Male Bonding @ CMW 2010

Background/Composition:
This Dalston, England band have opened for Vivian Girls in their homeland as well as at this gig. The  group intriguingly describe their sound as "grunge/tropical/surf."

Grade: 63

Comment:
I didn't have a clue about this group aside from reading a tiny blurb about them on the CMW website, but it was enough to get me out a bit early and check them out before Vivian Girls hit the stage. Promoter Ewan Exall recommended them once I arrived at the club, and he also bought me a beer, so I figured I owed it to him to give the group my full attention. They didn't necessarily end up earning it.

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: S
Stage Presence: S
Stage Banter: N
Image: S
Appearance: S
Use Of Stage: S

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Male Bonding's guitarist said "thank you" twice, but that was the extent of their communication with the audience. Perhaps they were pissed off that, when they were about to begin their set five minutes before their scheduled start time, the sound man ran up to the stage and told them they couldn't.

Guitarist John Arthur Webb and bassist Kevin Hendrick shared vocals and moved around the stage a bit, but not much. Hendrick's microphone stand got turned around at one point and, instead of reversing it, he sang most of a song with his back towards the crowd.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Drummer Rob Silas Christian had a small kit, but a big sound, which made him the best part of the band. Webb and Hendrick's shared vocals were relatively atonal, so it may have been a good thing that the vocal mix was lower than it probably should have been. One of their punk-based songs was extended somewhat into a noisy psych rock jam, which changed things up a bit.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Hendrick had a close-shaved head, Webb's hair hung down over his eyes and  Christian's locks were comparatively normal. They all wore jeans, T-shirts and casual footwear. I didn't notice anyone swooning over them.

Their 25-minute performance was pretty uninspiring and the band came across as wanting to be like Nirvana from the Bleach era, but they fell well short of that goal.

Male Bonding? Not with me.