Background/Composition:
This Toronto quartet mix the griminess of rock with the sexiness of soul to make one big, sweaty, sloppy mess.
Grade: 77
Comment:
Stage invasions are always fun, and The Mercy Now get extra points for the two women who jumped up on stage near the end of their set and started grinding like crazy. They’d been dancing it up all night, and this was kind of like the sweet, sweet icing on the cake.
Achievement of Rock ‘n’ Roll Expectations
80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock ‘n’ roll standard.
60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock ‘n’ roll standard.
50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.
Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really
Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G
Pronunciation: G
Stage Presence: E
Stage Banter: S
Image: G
Appearance: G
Use Of Stage: E
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Singer/bassist Russ Fernandes can fit an entire microphone in his oral cavity and still sing with it lodged in there. While this isn’t entirely hygienic, safe or smart, it is awesome. He also looks a little like Mike Patton. Go figure.
Musical Analysis
Level Of Participation: E
Problem Solving: S
Teamwork: E
Work Habits: E
Organization: E
Audience Participation: G
Sound: G
Composition: G
Songs: S
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
In films, when a character talks to the camera it’s called Breaking The Fourth Wall. At shows, the equivalent of this is when a musician throws the stage/crowd boundary out the window and jumps down into the audience. This happened more than once, and the audience also got in on this as well with the aforementioned stage invasion. More, please.
Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: G
Problem Solving: S
Teamwork: E
Sexiness: G
Haircut: G
Indie Rock Footwear: G
Nods To Disposible Fashion: G
Cool Equipment: G
Level Of Inebriation: S
Actual Ability: G
Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
A shirtless drummer will make your points go through the roof, and that’s the case here. That tubthumper Lee Rogers had a stomach tattoo only gets The Mercy Now even more notches.
Guitarists Adam Burnett and David Viva look like they should be the bad boys in the band with their long hair and beards, but it’s all Fernandes with his slicked back rockabilly hair and mic munching skills.
- Mad Ones @ CMW 2011
- Union City @ CMW 2011
- Adam And The Amethysts @ CMW 2011
- Zeus @ CMW 2011
- Still Life Still @ CMW 2011
