NORTH BY NORTHEAST 2009 NUMERO DOS

**FRIDAE** · 01:55 AM

THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF A TWO PART ARTICLE: NORTH BY NORTHEAST 2009 – NUMERO DOS

This next band did two sets in one day, it seemed like there was a trend with the double sets this year, band’s like Oh No Not Stereo and Black Hat Brigade also did the duals. My Darkest Days first performance was at Yonge and Dundas Square, an outdoor venue on Saturday June 20th.

Originally I wanted to check that set but the rain caused me to stay away for the sake of my equipment, yeah I do not have a rain coat for my cameras OK! My Darkest Days is one of the bands I always seemed to miss! If it wasn’t for their second set at the Rivoli later on they would still be on the missed list. I have heard so many diverse views about this band, from the band being amazing to the band blowing ass. People’s opinions always make me curious to find out for myself. I tried to hit two birds with one stone that night.

MY DARKEST DAYS

I figured since the band currently on stage was gonna make me nap I had to wander, MDD’s set was not until 1am; why not try to reach the Bovine where “Inward Eye” was doing a Special guest performance set and accomplish two missed bands in one day! Um yeah, my plan didn’t work as well as I thought! I saw “Inward Eye” very briefly a few years back, since I haven’t had the chance to check them again. The Bovine was rammed to capacity and they were not allowing anyone else in no matter how much cleavage was visible, a few girls tried! Too bad for Inward Eye yet again! I hit up three other venues in the process but nothing was captivating enough to keep me there, off it was back to the Rivoli to check MDD.

A good thing I got there when I did because the Rivoli started filling fast, it’s a small venue that always reaches capacity at any festival and there were rumors floating that Chad Kroeger of Nickelback was going to reach the set. He recently started working with My Darkest Days on their record. That meant people were going to get psycho! Naturally I had my eye on the exit, devising strategies of possible escape routes, just in case it got too crowded and psychotic for my liking. I had to migrate from the floor because it was getting too crazy; all these chicks popped out of nowhere, many a cougar, their heads blocking my shots. I quickly retreated to my favorite Rivoli spot, when the floor is too cluttered and claustrophobia inducing - a wobbly bench to the left (stage right) is always there. I had one foot on a chair and one on the rickety bench so I wouldn’t fall on my face.

My Darkest Days is; Matt Walst – Vocals/Axe, Brendan McMillan - Bass/Backup Vox, Paulo Neta – Guitar/Backup Vox and Doug Oliver – Drums/Backup Vox. Some of them are from Norwood, Ontario another from Winnipeg, Manitoba they all eventually migrated to Toronto. I wasn’t sure what to expect [all the other opinions not included]. I knew I had to give them the benefit of the doubt because they did a two in one that day and that’s harsh on the vocals.

Once on the stage, I noticed there was an instant presence and chemistry with this band, definitely something there. The band played their instruments fluidly, the sound was crisp; they did a good job backing up lead vox and the harmonies were tight, everyone blended. The tunes are melodic and catchy. One song that stood out was a cover tune they did of Duran Duran’s “Come Undone”. Unfamiliar with Duran Duran’s tunes I had no idea it was a cover. After hearing the MDD version I had to check out the original and I must say MDD did it so much better. The vocals were a little unsteady at the beginning but he managed to pull it together creating this emotion and passion for the words he sang as if he wrote them himself. Walst has a different type of voice, there is a light rock grit mixed with a little R&B tinge. He did a few semi runs and growls that I liked. Have yet to hear a voice like his, its unique. The closest comparison that comes to mind is “Billie Joe Armstrong” laced with “Chester Bennington”.

Sound and tone may be different but Walst seriously needs to work on diction and strengthening the vocals using his diaphragm more than his head voice and throat. At times during the verses it sounded as if his sinuses were congested and his voice was trembling, coming off pitchy to my ears.

