REVIEW: 2016 NXNE
Followed by The Effens from Toronto with their trendy new wave creations, with lots of hair flipping heavy glam rock guitar, resembling at times, U2. Check out CD
“Burn Blush” www.theeffens.com
Topping the night off was EAGULLS from Leeds U.K. www.eagulls.co.uk They brought us hits from their 3rd album “Ullages“. These polite lads collaborated beautifully leaving a euphoric sense if you closed your eyes, you were at a Cure concert. Creative and unique, yet, a very comforting and familiar sound. Brought me back in time creating a distraction from my daily stressors. Mark Goldsworthy on guitar, George Mitchell on lead vocals and Henry Ruddell on drums with Tom Kelly on bass and Liam Matters on guitar site brought “My Life In Rewind” I can see how they got to perform live on David Letterman and how they impressed Bill Murray too. I loved their psychedelic loud bass and retro feel. Their career is destined for infinite success with “Never Endings”. All in all this 1st night oozed trendy distinctive mystical dream pop goth-punk with hint of the blues! www.eagulls.co.uk
June 15th was Day 3 brought me to Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers campus for NXNE Interactive Conference. Was a perfect day from the delicious breakfast and lunch, helpful staff and friendly organizers and front row reserved seating in the huge auditorium that was filled with eager music and gamers alike. Intro’s seen the Dean of Ryerson University Charles Falzon from Faculty of Communications and Design, followed by Michael Hollett co-founder and President of NXNE who is passionate about music, culture and politics. Michael Hollett came from a journalistic family and he is also with Now Magazine, Alternative News Foundation and co-founding member & Board of Director for Music Canada. Intro’s continued with Steve Gans of AMD and the incredibly up lifting humour filled, educational ICON session with American Engineer, entrepreneur Nolan Bushnell, the Father of Modern gaming took center stage. Nolan is most famous for ATARI and Chuck E. Cheese pizza theatres, and he walked us though his careers and how he created ETAK the 1st digital maps of the world as part if automotive navigation which is the back bone of Google or Map Quest, sharing he was Steve Jobs’ only boss! Nolan shared his recipient of The Video Game Hall of Fame; Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame and Outstanding Contributor to Video Game Industry BAFTA award. Nolan was involved with Catalyst Technologies the 1st tech incubator of the 1st digital navigation system by video; the 1st online ordering system and UWINK the 1st touch screen menu ordering and entertainment system. He has a movie on ATARI coming out staring Leonardo Dicaprio and has a PONG The Musical coming out as well. Photo of Nolan Bushnell.

Last session of the conference for me was VR is the New Frontier Future of Gaming. Virtual Reality Sasa Marinkovic 28 year veteran who patented Power X press found in many notebooks. He is a global and regional HEAD of VR Software marketing at Radeon Tech at AMD which is a 47 year old company called Advanced Micro Devices, that develops computer processors for business consumer markets with mother board chip sets and microprocessors. They are the 2nd largest supplier and only significant rival is INTEL. Along with Sasa was Henry Faber from Gamma Space a collaborative studio in T.O showcasing power of VR and future of gaming, where designers come together at the non profit arts org. To work and play. Henry enlightened us on the future of VR in music and video games. Ryerson University Associate Professor Richard Lachnan a director of Transmission Zone commentated…a very funny man. 65th Mayor of T.O the honorable John Tory made a visit discussing the importance of music in Toronto and how he wishes to bring music back, to make it a hub and reviving scene once again.
Actress Anna Camp and actor Skylar Astin who starred together in Pitch Perfect played at Courtyard Hotel’s North by Northeast Festival Barcade on Thursday, June 16, 2016, in Toronto, Canada. (Dale Wilcox/AP Images for Courtyard by Marriott).
Actress Anna Camp and actor Skylar Astin who starred together in Pitch Perfect talk on stage at Courtyard Hotel’s North by Northeast Festival Barcade on Thursday, June 16, 2016, in Toronto, Canada. (Dale Wilcox/AP Images for Courtyard by Marriott
NFL star Sammy Watkins (Buffalo) was also on-site on Friday, June 17.
I had the distinct pleasure to capture some behind stage shots while NQ Arbuckle were show casing to a fully jammed and sold out room at Horseshoe Tavern with fans as far away as Montreal. Feel Free to visit www.nqarbuckle.ca