Our version of NXNE differs substantially from Perez Hilton's. There was 80% as much name calling, 0% as many fights and 100% of the same Black Eyed Peas content. It's also two weeks late, but that's our sound (for more of our sound, see the mid 90's - you know...a while ago).

Being a NXNE performer means you get one of those snooty passes. It also means you have to pause and ask, "Am I one of those snooty performers?" Given that we rarely get into the 'cool' festivals, I was happily able to dismiss the thought.

Checked out the Six Shooter show at Lee's Palace on Thursday night. Mainly to see The Skydiggers. For me, this was a trip back to the mid 90's when I just started to really get into music. The Skydiggers were one of the bands for me. The songwriting, the harmonies, the rock/country/folk guitar blend. It was just something I'd never come across and I loved it. I haven't seen them play in 8 or 9 years, so to seem them back on stage was a lovely bit of nostalgia. It's not the same without Peter Cash there but the other three founding members still have all the great performing & writing skills they've had for the last 20 years.

Life really does move in circles that spiral smaller and infinitely inwards. This was illustrated again for me when I ended up meeting both Andy Maize & Josh Finlayson (the Sky in the Skydiggers, really) the next night. They were at the industry party where we were playing. To further the chain of circles, we share the same producer; J. Richard Hutt.

We played our NXNE showcase(s) after meeting the Skydiggers and had a blast. One of our managers said, "You guys played like it was Maple Leaf Gardens." To which Alex replied, "You mean an old building that's been empty for 11 years?" I don't think that's what he had in mind and the actual sentiment was appreciated.

And of course, all of this was in between visitations to our drummer who was working on the Much Music Video Awards. We had the rudimentary back-stage/on-stage/roof-of-the-stage/under-the-stage/side-stage tour. And we seriously watched the Black Eyed Peas rehearse. Sadly the Jonas brothers hadn't arrived yet or we could have done the music world a favour and turned the MMVA stage into a good location for an old fashioned hanging.

Saturday was just as weird. Glenn & I did an interview/acoustic performance with the good folks at AmpedUp.Tv . Rarely has an interview/acoustic performance lasted for almost two hours, involved several beers and a bottle of tequila. As if that wasn't enough, we dragged them to the El Mocambo show where In-Flight Safety were playing and Glenn & I ended guest interviewing the band in the El Mo seedy back alley. Delightful.

Len, Dallas & Alex on the MMVA stage to accept their award. Perhaps prematurely.