So my original intentions of checking out the Fuzzy Logic showcase at Wrongbar got thrown out once I heard that my prediction that The Stills would play the 2nd Arts and Crafts show was right.
I’m not the biggest fan of The Stills, but I do appreciate them, and even more, I appreciate when bands play venues much smaller than they normally do. I think the Stills get a bit of a bum rap. They’re disliked by hipsters for being too commercial, but they’re nowhere near commercial enough to be pulling in big bucks. Plus, they released three very good, if not very different records, which can make it hard to carry fans from album to album.
I got there in time to see Most Serene Republic and take a couple of hasty photos. From my position next to the speaker, I was focused more on keeping from going deaf than the actual show.
Thankfully room opened at the front between acts and I got a decent vantage point.
Here is a slideshow from last night’s show and The Stills’ setlist.
Snakecharming
Lola Stars and Stripes
Eastern Europe
Snow in California
Love & Death
Panic
Gender Bombs
In The Beginning
I’m With You
Everything I Build
Still In Love Song
Being Here
Don’t Talk Down
Of Montreal
Hands on Fire
She’s Walking Out
So the time has come for another edition of the North By Northeast Music Festival. A week full of music, movies, mayhem, and as an esteemed member of the media, all the free food and beer I want, as long as I seek out the parties where it is most readily available.
Or you might want to hit up the Courthouse for the second Arts & Crafts night with Timber Timbre, Zeus, Most Serene Republic and “Special Guest Headliners” – The buzz around town is that Broken Social Scene will headline the Wednesday night show, can you expect them again on Thursday, or do Arts & Crafts have another trick up their sleeves? The Constantines? The Stills? Stars? Phoenix? All of these bands are in and around the Toronto area during the festival…
Friday is usually a ‘recovery’ night and rarely has anything worthwhile, but this year is an exception. With Matt and Kim, No Age and the reunited Change of Heart all competing for your affection, I predict that Toronto’s cabbies will have a great night. Plus, rest is overrated.
Highlights from last year’s festival (in pictures…)
Sofi meets members of White Cowbell Oklahoma at the NXNE opening gala, she asks if they can take their hats off so she can try them on, they respond with “only if you take your dress off”. No hats changed hands.
I shot over 23 bands in three nights, which was both awesome and exhausting. Here’s a shot of Spiral Beach playing the Horseshoe.
I got caught in a downpour walking from the Horseshoe to the El Mo and my gear got soaked. My flash died (shortly after it electrocuted me) so I had to make due with my camera’s pop-up flash for Black Lungs.
Thankfully I didn’t need my flash at the Six Shooter BBQ, always an amazing party. Here’s a photo of Luke Doucet and a Future Six Shooter.
