Shain's Blog: CMJ Day 3! - October 23, 2009
Well, last night was Canadian Blast at CMJ, a five band bill featuring some of the best music coming out of Canada. First, off the diversity of Canadian Blast at CMJ this year was impressive. To start, frenetic indie-surf rockers Spiral Beach opened up, giving an ADD-fueled performance of songs off their new album, The Really Only Thing. It was fast, upbeat and over the top. Check them out at a Canadian Blast Presents gig on November 24th at The Queen Of Hoxton in London.
Spiral Beach
Next up was Toronto via Winnpeg MC Grand Analog and his band. Mixing reggae, pop and indie into a stew driven by positive and conscience lyrics, Grand Analog showcased himself as one of Canada’s brightest hip-hop talents.
Grand Analog
The hip-hop continued with Last Gang Records’ signed Montrealers, Let’s Go To War. Filling in for Classified, the group put together a quick set in a day and drove down to New York, just to play the showcase. The result was a electro-tinged amalgam of hip-hop, trance and drum and bass, not far off of MSTRKRFT or other contemporaries.
Jets Overhead
The night ended on two completely different sides of the spectrum. First came the melodic alt-rock of Victoria’s Jets Overhead, followed the pummeling heavy metal of Montreal’s Priestess.
Priestess
Both are very, very good at what they did and played to packed audiences, whether it was moody and melodic or dark, double-guitar influenced rock and roll.
Another success for Canadian Blast.
Shain Shapiro
UK/Europe
CIMA
