[NXNE] Bleached @ The Silver Dollar Room – June 14, 2012

Last night, the NXNE Twitter account reported that “due to unnatural forces,” Bleached would be playing the Silver Dollar at 2am instead of their originally scheduled midnight. The privileges of being a “buzz band” means that you can still pack a venue at 2 in the morning.

Hailing from Los Angeles, Bleached are sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin, rounded out by drummer Jonathan Safley and bassist Sara Jane Stevens. Often mentioned in the same breath as Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls and Vivian Girls – undoubtedly for the west coast connection and gender pigeonholing (women playing music isn’t a new concept, thank you very much) – Bleached as a live band are far more punk (or “rock ‘n’ roll post-punk” as their Facebook page states) and power chords than the other aforementioned bands. Their songs are raucous and straightforward, with a punk edge not unlike the Ramones. Their second last song was even a Ramones cover, during which Jennifer put aside her guitar to wail and dance around the stage.

Judging from the audience cheers and occasional “I love you!” shouted by a smitten male fan (or fans?), it was evident Bleached did not disappoint. For a 2am performance, Bleached certainly rocked out and I can attest – my ears are still ringing the day after.

[NXNE] Sphinxs @ The Silver Dollar Room – June 14, 2012

Sometimes I feel like I’m difficult to impress, especially when it comes to seeing bands I’ve never heard before. When I walked into the Silver Dollar Thursday night, with the intentions of waiting it out for Bleached, the band playing on stage pleasantly surprised me. I found out several songs in that the band playing was Toronto-based Sphinxs.

Sounding like a sexy, hectic marriage between the Gossip and the Hidden Cameras, Sphinxs were an all-out powerhouse on stage. Singer Siânteuse belted out bluesy, soulful vocals like she was born to do it. Flanked by five other musicians (three guitarists, a bassist and drummer), the stage looked like a frenzied party of instruments and bodies moving in unison.

Mixing various musical styles – garage rock, soul/R&B with a touch of punk – there was a unifying vibe that the band was having a blast on stage and the dancing audience was in agreement.

[NXNE] The Black Belles @ The Garrison – June 14, 2012

Clad in their black dresses, black wide-brim sunhats and black lipstick and eye makeup, the Black Belles are wholly dedicated to their image. After watching several monochromatic music videos online and seeing numerous black and white promo photos, it’s almost astounding to see that they aren’t actual film noire characters – but actual flesh and blood people in real life.

The Nashville, TN all-female band can be described as “garage goth” – the “goth” part if only for their attire, but also for the singer Olivia Jean’s snarling delivery in each song. Their bio states there are four members, but it appears Tina NoGood (keys/organ) did not accompany the band to Canada. After introducing each song with a charming smile, Olivia Jean transformed into a wicked banshee with a piercing gaze and fast guitar hand.

Every song the Black Belles played was a thumping, garage-guitar nugget, even “Honky Tonk Horror,” which Olivia Jean introduced as their “attempt to write a country song.”

The Garrison was clearly at capacity for their performance – perhaps out of curiosity due to the Black Belles’ connection to the White Stripes’ Jack White (they’re signed to his label, Third Man Records). However, the Black Belles held their own and showed they’re a real live band with rocking chops to boot.

[NXNE] Purity Ring @ Wrongbar – June 14, 2012

“Do I love this set because they are good live, or because of those glowing orbs?”

“I think it might be a bit of both”

I didn’t say much else during Purity Ring’s packed set at the Wrongbar Thursday night. After all, I could hardly pull myself away from the duo’s hypnotic, pulsating dance jam’s. Admittedly I’ve never found myself drawn to Purity Ring in recorded form but it didn’t take long to realize why they have quickly become 4AD’s newest signing, and Canada’s pitchforkiest export.

Unlike the average electronic show, the members of Purity Ring aren’t huddled behind shiny silver Macbook Pro computers or bobbing their head passively while twiddling knobs you can’t see. Sure, that stuff happens, but they also have fucking GLOWING ORBS.

These glowing orbs pulsate with the music, while acting as a dance show swiss army knife. Replacing stage lights, keyboards and drum triggers in one fell swoop. The entire set looked closer to a Nuit Blanche installation than a regular set.

Playing only a block away was Brooklyn’s punk export, The Men, the two acts went head to head at 1am for NXNE headlining supremacy. Although usually restless and claustrophobic, the feeling at the Wrongbar was almost celebratory. Like we were supporting our own. When all was said and done, even if Purity Ring has already made it, last night was as close to a coming out party as we’ll likely get.