NXNE Live: Rock Plaza Central LEE'S PALACE- JUNE 8 Country is alive and kicking in Toronto. And with bands like seven-piece Rock Plaza Central playing shows the way they did for NXNE, it seems it will be kicking for some time. On Friday evening at 11:00, for about an hour, Lee's Palace was under the sole ownership of the Toronto "Big Country" band, and nobody seemed to mind at all. Right off the top, RPC set the appropriate tone with a throaty and delicately rough rendition of "I Am An Excellent Steel Horse" from their new record Are We Not Horses?. Things were looking quite promising. As the first portion of the set continued, the close-to-capacity NXNE crowd was treated to a rousing, beer swinging affair that progressively became more vibrant and dynamic. RPC blazed through the majority of the new record, with tracks like "How Shall I To Heaven Aspire?" and "Fifteen Hands," providing a subtle hint of grit to raise the band's energy even further. The violin and horn section were wonderful, working incredibly well when coupled with the raw talent and depth of the rest of the band, proving that this is one ensemble that works. Clearly enjoying the performance, the band fed off the energy of the crowd, raising the overall quality of the performance; everyone was very much into it. A few theatrics added to the experience, like frosting on cake, giving the Friday night crowd a great deal to smile about. And they, for their part, had no trouble showing it, making for a vibe that was something like a nice shade of fun. For the closer, "We've Got A Lot To Be Glad For," the band let loose and jammed, using those last few minutes to crank things up yet another notch, in typical country fashion. This was a satisfying show from an excellent local band on the rise; they're big, loud, noisy when they want to be and, all-in-all, just a damn good band that genuinely enjoys what they do. And apparently, so do a lot of other people. This is what NXNE is about. What a cracker of a show. Cheers.