Kicking things off to a late packed room was Rosie June. She brought on a more gentle approached to the Horseshoe show. Seemed nervous as there was a lot of shoegazing on her end which didn’t help with the eager audience at the front who seemed bored. Rosie June’s set was not what I would call boring, but translated a bit of the 90s dreamy pop for me. She needed more energy for an act that was opening up for two other bands on the list that were known for their liveliness.
Up next was Toronto band HIGHS. They woke up the audience right out of the gate of their first song. Having the crowd bop along to their danceable songs. Each time I see these guys, they get tighter and tighter, growing from strength to strength. They tried out a few new songs which won the crowd over thanks to their zest of stage presence. I’d say they’re a band to watch.
Once BC headliner, Hey Ocean! took the stage, it was clear why the Horseshoe was so jammed pack. Everyone was here to see them. With their recent success of major radio play from such “Big Blue Wave”, though mind you its almost 2 years old. For the West Coast band, they seemed to have strong following in the GTA with everyone in the room screaming the lyrics back at the band throughout their set.
Overall it was a great kick off for the start of NXNE without being directly involved. Hey Ocean’s tour continues through Ontario until June 19th. Check the Hey Ocean! website for more information.
