Ottawa Bands at NXNE 2012

NXNE is one of the best festivals to hear loads of new music, from Canada and around the world. Ottawa continually offers up solid additions to the festival, some seasoned veterans and others new to the event. Here is a list I made of all the Ottawa bands and their shows at NXNE this year, I hope some peeps get out to support our local talent in the big city. Good luck to them!

Amos The Transparent 

June 13, 2012 at 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ El Mocambo (464 Spadina)

June 17, 2012 at 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Rancho Relaxo (300 College)

Laurent Bourque

June 13, 2012 at 9:00 PM 

@ Czehoski (678 Queen St. W.)

Brokenbridge

June 14, 2012 at 2:00 AM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ Crawford (718 College St.)

Eastborough

June 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Piston (937 Bloor Street West)

Estan 

June 14, 2012 at 10:00 PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Monarch Tavern (12 Clinton St.)

Hellbros

June 13, 2012 at 2:00 AM (Event starts at 8 PM)

@ The Rochester  (423 College St.)

Tara Holloway 

June 15 @ 10PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Sister (1554 Queen W)

Jack Pine and the Fire

June 15 @ 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen W)

Jeremy Fisher 

June 15 @ 9PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington)

Rebecca Kohler 

June 16 @ 9:30PM (Event starts at 8:30PM)

@ Lot 100 (100A Ossington)

Loon Choir

June 13 @ 9PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Boat (158 Augusta)

The Pelts

June 15 @ 1AM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Sister (1554 Queen W)

Shannon Rose & The Thorns

June 13 @ 11PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Central (603 Markham Street)

Silkken Laumann

June 13 @ 11PM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ The Garrison (1197 Dundas St W)

Silver Creek 

June 13 @ 10PM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen W)

Silvergun & Spleen 

June 15 @ 11PM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ Bovine Sex Club (542 Queen W)

The Wind Up Radio Sessions

June 13 @ 1AM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ The Central (603 Markham St.)

Wise, Young & King 

June 13 @ 1AM (Event starts at 8PM)

@ Hideout (484 Queen W)

Zoo Legacy

June 16 @ 10PM (Event starts at 9PM)

@ Crawford (718 College Street)

Purity Ring + AGOR @ Cafe Dekcuf (05-23-12)

Tonight really solidified my desire to continue pursuing a naive transformation into full-time music experiencer. Damn the man, because the man has shitty headphones and no time to pursue life's passion - of which mine is (live) music. Ok that may be a little bit harsh.

I've been to a lot of concerts and live gigs. LOTS. I don't mean that in a "No Big Deal" kind of way... In comparison, Purity Ring and AGOR was a completely unique show that transcended anything I had seen before. Cafe Dekcuf provided a perfect (tiny) venue through which to experience their music.

Purity Ring is on the indie label 4AD, along with acclaimed artists such as The National, Grimes, Bon Iver, Deerhunter - to name a few. I had heard of them last year while rummaging through The Hype Machine, and since their songs such as Lofticries and Belispeak have been amongst the most blogged music peaking in the top 10. Out of all the songs I had heard on there, Purity Ring was different. Their melancholic undertones hit me in a way that most other music out there doesn't. The only word to describe it is haunting - an adjective that doesn't normally bear positive connotation - haunting in a way that if you put your headphones on and crank the volume up, you can't take them off.

Being a huge fan of bands like The National and Bon Iver got me interested and wanting more, but they only had 3 or 4 songs released at the time. This was frustrating. Luckily last month they unveiled plans to release the new track Odebear and a new album dubbed 'Shrines' on July 24. Leading up to a few European dates and NXNE festival in Toronto, they played tonight in Ottawa at Cafe Dekcuf. Not able to miss this opportunity, I came ready to hear a few new songs and maybe even meet them.

AGOR was the opener, I had never heard of him before. With the name AGOR, I was half expecting a hardcore death metal band to come up. Synth-electropop as he is described - his timid demeanour was quickly drowned out by his experimental bass drops and complex transitions. I kind of thought of him as Kid A's nephew. His set got everyone up and dancing, which set the tone for Purity Ring. After he finished I spoke with him - an extremely nice, gentle dude - he told me a bit about Arbutus Records and a few bands he has been listening to.

Purity Ring came on and instantly put the sold-out show into a trance. Hearing them play their bone-chilling songs live - with cool light show in operation - was surreal. There was something eerily reminiscent of the song Teardrop by Massive Attack to me, everyone just watching as Corin played the bass with lanterns and Megan flawlessly navigated strange and complicated vocal parts. The new songs were very impressive, but only gave a taste of what's to come on the new album. Still frustrating. Can't wait. I spoke to Corin briefly after about the album release and thanked them for making a stop in Ottawa.

This was one to remember, and something tells me that next time Purity Ring plays in Ottawa, the venue might have to have a slightly larger capacity.

