Tuesday, June 23, 2009

NXNE Diary Day 3

Nicole Takes us through our NXNE Day 3 Journey. Check it out.
Coeur de Pirate + Wintersleep + MMVA (Shiloh's Sound check) + Dinosaur Bones

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Day 5

Day 5: Dundas Square- GZA + The Cool Kids.

The Shows were okay. I was in the Beer Garden for most of GZA so I couldn't really feel the crowd out, but pretty much everyone there was going nuts. As for the cool kids, I was smack dab in the middle of the crowd and was surrounded my kids (seriously.. like highschoolers.. i felt really old) and some really annoying ones started chanting "Wu-Tang". I couldn't figure out if they were heckling, or if they genuinely thought they were watching Wu-Tang, but I was annoyed nonetheless. Then one of the speakers cut out mid way through their set, but I don't think they realized it cause they kept on rapping and wondering why half the crowd wasn't feeling them. The speaker came back on about 20sec before their last song ended. So I was disappointed, but besides that it was a beautiful day and the crowds showed up in huge numbers.

On my way to Dundas Square I was trying to find a Tim Hortons (there used to be one across the street from city hall, but it's disappeared) anyway, I ended up stumbling upon the MMVA's. There were SOOOOO many screaming girls freaking out over the Jonas Brothers it was nuts. So i got the fuck out of there and headed back to the square.

All in all it's been a great weak, but I'm glad it's over... it's been music overload (if that's possible) over the last 5 days. I'm exhausted.

Check out some really amazing pictures from some of the events we caught, and some we didn't via CityTV. (there are some great pics of Crystal Antlers, we'll be posting our interview with them once we find the correct firewire cord ;)

Peace

btw: Mikey Rocks is hot.


GZA @ Dundas Square: Some kids pumping their hands in the air

The Cool Kids @ Dundas Square "Mikey Rocks" (check our Youtube for their other performances. We'll be uploading those videos soon)

Day 4



So we pretty much all started Day 4 off with no sleep.
Sorry we haven't gotten Day 3 and 4's Diary video up... but we haven't had any time to edit the videos.

Anyway, Day 4 started off on the wrong foot. I didn't get to see Mika Miko or Matt and Kim on the night/morning of Day 3/4 because I had to get home to prepare for Day 4's interviews. We only had time to really prep for the Crystal Antlers interview because of all the other shit we had going on, and in the end we ended up canceling the Holler! Wild Rose Interview (it was okay though, we talked to them later on that day and they were cool with it... btw you guys, they're super nice and they're music is super awesome and chill and you should check them out! or check out the previous interview we've done with them). We did the Toronto Recording Academy Interview with Lynn, which went well. You won't see that Interview anytime soon though, we've got to edit the video, but first we have to find the right firewire cord.

After that we jetted 'cross town to the Marriot to meet Crystal Antlers. (At which time I had a panic attack, because I usually never do interviews -- I prefer to edit the videos etc-- and I felt so under-prepared for the interview). Then we met their manager who was really nice and the rest of the guys who were hungover/Cali chill and everything went as smooth as a babies ass (except for some camera issues). But, all in all the interview went great. Then we chilled/smoked/chatted for a while with Damian and some other dudes in a Brooklyn band (they didn't live in Williamsburg though, lol.. they can't afford that area) then headed over to Dundas Square to watch Crystal Antlers perform. They, as expected rocked hard, but the miserable whether kept the crowds away and the audio quality was rubbish (by no fault of their own) so they encouraged people to check them out at Sneaky Dee's... where I'm sure they turned it up and went fucking crazy (I'll be looking for that vid on youtube).

We were meant to go to the Sneaky Dee's Show, and had all intentions of staying downtown all day, but Angela and I were just too exhausted, and val broke loose after the interveiws so, we were all running on empty and decided to pack it in, skip the Sonics and Crystal Antlers show and head home. I fell asleep at 7pm and didn't wake up till today.

So there you have it!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Day 4 - The Plan

So day 4 of NXNE (Saturday) is going to be a big day. We'll be taking in the Secret Sessions shows as well as interviewing a couple of bands(Holler! Wild Rose and Crystal Antlers) and talking to the people down at the Toronto Recording Academy about why they put the Secret Sessions together and what goes on exactly at the studio.

See y'all later!

