Say what you will about New York's Liars, but they're not just an art punk noise rock band. They're much more -- something different, something unhinged. Last night at Lee's Palace they created a sonic roller coaster from hell, with the band's bass heavy rhythms and stuttering guitar work set astutely against front man Angus Andrews otherworldly vocals.

The basement-house-party vibe may define what the shows at the Shop (underneath Parts and Labour) are like, but it really takes the energy of the bands to make it come to life. Sunday night was an almost out of control riot from start to finish, with Estrogen Highs, Baths, Teenanger, and of course, Ty Segall and company.

While my friend visiting from Detroit sleeps, I write. And eat leftover pizza. We biked through hell and urban smog to Toronto's most irritating venue (well, okay, The Phoenix kind of sucks too) for theDead Weather, a show not to be missed.

After some brief hilarity regarding guest lists and media access, we made it in to see the last half of the mighty Lullabye Arkestra, hometown heroes and all around great people. Unfortunately due to our being three minutes late for the photo pit access I wasn't allowed to take any photos of thee ark. But they killed it! It was amazing to see them play in such a large venue, to such a large crowd.

I had a full day of playing bocce ball, drinking, and dancing to beach tunes by a fire on Hanlan's Beach this Saturday past. Late in the evening, as the dusk and chill was descending upon us, we got the word that there was an Against Life party happening somewhere in Liberty Village around midnight. Against Life is the new grant-funded art/music thing that replaces the late and great Extermination Music Nights that Toronto came to love too much. We were two broken bikes and a burrito stop away from what it really means to experience summer in the city.

I will contain my utter hatred for Yonge/Dundas Square as a venue, because I hate repeating myself and I've already vented to many other people about its shortcomings. Suffice to say, it's really terrible . Maybe this is just because I was jealous I wasn't one of those lucky 100 people who got to dance with Iggy on stage because crack smoking (literally, it was crack) gutter punks forced me out of my spot.

Some of the best parts of any festival are the day shows, in my opinion. At least the 100+ people at 159 Manning thought so as well. I was in dire need of taking it easy after the vicious crawl of an early morning hangover that leaked its way into my body while I slept (on my floor). Taking it easy, that is, before the Friday night NXNE festivities took reign.