Now that all that SXSW hullabaloo is behind us, it's nice that we still have a couple of big, juicy festivals to sink our teeth into. For some, that's Coachella, others it's Lolla, but for Torontonians, it's NX-fuckin'-NE.
Just this morning, NXNE announced an initial line-up that included just thirteen acts to play at this year's festival, and already, things are getting pretty exciting.
First up? An appearance by none other than Iggy and the Stooges at Yonge-Dundas Square on June 19 for.....free! Not to mention a show the night before, same venue, by Canadian indie icons Sloan.
Also announced? American first-wave punk-rockers X, De La Soul, Les Savy Fav, Japandroids, Cold Cave, Kid Sister, Wavves, Surfer Blood and Thee Oh Sees.
Of course, De La will near the top of my to-see pile, but Les Savy Fav and Surfer Blood are two bands that should put on shows worth seeing. Les Savy Fav are notoriously excellent and enthusiastic performers, and Surfer Blood, in case you haven't heard them, created one of Pitchfork's early 2010 Best New Music'd albums. I don't usually fall for PFork's shenanigans, but Surfer Blood are pretty dang enjoyable, if you're into that high-energy lo-fi sound.
I've embedded their single "Swim" below, so that I may see you, yes you, at the show. Just try not to pump a fist to this kind of triumph.
