Great Lake Swimmers @ NXNE 2008

BACKGROUND/COMPOSITION: Great Lake Swimmers are a textbook definition of ambient folk music. Their melodies are slightly morose yet strangely charming, composed of finger picked guitars that plod along as banjos and harmonicas fill in the gaps. Frontman Tony Dekker’s haunting voice seeps deep into your bones, but you want it to live there forever. This is music that warms you without being warm, chills you without being cold, and absorbs you without exerting the slightest hint of power.

Grade: 72

Comment: Airports are not pleasant places to be. People are hurried, stressed, and if you’re in the Arrivals terminal, you're probably suffering from a serious case of diarrhea due to the recent ingestion of inedible plane food. Enter Great Lake Swimmers. With just three members present, their enchanting folk tunes sounded unbelievably grandiose as they reverberated through the massive metal skeleton that holds together Terminal 1. But honestly, who wants to spend more time in an airport than they have to? The poor guys were playing to me and their sound tech as travelers hurried on by, their luggage in tow. This grade is thus being given on the basis of circumstance — like a student who applies themselves only on practice tests, the performance's quality was lost to a lack of reception.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
The fact that the "stage" on which the Swimmers played was actually an oversized yoga mat did not afford them very many options to create an endearing stage performance that would enthuse an audience. Oh, wait…they didn’t have an audience to begin with. My bad. But in their defense, playing from a yoga mat to a large room of apathetic passersby seemed fitting for the quiet ambience of their music. Dekker did exhibit a sense of humour, stating "It’s not often you get to play in an airport. We’re really quite honoured." I am unsure who he was speaking to. 

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: 
The music itself was fantastic, and aside from the occasional P.A. interruptions for boarding calls and missing persons (which the band laughed off with a smile), Dekker and company sounded tight and crisp, and their song selection featured the catchiest, most endearing numbers in their catalog. Even without the presence of a percussionist, the sound was fuller and warmer than their studio recordings. All this goodness was amplified by Terminal 1’s incredible acoustics, which allowed the band’s evocative melodies to echo from the departure gate to baggage claim area.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: 
Messy hair, indie-scruff, thick rimmed glasses and visible tattoos — these dudes look the part. Watching Dekker sing with his eyes pressed firmly shut while his bandmates engulfed themselves in their instruments made me recognize a group of individuals who have a truly romantic relationship with music. It’s a shame more people couldn’t have been there to enjoy that heartwarming experience.