NXNE, Hard Rock and Unlikely Heroes

Much to my excitement, some friends of mine were asked to play at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown TO today for the North-By-North-East tour. For those of who who have no idea, NXNE and it's partner SXSW are five days of live music located in Toronto, Ontario and Austin, Texas respectively.



Photo does not belong to me... borrowed

 The band, Unlikely Heroes comes from my hometown and consists of four awesome guys (two brother duos) who can rock out harder than most I know. I don't like to overly endorse bands that I know personally, but these guys are honestly better than most bands I've heard in recent days. They have talent, they have energy and they have some mad skillz when it comes to performing. (And yes, I did just use 'mad skillz' as a description).

I really don't know what to expect tonight. I have not had the chance to see them perform since my first Christmas back after college (which would make it the Christmas of '08). Heck, I haven't even heard any of the music they've written since then. So it's going to be completely and totally new for me.

What has always reeled me in with their music is that it's kind of a little bit of everything. Some bits sound Blink inspired, others Anberlin, some even remind me of some classic Green Day. They've pulled a bit of everything together to produce their own unique sound.

It'll be pretty intense... the show doesn't start until 10pm, but we have to be down there for early evening (I saw 'we' because I get to go as part of the crew, wahoo!). I'm hoping it means I'll get to catch some of the other bands or at the very least, enjoy the main part of the festivities in Yonge & Dundas Square.

This makes it the third weekend in a row I've been to concerts, exceeding my record from EVER.