Seeing a band at Siesta Nouveaux is like going to a house show. Everyone's tightly packed into a tiny room with no stage, rocking out because they genuinely want to be there. Only problem? Siesta Nouveaux's sound system isn't exactly great, which is why the band's energy level is vital to making a show at this venue memorable. Thankfully, every band that played this night did just that.
First up was Toronto's !Attention!, who delivered a solid set of pop punk the way it should be - fast and hard-hitting with melodic overtones. Vocalist Glenn Barrington had a raspy quality reminiscent of the Minutemen, and the five-piece could hardly keep their feet on the floor with all the jumping they did to rev up the crowd.
Next to roll with the pop punk flow were locals Junior Battles. On guitar and lead vocals was Exclaim! TV's very own Sam Sutherland, who proudly told the audience how amazingly easy and honest it was to play the same type of music he loved when he was 15. However, he did get booed after pissing off the crowd for admitting he hated Bruce Springsteen in his prepubescent days, before forging ahead with their energy-infused set and setting up Kitchener's Wayfarer to bring things to a heavier level.
For their first time playing in Toronto, Buffalo natives Lemuria had a pack of dedicated fans singing along from their first song "Pants" off the album Get Better to the encore track "Keep Quiet" off The First Collection. Their blend of emo/pop punk is both soothing and enticing, as the faster parts got the crowd riled up. Besides vocalist Sheena Ozzella having a pretty sounding voice, it's her simple melodic guitar riffs that really make the songs. This year, Ozzella plans on going back to college to master the craft of baking and pastries, so maybe next time they're on tour there will be some scrumptious goodies for sale at the merch table.
First up was Toronto's !Attention!, who delivered a solid set of pop punk the way it should be - fast and hard-hitting with melodic overtones. Vocalist Glenn Barrington had a raspy quality reminiscent of the Minutemen, and the five-piece could hardly keep their feet on the floor with all the jumping they did to rev up the crowd.
Next to roll with the pop punk flow were locals Junior Battles. On guitar and lead vocals was Exclaim! TV's very own Sam Sutherland, who proudly told the audience how amazingly easy and honest it was to play the same type of music he loved when he was 15. However, he did get booed after pissing off the crowd for admitting he hated Bruce Springsteen in his prepubescent days, before forging ahead with their energy-infused set and setting up Kitchener's Wayfarer to bring things to a heavier level.
For their first time playing in Toronto, Buffalo natives Lemuria had a pack of dedicated fans singing along from their first song "Pants" off the album Get Better to the encore track "Keep Quiet" off The First Collection. Their blend of emo/pop punk is both soothing and enticing, as the faster parts got the crowd riled up. Besides vocalist Sheena Ozzella having a pretty sounding voice, it's her simple melodic guitar riffs that really make the songs. This year, Ozzella plans on going back to college to master the craft of baking and pastries, so maybe next time they're on tour there will be some scrumptious goodies for sale at the merch table.
