe it was Funny little man who kind of resembled a leprechaun wearing an all white suit, but whatever it was I’m glad I stayed. Move over Jack Black here comes Run With The Kittens. Their song “Tool Of The Opera” got laughs from the whole crowd combining Phantom Of The Opera with Tool’s “Sober.” These guys have some amazing talent but choose to make a mockery of them from your enjoyment. Their crazy dancing looks more like someone having convulsions, but kept everyone’s faces smiling. The happiest guitar player in the world played some nice solos and the whole crowd was thoroughly entertained and isn’t that what we are all looking for.


God Made Me Funky
June 14, 2008 12:00
The Reverb
Grade A

As the eight member band took the stage five minutes early, which almost never happens, the crowd started bouncing with funkiness. With a phenomenal guitar player, kickin keyboardist, stylish sax player, bassist, drummer, and three talented vocalists there is no stopping God Made me Funky. Their self proclaimed nufunk sound got everybody bouncing right off the hop and that didn’t get you grooving’ their cover of House of Pain’s “Jump” certainly would! With every song highlighting the talents of each of them they kept a great chemistry between each other which is hard enough for four people little alone eight. After the kick ass guitar solos, great drum beats and wicked vocals God Made Me Funky took me by surprise when they went old school and busted out The Incredible Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend,” Rick James’ “Superfreak” and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” You could never be bored listening or watching them. These guys, and girl, sound a little like the Black Eyed Peas with choreographed dance and getting the crowd involved their get for a fun night of dancing and partying.


For photos of these bands and more click on day:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday