Hanging over the city, local threesome the Balconies kicked off NXNE at the CN Tower, burning through an ebullient set of grooved-up, girl/guy power pop. Sonically lush and frequently infectious, the combo wrested attention from the panoramic backdrop - no easy feat. Singer Jacquie Neville knows how to work a crowd, and her fretboard acrobatics and Florence and the Machine-worthy vocals made her a full-package front-woman. That said, whether strolling or stomping, the crack rhythm section more than held its own. With shades of the Long Blondes - minus the 1950s nostalgia - and Rainer Maria - minus the emo poetics - it was an oft-rousing show.
NXNE - The Balconies
CN Tower, Toronto ON June 16
Published Jun 17, 2010