I'm making my checklist of things to do for Canada Day. I'm also making a list of things I won't do. I won't wear red, I won't wave a flag, I won't drink Canadian beer. These things are all so dull and cliche. I will however surround myself with my closest friends, a great sound system and the most rockin bands I can find.

Don't squander your whole day wondering what everyone else is planning. Just make the executive decision and your friends will be thanking you later for bringing them to a place with alcohol that doesn't suck. The Reverb for Canada Day: I look forward to it more than a George W Bush impeachment trial.....

How did "Devil In A Midnight Mass" get nominated for Best Director, Best Video, Best Post Production, Best Cinematography AND Muchloud Best Rock Video... but not even win a single award?? This was just one of those songs that seemed written for TV, easily translated from lyrics like "A devil in a midnight mass / He prayed behind stained glass " into horror flick imagery. The video moves along as quickly as the song, which undoubtedly reflects a maturing sound with more aggressive guitars, signature melodies that command your attention and compelling shifts. I had goosebumps at the first few scenes of the video and couldn't stop staring at it.

So who beat our beloved Billy Talent? Kardinal Offishall?! I suppose an R&B video withOUT the use of copious pinup girls in bathtubs, bathing suits and hot cars is cause to celebrate. Instead, "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" features a 1950s family home movie vibe, complete with funky hats, paisley pants, jumpropes, an entirely brown wardrobe, card games, antique radios and old cameras. This is another song that seems made for video but evenso, after two minutes I've seen all I need to see and grow bored with the repeated images, hardly worthy of Best Video and Best Director.

I eat my words. It's very rare that I ever do that, so revel in this anomaly. I know I recommended them as a collection of creative geniuses, but it turns out Neverending White Lights at the Rivoli last night was nothing more than a neverending series of unfortunate events.

Ok, so "Larry" the sound guy had no concept of providing the band with proper monitor setup. But come to think of it, I don't remember any elaborate pre-show "Check, Check, 1, 2" business either. Daniel seemed clearly ticked off about being unable to hear himself up there, which resulted in the most off-key performance I have ever heard. Imagine the worst, highest note you've ever heard from Filter or Our Lady Peace, magnify it by 100 and that was the average wailing you would've heard blasting over bland guitars and clapping.

Try not to look at NXNE as "the place to discover the hottest new music like Billy Talent and Alexisonfire". I think you'll be disappointed. Instead, think of NXNE as a JOURNEY through diverse pathways of sound. Think of it as a bargain weekend since your $28 wristband will get you access to 400 bands and 33 clubs, not to mention indie movies and a schmooze-fest or two. Perhaps my friend said it best, "It's just an excuse for industry folk to get together, get drunk and talk about music." And there's nothing wrong with that.

The enormous list of bands can be pretty intimidating, I know! So here's a quick guide for people who are lazy, too poor to pay for Television tickets and too cool to listen to Boys Night Out.

I'd like to start this off by saying, there is a certain personality type that would really dig this CD. That type is not me... but if you're the kind of person who can't live without Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog"... who loves when Neil Young just goes mad on his fuzzy-sounding guitar... who appreciates variety... who enjoys lyrical content that's satirical, then you, my friend, should pick up this CD.

Four years later Jerk Bank's Full Tilt made it into my possession. "Are you kidding me? I don't do CD reviews from 2002," I wanted to say to tattooed frontman Steve Plum. But somehow I felt it might still be relevant as I realized the band was back into action. The Jerk Bank trio weaseled out of retirement for the Punk Aid show at El Mocambo last Thursday, hosted by The Groopies, and proved that they still had a decent fan-base who knew all the words. "We had a lot of fun tonight. You know, a lot of things happened and I was pissed for a while, but that's all gone and forgotten. These guys are still my friends and we still like writing music together," Steve tells me. But as a chronic busybody, don't be surprised if you see his other band King Minus on a bill somewhere soon.