Spinner http://www.spinner.com Spinner http://www.spinner.com/media/feedlogo.gif Spinner http://www.spinner.com en-us Copyright 2012 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/NXNE 2012: Ghostface Killah, Matthew Good, Bad Religion Free Shows Announcedhttp://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/nxne-2012-ghostface-killah-matthew-good-bad-religion/http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/nxne-2012-ghostface-killah-matthew-good-bad-religion/http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/nxne-2012-ghostface-killah-matthew-good-bad-religion/#commentsFiled under: ,

 Spinner: Fergus McDonald, Getty Hot on the heels of the big announcement that AOL Spinner will be presenting a free Flaming Lips show in Toronto at NXNE on Saturday, June 16, festival officials have also announced additional free concerts featuring Ghostface Killah, Bad Religion and Matthew Good. Much like the Lips show, these other marquee events will also be happening at Yonge-Dundas Square in the heart of Toronto. The Bad Religion gig, which will also feature No Use for a Name, will go Thursday, June 14, Matthew Good will anchor the Friday, June 15 all-Canadian evening and Ghostface, along with fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, will help close the festival on Sunday, June 17. ...


The North-by-Northeast festival takes place June 11-17 at venues all across Toronto. Over 650 artists will be performing throughout the week to over 300,000 attendees.

A small sample of the other names already announced to be performing at the festival include Of Montreal, Good Riddance, Oberhofer, Rival Schools, Bran Van 3000, the Black Belles, Doldrums, Bass Drum of Death, and Eight and a Half.


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]]>Bad ReligionBadReligionfree concertghostface killahGhostfaceKillahmatthew goodnorth by northeastnorthbynortheastNXNENXNE 2012yonge-dundas squareAaron Brophy2012-04-17T17:00:00+00:00Flaming Lips, NXNE: Indie Icons Headline Free AOL Spinner Concert in Torontohttp://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/flaming-lips-nxne-free-concert/http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/flaming-lips-nxne-free-concert/http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/flaming-lips-nxne-free-concert/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Shirlaine Forrest, WireImage Do you realize how long we've been keeping this amazing news to ourselves?!? The Flaming Lips are headlining Spinner Canada's free all-day NXNE concert on Saturday, June 16 at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square! Yes, the Flaming Lips. I know, right? Toronto's annual NXNE festival seems to grow bigger and more ambitious every year, much like SXSW, its sister fest down in Austin, but the 2012 edition is looking to take the cake, run it out the door, jump into a getaway car and drive across the county line. And, appropriately enough, the candles on North-by-Northeast's cake are the freaking Flaming Lips. Last year's Spinner.ca NXNE free party featured the likes of Cults, Men Without Hats and the legendary Devo, but we've raised the stakes even further with this year's line-up. ...


While the rest of the line-up will be announced soon, we just couldn't wait to reveal our three-time Grammy-winning headliners. Not only are the Oklahoma natives renowned recording artists, but as anyone who has seen them perform with furries, puppets, aliens, Santas, confetti, balloons and singer Wayne Coyne's giant hamster ball, their live show is unparalleled.

It will be a great way to celebrate NXNE's 18th birthday party, which runs June 11-17, 2012 and will bring over 650 artists to Toronto for a five-day musical bacchanal before 300,000 attendees.

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]]>flaming lipsFlamingLipsfree concertnorth by northeastnorthbynortheastnxnethe flaming lipsthe flaming lips - music artistwayne coyneWayneCoyneyd squareyoung-dundas squareJoshua Ostroff2012-04-17T08:45:00+00:00Cults Plan Hip-Hop Mixtape, Talk Jim Jones Influence -- Exclusive Videohttp://www.spinner.com/2011/07/05/cults-exclusive-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/05/cults-exclusive-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/05/cults-exclusive-video/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Martin Sanmiguel They may offer a nod to fearsome Jonestown icon Jim Jones on their record and have a slightly creepy name, but there's nothing off-putting or diabolical about New York duo Cults. Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion -- partners both musically and romantically -- have quickly won the favour of just about anyone who has a penchant for dreamy, retro-flavoured indie-pop (including Lily Allen, whose label is behind the group's self-titled debut). Spinner recently sat down with Cults during AOL's NXNE party at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto to talk about their foray into hip-hop, creepy cult leaders, and why they're just a couple of "control freaks." Oh, and we also got the lowdown on Follin's guest gig with iconic Canadian punks F---ed Up. ...


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]]>cultsNXNEnxneartistJenny Charlesworth2011-07-05T13:00:00+00:00Dirty Beaches Talks DIY and Being a Lo-Fi Troubadour -- Exclusive Videohttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/29/dirty-beaches-exclusive-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/29/dirty-beaches-exclusive-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/29/dirty-beaches-exclusive-video/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Matthew C.X. Langford, AOL Alex Zhang Hungtai, the one-man band dubbed Dirty Beaches, is out to prove that glossy production values and expensive musical equipment don't necessarily give you an advantage. With his moody, blues-based, distortion-heavy rock, the self-taught Vancouver-based musician has been steadily earning fans who are drawn to his down-and-dirty aesthetic. He's also managed to get the critics on board, too, (especially in Canada where his debut, 'Badlands,' recently nabbed a Polaris Prize Long List nod). Spinner recently sat down with the lo-fi troubadour to get to the bottom of his Dirty Beaches persona, hear about his early days (when catching a beer in the face during his set wasn't out of the ordinary) and the ego-boosting encounter he had with a gentleman in the South. Watch our exclusive video interview below. ...


