Pocket Diving: NXNE Day 3

-- reposted from Static --


Day 3 of NXNE slackened a bit for me. By the time I finished work and was ready to show-hop again, there were very little options for daytime events. Either they had already finished or were just about to. (My luck with day shows hasn’t been so great, so far.)
Naturally, a Redbull was downed. The Friday line-up at Lee’s won me over when I was planning my schedule, so I planted myself there all night. Too bad Aviva and I missed 2:54. Oh, well. Life goes on. Arrived just in time for DIIV’s set.


I didn’t get to bug very many people for pocket investigations, sadly. So this will be a short (but a good) one:

Yahlehly, Static Zine: hair tie, lipstick, melted lolly that was actually stuck to the fabric of her pocket (we struggled in the girls’ washroom to pull it out and failed quite miserably; I’m sure we raised some awkwardness in the air for the people around us, but whatevz), ticket stubs/receipts, transit pass, and a necklace



Brad Oberhofer: random papers, one of which included the name of a girl from a deli he ate earlier that day (he invited her to the show; she gave him free coffee — win-win), some change (Brad collects lucky pennies from everywhere), and krazy glue to protect his fingers while playing ze guitar

Pocket Diving (and shoe-snapping): NXNE Day 2

-- reposted from Static --


NXNE Thursday began with me wandering around like a stray cat. I was turned away from the Smith Westerns/Dusted island show, which I later discovered meant missing out on free backpacks. My plan B was Julie Doiron at Trinity Bellwoods, which I also found myself too late for.
Before the festival started, I thought I created a pretty pared down schedule, with deliberate overlaps meant for changes of mind, heart and whatever else. Anyway, I ended up at the El Mo a lot earlier than planned. After a few minutes in the downstairs room, I already wanted to go home, take a nap, then curl up and watch Buffy… or you know, write my damn essay. But the misery didn’t last, thank goodness.
Upstairs, Boxer the Horse were being delightful and fun. My only regret was not going up sooner. I only caught the tail-end of their set.


Then, I asked a few more people to empty out their pockets:

Joe, Mechanical Forest Sound: notebook, camera, wallet, recording gear



Pete, Sticky Magazine: earplugs, phone, Sticky Magazine stickers, cards, keys, camera gear (in bag)



Aaron: keys, loose change, wallet, pills, phone, contacts



Andy, Army Girls: keys attached to an awesome keychain and a drink ticket


At the Rivoli...

Will, Zulu Winter: a 4-month old guitar pick, which Will was particularly proud of, wallet, lighter, and loose change of different currencies; He was in the UK, France, Ireland, America, and now Canada all in the span of a week, he explained.


Throughout the night, I also ended up taking photos of shoes.

This guy from Jane’s Party had these really striking red moccasin loafers, which I tried but failed to capture.



Rituals at the El Mo



I particularly liked that the guys from Zulu Winter all had English weather-beaten footwear. Too bad the lighting/photos didn’t capture all that character.


And saving the best for last…

Carmen Elle from Army Girls’ shoes. I’ve had terrible timing and have always missed the opportunity to see them before. I had Red Bull just before their set, so I was ready for them to melt my face off.




I was thinking of maybe altering the spelling of my name. Instead of Carmel, I could be Carmelle… then maybe I could be closer to being almost as cool as Carmen Elle.

Pocket Diving: NXNE Day 1

For NXNE, I decided to stick my nose into people's pockets... figuratively, of course.


