The AUX guide to NXNE 2014: Our strategic picks for Friday, June 20

by AUX staff

So, we spotted the MiO Squirtcar yesterday. We went to our first (incredibly loud) Yonge-Dundas show yesterday. Our Instagram feeds were piled high with band photos from across the city. Indeed, NXNE is in full swing, right down to the major conflicts of interest (like, for example, Danny Brown, A$AP Ferg, Crystal Stilts, and Oneohtrix Point Never all take the stage at the exact same time). So, to make sense of it all, we’ve put together a situational list of who to see—and when.

By: Tyler Munro (TM) and Mark Teo (MT).

 

The gimmick of the night day

North by Northeast’s annual Live in Bellwoods concert series took a quick hit yesterday when a beaurocratic gaffe led to its first day getting shut down by park rangers—seriously, who even knew Bellwoods had park rangers?—but with councillor Mike Layton coming to the rescue, Day 2 is apparently good to go. Think of it this way: If you can wade through the jobless, tree-killing slackliners and mountains of piled up fixed gears, wouldn’t it be nice to hear an acoustic guitar on purpose in the park? Try to make it there for Wax Atlantic’s 6 P.M. set. (4 P.M. – 7 P.M. at Trinity Bellwoods) (TM)

 

Who to see if you want to get a drink on

Danny Brown. Whether he was retweeting every Toronto mention of him or playing a packed crowd at Yonge-Dundas Square last night, it’s clear that the city loves Danny Brown. But aside from being the most talked-about rapper at NXNE—and witnessing perform bits of the perfect Old—one clear reason to see Brown is that we don’t know when he’ll be back next. He has, after all, had issues crossing the border. So, a chance to see Brown in a club setting is non-negotiable. Bottoms up! (12 a.m., Mod Club)(MT)

 

Who too see if you have a hangover

If raising glasses to Danny Brown is your best boozy option for midnight, if you’re feeling under the weather, Crystal Stilts play the Garrison in the same time slot. The nostalgia-steeped, jangly Brookyln act will unveil tracks from their 2013 album, Nature Noir, and they’ll be followed by local dream-pop act Wish. (12 a.m., The Garrison)(MT)

 

Best Canadian band you might not have heard of

Nice Head haven’t released anything, and they’ve only played a handful of shows, but we were immediately captivated when we saw them open for Polaris long listers Solids a few months back. The newest band in the Cursed and Burning Love lineage, Nice Head are hard hitting and heavy as molasses. They’ll play again at Lee’s Palace tomorrow night, but fans of heavy, sludge-soaked hardcore should be counting the hours to their light night capper tonight. (2 A.M. at Smiling Buddha) (TM)

 

The show you won’t get into, but you should try nonetheless

We were told to keep this a secret. Then Budweiser tweeted this:

So yeah: Spoon are playing a “secret set” at the Horseshoe Tavern… sorry, Budweiser Music House at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern tonight, so have fun getting into that one. Granted it’s not until 2 in the morning, but still expect this to be packed to the ass’s edge, especially with Perfect Pussy on an hour before. Remember: Last call is 4 A.M. (2 A.M. at Horseshoe Tavern) (TM)

One non-musical NXNE thing you should do today

Why NXNE sucks. This year’s the biggest, most sponsor-heavy NXNE yet, but that’s also come with a series of complaints—notably, the event’s 45-day radius clause has drawn the ire of the local music community, even prompting some to question if the fest is poaching bands, turning its back on Toronto’s arts infrastructure, and making it more difficult for smaller bands to play in the city. This panel should address those issues and more, and will feature Pop Montreal’s Dan Seligman, Ketamines / Slagging Off mastermind Paul Lawton, Weird Canada’s Aaron Levin, BlogTO’s Aubrey Jax, and the Garrison’s Shawn Bowring airing their grievances. The best part? You don’t need a wristband to enter. (1 p.m., Hyatt Regency)(MT)

 

Who to see for free

Swans at Yonge-Dundas Square. While St. Vincent headlines the festivities at Yonge-Dundas Square, Michael Gira’s Swans might be the most surprising free show at NXNE. Experimental and undeniably loud, Swans’ latest album, To Be Kind, featured both St. Vincent and local ghost-throated singer Cold Specks—making us wonder if they’ll make an appearance at this set. And mark our words: The glass windows at the adjacent H&M will be shaking. (7:40 p.m., Yonge-Dundas square.)(MT)