Young Galaxy @ CMW 2009

Background/Composition:
This Montreal five-piece do up dreamy shoegaze with all the pedigree that a band with links to Stars, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, The Besnard Lakes and The Stills should.

Grade: 71

Comment:
Young Galaxy were probably the act I was most looking forward to seeing at the festival considering their 2007 "Swing Your Heartache" single is one of the best songs a Canadian band have recorded in recent years. Sadly, their set felt like a bit of a lead balloon this night.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Lead singer Stephen Ramsey's banter was a bit of a miss. He'd introduce the band's new songs as "here's an Elton John cover," "here's a Stills cover." That's cute and all, but when you're playing new songs to an audience it's a joke that will mostly confuse, rather than endear.

As the set progressed and Ramsey was getting the sense the audience wasn't picking up on them, he'd frequently make that "oh boyee" wringing one's collar/tie gesture that's synonymous with awkward situations. Frankly, nobody wants to see a band giving up on stage. In those cases, fuck the audience. Put your head down and play your heart out. That should've been the response. It wasn't.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Co-lead singer Catherine McCandless sung the first two songs and, for whatever unfortunate reason, she was buried in the mix. It wasn't until mid-set that this got corrected and she was better heard.

Young Galaxy are at their best when their subtle rocking combines with Ramsey's particularly mystical guitar lines. I didn't quite see that combination showcased all that effectively on the band's new material, but there was one slow drawl of a song mid-set that was pretty wicked.

The age old question "What is the sound of 12 hands clapping?" was answered: That was the sad level of audience participation when the band performed "Swing Your Heartache."

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
McCandless has fascinatingly asymmetrical hair and bassist Stephen Kamp looks like an Echo & The Bunnymen castoff with his mop. That said, there wasn't a whole heap of effort put into the band's appearance and, if anything, keyboardist Max Henry's novelty tie worn over a t-shirt worked against them.

I was swinging on my own personal heartache during this performance until the band's last song, the new single and free download "Long Live The Fallen World." During that one, the band showed some moxy and when Ramsey rammed his guitar inbetween some overhanging pipes in the ceiling and then walked off stage the gesture displayed enough spirit that we're not going to give up on them just yet.