Brutal Knights @ NXNE 2006

The Silver Dollar

Toronto, ON

on Jun 8 2006

Sarah Kurchak (CHARTattack)

06/09/2006 1:30pm

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Background/Composition:
A group of guys and girls (including funny man Nick Flanagan) who play the kind of guttural and, well, brutal music that used to be known as punk rock before a bunch of whiny eyeliner junkies co-opted the genre. They were fast and they were furious, but that's as much a comment on the length and tone of their set as it is on their actual music.

Grade: 65

Comment:
Perhaps NXNE sets should have a minimum time limit as well as a maximum one. A mere 17 minutes into their set, Brutal Knights stopped playing, leaving the audience wondering what the hell they'd just witnessed — and not in a good way. What did exist of their performance was certainly a flurry of noise, but there simply wasn't enough time to discern anything more than that.

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: Hasnot demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: S
Pronounciation: S
Stage Presence: S
Stage Banter: G
Image: S
Appearance: S
Use Of Stage: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep:
There was a band on stage and there was a crowd in front of them, but it didn't really seem like the two particularly connected at any point during the show. The Knights played, the people milled about (most likely counting down the seconds until headliners King Khan & The Shrines took the stage) and neither really left much of an impression on the other. Extra points for the New Age Outlaws-inspired opening banter though.

Musical Analysis
Level Of Participation: G
Problem Solving: S
Teamwork: G
Work Habits: S
Organization: S
Audience Participation: S
Sound: S
Composition: S
Songs: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
A quick listen to the mp3s on their website proves that Brutal Knights can play some silly but rather serviceable punk rock. On top of that, they also have a comedian in the band and can deliver lyrics about feeling gay for giving themselves handjobs, so they clearly have the ability to amuse an audience. Unfortunately, none of that really clicked at The Silver Dollar.

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: S
Problem Solving: S
Teamwork: S
Sexiness: S
Haircut: S
Indie Rock Footwear: S
Nods To Disposible Fashion: S
Cool Equipment: S
Level Of Inebriation: S
Actual Ability: S

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
Look, we all know that, on the whole, bands aren't magically plucked out of obscurity and festooned with fame and riches because of a single NXNE gig, and it can't be easy to play right before one of the biggest buzz bands of the festival, but surely the whole event is still worth some effort. The Brutal Knights weren't facing the most welcoming of scenarios, but they could have tried a little harder and played a little longer.