Halifax!
Ah, the Halifax Pop Explosion. One of the last larger music festivals in Canada of the year, it gives fans the chance to enjoy great live music and the last days of Nova Scotia’s beautiful autumns, all before the cold winter months set in. This year is the 17th annual Pop Explosion, and the lineup includes over one hundred local and national acts across Halifax over five days. With so much going on, how the heck are you supposed to figure out who to see and what to do? That’s where my services come in. Well I have never personally attended the festival, I have the handy HPX ’09 schedule in front of me and a fairly extensive knowledge of Halifax in my noggin. So without further ado, here is my guide to where to eat, what to see and what shows to check out at this year’s Halifax Pop Explosion. And hey, if you need help getting around the city, you can now use Google Street View to get a clearer picture of where you are heading. If you are planning on attending HPX ’09 this year, please leave a comment on who you are planning to see and if you have any suggestions on attractions below. Hope you enjoy!
Useful Links
www.halifaxpopexplosion.com, (official Halifax Pop Explosion ’09 website, includes ticket info, set times and more)
www.thecoast.ca, (The Coast is a alternative Halifax news-weekly that has show listings, restaurant reviews and more)
www.herohill.com, (Herohill is the best Halifax-based music site with a focus on Atlantic Canadian artists)
www.picnicface.com (Picnicface is a Halifax-based sketch comedy troupe – please watch all their videos, especially “All About Halifax”, before coming)
Tuesday, October 21
WHERE TO EAT: Have a snack and some delicious fair-trade coffee at the Just Us! (1869 Upper Water St.) espresso bar in the Halifax Historic Property buildings on the waterfront.
WHAT TO DO: Get oriented with Halifax. This shouldn’t take very long. It might be worth picking up a map out the various venues that are spread throughout the city, but as discovering the rest of the city, your best bet would be your own two feet. After unpacking (Stay Nova Scotia has a pretty up-to-date list of places to stay if you’re coming from out of town), its time to get a take in a little history (don’t worry, its not boring). Start your tour of the city at Fort George on Citadel Hill – you can’t miss it – which is a British fort that was built during the late 1740s in order to counter the French’s Fort Louisbourg in Cape Breton. Its pretty impressive even today, and if you arrive there at noon, you’ll get to see them fire the midday cannon. Fun fact: Meg White of The White Stripes fired the cannon in 2007, when the band was in Halifax on their Icky Thump tour, and also made a surprise appearance at Locas Billiards (since moved to 5430 Doyle St.). Then take a stroll along the picturesque Halifax waterfront and visit the historic Pier 21. Just don’t swim in the harbour. Thanks to recently announced cleanup plans it’s getting much better, but just because this guy did, doesn’t mean you should.
WHAT SHOWS TO SEE: This is a pretty light day show-wise, but I’d definitely recommend you head over to the Paragon Theatre (2037 Gottingen St.) for a night’s lineup that includes Toronto’s youthful garage rockers Dinosaur Bones and New York City’s new wave weirdos Crystal Antlers.
Wednesday, October 22
WHERE TO EAT: Feeling classy? Then may I suggest Chives Canadian Bistro (1537 Barrington St.), which is run by Halifax’s own Gordon Ramsay, Chef Craig Flinn. Typical dishes on the menu might include anything from curried Indian Point mussels to basil pesto crusted chicken breast to pumpkin mousse torte. Now wipe that off that saliva coming from the corner of your mouth.
WHAT TO DO: Take a walk through beautiful Point Pleasant Park where you can still see the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Juan, which hit Nova Scotia’s mainland in September 2003.
WHAT SHOWS TO SEE: On Wednesday, the schedule starts getting much busier, with a number of venues having showcases around the same times. With overlapping set times, your best bet is to pick one showcase and make yourself comfortable. The Toothy Moose (1661 Argyle St.) has Vancouver’s Hannah Georgas and Said The Whale joining Nova Scotia’s Kestrels and The Memories Attack, the latter consisting of Ron Bates and Eric’s Trip guitarist Chris Thompson. The Herohill showcase at the near-legendary Seahorse Tavern isn’t anything to sniff at either, with hometown heroes The Got To Get Got and Toronto’s own Bruce Peninsula. If its getting late and you feel like seriously bobbing your head, ignore the vastly overrated Mates of State at the Paragon, and instead catch the vastly underrated Canadian rapper D-Sisive at Coconut Grove (1567 Grafton Street). Recently, the Toronto-based Derek “D-Sisive” Christoff has received some long overdue attention. His latest album, Let The Children Die, was named to the Polaris Prize Long List (and were a fair share of folks who thought he should have been in the top ten) and his “Nobody With A Notepad” won the fourth annual national ECHO Songwriting Prize (beating out songs from Sebastien Grainger, Joel Plaskett and Timber Timbre). His lyrics are dense, mostly autobiographical, and anything but happy – the man certainly has his share of demons, including struggles with depression and his father’s death a few years ago. But if you like hip-hop that’s brutally honest and personnel, than D-Sisive might be right up your alley. Don’t be surprised if some of Nova Scotia’s best rappers show up at this show as well – Classified and Buck 65 were both guests on Let The Children Die.
