SATE | YARDLETS | THE WORRIERS | TOWERS | FIRST GHOST | MARDEEN | BIG EYES | SHAWNEE | FULL OF HELL
ARTIST NAME: SATE
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Seeing my friends play, discovering new bands and being inspired by both.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
A raunchy, sweaty in your face rock & roll show.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
I was on Canadian Idol for three seasons…as a background singer in the house band…I never got voted off.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Tank Girl. It would sound like atmospheric punk funk. Grimy, groovy and airy all at the same time.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Bruce Springsteen! I love his voice, songs, showmanship, and I’d love to share the mic with him on ‘Adam Raised A Cain’ Fucking love that song.
ARTIST NAME: YARDLETS
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Going back to Montreal after, just kidding ! Watching bands litter the streets and guessing which one’s the bass player.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
We provide lots of fuzz and smoke and we program our own lights so bring your sunglasses.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
Sebastien Grainger (DFA1979) played drums on our record.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Rivers Edge (1986) We’ve actually written a song about this film already, the songs would sound like….us!
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Neil. Because we love it when he holds 1 note for a very loooooong time and Jev Yardlet can’t play guitar and often times he’ll just hold one note for a very long looooong time!
ARTIST NAME: THE WORRIERS
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
I always enjoy the opportunity to see a ton of different bands in one place, especially when it can be hard to get out to shows we’re not playing sometimes. I’m always excited to look at the list of folks playing and having no excuse to miss bands I’ve wanted to see for a while!
2. What should we expect from your live show?
We’re a melodic punk band, so it’s loud and we’ll all be covered in sweat by the end. Lou will jump around a lot and I’ll probably talk about how many people are going to try to move to Canada if the apocalypse, aka Trump happens.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
We have to find a way to go swimming if at all possible while on tour. Some folks enjoy it more than others, but a couple of us even found a way to go swimming when we played in Maine last September when the water was definitely really cold. Every tour: finding swim spots and going to Waffle House. The two key requirements for a good trip.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Right now I’d have to say I’d love to write a soundtrack for Carol, if only to have an excuse to watch that movie another 50,000 times. It would be my opportunity to write some 50’s inspired indy-pop, or something that sounded like The Magnetic Fields meets the Raincoats.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
BRUCE. I grew up in New Jersey and I think I’d be breaking a law if I said anyone other than him. I mean, he’s The Boss and far and away one of the most amazing live performers I’ve ever seen. I’m a huge fan.
ARTIST NAME: TOWERS
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Playing to a diverse crowd, 4am last call, and free lanyards.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
Twelve
Offensively
Wonderful
Electric
Rocks
Songs
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
After a 3-1 vote, Tom cut off his man-bun.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
The Phantom Menace – John Williams score is too good to deserve this movie. We would overdub all Jar-Jars lines with light jazz…harp solos for Anakin.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Neil Young without a doubt. His songs are killer and he’s Canadian/American, like half our band. Also, Springsteen’s overrated.
ARTIST NAME: FIRST GHOST
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Nowadays I almost exclusively hear about new music online. My favourite thing about a festival like NXNE is it gives fans a unique opportunity to discover bands that may not have a huge reach online and provides those musicians with a chance to leave a lasting impression through their live show.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
Our live show is all about dynamics. We’ll take you from fast and poppy sing-a-longs to a slow, sad drone and back again to tell you our story as we leave it all on stage. Expect a smidge of awkward banter for good measure.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
We narrowly avoided certain death at the edge of a cliff in California. I basically saved our lives and here we are today at NXNE. For a small fee, I will tell you the full story at a show!
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
I know I can speak on behalf of everyone here and go with Superbad as its one of our all-time favourites. For this soundtrack we would ditch the melancholy First Ghost vibe and take on a raunchy 90’s Blink-182 sound.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
The correct answer to this question is Drake. This might piss people off but someone’s got to give blessings to the 6 god.