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]]>Dirty BeachesdirtybeachesNXNEnxneartistJenny Charlesworth2011-06-29T12:00:00+00:00Men Without Hats Still Making the World Safe for Dancing -- Exclusive Videohttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/27/men-without-hats-exclusive-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/27/men-without-hats-exclusive-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/27/men-without-hats-exclusive-video/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Matthew C.X. Langford Even if you were a mere babe toddling around with a soother during Men Without Hats 1980s heyday, you're certainly familiar with 'Safety Dance.' Led by Montreal merrymaker Ivan Doroschuk, Men Without Hats brought us one of the most iconic New Wave tracks of that era and it continues to percolate in pop culture, turning on new fans as 'The Simpsons' or 'Hot Tub Time Machine' enlists the synth-laden tune for their time warp scenes. Well, the past is now the present as the New Wave icons have reunited after a twenty-year hiatus. Spinner caught up with Doroschuk earlier this month during the AOL-sponsored NXNE showcase at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto to talk to the rocker about his biggest hits, what brought him back onto the tour circuit (with the B-52s and Human League, no less) and why 'Pop Goes the World' isn't dated in the least. Watch our exclusive video below. ...


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]]>men without hatsMenWithoutHatsNXNEnxneartistSpinner Staff2011-06-27T14:00:00+00:00Devo, Cults and Men Without Hats Take Over Toronto for NXNE -- Exclusive Videohttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/22/devo-cults-men-without-hats-nxne-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/22/devo-cults-men-without-hats-nxne-video/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/22/devo-cults-men-without-hats-nxne-video/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Matthew C.X. Langford Canada's biggest music fest is always a good time, but this year at NXNE we decided to kick things up a notch. Rather than taking over some club, AOL took over Yonge-Dundas Square, the heart of NXNE festivities and Toronto itself. Over 23,000 people showed up. From New Wave pioneers Devo and Men Without Hats to white-hot buzz bands like Cults and Dirty Beaches, we captured every riff and fan freakout from Saturday, June 19, on camera. Between the late nights and free cocktails -- not to mention sunstroke -- your memory of NXNE might be a tad hazy, so why not get the recap on our mega-party with theexclusive video below? For those of you who missed out on seeing Devo's Energy Dome hats or head-bobbing to 'Safety Dance' first-hand, here's your chance to get in on the magic. ...


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]]>cultsddmmyyyydevomen without hatsMenWithoutHatsNXNEnxneartistSpinner Staff2011-06-22T14:45:00+00:00The Two Koreas: What Happens When a Band of Music Critics Play NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/20/two-koreas-music-critics-play-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/20/two-koreas-music-critics-play-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/20/two-koreas-music-critics-play-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Chromewaves Stuart Berman is the singer of Toronto post-punk garage-rock band the Two Koreas, who performed twice at this year's NXNE festival. He's also the online editor of Toronto city magazine The Grid, overseeing and contributing to their daily NXNE coverage. Spinner asked him to write about what it's like to experience NXNE from both sides of the stage. Since the the Two Koreas' 2003 formation, many have interpreted our name as a pun on the phrase "two careers, " owing to the fact that I, and others in the group, also work in the Toronto entertainment media. We've also made no secret of our admiration for the band Pavement, whose 1994 would-be hit single, "Cut Your Hair," famously riffed on the "Korea/career" homonymity. This fortuitous wordplay is actually just a coincidence -- we just really liked the name and started the band so no one else could claim it. ...


But at the North by Northeast festival the joke turns literal: this year I attended my 16th NXNE as a reviewer and, for the fifth time, as a showcasing artist as well. These dual responsibilities yield certain, peculiar circumstances -- and not just the fact I had to register twice at the festival's Hyatt Regency headquarters, but only received one complimentary swag bag. But over the years, I've come to embrace a few strategic tactics to achieve a harmonious work/rock balance at NXNE:

1. My most important decision regarding NXNE is not which bands to see, but selecting attire that is both office- and rock-show-appropriate -- the combination of loading in our gear at Queen Street club the Velvet Underground at 7PM and checking out the 8PM F---ed Up show at Yonge-Dundas Square negates the possibility of going home after work for a pre-gig wardrobe change. But I always make sure I have some deodorant and a clean t-shirt in my bag -- a certain amount of stink and sweat is acceptable in the moments after you finish performing, but if you're planning to continue your night and check out other bands to review, you don't want to stink up the crowd like that gross sweaty guy who's always trying to worm his way in and out of the mosh pit.

2. The Notes program on your iPhone is especially useful for both plotting out your band's setlist for the evening and jotting down review notes. They also eliminate the always awkward scenario of scribbling down your thoughts on paper in a dark venue during a performance, a gesture that instantly outs you as the rock-critic a-----e in the room; now, you can just blend in with all the other jerks ignoring the band onstage to check their Twitter.

