Thursday, June 19, 2014
On the second day of NXNE, Collective Arts Brewing, Hot for Company, Last Frame Pictures and MUSI Artist Development joined forces to put together an official showcase at Analogue Gallery. The day featured live music, DJs between sets, burgers on the BBQ, and great beer courtesy of Collective Arts Brewing. It was a hot, sunny day, which made for a great time to enjoy live music at the back of an art gallery.
Toronto’s Queen of the Fleet kicked off the Fuck Work Play Hooky showcase, asking the crowd if anyone skipped work to be at the show. While some folks did put their hands up, the band outdid most of the crowd when frontwoman Raffa Weyman said they were all supposed to be at work and asked the crowd not to tell their bosses that they were playing hooky.
Franny Rutchinski (banjo), Gemma Warren (drums) and Julianna Riolino (guitar) joined Weyman on stage and provided gorgeous harmonies, which is the real strength of the band. Queen of the Fleet provided a great start to the showcase with their mellow vibes and silly banter.
Brooklyn-based Bugs in the Dark, comprised of Karen Rockower (vocals, guitar), Zach Glass (vocals, guitar) and Richie Crescenti (drums), brought a little more rock and little more noise. Rockower really showed her chops, which countered Glass’ more raspy vocals. To get a taste of Bugs in the Dark, check out their Bandcamp.
Bringing a bunch of fans, friends and family, The Capitol Beat likely stole the show. Frontman Liam McArdle’s vocal range is stunning and he’s got a great personality on stage, getting the crowd into the set. He was backed by tons of brass and percussion, mixing R&B, funk and soul vibes. The band has called Toronto home, but recently played their last Toronto show for a while. However, the good news is that the band has been recording a full-length album and has released teaser tracks “I Don’t Have the Time” and “Bad Side” on their Bandcamp to tide you all over.
Bond Girls is based out of Toronto but is comprised of members of bands that were/are based in Ottawa. While they don’t quite qualify as a supergroup, their talent and experience is evident on stage. Sam Seguin (vocals, guitar), Jordan Allen (bass, vocals) and Michael Laing (drums, vocals) make up this rockin’ 3-piece. Honestly, check this band out because they’re damn good. While they haven’t announced any upcoming shows, they’ve got a track on Soundcloud that you could probably just play on repeat until you can see them live.
Alright Alright has a poppy Brit-rock vibe, which is largely thanks to Omar Saab’s vocals. It’s been a while since I’d last seen Toronto-based 4-piece Alright Alright, but their sets are always a toe-tapping good time and this was no exception. Unfortunately, much of the crowd seemed to clear out for a bit during their set, but we highly recommend you check them out if you haven’t already seen them play.
With a great crowd to check them out, Toronto’s Hands & Teeth headlined the showcase. I hadn’t seen Hands & Teeth live since the departure of a founding member, so I was curious to see the dynamic on stage. Frontwoman Natasha Pasternak now has the chance to really shine on stage, as she commands the stage with her stunning voice and lively personality. The band has always been great live and they rock a little bit harder these days.
An energetic and hilarious set by SuXess, fronted by Brett Millus, closed out the night. Seriously, I think I had a giant grin on my face the whole time. With songs like “She’s Only Known Me 3 Days” and “Sleeping in the Street”, you should probably just check out their Soundcloud to find out for yourself what I’m talking about. –CL
buying shots for bands 
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