The Scenics

In the grand tradition of musicians covering their favourite bands comes a collection of live tracks recorded throughout Toronto between 1977 and 1981. How Does it Feel To Be Loved compiles five years of Hogtown’s Scenics unleashing various renditions of beloved Velvet Underground ditties in every hole-in-the-wall imaginable, from the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern to the now-defunct Beverly Tavern, with even a few basement recordings. Interestingly, many of the songs, such as "Here She Comes Now,” "New Age,” "Waiting For My Man” and "Sister Ray,” are slightly more upbeat and rockin’ than VU versions. They’re also tighter, performed by accomplished musicians, as opposed to the instrument carrying art scenesters that created them. The end result is surprisingly palatable to non-dedicated VU fans and proves the Scenics innovative in their own right, tweaking elements here and there, adding their own twist as true artists should. Factor in the low-fidelity recording techniques and How Does It Feel To Be Loved is impressive even three decades after its original recording.