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Photo by Jaime Vedres

This past Friday I decided, for the first time ever, to check out a NXNE show. There’s no real reason I’ve never gone to one before, I guess it just seems too busy and too “industry-y”. Here’s the trick to avoid all of that nonsense: get there early and leave quickly!

I got to the El Mocambo at 8pm - they delayed opening the doors until about 8:20 and when I finally got in the place was empty. I went back outside, got a pop and waited until more people showed up. Nothing is weirder than being alone in an empty club with all the lights on. We went back inside just in time to see Songs From A Room start up and they were excellent, a real solid rock band with 2 vocalists singing in tandem. I love discovering great new bands.

Just before the second band took the stage the skies open up with a huge thunderstorm, turns out the roof opened up too because water was just pouring into the middle of the room and a bit up on the stage, no one seemed to care. Casey Baker & The Buffalo Sinners played a great set full of very well written alt. country jams, as an added bonus I actually know the drummer from previous bands but didn’t know he was in this band - hi Pat!

Now for the reason I came: Moneen. They hit the stage and I get excited. This is my first time seeing them with their new drummer (Steve from One More Dream) and my first time seeing them at all in a long time. I like them - we go way back to shows in church basements in Brampton. Moneen plays, it’s loud, it’s good, the new drummer is great and…the PA cuts out…OK, it’s back, everything is going…it’s out again. This is a band with experience, they’ve been around the block, they’re not gonna let stupid PA problems slow them down! Kenny announces that if the PA cuts out again everyone should just sing along at the top of their lungs (as if they weren’t already doing that anyway).

The highlight of the night was the debut of three new Moneen songs all of which were excellent, a little more mellow than usual but as full of emotion as ever. I think the new album is going to turn some heads - just like every new album Moneen puts out.

If you haven’t experienced Moneen live yet, you must go see them open for Jimmy Eat World on July 4 at the Sound Academy in Toronto.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t stay for the entire show - the roof was pouring water and I’m ooooooooooooooold. After Moneen were done I checked out the merch table (always support the bands), and bolted out into the rain. If you don’t leave abruptly you’re stuck with a whole bunch of “Hey, long time no see, have you heard my new band, come to our show”. Wait, am I jaded? No, I’m oooooold!

Posted on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 5:05 pm by Matt Mc and is filed under Concerts & Events.

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