NXNE... Here at last!

The time has come. Starting tonight.. 3 nights of mayhem with 500 bands to choose from spread across 50 venues. I hope you've done your homework. If not, grab today's NOW and get busy! Or just wing it! Buy a wrist band and go with the flow. With so much great talent in town, you're sure to find some groups that will really get you pumped up, even with a random club crawl.

If you're lucky enough to find a good lineup at a single club for the eveneing, that's great. Get there early and establish your turf for the night. If you want to stretch a bit and do some modest club hopping without cabs or street cars, consider what's playing at these clusters of clubs that are within acceptable walking distance of each other in the 15-20 minutes you have between gigs....

• Queen W/Spadina - The Horseshoe, The Rivoli, The Cameron, Black Bull
  
• Queen W/Bathurst - Bovine Sex Club, Reverb, Holy Joe's, Kathedral, Tattoo, Funhaus
  
• College/Spadina - El Mocambo, Ranch Relaxo, Silver Dollar, Free Times Cafe, Neutral Lounge
  
• Bloor/Bathurst/College - Lee's Palace, Sneaky Dee's, Clinton's
• Queen/College (really) West - Dakota, Gladstone, Drake, Cadillac Lounge

If you check out our club map, it'll be really easy to spot these groupings.

The great thing about NXNE is that most clubs are really strict about timing. Each new act starts on the hour every hour. That way you're never disappointed because someone has gone on too long or started too early.

ENJOY EVERYONE!!!

Hunter Valentine

I think it was last June when I first saw rock chick trio, Hunter Valentine. I was totally impressed with the music, but left thinking that they could use a bit more stage presence.

I know that doesn't sound very kind, but they looked more like they were rehearsing in the basement than headlining a show.

Well, let me tell you that all that has changed. At last night's show at The Reverb, their music was bigger and better than ever, and the sexy ladies have all the stage presence they need.

They even brought along some friends to back them up. Sorry... I didn't catch all the names, but we heard some fine keyboards, cello and violin along with the usual guitar, bass and drums. [I'm told that one of the guests was Hill Kourkoutis of Drowning Girl on keyboards and guitar.]

I can hardly wait for the next gig in the TO area, and want to thank the ladies for indulging this old dude in a few photos and CD signing after the show.


Now click over to the Showcase and check out the Hunter Valentine slideshow from that evening.