Coeur de Pirate @ Dakota Tavern (NXNE Day 3)

We caught Coeur de Pirate's gig at Dakota Tavern yesterday evening. There was a ridiculous line up outside trying to get into the little bar (which was over capacity), so unfortunately not everyone made it in for her show. Nicole and I were allowed to go in but we missed the first 2 or 3 songs of her set, so we only got to see her perform the two below (which were amazing btw).

I thought I'd post this up for the people that were unable to get in. The tavern was dimly lit so it's a bit difficult to see anything besides the small Christmas lights they had up, but the audio quality is great.

Enjoy,
Maria

I Kissed A Girl - Coeur de Pirate


C'etait Salement Romantique - Coeur de Pirate

NXNE Day 3 in Pictures

NXNE Day 3 = Wintersleep @ Dundas Square + Dinosaur Bones @ Horseshoe Tavern


Friday, June 19, 2009

Day 3- The Plan

Okay,
It's Day 3 of NXNE. (would you believe that my Day 1 video is still trying to export... it says that it now has 40 mins left -- it takes long because it's compressing, so that it can be uploaded to youtube).

It's about 3 in the afternoon, and I've gotta get downtown to meet Nicole for 8pm to catch Couer de Pirate. She's a french singer from Quebec who became a myspace/youtube sensation when a random person used her song, "Ensembles" as the background track to a baby video that went viral. She is now a popular singer in Belgium and France, and is conquering the English world one step at a time. She was on Q radio with Jian Gomeshi yesterday and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan I believe, and today we're going to check out her gig. It should be fun, she's like a french Kate Nash.



After that, we'll be checking out Wintersleep, Dinasour Bones, Mika Miko and Matt and Kim!
Should be an awesome night.
Maria

Day 2 = :(

Ugh... Yesterday was such a shitty day.

So... I didn't get home from the Drake 'till about 12pm in the afternoon. Then I had under 4 hours to upload all the pics, write and post some blogs, upload all of the videos, create a flickr slide show and get ready for a meet and greet social at the place I'm working at this summer. (I'm working as a Theatre "Camp Specialist" at a summer camp a stones throw away from my house --40 mins on the bus lol, 10 mins by car--... It's actually the same camp I used to go to when I was a kid).

Anyway, needless to say, I was late for the social. Then I had to head back home and attempt to change clothing and make it down town for the Black Lips gig. That didn't happen, and I'm So disappointed. (I hope they're playing at Lolla). So, I missed the Black Lips and spent the entire night editing Day 1's video diary. I didn't bother recording a Video entry for Thursday 'cause we didn't do anything...sorry guys.

Right now, I'm exporting the finished video (which is rad btw), but it's taking so long. It'll definitely be up by the afternoon I hope.

I thought I'd right this entry, since I probably won't be blogging tomorrow... It's a HUGE day... Nicole and I are going to be club crawling and catching 5 or 6 bands. I'm so excited, it's going to be stellar.

Well, I hope you're all well. Did you enjoy the pictures on the slideshow? It was such an amazing gig. We didn't take many pictures at the Drake, or any video from there unfortunately, but it was an incredible time. I've said it before and I'll say it again.. You guys' have to check out Woodhands. They are amazing live. They were so much fun last(?) night. Definitely want to see them again soon.

Night/morning.
*ah.. have to be downtown in 12 hours. yawn.

Maria

p.s. FYI this weekend is Taste of Little Italy, and next weekend is the Pride Parade, which is gonna be HUGE. I'll be doing a CPR/first aid course next weekend downtown, so hopefully after training I'll be able to attend one of the street parties.

(I can't believe I'm only now going to bed as 6 am)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Patrick Wolf's Powder Fresh

As we mentioned, last night Nylon Summer Music Tour played a gig in Toronto at the Mod Club. After about 4 hours Patrick Wolf took the stage... in a big way. He started off the set fully clothed, but by the end... he had "pulled a Bruno" and "rocked out with his cock out" - well ... so to speak.

We had already left the gig to head to the Drake when this had happened, but pics are now all over the internet so we figured we'd join in... the more the merrier right?, or as Patrick put it "give Perez Hilton something to wank at". (via Nylon Blog and Perez Hilton)
Yummy,
SLICE

NXNE DAY 1 in Pictures



To see Patrick Wolf in his underwear head to Nylon's Blog.
Feel free to grab some of these images from here. Link back to us though (please and thanks ;)

Oh what a night!

