Octoberman @ NXNE 2009

Background/ Composition:
Vancouver's Marc Morrissette left his band, Kids These Days, to start Octoberman in 2003. While the outfit is primarily a recording pseudonym for his solo material, Morrissette has been slowly accumulating band members as he travels the world.

Grade: 80

Comment:
The C'est What crowd was treated to the full Octoberman lineup on this evening, including violin, trumpet and backing vocals. The added musicians were a smart complement to Morrissette's often soft-spoken fare.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
At least half the audience members were still eating their dinner; that's not the sort of crowd you'd want to banter with. Morrissette recognized this and wisely focused on the music (though he did give a shout-out to his parents, who were in attendance).

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
The C'est What sound system is rather miniscule, but Morrissette and crew took full advantage of what it had to offer. If the walls were thin, the diners in the regular restaurant part of the bar were probably complaining. "Run From Safety," the title track from the latest Octoberman album, was a definite highlight.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
There's an undeniable correlation between size of stage, number of instruments, and cool factor. In this case, there were a lot of instruments on a very small stage and I wanted to take them all home.