Hot Springs @ CMW 2008

Sneaky Dee's

Toronto, ON

on Mar 7 2008

Matt Littlefair (CHARTattack)

03/08/2008 1:00pm

BACKGROUND/COMPOSITION: The co-ed quartet played a rambunctious set of their decidely off-balance but amazing post-punk.

Grade: 88

Comment:Hot Springs played a handful of songs even after they were asked to wrap it up. Can you blame 'em? They were just giving everybody what they wanted — more Hot Springs! The band threw down a crazed, good old-fashioned show.

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: 
Hot Springs launched headlong into their performance, with bassist Frederic Sauve stalking from one side of the stage to the other. Only a handful of songs in, you could see the glistening drops of sweat dotting everyone's forehead as the show just descended deeper and deeper into some sort of well-choreographed chaos. Each band member maintained the frantic pace for the duration of the show and it paid off. The crowd responded more and more favourably with every passing song and guitar riff. The quartet's haphazard flailing filled the cramped stage, and Sneaky Dee's as a whole, with a kinetic energy that just wouldn't let up.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
Hot Springs' angular guitar-driven jams are punctuated by frontwoman and guitarist Giselle Claudia Webber's distinctive voice. It's sort of a cross between Bjork, Chan Marshall and Satomi Matsuzaki — but intelligible and from Montreal. Webber and her cohorts invoked a whole host of post-punk conventions, but then turned 'em on their ears. Guitars were brash and creaked and moaned with the hammer-down drums while Webber delivered her often esoteric musings. The band experimented with song structure and tempo, but they always stayed firmly rooted in infectious melodies that rang through all the other elements of their music.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
Hot Springs seemed to thrive on the crowd and a sort of in-the-moment ethos. At one point Webber asked for song subjects as the band had a melody but no lyrics to pair it with. Someone shouted "bananas" for some reason (maybe an unhealthy love of Gwen Stefani). Webber ran with it and proceeded to make what could only be dubbed syllablic imitations of monkeys. It was weird, but endearing, and somehow just seemed to fit with the rest of the set.