@ NXNE: City Sonic, Cancer Bats at the Adrift Clubhouse

By Melanie Chung

Short Film

Iconic Canadian director Bruce McDonald took on this tiny flick featuring the Cancer Bats and their love and growth from the skatepark/venue the Adrift Clubhouse. This City Sonic episode has the heart and soul of Bruce McDonald’s artistry as a filmmaker. The music, the quick cuts and the absolutely stunning cinematography by DP John Price take the City Sonic series to a whole new level of filmmaking. Its not just documenting the amalgamation between artist and environment, McDonald makes you feel the city feel the Adrift Clubhouse they way the boys from the Cancer Bats do.

The mix of blown-out and bleached footage to the black and white film adds a whole new dimension to the city. The DIY attitude behind the community of the Adrift Clubhouse, dubbed “a hole in the wall” by drummer Mike, strips away that invisible velvet rope between rockstar and fan. Playing on the same floor as the audience, surrounded literally by kids – the all ages venue dissuades bouncers and the bar/club environment, instead encouraging live music on a shoestring budget.

This mini film was indeed one of the highlights of NXNE for me, putting Toronto in a new and fresh perspective. McDonald did an incredible job in making “a hole in the wall” interesting and charismatic.