I don’t really want to go into all the bands I saw at NXNE for 2 main reasons:

1. There were some “late nights” and my judgment may have been a little clouded.
2. I think it’s kind of douchey to rhyme off all the bands you may have seen as if to say, “I saw these bands and I had a way better time than you”. It’s so “Toronto”.

I do however want to point out 4 shows I attended simply because I believe that they were landmark events in the festival and should be given the proper attention.

Because of the relative lack of household names, this year's NXNE allowed for more time to check out bands that would have otherwise been an afterthought to some of the more well known acts. It also allowed for what I like to call the stumbleupon.

The 'stumbleupon' is my favourite part about working in this industry. It’s cool to go check out a band that's been recommended or has a lot of hype around them; but there's nothing like being blown away by a band you've never heard of and weren't expecting to see.

This happened to me on NXNE Saturday night at The Bovine; I was on my way to the El Mocambo to see Monster Truck (a band that I have been trying to see for 6 months and yet something always gets in the way) and on the way decided to wash my excitement down with a tasty beverage at my favourite non-50 serving establishment, The Bovine (I have told you time and time again, sell 50 & they will come!) ...Anyway, I am glad I stopped in because I would never have been privy to the radness that is Mockingbird Wish Me Luck.

From Kitchener Ontario Mockingbird Wish Me Luck are 4 piece punk rock band that leaves it all on the ice and seems to give it 110% (please note, since hockey has ended I have been going through some major, major withdrawals). The second they started playing, my crew of punk rock enthusiasts and I immediately started to throw down comparisons. POLAR BEAR CLUB! NO NO! GOOD RIDDANCE!! LIVING WITH LIONS!

Either way, whatever they sound like to you, they were amazing and I can’t believe I had never heard of them before this stumbleupon! They have a number of tour dates up and I sincerely hope you can get out to see them.

After having my ears blown off I started my trek to the El Mocambo to check out one of my favourite bands of all time...

Moneen is a band that I have seen well over 30 times. I know that probably seems a little if not a lot ridiculous to most of you, however in my eyes (INCOMING BOLD STATEMENT!!!) they are the best live act in the entire country. They are the only band that I can think of that makes me feel like I am 16 all over again and NXNE Saturday was no different.

As stoked as I was to see them, I became even more excited to find out that it was going to be an acoustic set. As good as they are as a full band, this was a welcomed and rare change from the dozens of other Moneen shows I have been to. It has become apparent that these guys have more and more fun with every passing show. From the opening note to the last beat, Kenny and Hippy joked, laughed and gave every ounce of energy that they had into an acoustic set that most bands would have otherwise taken lightly.

As with every Moneen show, crowd involvement was key. From applause breaks, to throwing the set list away and having people in the crowd choose what they play, it is so clear that they recognize how important their fans are to their longevity as a band. And who knew Kenny could drum?? Cause I sure as hell didn’t! During “Tonight I'm Gone”, Kenny decided to run around the whole stage and drum on any and everything he could get his hands on. The wall, the stage fan, mic stands and believe it or not an actual drum. Blew me away.

If young bands want to model themselves after a band, Moneen's work ethic, attitude and utterly amazing live shows are something to be put on a pedestal and worked towards.

Carrying on my NXNE Saturday night, we decided to head down to The Horseshoe to check out another one of my favourite bands, Attack in Black. Having seen Attack in Black only twice before they were still relatively unknown to me with regards to their live show, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

These guys came across as one of the most pretentious and egotistical groups of musicians to grace The Horseshoe stage that I may have ever seen. I totally understand artistic integrity and the whole "I’m too cool for school" Queen west hipster mentality, but come on guys! Say something to the crowd once in a while, and PLAY SOMETHING YOUR FANS ACTUALLY WANT TO HEAR!!!

I absolutely hate bands that take for granted their fans' expectations and what they actually want to hear. I understand not liking a particular song and not wanting to play it (a la Radiohead with Creep) but Attack in Black basically refused to play anything off an entire record! Marriages to me was one if not the best records of '07, and they basically ignored it. Don’t get me wrong - I love everything this band has put out; but their later records have fallen into obscurity and Marriages was by far their best record to see played live.

I very rarely go to a show and leave totally turned off a band if they don’t play a certain song that I wanted to hear, but to not play anything off an entire record (especially the one that allowed you play to a sold out horseshoe) then I’m leaving with a bad taste in my mouth. Having read some of my friends' and colleagues' reviews of the show, I may be the only one who left unhappy; but then again that’s why I’m different (or maybe it was the $3 dollar 50).

After leaving The Horseshoe at 1am, we headed to the Cadillac Lounge to catch good friends of mine Gentlemen Husbands. If there is one band that really has it together it’s these guys. From Cobourg, Ontario, the Husbands are a 4 piece alt rock/country infused band with so much live energy it makes the walls shake.

Having shared the stage with bands like The Arkells, Lucero and Hollerado, as well as selling out of their EP in under 6 months, Gentlemen Husbands are one of the bands to watch this summer. They played Scenefest and will play a whole slew of other shows this summer; so bring your shit kickers, wrap your arm around your favourite gal, and rock out to the sweet sounds of Gentlemen Husbands sometime soon.

This year’s NXNE festival may not have been filled with a ton of “major headliners” and secret appearances by uber-famous musicians like ones I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy in festivals past, but I’ll let this slide, since it was stacked to the mammaries with unsigned and relatively unheard of talent.

In years past, NXNE has tried too hard to live up to the hype of its older and cooler cousin, SXSW, instead of just accepting that we as Canadians want something different. We don’t want or need to have bands shoved down our throats; we relish the opportunity to find them on our own. This year's fest seemed to have a different and more independent feel - and may be up for best ever.