Thursday, October 23
Jenocide
WHERE TO EAT: The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse (5136 Prince St.). My cousin took me to this fairly authentic-looking Celtic pub in downtown Halifax this summer, and it couldn’t have been a better place for me to enjoy my first legal drink in Nova Scotia (a Strongbow, for those who were curious). The Old Triangle serves your standard pub food – fish & chips (it would be a cardinal sin for you to visit Nova Scotia and not enjoy some fresh seafood from the Atlantic Ocean) and burgers, with a few Nova Scotian specialties like shepherd’s pie – but proportions are generous, and the outdoor patio is a great place to enjoy a pitcher of Alexander Keith’s (named of course after perhaps the only city mayor/brewmaster in Canadian history. Depending on the night, you can also catch live music.
WHAT TO DO: Go to Peggy’s Cove! Sure its an incredibly cliche tourist destination, but the fishing town is incredibly postcard picturesque and the lighthouse ain’t too shabby either. If you don’t have a car, or know someone that does, than there are a plethora of packages from out of Halifax that make trips daily. This website should help you plan your trip, including weddings, if you happen to meet that special someone during your trip to Nova Scotia.
WHAT SHOWS TO SEE: Start your night right with some soothing folk-pop courtesy of Julie Doiron, who will be playing at St. Matthew’s Church, a beautiful old church in the downtown core that has hosted everyone from Tegan & Sara to Spiral Beach in the past. From there head over to Coconut Grove to see Edmonton’s Hot Panda, who’ll get the blood pumping through your body with their energetic pop tunes. Throw on your dancing shoes and finish the night at the Paragon, which has a solid lineup, including Jenocide, Oldfolks Home, Think About Life and Cadence Weapon. Edmonton’s Cadence Weapon is obviously the biggest name on the bill. The man is one of Canada’s most talented wordsmiths and according to recent Tweets, fans might get a taste of new material from the rapper. But the rest of the lineup is nothing to sniff at either. I’ve featured Winnipeg laptop extraordinaire Ricardo Lopez’s Oldfolks Home earlier this year on the Lamb, and from anybody that I’ve talked to that’s seen them live, Think About Life puts on a hell of a live show. But definitely keep an eye on Halifax newcomer Jen Clarke, aka Jenocide, who makes grrl-power fueled electro-pop complete with breathy come-ons (her debut album is called Machines To Make Us Wet) with Ed Renzi laying down some nasty beats. If you are a fan of Thunderheist, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees, and/or Peaches, then you definitely need to check her out. While you are listening to some of her tunes, read this silly questionnaire she did with the guys over at Herohill .
Friday, October 24
MSTRKRFT
WHERE TO EAT: So chances are you’re going to be running around like a madman or woman between shows on Friday night, so having a proper, nutritious sit-down meal might be entirely out of the question. Luckily, that’s where “Pizza Corner” comes in. Located on the intersection between Blowers and Grafton Street, “Pizza Corner” is so aptly-named because there are three locations in which you can get a nice, greasy, slice of pepperoni pizza or chicken shawarma and a Coke to wash it down. My personal favourite? Sicilian Pizza (5245 Blowers St.); it has ample room to sit, and provides a perfect vantage for watching the skateboarders and the university kids as they pass by. Just keep an eye on your wallet here after dark.
WHAT TO DO: You know you’re going out tonight, so you might as well look good doing it. Worth a visit for its plethora of band tees (everyone from AC/DC to Zeppelin), hoodies, bullet belts, posters and other memorabilia (some of which may or may not be drug-related) is Rock Candy Boutique on Prince Street. For all you hipster kids going to the MSTRKRFT show, I only recently discovered that Halifax has an American Apparel (1482 Queen St.), so go there for all your neon and spandex needs. There are also a plethora of malls in Halifax, Dartmouth and surrounding urban wastelands, including Mic Mac Mall, Halifax Shopping Centre, and the newish Dartmouth Crossing. You now have no excuses to look like a slob.
