Reverbs from NXNE — Trending at #Hashtag Gallery
MusicAll throughout this week, Color contributor Aidan Johnston will be blogging daily from the NXNE Festival in Toronto. Make sure to check back everyday for great photos, stories and reviews from around the festival!
What's the best way to find out your friends are at a concert you weren't invited too? Your Instagram feed becomes clogged with indecipherable pictures taken 50 feet from the stage. Thankfully they hashtagged the bands in their comments, and thankfully #Hashtag Gallery (I'm still not sure how to properly hashtag them, double hashtag?) has organized a much better visual representation of live music, exhibiting the top Canadian photographers for LIVE@NXNE-Music Meets Photography. I'll confirm fears now and say, yes there was a Nickelback photo and at least one girl who thought they were hot.
Dundas West gallery lined with some of the best moments captured during past NXNE festivals.
For me, a great concert photo should do one of two things: either make you fondly remember being there, or inflict you with a longing for a show you’ll never get to see. The most impressive shots are ones that can capture the scope and energy of a stadium performance in a single frame, which veteran Michael Hurcomb has achieved. Toronto favourite Jess Baumung has captured Fucked Up’s Damon Abrahams on stage intensity so well it feels like one could lean in to softly hear him yelling at you like a misbehaved stepchild. It’s strange to say that in a gallery full of noiseless photos there are ‘quiet’ moments, but the silent stillness of the Wooden Ships playing in a living room echoes the hush of the unseen audience.
The Wooden Ships [ o ] Jesse Baumung
Pete Nema captures the best foam party this side of Cancun
Towards the end of the opening show it seemed more people were there to have their photos taken than to look at any one else’s. Too bad they could have taken some hints at how to preserve those awesome moments that are never quite as crisp the next morning. Though honestly the Hefe filter can never hurt…
LIVE@NXNE will be on display from June 12-27 at #Hashtag Gallery, 801 Dundas West.
Aidan Johnston is your NXNE correspondent—biking, cabbing and crawling his way across Toronto to deliver coverage that's as unofficial as an after-party. Check back everyday and you might just find your new favourite band!