3. If you want to have any hope of forming a coherent sentence in the morning, you must forsake taking advantage of the extended 4AM last call that NXNE affords local drinking establishments. After our Velvet Underground show, I ended my Thursday at Lee's Palace to review the midnight acoustic Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield set, which provided a nice comedown after a night spent jumping around and shouting onstage; it also put me in a sleepy mood that ensured I was well-rested the next morning to write my review and edit those of other Grid contributors. That's right: while most NXNE performers are sleeping off their hangovers or gearing up for an afternoon barbecue-party set, I'm up at my computer thinking of colourful metaphors with which to describe Wild Nothing.

In his NXNE preview, Toronto music blogger and Spinner photographer Frank Yang, aka Chromewaves, described the Two Koreas as such: "local rock scribes form rock band, make surprisingly good guitar-rock record, get other local rock scribes to recommend seeing them and regret no longer being in bands." And he's right: our shows at the Velvet Underground and Reposado did attract an inordinate amount of music-journo friends who, granted, weren't actually going to write about us, but knew we could provide them with a safe haven where they could just turn off their brains for 40 minutes. (Our loud, droning, motorik rock music is good for that.)

Two KoreasStuart Berman

But the really nice thing about playing NXNE, as opposed to any other local gig, is that we encounter actual "real people" from all over who don't know our back-story, don't know about our day jobs and therefore don't have any inherent biases about critics forming rock bands. After our Velvet Underground set, I was approached by a woman from London, Ontario who had heard our music on CBC Radio 3 and wanted to know what I'm singing about in our song 'Disco-Slave Songs.'

She was followed by a guy who had just relocated to Toronto from Texas and claimed our gig was up there with the Wire show at Lee's Palace in April as only good concerts he'd seen since he moved here. (As the old saying goes, if you can just touch the heart of one fan of abstract, dissonant UK post-punk, then it's all worth it.) And at our Reposado show, the bartender was so delighted by our cover of Brian Eno's 'King's Lead Hat,' he handed me a free beer.

At NXNE, you can't throw a free bag of PopUp chips without hitting a working critic; but when you're in band filled with them, it's arguably the opinion of non-professionals that mean the most.

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]]>nxnenxneartistTwo KoreasTwoKoreasStuart Berman2011-06-20T16:00:00+00:00Twin Shadow Praises Canadians for 'Moving Past Bryan Adams' at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/twin-shadow-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/twin-shadow-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/twin-shadow-review-nxne-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: FilmMagic, FilmMagic Twin Shadow leader George Lewis Jr. (pictured) and his band have been making victory laps across North America, still crafting and evolving the sounds from their brooding, Smiths-inspired, electronic album, 'Forget.' While Twin Shadow's previous Toronto show, this past January, attempted to replicate the moody sounds found on the album, fans at the packed NXNE showcase at Lee's Palace on June 19 heard versions of a couple of songs that had been run through the indie rock wringer, focusing more on Lewis' emotionally conflicted guitar riffs and fingering skills than synthesizers and romantic self-reflection. ...


It was nice to see Lewis engaging the local crowd at numerous points, praising Toronto for their style. "You guys are more New York than New York," he said, eliciting roaring approval from fans. That said, there were some jokes that maybe should have been tested out ahead of time; with bands like Arcade Fire winning worldwide acclaim (including a Grammy win for 'Album of the Year'), Canadians probably did not need to be praised for moving past Bryan Adams.

But, Lewis still came off as a pretty cool guy. It's not just any artist that donates a "26er" of Silent Sam Vodka to his audience, and it's unlikely that every city on his tour would be given a free bottle of booze. The bottle made its way around the front rows repeatedly, even winding up on stage a few times, only to be passed back to his loving fans. Maybe that's how he hooks him and, if so, it's a good trick. But, this time, the music also spoke for itself.

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]]>nxnenxneartistTwin ShadowTwinShadowJesse Ship2011-06-19T16:00:00+00:00OFF!'s Steve McDonald Joins Ty Segall on a Boat at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/ty-segall-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/ty-segall-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/ty-segall-review-nxne-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Marsha Casselman for AOL Spinner "That was the best thing to ever happen to me in my life," solo artist Ty Segall (pictured) told the crowd after Redd Kross bassist Steve McDonald joined him onstage to cover the Redd Kross classic 'Annette's Got the Hits,' during Segall's NXNE showcase on June 19 in Toronto. (McDonald was also in town for NXNE, where he performed with his "other" band, OFF!, the night before.) The sweaty, grungy set took place in the bowels of a small cruise liner which drifted around Lake Ontario and saw Segall rip through older hits like 'Finger' alongside more downtempo songs off his upcoming release, 'Goodbye Bread,' even throwing in a stoner-rock cover of Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid.' ...


The McDonald appearance was a nice touch for Segall, who was still reeling from the previous night's NXNE set, where he broke his bottom tooth when moshing got out of hand and a mic smashed into his face. "I was pretty down about that for a bit," Segall told Spinner before the set. "I'm fine except it hurts to eat anything ... and I'm worried about the $500 [dentist] bill."

This cruise was put on by M for Montreal and Brooklyn Vegan -- the latter of which could not make it past the Canadian border for the event -- and is one of a few that have already occurred in the same vein. This was Segall's fourth boat set, overall -- another being the Vice Bruise Cruise, which stuck greaser garage-rock fans and the Black Lips on a family cruise liner headed to the Bahamas.

