Seriously... let it go.
Now then, in typical fashion we've got our bracelets and a crew ready to destroy the known universe this week. However, we also must accept this year that we're old and can't quite do it the same as we used to. This meant only 5 rounds of Jager last night and we didn't stay until extended close (4am!!)
My first NXNE band was Rusty at Dundas square. However, I was in a suit, just coming from a reception, so I didn't feel like moshing just yet. So, I went home, changed, rallied the troops and we hit the town. We started out West at Hard Luck bar since we recognized a few names and have grown to love the place. Also, whenever I'm there, I like to do this:
We walked in to Hard Luck to hear a band called Decibel from New York playing. All week, I will be grouping bands into two catagories: those who are good and those who I am angry that they are playing NXNE and therefore The Noble Rogues are not. Decibel most definitely fell into the latter. I'm trying something new this year and actually taking review notes on my phone to help me write these blog entries. This entry ended up being a back and forth between myself and Blechschmidt:
Shane: Decibel - weird, trippy, rapish, bad, wanna be rappers
Ian: Emphasis on bad
Shane: But the organic instrumentation is good
Ian: Slut
However, the band we had come to see, Mad Ones, saved the day. Mad Ones are like a great 90s rock/grunge band if you shot the bassist. They're a 2 piece from TO and yet they still manage to pump out a huge, complex but still accessible sound. This was the 2nd time I'd ever seen them and once again, they were high energy, tight and all around a great set. See horrible video quality below proving thusly:
Shots ensued and we made our exit to get some of the best (read: cheap and large) pizza I've had in the city. On the way out, we ran into some old comrades in the band The oOohh Baby Gimme Mores. We met them back when we were a two piece and they were a two piece. However, both of us had now expanded to a 4 piece, so it was an adorable conversation about growing and learning to love. We wanted to stick around for their set, and even lied and said we would, but the NXNEasternly wind had started to blow.
Wandered past some decent sounds at Bovine and Velvet, but we settled in at my favorite venue in the city, The Hideout. We just missed the tail of someone's set but were about to have a lot of fun. The New Enemy was a wonderful blend of Pennywise and Refused. I know that makes no sense but I was drunk and you should be used to this kind of behaviour if you've read this blog before. Either way, Blechschmidt, god bless his little, now american soul, took to the floor and started to rip up the pit like nobody's business. I quickly skulled my beer and followed suit. TNE were a lot of fun and had the right mix of energy and my blood-alcohol level that we moshed like we were 21 again (or at least dating a 21 year old.... bazzzzinnngg!). Let's put it this way: the band was good enough to keep 4 grown men moshing for the bulk of a 40m set, in the middle of an empty dance floor.
We began to slink out the door, sweaty and disgusting, and flag a cab. Ian tried to convince me to stick around for one more band, but I acted as the voice of reason. We had a big weekend ahead of us and we were almost 30. Hell, in his case, he was 30, so I'm not even sure why I was talking to him.
PS: Kellye, I think Ian wins for drunk text of the night... I just found this on FB: " Incoherent after one ingt. Happy to say that we brought the party to Hideoout. NNE for the win. MOAR@@@@!!!!!"
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