Ex-Factor

In Toronto, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) fair signals the end of summer. I headed over on Wednesday to relive some childhood memories. But the food building wasn't it! The relatively innocent food such as corn dogs, cotton candy, roasted corn, et al have been replaced with crazy artery-clogging one-up-man-ships including deep fried Mars bars, eclair dogs, and bacon on everything. I was reasonably excited to go inside but quickly made my exit. Luckily, those food can still be found outside at various booths.

The carnie games were better though of course they were all fixed against you and the various rides of the Midway were still around: The Screamer, The Zipper, The Scrambler! The CNE has added Sky Ride, a sort of summer ski lift, that ran the length of the Midway area. From this vantage point, you can leisurely check out all the people below.

Over by the Band shell, two bands played tonight (free with admission). Taking advantage of the "$5 after 5" CNE discount, 1-2 thousand music lovers, mostly teenagers and 20-somethings, crowded the stage. First up was The Darcys. They played emotive songs that often descended into sonic feedback and effects. A hard sell for an opening band with an inexperienced and indifferent crowd new to your music.

Next up was The Arkells, the band most wanted to see based on all the screaming.They sounded like updated Hall and Oates with their first two numbers: Book Club and Where U Goin. But their penchant for referencing local landmarks and penning catchy chorus on songs like Abigail (with a mid-song callout to Call Me Maybe), Oh The Boss Is Coming!, and On Paper placed them on the fun side of mainstream pop/rock. With a powerhouse set closer like Whistleblower, the Arkells can be forgiven for sometimes crossing into formulaic jock rock (Ticats Are Humming). Speaking of Hall and Oates, the last song of their encore was, appropriately enough, a cover of You Make My Dreams Come True.