This Canadian Bruise Cruise included the sax-infused pop of Young Governor (F---ed Up guitarist Ben Cook's side project) and retro rockers Uncle Bad Touch (Priestess' Mikey Hepner's side project). While the bands rocked the boat, it seemed a bit counter-intuitive to be relegated to the stale, humid basement on one of the most gorgeous days of the year -- which is why many patrons chose to bask in the sun on the upstairs decks instead.

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]]>nxnenxneartistOffRedd KrossReddKrossSteve McDonaldSteveMcDonaldTy SegallTySegallMarsha Casselman2011-06-19T14:01:00+00:00Devo 'Whips' Up New Wave Frenzy at Massive NXNE Street Partyhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/devo-whips-up-new-wave-frenzy-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/devo-whips-up-new-wave-frenzy-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/devo-whips-up-new-wave-frenzy-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Matthew C.X. Langford The distance between Akron, Ohio -- the hometown of angular, electro-rock pioneers Devo -- to Cleveland is about 40 miles. It's a trip the group has probably made hundreds of times. And it's only a question of when, not if, the band will make a permanent trip for induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. And if the massive crowd gathered at the AOL-sponsored Yonge-Dundas Square NXNE concert Saturday night (June 18) had any say, Devo would be writing their acceptance speech right now. Before a large throng of Devo-tees, the group's 80-minute set relied heavily on earlier material yet opened with 'Don't Shoot (I'm A Man)' as singer Mark Mothersbaugh, his brother Bob, and the Casale brothers (Gerald and Bob) conjured up their quirky, robotic movement mojo. ...


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Over a Devo show, one could quickly lose count of the number of bands they've influenced (one of them was even on the bill Saturday night, with Men Without Hats). Portions of some songs briefly bring to mind Nine Inch Nails -- which is fitting considering drummer Josh Freese performs in both bands -- and Rammstein to the oddball delivery of Primus bassist Les Claypool. Yet, all of those bands would be hard-pressed to enhance an already bouncy nugget like 'Peek-A-Boo.'

Sporting their signature Energy Dome hats, Devo went into another gear for 'Whip It' as Mark Mothersbaugh cracked an imaginary lash towards the fans before tossing Energy Domes to some lucky onlookers. Although his voice cracked at times as the show progressed -- leaving him cursing and then laughing during 'Gates of Steel' as he simply couldn't finish -- the enraptured crowd barely seemed to notice.

Highlights of the set were easily the garage-punk flavoured 'Uncontrollable Urge,' as Devo perfected some synchronized shuffling on the spot, and 'Mongoloid.' The give-and-take response ("Are we not men? We are Devo!") driving 'Jocko Homo' had Mothersbaugh reaching into the crowd with his microphone for the obligatory answer. Later, he threw goodies snatched from the green room into the sea of fans, including a paper towel used to mop his sweat, which was grabbed at with the same fervor fans used to go after those Energy Domes.

Despite the pipes not being up to snuff, Devo's seminal output makes them more than Hall of Fame worthy. Overall, Devo delivered the goods as headliners, leaving them and Rush as potential trivia answers as to who still hasn't made the trip to Cleveland yet.

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]]>devonxnenxneartistJason MacNeil2011-06-19T14:00:00+00:00Men Without Hats Deliver 'The Message' With 'Safety Dance' and More at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/men-without-hats-safety-dance-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/men-without-hats-safety-dance-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/men-without-hats-safety-dance-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: ,Matthew C.X. Langford Montreal's Arcade Fire are superstars now, but eventually they'll reach a fork in their musical road like a generation of Montreal artists did before them. They could surrender like '80s pop rock heartthrob Corey Hart swore he'd never do to assist a younger protege. Or, after some downtime, they may take a chance and return like Ivan Doroschuk has with Canadian new wave heroes Men Without Hats. Judging by Doroschuk's impressive, passionate performance Saturday night (June 18) in Toronto at the AOL-sponsored Yonge-Dundas Square NXNE concert, one hopes Win and Regine have a similar fire in their bellies in 2031. ...


"I got a good thing; I got you dancing," Doroschuk exclaimed during 'I Got the Message.' And, without question, for all of the 50-minute set, he did just that. Even the lone new song 'This War' -- reportedly from the forthcoming 'Folk of the '80s Volume 4' album -- was loudly received by a tightly packed throng.

And while his voice isn't quite what it once was, his enthusiasm was palpable, from spinning around like a marionette to popping imaginary bubbles during 'Pop Goes the World.'

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Dressed as if he would be belting out Lynyrd Skynyrd or Poison tunes -- and defying his band name by donning a leather hat -- Doroschuk and crew had everybody bobbing to 'Moonbeam,' the mid-tempo 'I Like' and the Devo-ish 'Antarctica.'

Heck, when you can cause dancing-induced shin splints while singing about Chairman Mao and ping-pong -- as they most certainly did during 'Living in China' -- you're doing something right. Even the opening number, an industrial-tinged cover of the Rolling Stones' 'Jumpin' Jack Flash,' went swimmingly despite synthesizers substituting Keith Richards' signature riffs.

