The Schomberg Fair @ CMW 2010

Background/Composition:
The Schomberg Fair play fast, loud country-gospel songs, mostly about desperate sinners at the ends of their pitiful ropes.

Grade: 90

Comment:
Rarely does the announcement "We're going to play an old spiritual number" draw so many cheers out of a crowd, but The Schomberg Fair drew a sizeable, enthusiastic audience for their CMW set.

They play sweaty, bleed-in-your-beer music that bookers often slot for the wee hours of the morning, so seeing the band play a midnight slot felt a little like they'd arrived. The boys themselves certainly didn't disappoint.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Steps:
The Schomberg Fair play with the kind of fervor needed to accompany pleas for salvation to the good Lord. The trio's members each provide their own focal point: guitarist/banjoist Matt Bahen hoisting his axe high, Nathan Sidon locked in a side-to-side bass-swinging dance and drummer Pete Garthside, angled to face Sidon, screaming along while athletically bashing the drums.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Steps:
Bahen once had a finger reattached due to a construction accident, and he still plays the banjo at head-spinning speeds, while Sidon's idiosyncratic bass vocals provide both interesting texture, especially when paired with Bahen's singing, and a nifty gimmick for people to remember them by.

The addition of slower tunes like slow-burning shout-along "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down" were a welcome change-up to the set's mostly-breakneck pacing.

Bahen, who sings lead on most of the songs, could probably get away with throwing a touch less gravel onto his voice; some rage is needed while singing about shouting down the devil, but a little less vocal abandon would take the songs even further.

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

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Steps:
The best Schomberg shows are played with the crowd — and band — half in the bag, but they can't all be drunken epics. As it stands, the crowd just had to make do with a fun, well-played, high-energy set. Testify!