Taking to the stage around midnight to close out NXNE's 2015 festivities, Toronto quartet Dirty Frigs showed first and foremost their ability to read a crowd well. Largely dialling back their louder, heavier sounds for those in attendance who were content to nurse their beers, the band's set first encouraged onlookers to unwind from a long few days of shows with Duncan Hay Jennings' hazy guitar twang, which led the way through the slow-burning opener "Swampy."
Driving the band forth the rest of way was vocalist Bria Salmena, who showed off her impressive vocal range by switching from a smooth, slow tone to screeching highs in seconds flat. Foot upon the stage monitor, she at times looked more than ready to leave her post to serenade the crowd from close quarters, but held back from the tired patrons that packed the bar. Though the Frigs may have been marginally less dirty than past performances, it was an enjoyable balance between both extremes of their sound that put a cap on the festival.
Driving the band forth the rest of way was vocalist Bria Salmena, who showed off her impressive vocal range by switching from a smooth, slow tone to screeching highs in seconds flat. Foot upon the stage monitor, she at times looked more than ready to leave her post to serenade the crowd from close quarters, but held back from the tired patrons that packed the bar. Though the Frigs may have been marginally less dirty than past performances, it was an enjoyable balance between both extremes of their sound that put a cap on the festival.