The love fest concluded naturally with mega-hit 'Safety Dance' as Doroschuk was nearly upstaged by the crowd who danced as happily as they did back in 1982. Well, those here who were alive in 1982. On the whole, a tip of the hat to, well, you know....

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]]>men without hatsMenWithoutHatsnxnenxneartistJason MacNeil2011-06-19T12:55:00+00:00Handsome Furs Sweat It Out in Toronto -- NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/handsome-furs-sweat-it-out-in-toronto-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/handsome-furs-sweat-it-out-in-toronto-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/handsome-furs-sweat-it-out-in-toronto-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Liam Maloney, Sub Pop Handsome Furs' Dan Boeckner was a self-proclaimed "angel from sweaty heaven" at the band's much-hyped NXNE showcase at the Garrison in Toronto on June 18. The packed and humid room got even sweatier as Boeckner (who put his "other" band, Wolf Parade, on "indefinite hiatus" just last month) and his wife and bandmate Alexei Perry did their best to charge up a dance party with most of the tracks off their upcoming third album, 'Sound Kapital,' which Sub Pop drops on June 28. It was the last major night of NXNE, one final late-night kick at the can for many who'd endured the city's hot, sweaty and packed venues during the five-day festival, so it's a good thing the Furs' latest electro-pop offering is a summer dance party waiting to happen. As the husband-wife duo launched into the new album's first track, 'When I Get Back,' the crowd at the front got the infamous Toronto head-bob underway, while the folks at the back seemed more concerned about chatting -- a fact that the denied fans waiting outside the at-capacity club would have been none too pleased to know about. ...


Despite the initial round of feeble dance moves, the cheers and applause gave reason to believe the crowd was into it and the pair took it upon themselves to inspire movement with their own spastic ballet on stage as they rolled through 'Cheap Music,' 'Memories of the Future' and 'Bury Me Standing.' A herky-jerky Perry held as little direct contact with her synthesizer as possible throughout the set, her right leg often creeping up into the space behind her in a beat-keeping arabesque, as one hand stayed on dial-twiddling duty only as long as it needed to, before she'd collapse on the floor at the end of each song.

As the beats flowed, the head-bob caught on and slowly spread its way towards the back of the room. Once the heavy-hitting anthem 'Serve the People' hit the crowd, Handsome Furs' hard work paid off and the head-bobs graduated in to full-on floor-leaving bounces from the more enthusiastic.

It wasn't the kind of dance party that can blow a roof off but still, the crowd's cheers drew an encore from the panting couple -- a rare thing at a city-wide festival that knows how to stick to a schedule. In the end, not everyone made the transcendence into sweaty heaven last night, but there was enough sweat in the room to give everyone a taste of what may lie beyond the terrestrial head-bob.

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]]>Alexei PerryAlexeiPerryDan BoecknerDanBoecknerHandsome FursHandsomeFursnxnenxneartistHeather Cleland2011-06-19T12:22:00+00:00Cults Make F---ed Up's Damian Abraham Swoon at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/cults-make-fucked-up-damian-abraham-swoon-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/cults-make-fucked-up-damian-abraham-swoon-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/cults-make-fucked-up-damian-abraham-swoon-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Matthew C.X. Langford In what would be one of the odder visuals at this year's NXNE, F---ed Up's Damian Abraham -- known to open cans of beer on his noggin and as hardcore as they come -- stood offstage watching Madeline Follin, the demure and diminutive singer of buzz act Cults. Yes, Cults are definitely having that mesmerizing effect on everyone (so much so that F---ed Up actually recruited Follin for their latest effort, 'David Comes to Life'). And a nine-song set brimming with the yearning and heartache of '60s girl-groups only drove that point home at the AOL-sponsored Yonge-Dundas Square concert Saturday, June 18, in Toronto. ...


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Although a five-piece onstage, Cults relies on Follin's unsuspecting vocal power to make the most out of the Phil Spector-esque 'Abducted' and 'Rave On.' When she's not steering the tunes, her boyfriend, singer-guitarist Brian Oblivion, jumps in to share vocal duties, as he did on the bubbly, punchy 'Bumper.'

If the band still hadn't thawed the coldest of hearts, Cults dreamy, airy, retro-soaked set proved they are not parodies of that olden pop style. The xylophone combined with frantic guitar courtesy of Oblivion and Gabriel Rodriguez that concluded 'Never Heal Myself' isn't something the Shirelles or the Shangri-Las could concoct.

Thanking the crowd often as well as remarking on the giant flashing billboards flanking the stage (Yonge-Dundas Square has been dubbed Canada's Times Square), Follin introduced 'You Know What I Mean' as a "slow song." Given how perfect the tune came across, one would've hoped the audience would move to the sides to allow a few couples to slow dance in the middle.

One of Cults' members had remarked on how awkward the walkout to begin their set was, yet as 'Oh My God' was wrapping up, there was only awkwardness for those in the audience who had not heard of Cults beforehand.

