It didn't take Triggerfinger's front man Ruben Block long to lure the crowd at Lee's toward the stage with his seductive vocals and wailing guitar riffs. Flanked by some of Belgium's finest musicians, Monsieur Paul on bass and Mario Goossens on drums, this band from Antwerp delivered hard-hitting rock and blues rhythms that seem to have earned it a considerable Toronto following.
Taking to the stage next with a serious dose of energy were Burning Brides, whose heavy brand of rock was loud and good, very good. Their Saturday set was the last of three shows at NXNE for the rock trio from L.A., but they'll stay in Canada for a while longer as they tour Ontario and Quebec following the Canadian release of their new album Anhedonia, the first of their four albums to be released here.
Later that night at the Horseshoe, CBC Radio 3's Craig Norris introduced Toronto's Jason Collett as "someone who needs no introduction", and indeed the throngs of sweaty fans seemed well acquainted with his musical catalogue.
On Sunday, as The Cool Kids wrapped up NXNE at a packed Yonge and Dundas Square, the mood at Rivoli on Queen Street was intimate and jovial. Diamond Rings, the solo-project of The D'Ubervilles' lead vocalist John O. put on a stunning show that seemed to delight him as much as it did the audience.
PS I Love You took over the stage next with Kingston's Paul Saulnier on guitar and bass organ, and Benjamin Nelson on drums.
