Les Breastfeeders @ CMW 2008

El Mocambo

Toronto, ON

on Mar 6 2008

Matt Littlefair (CHARTattack)

03/07/2008 9:00am

BACKGROUND/COMPOSITION: The sextet rounded out the evening with a set overflowing in both energy and volume. They happily unleashed their aural assault of frenzied post-punk infused garage-rock on a crowd that was more than ready.

Grade: 92

Comment: Les Breastfeeders pillaged the El Mo like some clan of rampaging vikings, but instead of people mourning the loss of their decimated homes, the crowd smiled and gathered around the blazing remains and danced, screamed and shouted for more.

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
Pronunciation: E
Stage Presence: E
Stage Banter: E
Image: E
Appearance: E
Use Of Stage: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep:
The lead singer was decked to the nines in pants, a dress shirt and tie with a suitably modish haircut (and a similarly clad band). He was juxtaposed with a slightly-balding tambourine player cavorting around with no shirt (but bedecked in a half-length faux-fur coat), skin tight red pants that looked like they were sprayed on and was also sporting smeared black eye make-up. There are simply no words to do justice to a spectacle like that. Oh, did I mention the band were melting faces with some blistering rock and roll? 

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
Although the crowd had thinned considerably by the time Les Breastfeeders took to the stage, the band whipped those that remained into a frenzy from the get go. Their guitar-led charge of crazed garage rock elicited more than a handful of enthusiastically flailing limbs. The sheer volume of the band was only matched by the electric pace they set.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
Les Breastfeeders would be right at home in a rock club plucked out of a David Lynch film. Their image was bolstered by the inclusion of the aforementioned tambourine player who's like a latter-day Francophone Bez, minus the silly hats. The band fed off the crowd and each other, posturing, strutting and playing like every note might have been the last they ever play.