Hot Springs @ NXNE 2007

The Comfort Zone

Toronto, ON

on Jun 8 2007

Evan Dickson (CHARTattack)

06/09/2007 12:30pm

Background/Composition: Rock 'n' roll will never die as long as four-piece group The Hot Springs are around to give it blood.

Grade: 78

Comment: The Hot Springs seem to get better every year. Frontwoman Giselle Webber's warbling voice sounded more confident and less like Bjork than at last year's festival. Add her expert rock posturing and a solid backing band and you've got a potentially great rock show. The songs lacked originality, though.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: Wild-eyed Webber never disappoints. From her classic rock poses (the "guitar-as-a-phallus" is my favourite) to her challenging men in the audience to dance with the young girls in front ("You guys are all dick and no balls"), Webber brought the show. The rest of the band just has to concentrate on rocking the hard jams and that's just what they did.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: The source of the Hot Springs' appeal was Webber. Their rock tunes got the job done, but they weren't enough to pierce the thick hide of the average NXNE delegate. One foray into dance punk seemed like bandwagon-jumping at first, but The Springs found a way to stay true to their sound while dipping their toes in the trend du jour.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: Webber walked out of my wet dreams and onto the stage wearing hot pants and cowboy boots. Her wardrobe from the waist up was not quite so well-chosen. Her shirt was thin and white. People sweat on stage. Let'­s just say she might have saved that top for a night when her younger sister wasn't in the audience.