Documentary: The Ballad Of Hugh NFB NXNE Day 4 June 16, 2012

Day 4 of NXNE and I got the opportunity to catch a documentary on 82 year old Hugh Oliver being premiered at the film festival side of the NXNE music festival at the packed NFB movie theatre located at John and Richmond.

Hugh has been playing music for along time. He appears quite frequently at the Tranzac in the Annex in Toronto. This is a documentary on his life and his music. It coincides with the release of a full length CD put together by Hugh and ex-supergarage guy Marco DiFelice who also directs the documentary. Entertaining hour long film which tracks the production/recording of the CD and Hugh's quirky offbeat life. A life filled with hits and misses.

Movie is showing again on Wednesday June 20, 2012 at the Royal on College.

Here is the official trailer:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKxjbQT_eQw

NXNE Day 3 Friday June 15, 2012

After a very unsuccessful day 2 trying to get into shows later in the night I unfortunately will be scrambling to get into shows tonight due to previous commitments I can't escape. But if I didn't have those commitments this is what I would have been heading out for tonight:

9:00 2:54 Lee's Palace
10:00 DIIV Lee's Palace (Captured Tracks....nuff said)
11:00 The Black Belles Horseshoe Tavern
12:00 Yamantaka//Sonic Titan Garrison
1:00 Widow Speak Garrison (Captured Tracks again)

NXNE Day 2 Ecstasy Irvine Welch Royal Cinema

Day two was a slow one. Started the day off watching Italy draw and potentially eliminate any opportunity they had of moving on to the next round. The day didn't get any better as I took in my first movie of the NXNE festival. Ecstasy, based on a book by Irvine Welsh was having its world premiere or something like that. Very hyped and the banner film for NXNE this year.

Unfortunately I was disappointed. Maybe I'm getting older but this movie didn't do much for me. Am I too old to relate? Not sure if it was the production or maybe simply it was an average film. Although I wasn't expecting a trainspotting, I was expecting more. Based on some of the comments from others that had bolted I wasn't alone.

Movie was filmed in Scotland and is billed as a Canadian dark romantic comedy film adaptation of the short story The Undefeated from the #1 best-selling book Ecstasy by Irvine Welsh.

Bolted for the door as soon as the film ended and missed the q and a with the director and Irvine Welsh. Needed to get myself to Luminato for Michael Franti and Spearhead.

Day 1 NXNE Beliefs Eternal Summers Mac DeMarco Porcelain Raft Drake Underground

After watching a heartwrenching loss for the Netherlands against Germany picked up my media credentials for the NXNE 2012 Festival. Headed out to the Painted Lady to meet up with some of the Panic Manual crew. Unfortunately was late and missed the band Avery Island. Headed down to the Drake Underground to catch the Exclaim.ca showcase. Four bands on the bill tonight including Beliefs, Eternal Summers, Mac Demarco, and Porcelain Raft.

Beliefs are a five piece from Toronto that sound like a mid nineties sonic subpop/slumberland band. Noisy guitars with girl/guy vocals. Nice sounding and went through a set which was may 30 minutes long.

Eternal Summers were a three piece from Roanoke, Va. They are signed to the ultra cool Kanine Records and have already released 2 albums. They are currently touring for their third called Correct Behaviour. The band is composed of guitarist/vocalist Nicole Yun, Bassist Jonathan Woods, and drummer Daniel Cundiff. NXNE staff had to rush to find water for Daniel who supposedly will break down if he doesn't hydrate regularily. I can definately see that as he pounds the hell out of his drums. Also, the Drake was like a microwave oven until someone finally turned on some air conditioning or opened a door to cool things down. Nice eighties alternative sounding band. Fast Paced. With an asian lead singer I automatically start to remember Lush.

Up next was up and comer Mac DeMarco who bused in from Montreal Quebec to do supposedly 10 shows during the festival. We got to see show one. Mac DeMarco, a four piece baseball cap wearing crew with a very cocky belching frontman. The band is currently signed to the ultra-hip Captured Tracks label out of the USA. You know you ain't going to be disappointed if Captured Tracks are involved. The band ran through a nice selection of tracks from their album Rock and Roll Night Club. The lead singer even took a moment to crowd surf during a musical interlude. Rock and Roll.

Last was Porcelain Raft who were just finishing a 5 month tour for his new album Strange Weekend. This was actually the last show. I'm not sure frontman Italian Mauro Remiddi knew anything about the festival he was playing and had no clue what the name was. Just probably happy to finish off such a long time on the road. His show featured only himself and a drummer. Okay show but definately prefer the CD to the live show.

Thought about catching Volcano Playground at The El Mo but my better senses kicked in and remained on the streetcar and headed home. Shame the band doesn't play another show this week.

