oli's nxne

In addition to the goodness that took place on Thursday night at the Rivoli (Smothered in Hugs, Mardeen, Two Hours Traffic, The Danks) - whom most of us who read this blog saw. If not, holla back, and we shall smother you with their east coast seafood like deliciousness + guiness (which was really mill st. organic - dubbed, nxne's official beer)

...so here is what i was up to for the rest of the fest

The Saint Catherines



straight up punk rawk. it's raw, it was at the bovine, it had everything going for it, but for some reason i didn't connect... (until ater, see yesterday's ring)

Brant Bjork



this was the surprise hit of nxne imo, i didn't even know he was in town. i didn't know his name, but i knew where he was from, and what he did, and what he is responsible for, and for that, i make many lovings of this man. his show at the el mo is the definition of jaw dropping, as far as stoner rock goes.

yesterday's ring



they are the reason i got the wristband, had it not been for these dudes, i would have been content with being smothered in east coast goodness. but hey, for about a year now, i've been trying to see yesterday's ring, and yes-siree bob, they were 2 hours ago's ring, because 2 hours before, they were the saint catherines, same venue, same band, minus 1 plus 2. totally connected with that formation, not to mention, soaked from the torrential downpour at 1am.

Deep Dark Woods



cadillac lounge + leopard print + pompadours + saskatoon + alt country rock = new favorite band. i don't even know if the reverb on the snare was intentional, or just echo from the monitor, whatever it was, it was the midas touch. hang me oh hang me!

Christopher Rees



too bad we missed half of his set, we had to rush to the legendary horseshoe, only to find out that the lineup cornered up to the CIBC on spagina. his borderline psychotic, macabre lyrics, mixed with the sweet sweet tones of the jagged/soft strums on his semi hollow were beginning to entrance, in a good way.

The High Dials



...sandwiched between the two koreas and we are wolves, the high dials took a few songs to win me over, but in the end, ultimo tightness, great drumming, driving melodies prevailed!


and there you have it, some nxne happenings. locomotive 8 should play this next year.
cough.