SDTC NXNE Guide

by Haley Cullingham
Every summer, as soon as it gets too hot to feel your face, NXNE invades the city.  Hundreds of shows play over one steamy weekend, and standing-room-only becomes a state of being for every music venue, dive bar, and dance floor in Toronto. Overwhelmed? Don't be. She Does The City has created a how-to guide to this year's fest, telling you where to be and when to catch the cool, the new, the re-vamped and the wierd. Every night has it's guaranteed hits (Ted Leo &  The Pharmacists, Sloan @ Mod Club on Thursday, Evan Dando @ Horseshoe on Friday, My Morning Jacket @ Kool Haus on Monday), and SDTC has rounded up a few of our lesser-known and unmissable favourites.  But remember, the whole point of NXNE is discovering the next band you're going to fall in love with, so don't hesitate. Grab a wristband (Only $29!) and amble into the first bar you see-with North by Northeast, you never know what you might find there.  

THURSDAY'S TOP FIVE 

1. Great Lake Swimmers @ PEARSON AIRPORT STAGE A, 5 pm

Canadian folk doesn't get any better than the loveliness of Great Lake Swimmers
myspace.com/greatlakeswimmers

Sounds like: Iron & Wine

You'll be standing beside: Jake, that hot camp counsellor you were too nervous to talk to when you were 9, and his gorgeous, make-up-free girlfriend 

2.The Coast @ THE HORSESHOE, 9pm

When (awesome) local indie band The Coast says dance, you dance, dig?

myspace.com/thecoastmusic

Sounds Like: The Ghost is Dancing

You'll be standing beside: OCAD scenesters in shirtdresses with messy hair 

3. Let's Go to War @ WRONGBAR, 11pm

The kind of music that makes you feel drunk no matter how much vodka you've had. PARTY!
myspace.com/letsgotowarmusic

Sounds Like: If Justice and Lil Wayne had a love child

You'll be standing beside: Gorgeous asian boys in white t-shirts and skintight neon jeans 

4. Small Sins @ HORSESHOE, 11pm

If all independent music sounded like Small Sins, the world would be a better place
myspace.com/smallsins

Sounds Like: Modest Mouse

You'll be standing beside: Shy boys shoulder-shuffling in American Apparel hoodies 

5. Black Hat Brigade @ NEUTRAL, 11 pm

Good old-fashioned indie rock and roll
myspace.com/blackhatbrigade

Sounds Like: Yo La Tengo

You'll be standing beside: Two kids you knew in high school wearing plaid and making out.  

FRIDAY's TOP FIVE 

1. Love Kills @ GLADSTONE, 9 pm

Doing good things with guitars
myspace.com/lovekillsmusic

Sounds like: Exclaim! compared them to Jesus and Mary Chain, and we're not arguing

You'll be standing beside:  Anyone who's ever gotten drunk in Trinity-Bellwoods 

2. Julie Doiron @ HORSESHOE, 11pm

Simple, haunting and wonderful folk, plus she's ADORABLE
myspace.com/juliedoiron

Sounds like: Neko Case

You'll be standing beside: Tall girls in vintage dresses drinking red wine  

3.Oholics @ SILVER DOLLAR ROOM, 12 am

In keeping with NXNE's international focus this year, some Swedish electro-rock goodness.
myspace.com/oholics

Sounds like: If The Who and Jack White had a jam session in the IKEA cafeteria

You'll be standing beside: Dude, is that Sharin Foo?  

4. Justin Rutledge @ REVERB, 1 am

Exactly what folk should be. Go slow dance.
myspace.com/justinrutledge

Sounds like: Ryan Adams

You'll be standing beside: Your friend's cool dad, squelching tears 

5. OPOPO @ SUPERMARKET, 1 am

Guaranteed to be the best dance party all night.
myspace.com/opopotunes

Sounds like: Crystal Castles

You'll be standing beside: Sweaty, sweaty dancing hipsters 

SATURDAY's TOP FIVE 

1. The Paper Lions @ EL MOCAMBO DOWNSTAIRS, 8 pm

Indie from P.E.I. that sounds like walking down a sidewalk holding hands with Jason Schwartzman. Stick around for the whole Musebox Showcase (The Two Koreas, We Are Wolves, The High Dials, and more)
myspace.com/paperlionsmusic

Sounds like: Shout Out Louds

You'll be standing beside: Boys in waistcoasts, girls in slouchy leather boots 

2. Dance Yourself to Death@ HOLY JOE'S, 9pm

They were in a movie produced by Elton John!
myspace.com/danceyourselftodeath

Sounds like: Rilo Kiley

You'll be standing beside: Awesome asymmetrical haircuts 

3. Rebekah Higgs @ HORSESHOE, 9pm

Excellent Halifax singer-songrwriter. Crazy-catchy.
myspace.com/rebekahhiggs

Sounds like: Sarah Harmer v. The Shins

You'll be standing beside: English majors in scarves and big silver earrings 

4. Spiral Beach @ HORSESHOE, 10 pm

Pure fun in the way that's illegal in George Bush's America.
myspace.com/spiralbeach

Sounds like: Los Campesinos

You'll be standing beside: Girls in minidresses and their skinny gay best friends 

5. Entire Cities @ CADILLAC LOUNGE, 1am

Fantastic rootsy country
myspace.com/entirecities

Sounds like: Wilco

You'll be standing beside: Your new boyfriend