-- reposted from Static --
My NXNE Wednesday started with pushing against elderly theatre-goers while lugging a pile of books on Albert Camus on King W on my way to the Hyatt to pick up my badge. (The Camus books were borrowed from the library for an essay I am working on for class, and not some over-the-top way of accessorizing. Though lugging it with me all night reminded me of that episode of Daria where her sister Quinn asks her what goes with the existentialist because she wanted to coordinate her outfits.)
After badges were picked up, I squeezed in some time to work on my essay before heading to the Static launch. (The essay is due Monday, and it is not going to write itself! I also have a presentation to prepare for, but NXNE is already draining me up inside already. We shall see if this spiralling will lead to madness later. Will keep you posted.)
Anyway, academic stuff aside, I’ve decided to photograph the contents of people’s pockets throughout NXNE, and here’s what people have shown me:


At the Static launch at Of A Kind…
Melody, Static Zine: earplugs and a phone



Aviva, Static Zine: anxious hands and crumpled transit tickets/transfers



Wini, Singing Lamb: 2 lip balms, phone, keys, and a reusable bag


[BAG EDITION]



David: Because, why wouldn’t you carry around your friend’s graduation photo?! –and sundries



Rochelle: essentials


[back to pockets...]

Felizia: a hair tie!



Brandon: the usual phone, keys, wallet trifecta + ipod, gum, loose change, a pull tab, and a map



Brian: cards stored in a tin cardholder!



Alex, Braves: smoothie bar business card


At the Meligrove after-party...

Travis, The Elwins: a copy of Static and a rock



Heather: a candy wrapper



Katie: vintage earrings and a Werthers Original!



Matthew, The Elwins: loose change, a lip balm and a card

tentative NXNE '12 schedule

I'm already overwhelmed, but the festival hasn't even started yet! Nevertheless, I am excited to write and share with everyone my NXNE shenanigans for Static! I can feel it in my bones, it's going to be good!

Tuesday, June 12
2pm     Carnival Moon @ Lavish & Squalor

Wednesday, June 13
5--9     Static #4 Launch @ Of A Kind (1037 College St W)
7--11   Meligrove after-party (586 Richmond St)
9pm    Army Girls @ Supermarket

Thursday, June 14
2:45    Army Girls @ JangBang
1--7    Audioblood rooftop party (435 Spadina Ave)
--:--     Julie Dioron (Bellwoods)
6pm    Dusted (Gibraltar Point, island)
--:--      Smith Westerns (Gibraltar Point, island)
10pm  Army Girls @ El Mo
10pm  Hands & Teeth @ Silver Dollar
12am  Bleached @ Silver Dollar
12am  Zulu Winter @ Rivoli
1am    Julie Doiron @ Lower Great Hall

Friday, June 15
8:30    Plants and Animals @ Dundas Sq
9pm    2:54 @ Lee's
10pm  DIIV @ Lee's
11pm  Parlovr @ Silver Dollar
11pm  Ryan O'Reilly @ El Mo
11pm  Friends @ Lee's
12am  Oberhofer @ Lee's
2am    Zulu Winter @ Lee's

Saturday, June 16
--:--     UO in-store
1--5    Boat party: Bleached, Hooded Fang (board at 207 Queens Quay W)
--:--     Ryan O'Reilly (Bellwoods)
--:--     Paper Lions (Bellwoods)
2pm    Luke Lalonde (218 Brock Ave)
3:40   THOMAS (218 Brock Ave)
4:20    Henri Faberge (218 Brock Ave)
2pm    Parlovr (Dundas Sq)
6pm    Oberhofer (Dundas Sq)
7pm    Of Montreal (Dundas Sq)
8pm    Portugal. The Man (Dundas Sq)
9pm    The Flaming Lips (Dundas Sq)
12am  Carnival Moon @ Czehoski

Sunday, June 17
--:--    Army Girls (Bellwoods)
8pm   Laura Marling @ Phoenix*


*The Laura Marling show isn't part of NXNE, but my week (/life) wouldn't be complete without her! #Truth

Brontë afternoons

Lately, when at home, I've been donning this velvet dress that has quickly become a favourite and patent brogues on the feet. (Sometimes, when running errands to the store or the post, tights and a long cardigan are added -- odd combinations to a June outfit, no doubt.)

And with Wuthering Heights and the usual cuppa on hand to keep my annoyance of Heathcliffe in moderation.