NXNE: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly part 2
Written by: Corey Allen
Date: August 6, 2009

WINTERSLEEP @ YONGE AND DUNDAS 06.19.09 Yonge and Dundas is usually the stomping grounds of frantic commuters, Kodak moment tourists and overzealous shoppers but on Friday night, Toronto's answer to Times Square played host to Wintersleep, one of the most talked about and buzz-worthy bands playing NXNE.

The East Coast boys attracted a considerable crowd at Dundas Square. From teen girls to dudebros to non-descript couples, the boys played all of the crowd's favourites from Archaeologists, Oblivion and Weighty Ghost, which garnered the biggest applause.

Having recently seen them in Edinburgh at the Wee Red Bar (a considerably smaller venue), Wintersleep's music and live show works best in a more intimate environment than the massive, outdoor stage at Dundas Square.

Normally, I love an outdoor concert in the summertime, but a certain ambience was missing at Yonge and Dundas. Wintersleep's set, highly instrumental, just did not stand up well against such a boisterous crowd.

The instrumentals that Wintersleep is so well known for are much more effective in a hole-in-the-wall, compact bar where everyone is holding a Red Stripe and the boys have everyone in the room living off of each guitar chord.

Just like any other indie act that enjoys some success, Wintersleep has its detractors. Old fans are disgruntled over what plagues all rising bands, who face accusations of selling out. But Wintersleep has an East Coast charm that is undeniable and the music, at least for now, still speaks to their craft.

Wintersleep head back to Europe in the fall, continuing their tour in promotion of their album, Welcome to the Night Sky.





RUBY JEAN AND THE THOUGHTFUL BEES @ DRAKE 06.19.09

Fellow Halifaxians, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees, did their best Crystal Castles impression later that night at the Drake Underground.

Flanked by Rebekah Higgs, who has enjoyed success as a solo artist, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees played their mix of electro/rock/dance hits that had some in the Underground grooving. In particular, a gaggle of sunglass-wearing Drake Underground virgins who had American Apparel throw up on their outfits prior to the show.

The Bee's weakness as a band is their inability to hide the fact that they are trying too hard. From the guitarist's plastic gold coat, to Rebekah's desperate "rock star" moment to be lifted above the crowd, the Bees are a band perfect to describe as cliche - floating like a butterfly for their entire set, with little to no sting.

Their sound seems too contrived and overworked. The saving grace of the Bees may be their remix of Cold Hearted Snake by Paula Abdul and the fact that Rebekah Higgs is in the band, as the Bees are one of the few acts at NXNE that has a woman in it, let alone center stage. But even MC Skat Kat is cooler than this band.

Their set at the Drake was enjoyed by the crowd, but I have doubts that the crowd wouldn't have danced to just about anything on a Friday night. Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees are a poor man's Crystal Castles (and even Crystal Castles has lost their cool these days). The only thing about the Thoughtful Bees that may sting you is their sound. And we're allergic.





TMDP @ DRAKE 06.19.09

Next up at the Drake was TMDP, the local duo of Gavin Rough and Jeffrey Addison, who are fastly becoming the talk of Toronto.

While Addison and Rough aren't breaking new ground in music by any means, the duo's brand of electro disco will have you electronic handclapping on the dancefloor in seconds. And as NOW magazine has said, these guys are too good not to blow up.

TMDP has become the little Toronto duo that could, playing show after show in Toronto and riding a disco-synth train right to the top of critic's lists and into clubgoers hearts.

Their set at the Drake is fast-paced and an 80s music lover's dream. The new trend that has broken out in clubs where acts now blur the lines between being DJs or live musicians is hard to swallow. But this particular brand of laptop music is going down just fine.

Halfway through their set, they hit a low note when they proceeded to keep playing one repetitive noise, which was impossible to dance to and had many of the crowd fleeing for the bar.

With the dancing at a stand-still and the elderly man-turned photo-op breaking his curfew from the retirement home was no longer dancing, it was painful to watch. And to listen to. But they recovered with a quick disco hit that made you forget about what had just happened.

Besides that one stumble, TMDP put on a solid set. Chances are if you're out and about in Toronto, you'll run into these guys serving up their infectious sounds. TMDP fever has officially overtaken the city.