NXNE 2012 announces additional bands

NORTH BY NORTHEAST (NXNE) announces the next wave of programming for the 18th edition of the festival, including five-piece prog-metal maniacs PROTEST THE HERO, psychedelic-rockers PORTUGAL. THE MAN, surging Canadian singer-songwriter MATT MAYS, noise rock trio A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, minimalist pop duo ETERNAL SUMMERS, and DUSTED, the latest project from Holy Fuck’s Brian Borcherdt and Bruce Peninsula’s Leon Taheny.  NXNE takes place June 11-17 across Toronto. Tickets are now available online at www.nxne.com/tickets.

Launching today is the NXNE Schedulizer on nxne.com, where fans can choose their must-see NXNE events and create a personalized schedule. For fans on the move, NXNE will launch brand new apps for iPhone and android users on May 28th with mobile access to festival info and a searchable schedule for NXNE Music, Film and Interactive.

New this year is The NXNE Magazine, a free publication highlighting programming from NXNE Music, Film and Interactive. Key features include interviews with music acts such as Purity Ring, Phedré and YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN. The NXNE Magazine will hit the streets with 10,000 copies through the city this week.

Coming soon: N2DS2W's list of bands we'll be seeing at NXNE.

Show Alert: Royal Canoe

Sat., May 12, 10:00 p.m.
The Garden Bowl (Majestic Theater Complex), Detroit
FREE SHOW!

"They will blow your mind."

That's been the universal response from everyone we've talked to at shows this week that's seen Royal Canoe, yet another of the great bands coming out of Winnipeg, MB. What more do you need to know?

Listen: "Hold On To The Metal" from their new EP, Extended Play.

Show Alert: Hurricanes, Plants and Animals, Royal Canoe, Country French

After a bit of a break following our Said the Whale/Chains of Love doubleheader last month, this week there are not one, not two, not three, but four great Canadian indie bands playing the Windsor/Detroit area, and we're hitting every one, beginning with...

My Son The Hurricane - Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Weds., May 9
My Son the Hurricane (w/ Theatre Crisp)
The Dugout, Windsor
If you see what looks like part of a marching band brassing their way through downtown Windsor, follow them. It's probably My Son the Hurricane (St. Catharines). We liked their unique fusion of brass band and hip hop so much when we saw them last year, they made our list of top shows for 2011.

 Thurs., May 10
Plants and Animals (w/ Wavvy Hands)
The Pike Room (The Crofoot), Pontiac
With songs like "The End of That"-- which features one of our favourite lyrics of the year so far, "With your bee sting lips and your pepper grinder hips"-- it's hard to believe Montreal's alt rock/progressive pop trio Plants and Animals started out as an instrumental group.

Sat., May 12
Royal Canoe
The Garden Bowl (Majestic Theater Complex), Detroit
A good reminder not to judge a band by one song, Winnipeg's Royal Canoe got a lot of love on CBC Radio 3 for their ode to Kasparov, but their progressive electronic pop is so much more than that. This is a FREE show, so you've got nothing to lose by coming down to check them out.








Sat., May 12
Will Currie and The Country French
w/ Dance Movie, Quiet Parade and Years of Ernest

Phog Lounge, Windsor
With four bands on the bill, we're hoping to have time to run over to Windsor after Royal Canoe to catch Will Currie and The Country French (Waterloo) and their unique brand of piano-driven, intelligent alt pop. Read our show review from the last time they were at Phog here.

Show Review: All Aboard for Shred Kelly

Have you ever gone to a party with a date and left with someone else?

That's the way we felt last Nov. 23 when we went to Windsor's Phog Lounge to meet up with our good friend and fellow CBC Radio 3 blogger StephRamsahai. We were there to support her friends, The Creekside Strays from London, opening for Shred Kelly of Fernie, B.C. We'd never heard of Shred Kelly, but that's who we ended up taking home. (Their debut CD, Goodbye July; what did you think we meant?)

 Nic Cavaliere

Led by Nic Cavaliere's heavy, funk-infused bass and James Vinyard's working man's growl on the guitar and vox, The Strays mine the meaty end of classic and '90s rock. We think what keeps them out of the retro-tribute band camp and on campus radio charts, and puts the "alt" into their rock, is Justin Shorey's smart, finessed drumming. The band was only eight months old when we saw them; they've been working hard ever since playing non-stop shows in London and Toronto, and just released their second EP, Honour Amongst Thieves, the follow-up to last year's Tiger Waltz.

Justin Shorey

James Vinyard

We called 2011 the Year of the Dirge, because it seemed like so many new albums from bands we like were more down-tempo and/or somber. "Be happy," we wanted to tell them, especially since they were really good albums embraced by listeners and critics. But still dirge-y. Which might explain why Shred Kelly's "stoke folk" proved to be the perfect antidote. Fun, high-energy, blistering banjo, anthems like "I Hate Work"? Shred Kelly made us very happy, and our list of top shows for 2011.

