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?
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
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