The Rural Alberta Advantage @ NXNE 2008

BACKGROUND/COMPOSITION: It's not a gimmick — guitarist/singer/keyboardist Nils Edenloff did actually grow up in Alberta. Rounding out the trio are singer/keyboardist/percussionist Amy Cole, and drummer Paul Banwatt (who's one half of Woodhands, another little band you might know).

Grade: 95

Comment: Don't let The Rural Alberta Advantage's winsome bio fool you. The trio might very well sing about "summers in the Rockies and winters on the farm," but they do so in the most drivingly intense way possible.

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:
All three band members sported matching jeans and brown T-shirts, with Edenloff's proudly displaying Alberta's coat of arms. The band had stage presence in spades, and although it would be almost impossible for the other two to match Banwatt's intensity, they did their best, with Cole taking time out from keyboard duties to bang on a floor tom and Edenloff filling the room with his powerful and often caustic vocal delivery.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep: 
A relentless backbeat - delivered with the intensity and precision of a machine gun — juxtaposed with acoustic guitar and sweetly melodic vocals sums up RAA's sound. It shouldn't really work, but it does, and then some. If anything, the songs leave you wanting more. A couple of them just seemed to be hitting full steam only to end, so here's hoping the band starts to explore longer compositions.

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: E
Cool Equipment: E
Level Of Inebriation: E
Actual Ability: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/NextStep:
The Rural Alberta Advantage have a sound that's all their own, and somehow the stylistic mash-up works. They're quite possibly the only band in the world who can convincingly present a dirge about an Alberta mining disaster as a crunchy, driving dance number without losing any of its poignancy or passion.