Hey guys, I got home about 3 hours ago and have been frantically trying to upload the 150+ pictures and videos that we took during last nights events. We had a hell of a time and will be sharing the video and photos with you soon. Toronto was on fire last night, the energy in the city was palpable.

The Nylon Summer Music Tour gig was AMAZING!!! Jaguar Love moshed with the crowd (those photos are great), the Plasticines rocked out HARD in stilettos, the Living Things let us party with them on stage and Patrick Wolf stripped down to his pretty undies to give us a load of his "package"... (unfortunately we had already decked out of Mod and were headed to the Drake by the time that happened... but you can see those pictures on NYLON's Blog).
The Plasticines
Overall the crowd was dynamite, and everyone had a great time. We even got to chat to Nylon magazine's Faran (possibly the nicest and most cheerful person in the world), who was rockin' out to the Plasticines and generously allowed tiny Phoebe to stand in front of her so she could get a better view of the stage.

After the Nylon gig, we walked to the Drake on Queen St West (totally underestimated the amount of time it would take). By the time we got there the D'Ubervilles had already performed, but we did get to catch Lioness and Woodhands... WHO ARE AMAZING btw. YOU MUST CHECK THEM OUT ASAP. I was totally blown away by them.

Anyway, I thought I'd post some pics for you. I'm trying to get a flickr slideshow embedded in here before I dash out again and head back downtown for the Black Lips gig. We'll see how I do...
The Living Things and Phoebe (and some dude from Quebec)
We'll be posting the video diary tonight :)
P.S. Toronto rocks... All three of us (Nicole, Phoebe and myself) ran into people we knew... I ran into my friend Bryanna at the Nylon gig. We had been standing next to each other all night and didn't realize it because we were so caught up in the show. It wasn't until Bryanna got up on stage with Phoebe and the Living Things did I even notice she was there.
Tired but Excited,
Maria

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Day 1 - The Plan

Cody from Jaguar Love and Marine from Plastiscines via NYLON
Hey guy's... So here's the plan

It's Day 1 of NXNE. I am EXHAUSTED and the shows haven't even begun yet. I was up all night working on the layout for this NXNE Diary Blog (I hope ppl read it... lol), then I was trying to work out where Phoebe and I would be crashing for the night/morning since we are both living in the 'burbs. Nicole has generously opened up her place to us, and thankfully she lives in East York so we don't have to stress about expensive cab fares home (Toronto cabs are ridiculously expensive... you won't get it unless you live here) -- we were contemplating sleeping in Union Station like transient hipster bums, but luckily there will be no need for that anymore. (Although if you see us, feel free to throw change at us... it comes in handy when tipping the barmaids).

So, Phoebe and I will be meeting downtown at Queens Park to get our drink on (who the fuck wants to spend $10 for a beer from Mod?) then we'll catch the College Streetcar and head over to the Mod Club for the Nylon gig. It doesn't start till 7, so we're gonna chill in the park for an hour and get "stupified". We've landed a photopass for the gig so we'll be taking pictures of all the cooler than cool party goers, and will be posting them up here... so those of you that were hoping to check it out, fear not, we'll have videos and pics for you!!

We're going to duck out of the NYLON Party a bit early (so we won't be able to watch Patrick Wolf's full set unfortunately) to meet up with Nicole at around midnight... then we're gonna head over to the Drake Hotel on Queen St W (?) and party the morning away at City Sonic's Official NXNE Kickoff Afterparty. (Loads of amazing people playing there--most of whom we won't get to see-- but we will arrive in time for the DJ sets to start pumpin')

So now you know where we're gonna be... and you know what we look like, so don't hesitate to come up to us and say "HEY... I read your blog!"... and if you'd like to buy us a drink... we won't turn down the offer (unless we're sober, which we won't be) and we can all party the night away together.

We'll be posting pics from the NYLON gig and the Drake Party up on the blog, as well as a video entry of the entire night (so long as our batteries last) so keep checking this blog for updates.

Hope to see you tonight!

- Maria xoxo

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

We Wouldn't Mind Stalkers

Okay you guys... tomorrow's the big day... The first day of the NXNE festival!
We're gearing up for the festival by not sleeping and stressing over our schedule.
We've decided to create a separate blog diary for the next 5 days. We'll be updating the regular blog once in a while as well, but the majority of updates and picture posting we'll be doing during the week, you'll find right here.

Are aim is to create a video diary chronicling the events of each day at the festival. So watch this space for updates and check out our schedule to find out where we'll be.

SLICE