Ahhhhh New Friends Fest. I could rant and rave about how awesome this thing is, but you've heard it from everyone else (including myself in my post for 2019's, linked here) so we'll just skip it and go right to the bands. One thing to note, I tested positive for covid the following morning, hence no more NFF videos from me this year. Gutted I missed Saturday and Sunday. I'll be there again in 2024 hopefully!
NEW FRIENDS FEST 2022 Day 1
July 29th, 2022
Lithuanian House
Toronto, ON
I don't know what happened but I lost the video of their last song. But as I didn't highlight in the Hamilton post (linked here) it's the longer one that starts with Ali finger picking and is just a mesmerizing jam. All three times I saw them play this on tour it got everyone in the crowd involved and was always discussed post-set as being a fucking killer tune. Well done, my friends.
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I had seen this name around local fliers and whatnot but hadn't actually heard them. Hearing them (and seeing them) was fucking awesome. The vocal harmonies, the prodigious amount of smiles, and they were all wearing Piper Maru shirts. They kind of remind me of a slightly heavier Scratchy Blanket with tons of talented vocalists. Check them out for sure.
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The California fellas absolutely tore it up (as per usual, as I've seen them thrice in in almost as many months!). Thom swung that hair around, Jon sweat profusely, and I had a little Josh connection during the set whilst playing where we caught each others' eyes and I made a heart with my fingers. Dawwww. I love ma boys.
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At this point in the show it was very busy, and the upper (and smaller...and hotter) room was filling up with people so off to the side I went. Because of this I couldn't get the vocals recorded properly, but you can hear everything else. Damn they've got great stage presence and had the crowd screaming along. I love each one of these members. Just fantastic people. Snotty, sassy, punk rock from members of Terry Green and Huge Cosmic.
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I'd heard a lot about this band so I was excited to them and was not disappointed. I hadn't checked out much stuff online so I'm unsure if it took me a couple of songs to get it or if it took them a couple songs to get their footing, but either way by the end of the set I was very impressed. I do wish I had taken a video later on, as this was the first or second song (I think). Very vocal driven punk rock with hardcore elements? I'm kind of unsure on this band's comparisons so just check them out for yourselves <3
The half-Canadian-born LOCKTENDER from Michigan essentially reformed to play this fest and holy moly they did not disappoint. A massive and intimidating wall of noise and controlled volcanic eruptions amidst a few truly serene (and even sing-along!) moments, the three founding members and fill-in vocalist Brock put on one of the best sets of the night.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< < < < < <<<<</^\>>>>> > > > > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My good friends were a last minute addition to this fest, and having previously whooped all asses at ZBR Fest 2022 Mid-West I knew what to except and I was not disappointed. These four played their hearts out and played material from their forthcoming full length releasing this December on cd, cassette, and 12". The new stuff is likely inspired by a mixture of Kidcrash and City Of Caterpillar with some Ostraca chaos injected for good measure, but in no way does their material sound like a copy of these bands, but more like an amalgamation of love as heard through the collective ears of MASSA NERA.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< < < < < <<<<</^\>>>>> > > > > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~What's that? Hot? You're goddamn right it was. That little room was packed full to the brim so I could only handle three songs before needing air. My old buds had a roomful of people singing along to their off-kilter brand of post-punk, noise-rock, sassy, post-hardcore or whatever the hell it's called. It's amazing and I've heard the new album and it's fucking incredible! Kudos, LIFE IN VACUUM.
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