Pawa Up First @ CMW 2007

Background/Composition: Supposed to be five guys (but I only saw four) playing textured instrumental jams influenced by everything from big guitar rock to hip-hop to jazz and tons of stuff in between.

Grade: 74

Comment: Clever genre-bending work that came off cold and clinical, but still oddly affecting. Their deft incorporation of visual media heightened the overall theatrical vibrations.

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: S
Pronounciation: G
Stage Presence: E
Stage Banter: S
Image: G
Appearance: G
Use Of Stage: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: Pawa Up First stood back in the shadows of a darkened stage, letting a projection of various live action scenes, stills, shapes and colours take front and centre. Barely acknowledging the audience, the performance felt more like an art film set to live music. The band being shrouded in shadows and sticking to the fringes of the tiny stage at Sneaky's added an element of mystery, with a vague sense of pretention that was hard to shake.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: There is something very calculated about PUF's music. The full-on multi-media experience is obviously meant to be part of the music. It seems too easy to describe the material as cinematic but that's how it plays out. At times the atmospheric guitars were bolstered by a barbituate-laced, but ominous, hip-hop beat. The band often built up a massive bundle of energy, predictably culminating in a guitar-led moment of catharsis, which was satisfying but not entirely unexpected.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: Pawa Up First play some really inventive stuff and know when to cut a song off, which is a welcome talent as it seems to be something a lot of instrumental outfits struggle with. And while they artfully integrate the visual and the aural, tracks got a little monotonous in their structure, which lead to some evaporating into the ether without registering.