NXNE Saturday Report #2

The weather might have been beautiful and the choice of entertainment overwhelming, but three nights in, NXNE ran into some stiff competition Saturday.

4,000 miles away, a couple of hot groups called the Avalanche and the Devils were also hitting the big stage. Game sevens in the Stanley Cup finals only come along once in a rare while, so certain concessions had to be made, notably going to clubs that had a television near the stage.

Oddly, the big game didn't detract from the full house at Clinton's at 9 pm to see Junetile. For someone, it must be reassuring to know that if Radiohead isn't going to make soaring art-pop, there are dozens of imitators who will. I lasted four songs.

A quick check of the TV and it was off to Lee's to see Winnipeg's Telepathic Butterflies. The duo had beefed up with ex-members of Admiral and turned their 60s pop tunes into stomping rock anthems. Nice one.

Down at the Horseshoe, Tricky Woo blew through an altogether different style of anthemic rock. The Montreal crew impressed if only for the sheer volume at which they played. My pants flapped from the thud of the bass.

After aborted stops at the Rivoli and 360 (Avs win!) it was back to Lee's for the midnight set by Nish Rawks. The Scarborough MC, joined by DJ Serious, a Monolith hype man and D-Sisive, tore through a handful of unreleased tracks before smashing apart his anthemic set The Enlightening. For sheer energy, it was a fest highlight, though Nish better watch his back for D-Sisive.

As someone beside me wisely pointed out, "that kid's going to be massive." He might be right.