WHAT SHOWS TO SEE: Decisions, decisions. By far, one of the strongest nights of the entire festival, fans of all genres of music have plenty to choose from. Of course, the two obvious Saturday marquee performances would have to be Owen Pallett’s Final Fantasy appearing with Symphony Nova Scotia at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, and MSTRKRFT playing The New Palace. Both events are sold-out, so for those lucky enough to be holding tickets, enjoy: Pallett has been working on new material and backed by the orchestral grandeur of SNS (who have played with the likes Joel Plaskett and Natalie McMaster, among others) it should add up to one of the festival’s highlight performances. This show is also all-ages. If you are like me, and your a bigger fan of dirty electro-rock, than this rare Atlantic Canadian appearance by Jesse F. Keeler and Al-P will be sure to be a drunken, sweaty good time. Things you can expect at a MSTRKRFT show: Crown Royal to be poured into eager fans’ mouths, JFK DJing with a cigarette dangling from his mouth the entire time, and a packed dancefloor. But wait, there’s more! For those of you without tickets to these two shows, don’t fret: there are still plenty of amazing showcases worth your time. The Acorn and recent EXCLAIM! cover stars Ohbijou aren’t really my kind of music, but for fans of rootsy, folk-rock, both bands will be playing St. Matthews Church early. It may be the smallest province in Canada, but the showcase at Coconut Grove proves that Prince Edward Island certainly doesn’t suffer from a shortage of talented bands. The lineup includes Smothered In Hugs, The Danks, Mardeen, and the increasingly popular Two Hours Traffic, who have just released a terrific new album and should draw in a pretty packed crowd.
Saturday, October 25
Girl Talk
WHERE TO EAT: That headache you’re feeling? That’s called a hangover. And we all know there’s no remedy for a hangover quite like a nice, greasy bacon and eggs breakfast and a pot of coffee. Coastal Cafe (2731 Robie St.) was voted by The Coast readers as the Best Breakfast of 2009; and with dishes like “The Elvis” (a buttermilk waffle sandwich with peanut butter, bananas, and bacon, drenched in maple syrup and “The Jamaican Me Crazy” (two fried eggs with jerk sausage, roast sweet potatoes, corn fritters, and molasses), I can definitely see why. For those of you who like ornate fruit displays with your breakfast, there’s also a Cora’s (5523 Spring Garden Road).
WHAT TO DO: Take the ferry to Dartmouth. It may not be as glamourous or action-packed as Halifax, but this sister city immortalized in Matt May’s “City Of Lakes” and countless Joel Plaskett songs certainly isn’t without its own charms. Start with a stroll along the waterfront for the chance to get some lovely panoramic photos of Halifax and McNabs Island in the harbour. Get breakfast at the farmer’s market inside Alderney Landing, which runs from 8 am to 1 pm. If you feel like getting some exercise, or walking off your breakfast, there are a number of scenic options in Dartmouth. Take a stroll along Lake Banook, which has hosted numerous national and international canoeing and kayaking championships. This site also has a number of Dartmouth and area trails.
WHAT SHOWS TO SEE: Two words: Girl Talk. If you missed the boat on getting tickets to this show, than that is truly unfortunate, because the artist formerly known as Greg Gillis will be sure to bring the party to St. Antonio’s Hall (2455 Windsor St.). Wear loose-fitting clothes, drink plenty of fluids beforehand, and be prepared to loose your mind (trust me, the spectacle of seeing several hundred strangers all singing, “I love having sex, but I’d rather get some head” is something that stays in your head) because a Girl Talk show is more than a guy pressing play on a laptop – its an entire sensory overload. While a curious choice, its nice to see Nova Scota’s Rich Aucoin opening for Gillis, and he’ll be sure to get the crowd warmed up properly. Not nineteen? No problem, because the fine folks organizing the Converse Pavilion Stage (5816 Cogswell St.) have put together a fine lineup including Mississauga’s Dance Electric, Toronto’s Boys Who Say No, Montreal’s Devil Eyes and scrappy Brooklyn garage-punks Japanther. End a great week in fine form at the Sirius showcase at the Paragon with Little Girls, Zeus, You Say Party! We Say Die! and one of my favourite new Canadian bands so far this year, Japandroids.
