Halifax Pop Explosion started on Tuesday, but if you haven’t made your musical schedule yet, I’m here. Of course you should fit in everyone we wrote about too, but that’s on you.
Thursday
Today we’re making a rap-punk-garage rock sandwich, but don’t forget to eat real food on today’s journey. Bring some trail mix, your nutritionist will be proud. Then go see Jerk Damaged at 6pm at the Pavilion. It’s all ages so bring a young person and a willingness to take in Truro’s best scrappy punk. Make use of the HPX bus and get your bum to the Olympic Community Hall to see Weirdo Click getting everything and everyone extremely hype at 7:30pm. Lightmares came all the way from Sudbury so you should go all the way to Gus’ Pub for 10pm to give them a thumbs up. The Mouthbreathers scream and shred but you’re not afraid, walk right into the Marquee like you own the place at 10:30pm. Somehow acquire a full, bushy beard and show it off when Action Bronson is making you feel cooler than ever, 11:15pm at the Olympic Community Hall. Goodnight you princes of Maine, you kings of New England, tomorrow’s another big one.
Friday
You care not for a 9-5 workday, so shuffle over to Gus’ Pub at 3pm to see The Ketamines kill all evil with a cleansing garage fire. Tough Age are on at 4:30pm so relax at Gus’ awhile, enjoy the break. Nicole Ariana stuns in every way imaginable with hot new songs off her extremely new (try three days old) EP, 4 Seasons. It’s pure goodness and love so run to the CKDU lobby for 5:30pm (and again at the Coho at 8). Sure, you’re smiling now, but are you laughing? Stand up magic from Sandi Rankaduwa will fix that at 7:10pm at the Seahorse. Solids are from Montreal. Their noisy grunge defies all provincial borders, confirm that at 8pm at Reflections. Pop reigns in Hell with The Bicycles at midnight. See why they’ve stood the test of time (hint: it’s evolution).
Saturday
As my step class instructor would say, “LET’S GO! FINISH STRONG!” Take her breathlessly shouted suggestion and apply it to your final day of HPX. Make those memories. Begin at 3pm with Wet Denim at the Marquee. They will have a new album November 30 so you can stop wringing your hands and looking at the calendar already. And 7pm at the Seahorse, Laugh Sabbath begins. Jon Blair will step up to the laughter plate and hit a laughter home run while you sit in the stands eating laughter popcorn. Soar into the clouds with Saffrons at 8pm at Reflections, reflect upon your week while pondering what pedal you want to buy next. Dirty Beaches (11pm, Reflections) will have you transfixed with a reworked, fuzzed-out, moody rockabilly. Note to self: Buy Brylcreem. Lunice ushers your HPX to a close with huge beats. It’s 1am, you’re at Reflections, it’s a Saturday night and you’ve had the best HPX ever. Congratulations.
This article appears in Pop Explosion.
