The Sweet Sounds of Summer

 

The sound of Toronto is unique – it composes a daily song that sings through the streets as the street-cars rumble in the tracks and the cyclists ring their metal bells at the impatient drivers blowing their horns meaninglessly at each other as if it will really get them anywhere. This is the typical sound of the city – the one that people hear throughout the day if they aren’t really after a grander song. But the beauty of Toronto is that it has a variety of sounds hidden in the bars and concert halls throughout the city. Underground grungy bars, rooftop patios, the bar next door or grass lawn of the city park–

This weekend was some weekend for music in the city. On the schedule – North-by-Northeast and the Great Heart Festival in Trinity Bellwoods Park. My lovely friend, Aviva, who was a volunteer with NXNE got me a wristband which was even better. First stop: Fast Romantics at Sneaky Dee’s. An extremely attractive band had the ability to get a mingling crowd into a dancing crowd with their upbeat basement pop with edgy keyboard and heavy drums. Next was the show I had been waiting for – and turns out so was all of nxne. Mikal Cronin was playing his third night at the Silver Dollar. We managed to get let in even though it was full because of my “prestigious” friends and their Priority passes. Mikal Cronin was just perfect – A mad mosh pit, shoes in the face and glasses of water poured over us...this show was a beautiful, hot mess. The icing on the delicious cake that is Mikal Cronin was the cover of Whole Wide World by The Proclaimers – a jam to be remembered. My shoes may be garbage and I may have looked like a hot sweaty mess for the rest of the night, but it was worth it a thousand times over. To top off the night – on to the Horseshoe Tavern on Queen for The Archives. It was a great set, and a great conversation with some of the band members. Four a.m. ticks on by pretty fast when you’re having fun, so after some breakfast, it was nice to tuck into bed as the sun was rising.

            Plans for Sunday included going to The Great Heart Festival in Trinity Bellwoods Park, but outdoor concerts are stifled fast when thunderstorms threaten. But clearly Mother Nature had a great heart, and the show went on as the sun soaked up the wet ground on the hill, so soggy bums wouldn’t be too much of an issue. The sweet sounds of summer were definitely offered on the hill of this gorgeous park with the green grass and barking dogs. Accordions, funky reggae and folk sounds for the drunk folks was all that was needed to put a smile on the faces of the denim-clad, fringe-sporting festival goers.

                                                                                 

So, this weekend proved for me that there are more songs of Toronto than meet-the-ear – and I think that’s the beauty of the city, especially in the summer. Music has a way of bringing people together, because those out to hear the music are all their for the same reasons, and these reasons involve simple enjoyment. The beauty of going to listen to music is that it comes with a 2-for-1 deal of meeting new people, and these people are usually pretty rad. So a lesson to all in the city – don’t just sit around, listening to the surface sounds of the city, get out there and discover some even fuller, more lively and more diverse songs. If you don’t believe me, close your eyes and listen closely, you’re bound to hear it.