Rough around the edges but I can see why Kroeger took to them. Many of the tracks they played were awesome, most except “Move Your Body” their current single. Although I would jam to it if I heard it on radio, the tune has a supreme diagnosis of “Nickelitis”, hearing it live took away some of the said Nickelitis but the Three Days Grace sound-a-like was in full swing.

The track is not retched as the formula is there, the problem lies within the construction. The “Nickelitis” comes into gear during the verses and then it drifts into some Three Days Grace for the choruses. People will mock them for not being original if they continue down this road. Walst has had a hand in co-writing a few tunes for Three Days Grace’s debut disc but that’s no excuse to cop their sound. Think outside the "Nickelbox" and remember My Darkest Days is not Nickelback nor are they Three Days Grace. Kroeger I’m also talking to you, do not continue to “Nickelize” them anymore, every band Kroeger seems to touch he turns into Mini Nickel’s. Stop replicating your band, let these guys find and be themselves, help them create a different sound instead of recycling your own again.

My Darkest Days must find their own musical identity to make it to the next level; step it up guys as this is a rough game. They are teetering so close but with no cigar. Of course I still need to check them again to make a full conclusion at a real show to see how they really throw it down. They entertained but showcases always have a different vibe, some bands are too nervous and hold back, others just give a little taste of what they are capable of. There were moments when you could tell the band was counting and they seemed a little shook. I like what they are trying to do, they did surprisingly well considering the blend of critique I had in my ear. My Darkest Days gets double daps for doing a dual set that night. For those who must know if Chad did reach the Rivoli. He did, checking the MDD set from the sound booth.

FATTOOTH

As much as I wanted to stay and jibber to My Darkest Days I had to dip, it was getting far too crowded and I had one last band to check at the Hideout, “FATTOOTH”! Four guys with painted faces, fresh out of Montreal. They are Hucifer – Vox, George Xipoleas - Axe, Mihran Boudakian on the Bass and Costa Dimitroulas smashing those cans. FATTOOTH was a part of NXNE kicking off their North American “Natural Disaster” tour right here in Toronto as many do because Toronto is Toronto, simply one of a kind. The Hideout was like a crazy jam, filled with polluted people who just wanted to rock out and party. They were definitely near capacity and the crowd was wild. It was two in the morning and The Hideout had extended their hours from two to four, joining a select few other bars in the hood just for NXNE. FATTOOTH was not on stage when I arrived, that was a relief; I thought I was going to miss their set. Another band was on and I wasn’t feeling them!

After a moment of chillage, I migrated to the patio where some stupid bitch robbed my brand new phone right out of my purse! That bitch is so lucky I didn’t hear that second ring! Definitely would have missed a killer FATTOOTH set if I did. Extremely livid at this point, wishing the “Cleptho” many backhanded karmic bitch slaps! Thank God FATTOOTH came on and tore it up, a little light amongst the darkness.

Someone told FATTOOTH’s publicist they were too extra, over performing, all I can say is hater! This band is nothing you have ever seen. Yes the face paint has been done but their blend of every form of rock and roll available is unheard of. The dudeface who said that, has to be a hater that totally couldn’t handle the fabulousness that is FATTOOTH! This band rocked so hard that a couple of guys in the crowd were inches from Hucifer’s shlong, one was pushing his friends head closer and he started bobbing! I was dying, it was too funny.

Drummer boy is the youngest of the band members and has some serious talent on those buckets, who knows how many sticks he broke, they were just flying out into the crowd every so often. The vocals were strong, Hucifer’s diction was excellent considering there’s a lot of mumbling when guys try to growl and scream. Hucifer was crystal clear and everything was understood. The showmanship of the band is by far the best energy I felt from a newbie band in a while, every single person brought their all to that stage. What Showcase? They looked right at home on stage, engaging the audience continually giving the crowd what they wanted and had the sound to back it up. Their sense of humor is present, good to see personalities as the harder bands are sometimes a little too serious. I have encountered my fair share of some serious dudes from heavy bands.

