Burning Brides @ NXNE 2009

Yonge-Dundas Square

Toronto, ON

on Jun 18 2009

Bianca Marcus (CHARTattack)

06/19/2009 12:54pm

Background/ Composition:
The Philadelphia hard rock trio, made up of husband and wife Dimitri Coats and Melanie Campbell (on guitar/vox and bass, respectively) and drummer Jeff Watson, opened for the Black Lips at Yonge-Dundas Square on June 18. Burning Brides have toured with Eagles Of Death Metal and Peaches and released their latest album, Anhedonia, on June 17 in Canada.

Grade: 87

Comment:
Burning Brides had the advantage of playing for a large audience, since many concertgoers had already secured their spots for the upcoming Black Lips set. They went on at 9 p.m. and played a solid, if somewhat bland, show. Coats and Campbell welcomed a baby girl into their lives seven months ago, but one wouldn't know that the band hadn't played together in about a year.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Coats and Campbell pulled out all of their rock moves for this show, shaking hair and raising fists while smiling all the while. I would have liked to have seen more audience interaction — the band didn't often look up from gazing at the floor or their instruments — but Coats made up for this when he called out, "Who has acid?" Bonus points to Coats for stealing Robert Plant's hair.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Burning Brides combined '60s rock with '90s grunge to create an otherwordly, timeless hybrid. There was no denying the onstage chemistry between Coats and Campbell, who played off of each other in the way only couples can. Coats dove into the audience and crowdsurfed at the ending of "Glass Slipper," a move that seriously upped his cred as a rockstar in the making.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Burning Brides are a band that comfortably make the transition between old and new, retro and modern. They reference rock from every decade — a good way to cover your bases — even verging on classic and prog rock at times. Not the most original performance, but an ambitious one nonetheless.