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By: Sheena LyonnaisLocal art rock heroes DD/MM/YYYY (pronounced day/month/year) are playing three shows at this year’s festival. Known for their experimentation with time signatures, their energetic live shows and their love of the abstract, the band is currently working on re-releasing their debut album on vinyl. In a few words, new member analog synth player Stuart Jones tells us more.
By: TJ LiebgottFor most people, grunge died with Kurt Cobain in the early 90’s. Ottawa band Doll, however, has not given up on the genre. Staying true to their roots, Doll plays real grunge in the vain of bands like L7, not the water downed corporate version heard in Cameron Crowe’s 1992 movie "Singles." Vocalist/guitarist Christina Kasper tells us more.
By: TJ LiebgottA combination of honky-tonk meets indie rock with British pop sensibilities, Great Bloomers have a sound that is familiar of the music going on in Canada, but with their own unique spin. Comprised of an almost entirely different line-up than last year’s NXNE showcase, singer/guitarist Lowell Sostomi tells us what to expect this time around.
By: TJ LiebgottWith their bass grooves, hypnotic guitars, vocal hooks and booty shaking drum beats, These Electric Lives are a band guaranteed to get you out on the dance floor. Having just released part one of their debut LP We See Light this month, TEL should have no shortage of dance rock to play at their El Mocambo NXNE showcase. To tell us more is bassist Gary Peter.
By: Sheena LyonnaisVancouver’s Said the Whale are one of few Canadian indie bands to be featured on Perez Hilton. In 2007, the celebrity blogger described the indie darlings as, “if The Killers and Badly Drawn Boy were to have a love child, it’d be Said the Whale.” The band favours an organically artistic storybook feel, something they’ve proven in NXNEs past. Guitarist/vocalist Tyler Bancroft tells us more.
By: Sheena LyonnaisToronto’s Kate Rogers spent the better part of eight years in the United Kingdom before returning to share her music with our native land. Her vocals are soulful and mature, igniting a sense of mystery and charm. She has performed alongside indie rockers the Coast and now has a solid six-piece lineup of her own. The band is gearing up for the release of their new album Gadabout, due June 22. Kate Rogers tells us more.
By: Sheena LyonnaisPerhaps one of the farthest-travelling bands at this year’s festival, Australia’s Terracotta Pigeons are hitting Toronto for two shows during NXNE. Having just released their debut album Ever-Forever-Never and solidified their line-up, the hard rock band is coming to the city prepared to work. Frontman Steven Smith tells us more.
By: Sheena LyonnaisConsidering I discovered this band via a sticker in a dirty Toronto venue washroom, it comes as no surprise that their answers to our NXNE preview questions are slightly invasive. However, as a sucker for both gin and riots (not to mention the band’s stellar British sticky indie rock), their minor vulgarity is forgivable in lieu of their pending awesomeness during the festival. Frontman Guy Stevenson tells us what we can expect from their return to NXNE.
By: Sheena LyonnaisToronto’s sweetest singer Emma Lee is currently working on her residency at the Cameron House, but not without deterring slightly from the agenda to play a gig during NXNE. Her debut album Never Just A Dream has received mass praise from critics for its soul-infused, dreamy pop, landing her comparisons to greats such as Tracy Chapman, Rickie Lee Jones and Amy Winehouse. Emma Lee tells us more.
By: Dave StuckeySlutty Slutty Bang Bang’s recent self-titled release is a refreshingly original exploration of odd chord progressions, electronic beats and sounds, and extended jam sessions. The casual music listener should turn back here – this is not pop, and anyone going into this album thinking so will probably end up peeing their pants in a frightened panic once they hit the third track.