Jordan Vlasshaert

Ian Page Shiner

Tim Newton

Sage McBride

Tim Newton (l) and Steve Polit

Congratulations to Shred Kelly, who will be one of the bands playing Tracks on Tracks, the epic rock 'n' roll train adventure being sponsored by Green Couch Productions, CBC Radio 3 and VIA Rail. The train pulls out of Vancouver on Jun. 8 and rolls into Toronto on Jun. 12 in time for NXNE. If you can't take the train, there will be a Tracks on Tracks showcase featuring the bands from the train on Jun. 13.

Photos by Russ Gordon/N2D Images
Tracks On Tracks image courtesy of CBC Radio 3

PAT ROBITAILLE RELEASES VIDEO FOR “WE WON’T CHANGE”

WINDSOR, ON - Windsor-based singer-songwriter Pat Robitaille has released his second single and video entitled “We Won’t Change” from his fourth album, Change.

The video was shot in Toronto, Ont.with the support of a grant from MuchFACT. Director Sean McLeod had this to say about the grant, “It’s a really great program they have set up to assist Canadian talent with everything from music videos to websites. The music industry has completely changed and continues to evolve, and unfortunately there’s just not enough money to go around. Without programs like MuchFACT and FACTOR in place it would be very difficult for artists to make things like music videos happen.”

Change is Pat's fourth studio album and has been well received since its release. "It's an album about love lost," says Pat. "Lyrically, it reflects on some major relationships that have failed in my life. Musically, it reflects on the song writing and instrumentation I was exposed to during my time in Nashville. I was hanging around with a crew of insanely talented and successful people, and I soaked it all up like a sponge."

Pat is already beginning work on his next album. “I’m excited because I’ve received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to work on my fifth album," he says. "I’m really looking forward to getting back in the studio after spending the past two years promoting and touring my latest record. I’ve been getting anxious to explore some new musical ideas that have been floating around in my head for the past year or so.”

This video marks the second collaboration between Pat and director Sean McLeod, who had previously worked together on the album's first video, “Going As Planned." Sean has recently been added to the roster at 235 Films, joining such industry heavyweights as Harv Glazer, Director X, and Davin Black. Seans’s previous video was for Canadian icon Ashley MacIsaac’s “Poka Rokin”. He has a full slate of upcoming projects including videos for local favorites Years Of Ernest and Efan (Stefan Cvetkovic of Michou’s solo project).





The video can also be seen in rotation on Much Music.

Hello, North By

We were always surprised when we asked bands if they were playing at N-X-N-E and they gave us a blank look. Then we would clarify: "North by North East," and the light would dawn.

Well, it finally dawned on us. Nobody says S-X-S-W. They say "South by." Apparently, the same holds true for North by. Now if we can only get out of the habit of referring to it as N-X-N-E.

However you pronounce it, we have a special affinity for this music/film/interactive extravaganza in Toronto. N2DS2W was born on the drive home from NXNE 2010; we did this at NXNE in 2011. So we're looking forward to NXNE 2012, scheduled for Jun. 11-17: more music, more Radio 3 bloggers and this year, we're attending some of the interactive sessions.

While the schedule isn't up yet for the interactive sessions, NXNE has released an initial list of performers. Canadian indie bands include those listed below; Hollerado will definitely be at the top of our list. Other bands we know are performing, but not yet listed, that we're excited to see: Vancouver's Brasstronaut, Montreal's Parlovr and Windsor's The Unquiet Dead. Stay tuned as more details are released.

MATTHEW GOOD
PURITY RING
METZ
PLANTS AND ANIMALS
ANDRE WILLIAMS & THE SADIES
BRAN VAN 3000
WE WERE LOVERS
EIGHT AND A HALF
MAC DEMARCO
ODONIS ODONIS
YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN
PHEDRE
HOLLERADO
CATL 

Somebody Wasn't Nice To Michou.

Photo by Russ Gordon/N2D Images

We hate writing these posts. Another sickening story of musicians having their equipment stolen. This is sad and disturbing as these are the tools that people use to earn their living. This time it was Windsor's Michou.

From the band's Facebook page today:

"Last night we had the unfortunate luck of having our car broken 
into and gear stolen. We had some gear in the trunk that was not 
visible from the outside. We have reason to believe someone has 
been watching us come and go with gear and has been planning the 
sting for some time. Please share this post and keep an eye out 
for the following gear. Attached are the serial numbers. We've made 
a police report and every pawn shop has to check serial numbers with 
the police before putting an item to sell. To get this gear back in the 
next week is critical. These pieces are our livelihood. Thanks for your help."

UPDATE: The Windsor Star

ITEMS STOLEN


Stefan:


Iron Coba Kick Pedal - Serial number 004


Sabian AA Rock Crash - Serial number 002


Sabian Rock Ride 18" - No serial number


Ziljian Light K Hi-Hat - Serial number 64 2388299647


Mike:


Pedal Pad Case - Serial number 007


Boss DD7 Digital Delay Pedal - Serial number CX76639


Boss BD2 Blues Driver Pedal - Serial number ZY26562


Boss RE20 Roland Space Echo - Serial number OO8


Boss TU2 Chromatic Tuner Pedal - Serial number OO9


MXR Micro Amp - Serial number O11


Roland EV5 Expression Pedal - Serial number O12



Please keep your eyes and ears open. If you run across any of this equipment, contact the Windsor Police Dept. (519) 258-6111.