Watch Cults Perform 'Bumper' at Yonge-Dundas Square

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]]>cultsdamian abrahamDamianAbrahamfucked upFuckedUpnxnenxneartistJason MacNeil2011-06-19T12:20:00+00:00Dirty Beaches 'Graduates From Playing Basements' to NXNE Mainstagehttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/dirty-beaches-graduates-from-playing-basements-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/dirty-beaches-graduates-from-playing-basements-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/19/dirty-beaches-graduates-from-playing-basements-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Matthew C.X. Langford Halfway through Alex Zhang Hungtai's -- known to most as the one-man band Dirty Beaches -- set, it appeared he'd created his very own genre of rock: amplifier and brimstone. With his electric guitar, a microphone whose effects gave his vocals a seedy, sinister tone and pedals to build one guitar loop over another, Dirty Beaches occasionally resembled a deranged preacher over his eight-song, 35-minute NXNE set Saturday, June 18. The performance at the AOL-sponsored Yonge-Dundas Square concert, which included some rough cuts (introduced by the Vancouver-based rocker as "new stuff I'm working on"), was at times eerie but always compelling. Whether on 'True Blue,' which he dedicated to the ladies, or the rockabilly-laced 'Sweet 17,' the music rarely give the audience a warm, fuzzy feeling. ...


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Dirty Beaches recalls both the Jesus and Mary Chain's fabulous feedback experiments and crooner Chris Isaak. His tunes also clearly tap into Bruce Springsteen's haunting 1982 album, 'Nebraska' -- as made evident by the title of his Polaris Prize-nominated album, 'Badlands.'

If there was one miscue, it was a cover of Mattress' 'El Dorado' which had him sans guitar and crooning like a jilted lover from a David Lynch film. Acknowledging that he'd "graduated from playing basements" to NXNE's main stage at Yonge-Dundas Square (the same stage that New Wave icons Devo would grace hours later), Dirty Beaches ended the set with a grin on his face and a few fist pumps. A fine set, even if the songs provoke images of dark, dimly lit alleys -- a strange brew for a gloriously sunny day.

Watch Dirty Beaches Perform at the Silver Dollar During NXNE 2011

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]]>dirty beachesdirtybeachesnxnenxneartistJason MacNeil2011-06-19T11:25:00+00:00OFF! Throw Verbal Punches at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/off-throw-verbal-punches-at-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/off-throw-verbal-punches-at-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/off-throw-verbal-punches-at-nxne-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Charley Gallay, Getty Images As hardcore supergroup OFF! pummeled through their repertoire of raw, aggressive minute-long songs at Toronto's Horseshoe during NXNE on Friday, June 17, frontman Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) recapped his disdain for the U.S. Government's "Bin Laden's gone! Who's next?" tactics, North American rampant consumerism, and one of the local area's "douche-bag" neighborhoods. While political rants and rallying statements are a staple of the Black Flag and Dead Kennedys-era stage banter from which Morris spawned (and, in fact, helped create), it came off as unwanted rambling for some. "Play a song!" insisted one patron. "What's your rush? It's a Friday night," responded Morris. "Mom and Dad coming to pick you up in the SUV?" ...


Morris continued to playfully rip on the crowd as one tipsy kid overstayed his welcome onstage to oversee guitarist Dimitri Coats' (Burning Brides) finger-work up close. But his weak attempt at stage diving -- he essentially just stepped off stage -- would not escape the wrath of Morris. "You came all the way up here... A six-year-old could do [a better stage dive] than that."

Yet, for all the hate Morris spews (see their song, 'F--- People'), he showed his sweet side with a touching tribute to the Gun Club's late Jeffrey Lee Pierce.

OFF!'s sonic punch seems to move multi-generations of punk fans. Balding hardcore ex-pats whose beer bellies indicate they should not be stage-diving anymore did not let this stop them, while the band's militant playing looked to impress even curious indie kids who showed up primarily to watch Deerhoof perform after them. While Morris said he was impressed to play a venue that formerly housed all three generations of Hank Williams, the Horseshoe became all the more legendary to punk history on this particular night as well, thanks solely to OFF!

Read Our Exclusive Interview With OFF!

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]]>BlackFlagCircleJerksKeith MorrisKeithMorrisnxnenxneartistOFFMarsha Casselman2011-06-18T20:05:00+00:00Buck 65, Rich Aucoin, Burning Love Play Unofficial BBQ, House Party at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/buck-65-bbq-159-manning-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/buck-65-bbq-159-manning-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/buck-65-bbq-159-manning-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Warner Music For the last few years, Toronto music scenester Tim McCready has thrown one of the highest-profile, non-official NXNE BBQs at his house on 159 Manning. This year was both his biggest and his most controversial as he increased the amount of space, raised the number of stages to three, integrated art displays and poetry readings, cooked two whole pigs on a spit and raised the cover to $30 CA. McCready took some flak for the supposed non-inclusiveness of the price, but you'd never know it from Rich Aucoin's basement set. The ceilings were too low for jumping, but otherwise the setting was the ultimate location for the Halifax party-starter's brand of crowd-participatory electro-pop. Aucoin's DIY combination of viral video projections, call-and-response, confetti and childhood-style parachute games have always seemed ideal for unusual settings. ...


Outside, in the backyard stage, it was easy to spot those who'd witnessed Aucoin's show by their inordinate amount of sweat. Local singer-songwriter Julie Fader was much more low-key, but it fit the comfortable daytime environment. Normally a collaborator with everyone from Blue Rodeo to Great Lake Swimmers, Fader has been laying low for the last couple of months since the birth of her child, but seemed happy to be back on stage.

