Sierra Noble @ CMW 2009

El Mocambo

Toronto, ON

on Mar 13 2009

Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

03/14/2009 11:39am

Background / Composition:
This Metis singer/songwriter calls Winnipeg home and began her career as a fiddle virtuoso. She's since decided to branch out and has just released her first vocal pop album full of folky adult contemporary tunes.

Grade: 67

Comment:
That Noble is just starting out as a singer/songwriter is obvious. Her songs show lots of promise, but it's clear that she's still finding her voice and learning how to balance her new career path with her old love, the fiddle.

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: S
Stage Banter: G
Image: S
Appearance: S
Use Of Stage: S

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Noble began her set with an extremely fast, high energy Acadian-style fiddle piece that brought to mind people like Ashley MacIsaac. Live, she's accompanied (in Toronto at least) by a guitarist, bassist and djembe player Blake Manning, who also happens to drum for Justin Rutledge. She realized not many in the handful of people in the El Mocambo for her early set had heard of her, and took the time to fill them in on her musical background with charismatic, witty quips about herself between songs. She was careful not to let this take over her set, though.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Noble bookended her set with two fiddle pieces and threw a third one, which was a waltz, in the middle. This did a good job keeping the energy in her set at a steady level. Her recent songs, on which she sings for the first time, are a bit slow and tend to lean towards the adult contemporary singer/songwriter bent. Her voice is excellent, and if she can hone her songwriting skills a bit more and find a bit of a better balance between her fiddle pieces and her latest material, she could be one of the country's next great young singer/songwriters. She counts Joel Plaskett (who co-wrote one of her tunes) among her friends, so if she plays her cards right, she could go far.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Noble came on stage in a completely impractical (seeing as it must have been about -20 degrees Celsius outside), barely there sundress. While this might have seemed ridiculous at first, it represented that she's kind of all about spitting in the face of trends. If you want to wear a sundress in the winter, wear one. This winter's gone on far long enough.