Recording: Mexican Slang

Artist: Mexican Slang

Song: Eating Fettuccine With Steve Albini

Recorded at Lakeview Stage ("Dundas West Fest"), June 6, 2015.

Mexican Slang - Eating Fettuccine With Steve Albini

For the second year running, The Garrison showed its community spirit, programming a day's worth of live music in the parking lot across the street from them. With a zero per cent chance of rain and the sun in that not-too-hot-not-too-cool zone, it was a pretty perfect day to stand in the street and take in some music. Top-notch sound kept heads turning throughout the day, and there was enough variety to appeal to various segments of the passers-by.

Slightly goofy title or no, this older tune still cuts pretty fiercely on stage. The band's sets are slowly stretching out — if not quite at the half-hour mark yet — and they managed to cast a strange sort of energy over Dundas Street, getting more of the passing grandmothers and winos to nod their heads and shimmy than any of the day's previous acts.

[Mexican Slang will be playing The Silver Dollar Room alongside No Joy, beliefs and Dirty Frigs on Saturday, June 20th.]

Recording: Good Enough Live Karaoke

Artist: Good Enough Live Karaoke feat. Jay Share-It

Song: The Passenger [Iggy Pop cover]

Recorded at Lakeview Stage ("Dundas West Fest"), June 6, 2015.

Good Enough Live Karaoke - The Passenger

For the second year running, The Garrison showed its community spirit, programming a day's worth of live music in the parking lot across the street from them. With a zero per cent chance of rain and the sun in that not-too-hot-not-too-cool zone, it was a pretty perfect day to stand in the street and take in some music. Top-notch sound kept heads turning throughout the day, and there was enough variety to appeal to various segments of the passers-by.

Quickly becoming Toronto's hardest-working live karaoke band, Tim McCready's rotating unit aspires to be "Good Enough" to be able to wing it when acting as the backing band for anyone brave enough to sign up and sing on stage in front of a crowd. With hundreds of songs in their book, they're becoming known for playing long sets for all comers. This rousing afternoon set on the festival's stage saw them playing with a few ringers, including Jay Share-It (of The Green Rays and Fill Spectre) as well as some members of the public.

[Good Enough are holding down the stage at Yonge Dundas Square on Sunday, June 21st from noon to 5:00 p.m., so if you've ever fantasized about fronting a band on the big stage of the city's living room, this is your chance. You can keep up on other Good Enough events at their facebook group.]

Recording: Neon Wave

Artist: Neon Wave

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Lakeview Stage ("Dundas West Fest"), June 6, 2015.

Neon Wave - unknown

For the second year running, The Garrison showed its community spirit, programming a day's worth of live music in the parking lot across the street from them. With a zero per cent chance of rain and the sun in that not-too-hot-not-too-cool zone, it was a pretty perfect day to stand in the street and take in some music. Top-notch sound kept heads turning throughout the day, and there was enough variety to appeal to various segments of the passers-by.

This band name was unfamiliar to me, but a familiar face put it all into context. Fronted by Garrison bartender Norm Maschke (ex-Whale Tooth), this band only has a handful of gigs under their belt, but they do seem well on their way to staking out a sonic identity. Their name, in fact, is a decent nod in that direction, conjuring up a certain atmospheric quality, perhaps one recalled with a grainy 80's VHS haze. They don't seem to have much of an online presence yet, so you'll just have to check'em out live for now.

[Neon Wave will be playing at Handlebar at midnight on Saturday, June 20th.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: The Royal Crowns

Artist: The Royal Crowns

Songs: I'm Coming Home [Johnny Horton cover] + Pill Poppin' Poppa

Recorded at Lakeview Stage ("Dundas West Fest"), June 6, 2015.

The Royal Crowns - I'm Coming Home

The Royal Crowns - Pill Poppin' Poppa

For the second year running, The Garrison showed its community spirit, programming a day's worth of live music in the parking lot across the street from them. With a zero per cent chance of rain and the sun in that not-too-hot-not-too-cool zone, it was a pretty perfect day to stand in the street and take in some music. Top-notch sound kept heads turning throughout the day, and there was enough variety to appeal to various segments of the passers-by.

Local rockabilly kings The Royal Crowns might have gathered the day's biggest crowd of passers-by, with plenty stopping to boogie or jitterbug a spell. Presented with plenty of cornball jokes and wearing their loudest shirts, the trio couldn't distract from the savvy they've gathered in over two decades of performance. I don't cross paths with this stuff too often, so kudos to The Garrison for including them in the afternoon's entertainment.

Recording: THOMAS

Artist: THOMAS

Song: unknown^*

Recorded outside Fountain ("Fountain of Mouth" @ Dundas West Fest), June 8, 2013.

THOMAS - unknown

Full review to follow. "We have a song with the word 'rocking' in it," Said Thom Gill before launching into this one. Playing to the hurly-burly of the first annual Dundas West Fest, the trio indeed rocked out in this set, a nice chance to see Gill flashing his guitar skills.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: The Jessica Stuart Few

Artist: The Jessica Stuart Few

Song: Kid Dream

Recorded at West Stage ("Dundas West Fest"), June 8, 2013.

The Jessica Stuart Few - Kid Dream

Full review to follow. Jessica Stuart can make you feel like you're laying back on cool green grass, even when you're just standing in a Beer Store parking lot. Despite a few technical glitches, she brought some sunny sounds (on guitar and koto), attracting the attention of the passers-by — I think I even saw one dude pause for a second before taking in his empties.

If you're making plans for NXNE, The JSF will be playing C'est What on Friday, June 14 at 1 a.m.