'4in1' Ottawa Park Acoustic Sessions

Fevers @ Dundonald Park

What: Photogmusic Presents: '4in1' Ottawa Park Acoustic Sessions
Where: Dundonald Park, Centretown
Who:

- Avid Napper
- Scary Bear Soundtrack
- Jenna Tenn-Yuk
- Del Bel + Lisa Bozikovic Jessica Ruano
- Fevers
- Eriksen



Ok, so this whole thing is new to me. I've decided to snub the man and take on this project because I love music and want to write about it. As I walked to Dundonald Park in Centretown I realize that I am actually doing this. It's happening. I didn't really know what to expect, but it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon on the May long weekend.

Needless to say, my mind was a little bit blown. All the performers had a unique story to tell and did a terrific job at doing so. Here's how it went down.

Avid Napper, Gloria of Scary Bear Soundtrack's side project, came up and played a couple Springsteen covers. This was a great start as I became slightly more familiar/comfortable with my surroundings, and because who honestly doesn't like the Boss?

Scary Bear Soundtrack then came up and played a few politically/socially charged tunes that piqued my interest. I had seen the new 'Asian Fetishist' video a few days before and I was thoroughly impressed with their adaptation in a live acoustic setting. Gloria has a simple but engaging voice, and the harmonies were sick.

Jenna Tenn-Yuk came up and began with her 'Jamasian' poem. Let me just pause here and say that the only exposure I'd had to spoken work was a few Leonard Cohen pieces, so I'm no expert. I am a sucker for stories though, whether in song, movie, or as it turns out, poetry. She blended some poems with songs, covering Austra and playing originals. I was impressed how seamlessly the poetry and song blended together, something I can say I had never experienced before.

Jessica Ruano gave me a second, more forceful dose of spoken word. She was the designated 'time killer' since Del Bel and Lisa Bozikovic had to run for sound check. Wow. Jessica touched on themes I think we all experience at different points in our lives - particularly powerlessness, but also strength to recover from our our times of weakness. She kicked ass.

My most anticipated act came up, Fevers. This electronic/pop group formed last year has really been making a name for themselves. They impressed me by playing perfect acoustic versions of non-acoustic songs, Passion is Dead & Radiohead's Idioteque. Previously, I was convinced that Idioteque was a non-coverable song as it is extremely experimental and unapologetically complex. I was dead wrong. Colin beautifully adapted Thom Yorke's mutant vocal powers into a version that was very accessible to anyone listening. Something that stood out to me during their set was that I never felt as though one vocalist was more dominant than the other. Colin and Sarah are a highly effective duo, similar to the dynamic of the band 'Of Monsters & Men'. I spoke to them briefly after the show and they were very down-to-earth and obviously enjoying every minute of their musical endeavours.

Eriksen rounded things off playing a set of originals. His songs provided a nice end to what was a perfect Sunday afternoon.

I look forward to seeing Fevers play @ Babylon this Friday the 25th, and hope to see the other performers around Ottawa in the future.

Check out photos of the event on Photogmusic's blog:

Photos of 4in1 Acoustic Sessions in a Park #2 [May 20, 2012]

Starting things off - What I'm about

Hello. My name is Matias. 

So I've decided to take on this new project to create a website and blog about the Ottawa music scene. What do I really mean by this? Well to be completely honest it gives me a great excuse to: 

a) go to a lot of shows, 

b) meet lots of new people involved with live music and arts in Ottawa, 

c) use my supposed writing skills in a way that doesn't include Political Science jargon, and 

d) help showcase some of Ottawa's local talent as well as acts who have decided to not forget about this nice little city between Toronto and Montreal. 

I'm also starting this because I have lived in Ottawa for a while now (previously grew up in London, ON) and honestly believe that there is a thriving music scene here - and, while not necessarily recognized as such across Canada - I believe it should be documented and spread. What I do know is that in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, there are countless websites, blogs, groups, boards, and small armies that help create a rich and undying environment for music-loving folk. 

I think that us in Ottawa have that same passion, but then again we don't have millions of people from which to create our small armies... Let me just say this - I hate when people say that "Ottawa is great, but it's a government town". Part of me wants to say 'shut it' when that is said, and the other part sympathizes with this perceived inferiority complex to the music scenes of bigger cities in Canada - and world. 

Well I'm here to say that is all bullshit. Ottawa has some great venues, radio stations, music stores, studios, and a hell of a lot of musical talent waiting to be thrust upon the world. My self-appointed job will be to join the other ambitious and established bloggers in Ottawa such as Apt613, Photogmusic, Spotlight Ottawa and Byward of Mouth, to help bring the music community together - a spot for musicians, fans, venue owners, or anyone who enjoys busting their eardrums on a week night to access information on the Ottawa music scene. 

So here it goes. The website will be online this week sometime, as I'm putting the finishing touches on it and making sure it's good to go. I hope to be able to run into people at shows, maybe even share a beer. Until then, feel free to get in touch with me at ottawashowbox@gmail.com.