There were some lowlights at NXNE this year. The wi-fi at The Hub was terrible and our favourite hotel replaced all their coffeemakers with Keurigs. We know, #firstworldproblems. But there were highlights, like...
Language Arts at the Mod Club Theatre: A complete delight. From Kristin Cudmore's off-beat, adorable stage banter to her vocal delivery and wonderkind words, Language Arts is an imaginative standout in alt pop-rock.
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| Language Arts / Joel Visentin |
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| Language Arts |
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| Language Arts / Kristen Cudmore |
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| Language Arts / Kristen Cudmore |
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| Language Arts / Kristen Cudmore |
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| Language Arts / Joel Visentin |
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| Wall animations at Lee's Palace |
Seeing former CBC Radio 3 host Alanna Stuart (Bonjay) meet many R3 bloggers in person for the first time during the Paper Bag 100 at Lee's Palace. #FOR3VER indeed.
It was hard leaving Lee's, especially after seeing Diana, Rolf Klaussner (The Acorn), Nils Edenloff (Rural Alberta Advantage) and knowing
more great performers were to come. But it was worth it for...
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| (Right) Rolf Klaussner |
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| Cuff the Duke was the house band at the Paper Bag 100. |
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| Nils Edenloff (Rural Alberta Advantage) |
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Nancy Pants at the Silver Dollar: Nancy Pants-- Ohara Hale (vocals), Adam Waito (
Adam & the Amethysts, bass) and Jeremy MacCuish (Parlovr, Cobra and Vulture, drums)-- don't deserve labels, because they're much better and far less elemental than that. Yes, they can do great pop and garage rock, but there is some real creative talent here and it shows. Fingers crossed for a second album.
We also liked:Comet Control, a psych rock reboot of
Quest for Fire that include former members Chad Ross and Andrew Moszynski.
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| Jeremy MacCuish / Nancy Pants |
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| Ohara Hale / Nancy Pants |
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| Adam Waito / Nancy Pants |
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| Ohara Hale / Nancy Pants |
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| Jeremy MacCuish / Nancy Pants |
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| Adam Waito / Nancy Pants |
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Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers and catl.: Sorry, Odonis Odonis.
We just couldn't resist the
CBC Music showcase at The Hub and a chance to see Nova Scotia's other shaggy rocker. Caplan is a singer-songwriter first, but his big voice, eclectic mix of styles and generous scoring take it far beyond the ordinary.
Caplan and the Casual delivered a grandiose set complete with a brass section literally plucked from busking on the streets of Toronto.
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| Grant Lawrence, one of the CBC Music showcase hosts. |
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| Jaron Freeman Fox / Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers |
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| Ben Caplan |
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| Brendan Melchin / Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers |
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It took brass to step up and sight read their parts, but these
buskers didn't miss a note. |
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After being aurally accosted by a disaffected
Iceage, we more than welcomed the aural assault of
catl. The duo has more than made up for fewer members by turning up the volume and intensity. Although the bluesy Mississippi Delta-inspired jams have morphed into more scorching rock and roll, the roots are still there.
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| Sara Kirkpatrick / catl. |
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| Jamie Fleming / catl. |
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| catl. |
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Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images