Here is what they said on Twitter:

Beliefs

‏@CharissaTosio: Beliefs at drake underground for Nxne day 1

‏@deptofhighfives: Beliefs singer: "Is it possible to get *less* vocals in here?" #shoegaze #nxne

@IKvsDK: Beliefs end up being a noisy subpop/slumberland sounding band #nxne #drake #nice

Eternal Summers

@imacgill: Eternal Summers has a cute Asian girl. Time to move closer to the stage. #nxnefest

‏@CharissaTosio: Drake underground is filling up for eternal summers. Nxne day 1

@rob_duffy: NXNE begins with Eternal Summers at the Drake! They're good! (IKDK: Actually it began with the Beliefs but you missed it)

@IKvsDK: Eternal Summers #nxne #drake #doublenice

‏@LaurenMorocc: Eternal Summers killing it @thedrakehotel

‏@imacgill: Wow!!! I'm in love with the singer/guitarist of Eternal Summers. What a great performance. #shoegaze #nxnefest

@brifro: Eternal Summers just killed it at Drake. KILLED IT! @nxnefest

@joefordy25: Eternal summers blisteringly hot at the Drake... blowing all expectations out of the water #nxne

@suckingalemon: eternal summers were fantastic. #nxne

Mac DeMarco

‏@oftoronto: So Eternal Summers were good...but, Mac DeMarco killed it at The Drake. #nxne (IKDK: Alot of people were killing things)

@theJDSB: I love it when I find new bands to love! Mac Demarco is killing @thedrakehotel @nxnefest

@joefordy25: Pretty hyped up for Mac demarco... one of the best albums of 2012 so far #nxne

‏@nxnefest: Microphone burps. Thanks, Mac DeMarco. Music to our ears. #nxne #sr

‏@SidewalkHustle: I really hope Mac DeMarco plans to burp the alphabet later tonight. @nxnefest #NXNE

‏@shmeeli: Mac Demarco absolutely slammmmmed @thedrakehotel !! #nxne

@SidewalkHustle: Great energy from Mac DeMarco considering he hasn't slept in 2 days.. He decided to lie down for a bit @nxnefest #nxne

@madabeckles: Mac DeMarco is making me swoon like a little girl. #pantydropper

@thesmilezz: Mac DeMarco. Wow. Proper #NXNE kick off at @thedrakehotel (IKDK: Again, actually it began with the Beliefs but you missed it)

@nxnefest: Mac DeMarco started early. Which means there's a lot more time to finish. This is a good thing. (ps, The Drake is busy) #nxne #sr

‏@syrrosis: First night @nxnefest so far so good. Great venues great sound. Mac demarco - bravo. Impressive.

‏@SidewalkHustle: Mac DeMarco's guitar is hanging on by a string. Literally his guitar strap is a string. @nxnefest

@IKvsDK: Mac DeMarco #nxne #drake rock and roll nightclub #capturedtracks

‏@SidewalkHustle: So Mac DeMarco just decided to "take a float across the top" of an unwilling crowd @nxnefest. Strangely enough it was pretty successful (IKDK: I think this guy could sell anything including his mother)

‏@joefordy25: Mac demarco was the best thing I've seen in ages! A bit of dancing and another beer. Porcelain raft next #nxne

@oftoronto: Today I witnessed the world's most subdued crowd surf, courtesy of Mac DeMarco

@paperapostle: Mac DeMarco has not slept since noon yesterday #nxne @ Drake Underground

Porcelain Raft

@IKvsDK: Out of power Porcelain Raft up next #nxne #drake nice start to the week

‏@nxnefest: It's Porcelain Raft time at The Drake. Hope you brought a paddle. #nxne #sr

@irockstylettos: Loving Porcelain Raft #NXNE @nxnefest

@Miketron5000: Porcelain Raft is killing it right now at the Drake Underground!! (IKDK: Alot of killing going on here at the Drake Underground)

@noahlove66: Porcelain Raft: if you wish Stars had a beard. #nxne

@nxnefest: We forgive Porcelain Raft for not knowing the name of our festival. Maybe. #nxne #sr (IKDK: that was kinda sad actually...blame the long tour?)

‏@Kateswitch: Porcelain Raft. So, so good! #nxne @ Drake Underground

NXNE Day 1 Wednesday June 13, 2012

North by North East (NXNE): Canada's Premiere seven day music - film - interactive festival which takes place every year in Toronto. This year 780 bands 7 days and 40 films. Members of IKDK will be sporadically taking in the full week of events this year and are picking up our media passes today.

Wednesday June 13th is the first night of concerts and this is what we are recommending you see:

9:00 Beliefs (Toronto, ON) - Drake Hotel Underground
10:00 Eternal Summers (Roanoke, VA) - Drake Hotel Underground
11:00 Mac Demarco (Montreal, QC) - Drake Hotel Underground
12:00 Porcelain Raft (New York, NY) - Drake Hotel Underground
1:00 Volcano Playground  (Toronto, ON) - El Mocambo - Main Floor

Enjoy the first night out