Downtown Sound

This year, NXNE has returned to the main part of Toronto instead of out in the Portlands. So their free Main Stage was once again located right at Dundas Square. I went on Friday evening to check out a few acts.

It was a poor set-up. Dundas Square itself has a raised platform that is often used as a stage for shows and concerts. When I heard that NXNE has closed off Yonge St. instead, I was expecting the stage to be on the street itself, allowing a much larger crowd to grow along the road.  But they built it abutting Eaton Centre, and fenced off the street and sidewalk for security personnel. This made the stage too far for the performers to interact with the audience. And the latter was still limited to the Square itself. In fact, there was actually less room because NXNE had carved up the Square for a media tent and bar patio.

Formerly from Edmonton, rapper Cadence Weapon had a fast flow. He also liked applying effects to his vocal. His rap was the usual mix; some were about social issues, others about drinking and living large. Being a good Canadian boy, he had a rap about Connor McDavid which was brave of him to perform in enemy territory.

U.S. Girls was up next. It was an odd choice because tonight's line-up was dominated by R'n'B and Rap acts. They went through their well-rehearsed set/performance piece with most songs drawn from the latest album. It wasn't a great fit for the crowd who was expecting more mainstream music. There were some amusing spontaneous moments when singer Meghan Remy got a security guard to be involved with her show.