ARTIST NAME: MARDEEN
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Bouncing around venues to see bands that don’t come to Nova Scotia is always the plan. But it never seems to work out that way. We always just end up hanging with old friends and losing track of time. So that.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
4 Cape Bretoners plowing through anxious pop songs. And Matt likes to scream “YEAH!” a lot.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
You probably don’t know that three of us are first cousins. And two of us are double-first cousins. *waits for Cape Breton joke. And then there is Archie of “marry me” fame.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Not sure about a film, but you know that show Catastrophe? Not a bad show, but the theme song makes me wanna crawl in a hole. Let’s fix that.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Bruce. Not very patriotic, I know. He just seems nice. Maybe we’d get a pat on the back from him? Maybe a “good job”? That’d be alright.
ARTIST NAME: BIG EYES
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
It brings a whole different crowd than we would normally play for! And it’s really fun to get to hang out with friends’ bands from all over who are in town for the festival as well.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
We are now playing as a 4 piece! Having a second guitar has opened up a new side to Big Eyes — there’s room for more harmonies, both guitar and vocal, and having an extra buddy in the band really makes for a very fun and energetic dynamic. We all can just let loose a bit more!
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
We are pretty into Magic the Gathering B-)
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Almost Famous! We named our second LP after that movie. I first saw it at guitar camp when I was 13 years old, probably the most perfect time for a budding musician to see it, haha. It seriously changed my life and it still conjures up a major sense of nostalgia for me whenever I watch it. The songs would definitely be hard rock, maybe a bit glam!
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Damn, that is really tough! I’d have to go with Neil Young though. I’m a major fan of both, but I think Neil Young has more an edge to him, so we would fit a bit better as an opener.
ARTIST NAME: SHAWNEE
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
NXNE is such a great Canadian arts celebration. The opportunity for Canadian creators to express their craft bringing attention to the arts and inspiring the creative community is so important for the industry in Toronto. Its such a great way to put these creative outlets into the hands of artistic supports who otherwise may have not been introduced to. Its an inspiring time in Toronto and I am so looking forward to being a part of the festival this year.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
When I perform I bring all my baggage in the door with me. The things that inspire me and make me feel alive. My emotions, thoughts and passion expressed through words, voice and body language. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with people through music so the experience can be interactive. I am a high energy person by nature so it can get lively. Also I guess I like to cause trouble from time to time. I like to see how uncomfortable I can make my band feel by putting them on the spot, you know.. by surprise switching songs or sets up (keeps them on their toes) I just want the show to be as natural and easy going as possible making it a unique and authentic experience.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
What you may not know about me is that I am actually really a rather introverted person although it may not present itself as such when it comes to my art. I really have to train my mind to allow my heart to express itself out loud when it comes to my music and performance. Also my very first job was as a Shania Twain impersonator when I was twelve and I identify as Two Spirit.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
I’m going to go with (Thelma and Louise) and the Soundtrack would just be ass kicking, girl power, dangerous songs. I mean, the soundtracks already great why mess with a good thing but if I am picking .. then thats my vote.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Come on. You want me to pick ? I would tour with Bruce Springsteen request that he include (Merry Christmas Baby) on his tour line up and dance backstage every night to Hungry Heart and then work overtime shed some tears before touring with Neil Young get my shit together and hope to god I sponge as much as I a possibly could from such a gifted humanitarian soul.
ARTIST NAME: FULL OF HELL
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
We like watching people day drink and get sun burnt in the streets.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
Expect a grating harsh sound that will both seemingly be too brief and last for an eternity, a collection of “songs” too short to identify but too long to tolerate.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
Contrary to popular belief, the body doesn’t actually contain an ex member of the Blue Man Group. It is our drummer Dave that spent a brief period in the Blue Man Group. He joined the troupe after demonstrating his effective body painting skills at a meet and greet with the group. He left to avoid an assault charge although he does continue to correspond with some his former bandmates.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
We would record the sound of someone throwing up, layer it twenty times and use it as the score for the movie, American Sniper. It would sound pretty great, I think.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
We’d open for both of them simultaneously because we can’t decide which one is more relevant to us as American musicians.
NXNE Festival Links
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