What was undoubtedly one of the most heavily branded events at this year's North by Northeast was also one of the best so far, as multi-armed media octopus VICE and sneaker company Vans brought an eclectic array of acts to Toronto Island. Here's what you missed.
1) A half-pipe
For those who had the urge to skate (or cycle) and destroy, the half-pipe gave them that opportunity. For the rest of us, it was a great opportunity to see some great tricks, as well as guys wiping out and almost crashing into the metal barrier.
2) Free skateboards and t-shirts with laser-made-logos
This doesn't sound too impressive until you really stop and think about it. We live in an age where companies will just casually whip out a laser to put their logo on some swag. It's basically the Jetsons.
3) Mikey Dangerous representing reggae to the fullest
Canada's reggae scene isn't as active as it was back in the 1980s, when acts like Messenjah, Leroy Sibbles and Noel Ellis were all actively cranking out records, but Montreal's Mikey Dangerous makes it looks as if Canadian reggae may be due for a comeback. He has a sound that moves between roots and dancehall, and a super high energy stage presence.
4) The Posterz, who might be Canada's next big hip-hop act
Montreal rap trio the Posterz have complex rhymes delivered in a deceivingly relaxed style over hazy, psychedelic-influenced beats. They also have a super-stoked everyman stage presences that makes them really, really likeable. They remind you of your buddies who used to rap in front of your high school except, they're much, much better.
5) Le1f voguing and climbing into the crowd without missing a beat
When we say Le1f was voguing during his set, we don't just mean a couple check-the-pretend cameo Halle Berry face pats, he was multi-level, arms everywhere, framing his face like a magazine while in a sort of sideways half-squat going for it. He also managed to do all this without screwing up his rhymes at all.
6) Omar Souleyman doing a lot while doing very little
Omar Souleyman is sort of the anti-Le1f. He doesn't move a ton. Still, the Syrian wedding singer-turned-hipster favourite can get a crowd to move. In his mixture of traditional thawb-and-keffiyeh and almost impossibly dark shades, he gives a vibe of authority on stage, and when he raises his hands to get the crowd to get up and dance, you don't ask questions. You just move. It's like your dad telling you to dance.
7) Future Islands Samuel T. Herring as the hardest working man in show business
You hear a lot about how great Samuel T. Herring is live, but it's not really until you see him in the flesh, hitting himself in the chest, flying around the stage, high kicking and occasionally doing that weird death metal growl thing that you go, "Oh yeah, this guy might really be the best frontman of the past decade."
8) A surprisingly aggressive sounding Pusha T
For more than a decade, Pusha T's trademark has been menacing lyrics delivered with a sort of slit-eyed coolness. That wasn't the case last night, when King Push delivered most of his lines somewhere between a growl and a shout.
by Chris Dart via Electronic RSS
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