Bocce @ CMW 2008

The Drake Underground

Toronto, ON

on Mar 8 2008

Phil Villeneuve (CHARTattack)

03/10/2008 9:30am

BACKGROUND/COMPOSITION: Bocce are a four piece experimental electronic act with a live drummer. They sound 10 times as big as they are.

Grade: 85

Comment: These guys really, really like their knobs, and there are a lot of them to go around in Bocce. Although totally focused on pitching, tweaking and turning these knobs, the boys were equally interested in interacting with the audience. This wasn't a geeky electronic music show, it was hard, fast, headbanging fun.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
Bocce really enjoyed playing around with the audience. On multiple occasions, they jumped down from the stage to dance with the audience, eliminating that automatic barrier. While on stage, they also danced, jumped and hugged each other as much as possible in such tight quarters. The lead vocalist/screamer really enjoyed explaining the songs before they were played. A little too much, in fact. He ended up sounding like a live-to-air radio DJ most of the time. The band should harness his need to talk so much and keep him on the keys.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
Bocce make epic sized, big beat dance music even more exciting than an act like The Chemical Brothers, because they have live drums and like to yell. Sometimes the yelling is a little too aggressive for the songs, but who cares when you're dancing so much? Despite there being so many different keyboards on the stage, every note could be heard, adding to the scope of the sound and creating an automatic dance party. It's astonishing how quickly the dancing started after Bocce took the stage.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep:
The foursome constantly laughed, danced, put their arms around one another, sweat and screamed. They had a blast and it rubbed off on the audience. One more small word of advice for the lead vocalist: don't take out a tambourine if you can't handle it. Put it away. The man could not play the tambourine.