Later, special headliner Buck 65 (pictured) -- easily the biggest name that's ever played the event -- made the most of his appearance with a set that stretched over an hour. Blending material from his latest album, '20 Odd Years,' with songs from all of his actual 20 odd years, the quirky rapper (and erstwhile CBC Radio 2 host) proved an inspired choice for the BBQ.

The vibe seemed much more light than usual, but Burning Love took the tone down a few shades in their night-ending showcase. In one of the strangest contrasts of the day, the local hardcore band followed a giant gospel choir called Choir!Choir!Choir! with a set of gritty, hard-edged punk 'n' roll.

Fellow Torontonians F---ed Up have proven that you can blend group hug vibes with hardcore, but Burning Love lead singer Chris Colohan's wandering, somersaulting performance kept up a layer of confrontation. Singing in people's faces and grabbing iPhones from anyone caught tweeting, the frontman showed there's still room for edge in punk music, even if it crosses over into the indie realm. The eight police cars stationed outside the house sure seemed to suggest so, anyways.

Watch a Video From Last Year's BBQ at 159 Manning

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]]>Buck 65Buck65Burning LoveBurningLoveChoirChoirChoirJulie FaderjuliefadernxnenxneartistRich AucoinrichaucoinRichard Trapunski2011-06-18T17:36:00+00:00Stars Fight Hangovers to Play Secret, 'Scavenger Hunt' Show at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/stars-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/stars-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/stars-review-nxne-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Norman Wong Stars may have played one of the biggest shows of their career at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square for NXNE on Friday (June 17), but they proved just a day later that they still have a soft-spot for their most dedicated fans, as they took the stage at the much cozier confines of the city's Edward Day Gallery on Queen Street West during the day on Saturday. The concert was the culmination of a "digital scavenger hunt" put on by AUX.TV (where it was also live-streamed). Fans lucky and savvy enough to follow the clues were treated to an intimate show by the Montreal indie pop darlings, who, by their own admission, fought hangovers in order to play. Bandmates and partners Amy Millan and Evan Cranley even brought along their baby. ...


"We don't get to play shows like this very much anymore," singer Torquil Campbell told Spinner. "The people who are here today are people who really love the band and went out of their way to get here... literally. To be able to play for them is an incredibly positive feeling."

It certainly showed in their passionate delivery, though, in Campbell's words, the songs are about "loss, despair, hunger for meaning and death." Not the most uplifting material for a fan-service concert, but the crowd nonetheless danced, sang along and took plenty of iPhone footage.

The show was partly a celebration of the recent release of 'The Bedroom Demos,' featuring raw demo versions of songs from their 2007 album, 'In Our Bedroom After the War,' so, fittingly, the set included a number of old gems. Tracks like 'Take Me to the Riot' and 'Your Ex-Lover Is Dead' displayed the same soulful, soft-rock romanticism that first caught the indie nation's attention.

An opening set from Chad VanGaalen also showed off his intimate side. Choosing to play alone rather than with his regular band, the off-kilter Calgarian musician's stripped-down take on tracks like 'Sara' and 'Heavy Stones' showcased his songwriting chops and falsetto more than his instrumental weirdness, though his lack of filter led to some decidedly strange stage banter.

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]]>Amy MillanAmyMillanChad VanGaalenChadVangaalennxnenxneartistStarsRichard Trapunski2011-06-18T16:55:00+00:00Northern Exposure (NXNE): Samantha Savage Smith, 'The Fight' -- Free MP3http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/samantha-savage-smith-the-fight-free-mp3-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/samantha-savage-smith-the-fight-free-mp3-nxne/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/samantha-savage-smith-the-fight-free-mp3-nxne/#commentsFiled under: ,

 Spinner: Lindsey Baker Northern Exposure is Spinner's MP3 column highlighting the best in new Canadian music. This week we feature some of the finest acts at Toronto's North by Northeast festival (June 13-19). Either Samantha Savage Smith's parents bestowed the ideal handle upon the Calgary singer-songwriter at birth, or she's come up with a rather apt stage name, because the pint-sized 24-year-old is about to shake up the music scene once her preternaturally accomplished debut album, 'Tough Cookie,' is released this fall. After building buzz in the fertile Calgary indie scene over the past two years for her guitar dexterity and sharp songwriting, Smith caught the attention of local producer Lorrie Matheson (Rae Spoon, Ghostkeeper), who took her under his wing to record her debut, which the Calgary Herald praised as "one of the finest, most honest and absorbing releases you'll hear this or any other year." ...


And it's easy to see why -- drawing on a smart mix of influences ranging from classic chanteuses like Billie Holiday and Anita O'Day to present-day songsmiths like St. Vincent and the Black Keys, Smith's own sound nimbly covers a wide stylistic ground, touching on blues and jazz while rooted in a modern indie-rock template.

First single 'The Fight' offers a taste of her stripped-down approach, opening with a few bars of a stark, bare-boned electric guitar strum that only hints at Smith's prowess with a big, chunky guitar riff. Those virtuoso stylings follow in short order as the melodies amp up, taking the tune from a typically sweet girl-with-guitar ballad to something more akin to Land of Talk's gritty-but-pretty urban alt-rock numbers.

