Music

NXNE 2011: Wednesday Best Bets

by Nicole Villeneuve

AUX’s BEST BETS: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15

Well would you look at that; NXNE is already upon us. A billion or so bands and fans and suits and magic descend upon Toronto from now until Sunday, and every day we’ll be bringing you a handful of picks for some of the best music of the evening. Wednesday is typically a dry(er) evening as the festival slowwwly cranks itself into high gear, but this year it was hard to choose just a few. Not bad, Wednesday! Consider this your NXNE opening night coin call. HEADS!

THE MELIGROVE BAND The Meligroves are like a live institution in this city now; churning out jagged little indie rock songs that have no right sounding as shimmery as they do for the better part of 14 years now, the Toronto four-piece never, ever disappoints. Vague and mysterious (and reliable—swear) sources tell us this show isn’t to be missed which, like, we already knew, but it’s supposed to be extra special. So, let’s go see. The Rivoli, 332 Queen Street West, 10PM

THE POSTELLES If irresistible had a face it might look like the Postelles sound—familiar, cheeky, just a tiny bit edgy, and so charming. The hyped NYC quartet have already been through the major label wringer and lived to tell the tale, all before their 60s-jangle independent self-titled album was even released (June 7). Early in the game they made a fan of Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. and—oh, you know what? That’s all you need to hear. Magic words. (Just kidding. They’re good. And not entirely un-Strokes-ish.) The Garrison, 1197 Dundas Street West, 11PM

CHUCK RAGAN Tonight is your first of two chances to catch Chuck Ragan perform at NXNE—of course, next time around he’ll be ditching his acoustic guitar and gaining a few other members as he joins the rest of his dudes in much loved Gainesville, FL punk outfit Hot Water Music for a show at the considerably larger Opera House. Ragan’s solo troubadour shows have gained a reputation for his charged performances and a spirited crowd. Catch him on the last trek supporting 2009’s Gold Country before a new album drops in early fall. El Mocambo (Main Floor), 464 Spadina Avenue, 12AM

PARLOVR More guitars, so sorry! But Parlovr’s great and they released the Hell/Heaven/Big/Love EP in October so if you haven’t seen them play those songs yet, here you go. The Montreal three-piece calls themselves “sloppy pop” and you know what? They’re not wrong. Not entirely. But they’re a little more frenzied than that and this show is sure to put another notch in their ever-expanding BELT OF PRAISE which is 100% a thing that is not made up. The Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen Street West, 12AM

UME Austin, TX’s Ume have had a pretty good run lately—they seem to be named one of the ‘most buzzed about’ artists at lots of festivals they play lately and there was that whole thing where some editors at Rolling Stone picked them for the Choose the Cover contest (they got eliminated). If you’ve yet to take in the live experience, wander down to the Drake Underground for a pretty killer showcase overall and for the trio, led by killer singer/guitarist Lauren Larson, to, quite simply, rock you and yours with their grungy garage punk. Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen Street West, 11PM

Get the full festival schedule and artist details over at NXNE.com.