Boxer The Horse, PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots), Quiet Company, The Ascot Royals
Toronto, ON
June 15, 2012
Photos and Words by: Pete Nema
The majority of my NXNE time was spent on Thursday and Friday, but although I couldn't be out Saturday during the day, I did have a few bands lined up for Saturday night. I had sort of planned on a calm night, but it ended up to be quite the opposite.
Boxer The Horse
First on my list was Boxer The Horse. I like to see them when they're in Toronto because I dig their Pavement-meets-The-Kinks sound. In addition to all the songs I know and love from this band, they used this showcase to feature a few new songs including one called (I believe) "My Girlfriend Hates My Bowlcut" that has the potential to become my most loved Boxer The Horse song to date. I started the set off calm, but by the end I had a pretty nice good-music-buzz happening.
PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots)
Rancho Relaxo is just a few steps away from Sneaky Dee's, and so I meandered along College to arrive in time for a set by PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots). I was first in contact with this band back in 2010 and had always intended on getting out to see them, but it was just one of those cases where our schedules hadn't been compatible. Fortunately for me, NXNE 2013 was the ticket and I'm glad I finally made it out to a show. The stage setup was a bit unexpected with four members on stage, and one down on the floor. Unexpected to start, anyway, but once the show got rolling it all became so clear. This band is focused on fun and take advantage of the fact their fans like to sing along, and so the fans quite literally become part of the show as they sing along into the mic. What a great show.
Quiet Company
As I was preparing to leave the Rancho, I noticed the members of Quiet Company setting up. I had seen them twice already during NXNE and enjoyed it both times, so I decided to stick around. I'm glad I did because this performance of theirs at the Rancho was the best. As passionate as the other sets, but the audience response was exceptionally strong and it just felt like the band was having a great night. I'm so glad I discovered this Austin, TX band during NXNE and I'm listening to them right now on Rdio as I put this article together. Their latest album, A Dead Man On My Back: Shine Honesty Revisited is spectacular. To give you an idea, it sort of reminds me a bit of Band Of Horses, maybe some Manchester Orchestra, and some other bands that I can't quite place. I'm really hoping we will be fortunate enough to see Quiet Company in Toronto again sometime soon.
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Video: "The Emasculated Man and the City That Swallowed Him"
The Ascot Royals
At this point in my night, everything was rolling along really well and I was having a great time. I had a few things in my schedule for the next time slot, but the key piece of information that swayed my decision is that The Ascot Royals would be filiming part of a music video during their set at The Hideout. And... that's where I went. One again, I proved to myself that I know how to make good decisions because, music video or not, The Ascot Royals had an amazingly successful set. They sounded great, the packed crowd was super responsive, and everyone had an amazing time. That included the bar manager who, immediately following their spectacular set, hopped up on stage, opened a bottle of Jameson's, and poured shots directly into the mouth of anyone who held it open for him. What an incredible way for me to close out my NXNE, it was a blast of a night!