In fact, while Smith's distinctively coy vocals on 'The Fight' initially bring to mind other demure songstresses like Jenn Grant, by the time she lets her voice soar on the chorus, a more appropriate reference point might just be Land of Talk's Liz Powell.

And while it's all too easy to saddle new artists with a heap of comparisons, it's clear Smith has a songwriting voice all her own: "Teach me how to pine again/When can you be mine again?/I will spend the night," she sings to close 'The Fight.' Talk about an emotional wallop.

Download: Samantha Savage Smith, 'The Fight' (MP3)

NXNE sets: Samantha Savage Smith plays the TMKO showcase at the Rivoli on June 17 at 1AM, the Order of Good Cheer mixer at the Drake Sky Yard on June 18 at 3PM, and wraps up with a final performance at the Drake Hotel on June 18 at 9PM.

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]]>nxnenxneartistSamantha Savage SmithSamanthaSavageSmithTabassum Siddiqui2011-06-18T15:45:00+00:00Sheezer Bust Out Weezer's 'Pinkerton,' 'Blue Album' Hits at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/sheezer-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/sheezer-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/sheezer-review-nxne-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Tom Cochrane, MySpace If you'd put famed Toronto venue Sneaky Dee's on wheels Friday night (June 17), you'd have had the makings of one hell of a road trip, thanks to the playlist provided by Sheezer -- the Rivers Cuomo-approved, all-girl Weezer cover band. There appeared to be nary a crowd member unwilling to belt out the lyrics in their best alone-in-the-car voice, meeting the cardinal rule of road trip tunage selection: sing it loud, sing it proud... and sing the guitar solos, too. It's not all that bizarre, then, that the idea of Sheezer was born on the road. The five ladies that make up the band were spot-on when they figured a tribute to Weezer might be a fun aside to their existing indie rock gigs (members include Laura Barrett of the Hidden Cameras, Dana Snell of Gentleman Reg and the Bicycles, Magali Meagher of the Phonemes and Robin Hatch of Sports: the Band). The only strict rule was that they stick to tracks from 'The Blue Album' and 'Pinkerton' only. ...


With five songs apiece from each album, Sheezer didn't disappoint the packed room that burst into song with the first "Oooh-eee-oooh" of 'Buddy Holly' and carried on through 'Holiday,' 'Tired of Sex,' 'In the Garage,' 'My Name is Jonas,' 'Why Bother?,' 'Say It Ain't So,' 'Across the Sea,' 'El Scorcho' (complete with introductory gargle) and 'The Good Life.'

The excitable NXNE crowd often drowned out the microphoned singers, but no one on stage seemed to mind as their faces cracked into smiles at the sight of a bouncing masses before them, singing with the full force of their collective lung-power and thrusting fists, pointed index fingers and even a rogue case of jazz hands at one point towards the ceiling.

In the end, the only trip Sneaky Dee's had taken was back to the '90s for a quick visit, with a full load of passengers that couldn't have been happier to be along for the ride.

Watch Sheezer Perform 'Say It Ain't So' in 2010

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]]>nxnenxneartistRiver CuomoRiversCuomoSheezerweezerHeather Cleland2011-06-18T15:30:00+00:00Art Brut Share a Special Moment at NXNEhttp://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/art-brut-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/art-brut-review-nxne-2011/http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/18/art-brut-review-nxne-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,,

 Spinner: Courtesy of Art Brut Early into his band's Friday night NXNE showcase, Eddie Argos, lead singer for English post-punks Art Brut, leveled his middle finger and told the raucous crowd at Toronto's Mod Club to f--- off. Moments later, the cocky frontman told the audience that, according to 'The Lead Singer's Handbook,' the only way to make up for such rude behavior was to play a huge hit. After scanning the set list, he apologized to the crowd: "Sorry, we don't have any hits." ...


Instead, the band played tracks from their recently released, Frank Black-produced, fourth studio album 'Brilliant! Tragic!' and four-on-the-floor fan favorites 'Formed a Band,' 'Emily Kane,' and 'Modern Art.'

During the latter, guitarist Ian Catskilkin, bassist Freddy Feedback, guitarist Jasper "Jeff" Future and drummer Mickey Breyer -- who, up to this point, provided the relentless backbeat to Argos' mostly spoken narratives -- broke it down.

With the band holding a quiet groove, Argos came off the stage, joined the crowd, and improvised a fantastical tale inspired by a real-life visit to Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum. His voice a whisper, Argos took the audience on a long ride down, in a secret elevator. As the tale unfolded, he urged fans to squat around him on the floor.

In Toronto, where music fans often stand, arms crossed, in the face of infectious dance grooves, the buy-in was impressive. Live performance is about creating and maintaining a connection with an audience, and Art Brut's Friday night set yielded one of the coolest moments of the ongoing NXNE festival. With a few hundred festival-goers crouched quietly on the floor all around him, Argos broke down a wall, creating a moment that could neither be replicated or rehearsed.

As he wrapped his monologue, the band hit a crescendo and the squatting fans sprung up to form a pogo-infested sea. Then, Argos was consumed by a wave and, for a moment, performer and audience were one.

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]]>Art BrutartbrutnxnenxneartistLonny Knapp2011-06-18T15:01:00+00:00