It feels like I'm always at the Horseshoe. It's not intentional... though it's just a streetcar ride away for me, and it's got a ton of atmosphere. But man, I hate paying almost seven bucks for a bottle of Strongbow. (Yep, I'm a cider drinker.)

Point is, I was there to see the Lovely Killbots, a piano and drum outfit from Toronto. At least, I'm pretty sure they're from Toronto - finding background info on this duo was kind of hard. (Plus, their myspace says they might be robots.) Ryan and Lauralee, who compose the band, played a solid, unique show at the Horseshoe on Tuesday as part of Nu Music Nite. And really, I don't care where I end up, or how much the beer costs: if they're playing, I'm there.

Toronto-based Songs From a Room were the one of the first acts up this past Sunday night at the Horseshoe in a line-up that included drum and bass act Molten Lava (who reminded me of Death From Above), and Alberta tech rock band Passenger Action. Everyone put on a really great show, but Songs From a Room were my favourite, with a super energetic and cohesive set.

I showed up at the bar kinda sleepy-eyed and exhausted, but not for long. The guys from Songs From a Room rocked out with a set full of pure, unapologetic hardcore action.

I swore I wouldn't use the word "cute" in this review. It's going to be hard, because Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti of the Submarines are absolutely adorable. They played a bright and breezy set at the Drake Underground this past Sunday night.

The Wavelength 450 music series got underway on Saturday night around nine, with music from the Elemental Choir, The Luyas, Hooded Fang, Brides and finally, One Hundred Dollars. Almost every band had the crowd shakin' it at the front of the stage, but One Hundred Dollars shone through as the best act of the night.

Now, I love me a good, squishy, sweaty crowd most of the time - it keeps the energy level sky-high. On Friday night though, the Horseshoe was packed tighter than I'd ever seen it. A double billing of Winnipeg's The Waking Eyes and Hamilton's the Arkells brought out every 20-something indie music fanatic within city limits. Drunk guys take note: shoving and groping fellow show-goers makes you a rude Gus.

How can you not love a bunch of slick, stylin' and guitar-shredding guys who got their start in Halifax? One of the finest indie acts around, the Darcys, brought their unique sound to the Horseshoe Tavern on Saturday night.