NXNE: Here for a Good Time

I'm old now. I'm busy with work. I love music, but I've become picky and jaded with time. But fine... I still do a bit of NXNE this year. However, not for the conference's sake, but for the bands... for the music.

Even if it means I'm paying $15 a venue to see the bands that I could see for $5 on any other night since I'm refusing to brand myself with a bracelet.

I digress... while a tame night from my perspective (and by comparison to my previous NXNE outings), the sound emanating from the bands I saw was anything but tame.

After basically drooling all over The Blue Stone's album last fall and coming just short of proposing to them, it became a damnable shame that I would miss every TO show they had for the longest time due to work, travel or some other asinine thing. However, finally, I was able to descend upon the Windsor duo at the Hard Luck bar.  I'll get the negatives out of the way first - the evening's sound guy was apparently a deaf man mid-seizure and I was sad to see the guys only play 1 or 2 songs from the album which I coveted so. HOWEVER, for a 2 piece, these guys still churned out a solid set of groovy, sexy-infused, heavy blues tracks that had an early night, sober Toronto crowd still nodding their heads in elated satisfaction.

Immediately following, Little Foot Long Foot took the stage. While once again pushing through sound tech issues, it was good to hear how LFLF's sound had evolved since the edition of Jeff Heisholt on the keys. I had some initial concerns about the new lineup, however, it's just taking time for the new 3 piece to find their sound together, write together and evolve together.

However, my evening was made when I sprinted up to Lee's to see the inaugeral show of Sir Blurton's new project, Public Animal. An unholy combination of C'Mon, Tricky Woo, Bella Clava and the Lying Cheats - Public Animal may have become my favourite new band within about 3 minutes of having my eardrums pounded by a wall of sound.  I won't say anymore - just go see them tonight at the Bovine at 1am.

-May my ears ring forever

Shanies: EP of the Year

A new award this year, I wanted to create the EP nod so that newer, indie bands who were still in their infancy but already doing incredible things could get a bit of acknowledgement. That, and there were a ridiculous number of EPs that I fell in love with this year, and I simply couldn’t let them go unrecognized.  Sharing is caring, afterall.

A rare thing happened this year – I actually started getting solicitations from labels and artists requesting reviews. Some of the reviews may have been a bit unappreciated, however, when a band like The Blue Stones fell in my inbox, I considered myself lucky. Somewhat skeptical of being pushed an album, I listened to the opening track from their 2012 EP, How's That Sound?, with a lot of reluctance. However, my walls were broken down within 30 seconds of the opening track and I was sold. This Windsor two-piece hits a great balance between writing songs that are graspable and comfortable, while still pushing the envelope just enough to make for interesting, dynamic and original tracks.

 I can’t wait to see this band live, however, in the meantime, I’m happy to keep listening to the recording of my EP of the year. Granted, at 7 tracks, I may be stretching the definition of EP, but blow it out your ass... this is my blog.

Honourable mention must go to sludge masters, The Great Sabatini, for their epic (and free!) release The Royal We.



-Keep my head above the water, but never let me climb too high

Worth Their Stones

Dear Windsor, thanks for one of my favourite new bands: The Blue Stones.

So granted, they're only new to me. This rock duo has been going for only around a year and a half (which in the grand scheme of things, ain't that long) and has still managed to solidify a strong, driving, melodic sound. They've got presence, their tracks are catchy and when they need to rip it open, these boys know how to rock.

I had a chance to preview their upcoming release How's That Sound? and I don't use these words lightly: this album has a chance to break into my tops for 2012. The tracks all flow wonderfully together, however, each has its own unique feel to make for an exceptionally well-rounded album. The opening track, Criminals, is a groovy, slow burn that opens right up in the chorus. This sets the tone for an album that is pleasantly all-over the rock map. However, for my money, the best tracks on the album are the Cage-the-Elephant-esque Rolling With the Punches and my personal favourite, Eats You Up - a driving number that echoes ancient memories of sitting around listening to my favourite 90's alt-rock bands. Their songs combine accessible simplicity with intelligent songwriting, melodic vocals with anthemic guitar riffs, laid back rhythms with driving beats and a two-piece sound that they self-describe almost perfectly as a strange marriage between bands like The Black Keys and Mutemath.

4 important recommendations, so listen up:

• Go here, download their free single, Criminals
• If you're in TO, head to the Bovine on Friday, Oct. 26 to catch them live
• Stop emailing me pictures of you topless; I keep opening them at work
• Patiently lick your lips in anticipation of their Nov. 3 digital release

-Everyone fears the calm, but you've never seen a storm like this