In retrospect, we’ll call it joy. In the present tense, it feels more like stress. Either way, it’s a hallmark of any large-scale festival: The inevitable schedule conflicts that come in deciding between two bands, two venues, one time slot.

Peter Hemminger touched on this very dilemma yesterday in deciding between Chali 2Na and Dum Dum girls. (That decision was aided, in part, by a Twitter sales pitch.) But yesterday was day one of Sled Island — and that schedule becomes busier and busier each day.

Need proof? Check out the matchups for today. Follow me on Twitter at @excitement.

8:00 p.m.: Zola Jesus at Central United vs. Maria in the Shower at Tubby Dog

This matchup is as eclectic as it comes: On one side, there’s the nu-goth of Zola Jesus, who is sure to be a gateway band for Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees. At its core, though, this is about singer Nika Roza Danilova — frequently layered in distorted layers of synth, her wail possesses a rare, room-stopping power. Really:

On the other end, though, there’s the buskers in Vancouver’s Maria in the Shower. Looking like something dug from the imagination of Jim Tully, this is a collision of brass, upright bass, sprightly accordion and an assortment of other should-be acoustic instruments.

Verdict: The farther travelling band — and Danilova’s wonderful voice — get the nod.

10:00 p.m.: Crocodiles at the Legion vs. Grey Kingdom at Marquee Room

Summer of Hate didn’t establish Crocodiles as a band to watch, but Sleep Forever, its follow-up, did. As Fast Forward Weekly reviewer Devin Friesen noted, this is “noise pop from an experimental, post-hardcore background.” Succinctly put, there’s real songcraft — and a dose of pop there, somewhere — to its music.

Grey Kingdom, however, come from the successful pedigree that spawned Attack in Black. That should give you an idea: It’s that brand of Ontarian, woodsy folk that wishes it were in Sackville, N.B. Those wishes, too, will be granted, as predicatably, Grey Kingdom is on the Sappy Fest roster in late July.

Honorable mentions: The SSRIs at New Black, Stressed Out at Broken City

11:00 p.m.: GOBBLE GOBBLE at Distillery vs. Wild Nothing at Republik

Gobble Gobble, at this point, has to be considered a provincial treasure. Dance music for the Weird Canada set, its backs its digital pop with an a breathtaking live show, all masks, lo-fi pyrotechnics and the best crowd participation on this of Rich Aucoin.

Wild Nothing, is dreamy, futuretro stuff — it’s what BlogTO referenced as “a 2010's imagining of a 1980's imagining of the 1960's.” [sic] Still, there’s no denying lead single “Summer Holiday,” which has a wonderful, buzzsaw Pains of Being Pure at Heart quality to it.

Verdict: Personally, I’m choosing Wild Nothing, if only because I’ve never seen them. But if you’ve yet to witness Gobble Gobble, it’s not an opportunity to pass up. This is a painful draw.

Honorable mentions: Drunk Horse, An Horse, The Donkeys

12:00 a.m.: Justin Townes Earle at Marquee Room vs. Dave Nada at Hifi

Even if I gave Harlem River Blues a lukewarm review, Justin Townes Earle is a force to be reckoned with live: Last night, he performed with only a standup bass accompaniment, and even if I favoured The Good Life and Midnight at the Movies, his new material is absolutely electric in performance. (And the Harlem River’s gospel tendencies make for excellent live singalongs).

Then, there’s DJ Dave Nada, the Moombahton innovator:

Verdict: Let your tastebuds carry you. Moombahton or country?

1:00 a.m.: Pierced Arrows at Palomino vs. Bison B.C. at Dickens

While Fred and Toody Cole cut their teeth on garage rock stalwarts Dead Moon in the 1970s, Pierced Arrows finds them catching up with their age: That ragged punk rock has been tempered, resulting in a smoky, bluesy and occasionally swampy mess.

Bison B.C., on the other hand, provide the wooly, doom-laden thrash that’s an excellent pick to close a boozehound’s night.

Verdict: As consistency goes, Bison B.C.’s set is a no-brainer: One-metal describes ‘em as songs for the “thirsty and unpretentious.” And on that, they deliver. But as garage legends go, it's going to be difficult to pass on Pierced Arrows. My vote goes to them.