Library Voices Change Their Luck at NXNE

When you're as unlucky as Regina, Saskatchewan's Library Voices have been, the tendency is probably to be angry and bitter. So the fact that the eight-piece pop collective wore smiles that would put beauty queens to shame, and exuded enough warmth to heat a single family dwelling when they opened up the CBC Radio 3 / Sirius NXNE showcase at Toronto's Legendary Horseshoe Tavern is remarkable.

If you're not in the know, Library Voices have had one hell of a year and a half.

Last February, they had $10,000 worth of their gear, including a cherished woodblock, stolen in Vancouver. That prompted one of the best YouTube videos ever. Then, this May, a busted water main caused almost 600,000 gallons of water to pour into the band's basement practice space at the Regina Cultural Exchange, not only destroying their personal belongings and vintage equipment, but also rented equipment that insurance didn't cover.

The generosity of strangers, who donated money to the band, and fellow Prairie band the Weakerthans, who played a benefit for them at the Horseshoe last month, helped get them equipped and to NXNE to play a gig they never considered canceling.

Last night, they played like they were trying to repay the world for its generosity, which is to say with copious amounts of love and passion. "Love your friends," said vocalist Carl Johnson, while introducing 'Party Like It's 2012.'

Thankfully, '2012' wasn't the only song from Library Voices' exception 2010 release 'Denim On Denim' played on this night. 'Haunt This House,' 'Insider Trading (On Outsider Art),' 'Hello Cruel World' and 'Drinking Games,' which Johnson happily explained was a song about drinking and promiscuity, were also part of the sweat-soaked set.

Befitting their MySpace self-description, which reads "drunk kids talking too openly and too honestly," Library Voices' pop is energetic, fragile, smart and visceral. Clever, gang vocalized lyrics like "Your existence is a pinprick on a paper continent" (from 'Step Off The Map & Float') were high points of their set, which, sadly, couldn't go on all night. It was easily one of the best of the entire festival.