Don’t even think FATTOOTH is anything like KISS because of their make-up; FATTOOTH’s sound has no comparison. George on the Guitar ripped those strings; all that shredding would have sliced up my fingers for sure. Bassist Boudakian threw it down and all except Costa participated in the backing vocals which were solid. Now on tour in North America go check these guys out for a show you will never forget.

The final artist I saw was ‘The Gza’; never in my life would I have thought I would ever get the chance to see any of “The Wu” crew live. Wu-Tang’s music takes me back to my childhood and my younger brother’s obsession with the group. Then again every male I knew at that time was obsessed with “The Wu” and every girl wanted to hook up with one of them. His set was the same time as the Much Awards and there were so many people waiting just to see Gza. I didn’t think there was going to be as many people as there were and some had been waiting for hours. It appeared being late is a trend with Gza, this time it wasn’t as long of a wait. As they say ‘better late than never”; he should probably put that into a rhyme.

THE GZA AKA GENIUS

Alas 'The Gza' hit the stage, to an eruption of cheers from the crowd who turned the cheers to chanting Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang! Or Gza! Gza! I loved it! To know that real Hip Hop still has an audience was amazing. Heads up to all the young cats, you need to rewind and throw back to the old school hip hop days to find real hip hop, enough of this chicken noodle soup, stanky leg, auto-tune shit.

Gza was a bit nervous. You could see it in his eyes and body language; he introduced a special guest guitarist who was to join him for a couple of tracks. The guitarist was “King Khan” of “King Khan & BBQ Show”; the mix went well and it was a good sound. Gza needed to be more lively and energetic from the minute he landed. A little boring at the beginning he eventually relaxed and started to get into it. Dropping a few of his own tunes and spitting some classic Wu –Tang tracks. After the third track this security guy came over to escort me out of the media pit. As usual the stupid three tune rule applied and we the media were getting booted out of the pit. Gza saw this and told the security guys to “Let the media stay, what’s wrong with the media? Let them stay.” For that we were so grateful to him because it was a first, never has that happened, we always get booted even at the wrong times.

Gza had a rough start but it was clear how much he enjoyed the performance. He turned it around giving the people what they came to see. He did a tribute to Ol’ Dirty Bastard and someone even had a shirt of ODB in the crowd, Gza spotted that and had to migrate to the crowd, he brought the shirt on stage and held it up which was perfect for the tune.

The majority of the performance Gza was in front of the crowd on the barricade entertaining the people. By the end of the set he was finally comfortable and he even did a few encores. During the “Fab 5 Freddy” interview some asked The Gza if there was going to be another “Wu-Tang” record. Gza responded by saying “There could be a future Wu-Tang album but WE all still need to sit down and discuss the future of “The Wu”. He did mention there will be a new Gza & Rza collaboration record.

KING KHAN

That my friends is the end. All good things must come to one and this novel is overdue. Those who are still with me thank you for reading. North By Northeast is growing in numbers by the year and even though Edgefest and the MMVA’s tried to get in the way I think NXNE ended on a higher note.

This year at North by Northeast I learned; K-os should never be a DJ (stick to your day job bud!), I need to keep my purse closed/zipped, sleep is not available during these festivities - next time don’t bother trying. And last but not least I definitely will be hitting up NXNE 2010 so see you all there! Until next time Keep it locked to Altsounds.com.

©2009FRIDAE™

Special thanks to Jonathan Asher for the FATTOOTH photographs.

Links:
www.altsounds.com

NXNE 2010 | June 16 â€“ 20 | TORONTO CANADA

My Darkest Days on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

www.myspace.com/fattooth

GZA on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

The King Khan & BBQ Show on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

www.youtube.com/fridaetv

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NORTH BY NORTHEAST 2009 NUMERO DOS

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July 20, 2009, 05:33 AM

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