(Disclaimer: I have not heard any of the bands prominently mentioned in this entry, so no offense intended)
Consensus, among most reasonable folk, is that the act of judging a book by its cover is usually inadvisable. However, the key modifier in the opening sentence is usually - as there are times when snap, shallow judgments are not only functional, but even necessary (even if these judgments are wrong). And, believe it or not, these types of judgments are made routinely by music enthusiasts.
See: living in a city like Toronto, you can get absolutely bombarded by music-related stimuli (and, not that I know of it, but I can only assume that it's worse it music media epicentres like New York, L.A., and London). Comparable to the Neil Postman's information glut, living in large urban centres can cause sensory overload; its residents are surrounded by more music than they're capable of comprehending.
For one, urban centres like Toronto - both from possessing large populaces and migrant talent - are likely to have a large roster of quality local acts. Further, large urban centres are hot-spots for touring acts, as well, and there is likely a decent show occurring in the city on any given night featuring local or touring acts. And, accompanying the live shows are the media coverage surrounding them, with local tastemakers further attempting to vie for consumer attention. Complicating the musical information glut further is the music listener's particular taste in music. Needless to say, the urban centre's musical information glut makes it incredibly difficult to form informed decisions related to the consumption of music (whether in live or recorded form).
So, perhaps as a defense mechanism towards the musical information glut, music listeners have to judge a book by its cover.
Cover-judgment, however, often get a undeserved bad rep. I mean, shallow judgments - considering that they're shallow - can be incredibly complex. For a simple snap judgment of an unknown band, there is a whole confluence of factors colouring judgment: what is the band's name? Is their name potentially indicative of their style? Which bands are they playing - or touring - with? Where is the band from - and does their home region have a proven track record of success? Are they headlining or opening? Is it possible to gauge their success level versus their longevity as a band?
Cover-judgment, as you can tell, can sometimes be even more complex than judgment derived from listening or witnessing a band. In fact, that only reason that cover-judging is done at all is because it is an intellectual exercise that can be done remotely: it is the only type of judgment that can occur without actually having seen / heard to a band. And cover-judgment is befuddling to many, because it is simultaneously an art, science, and trade; method, madness and functionality. This is precisely why poorly-streamed ex-academians have trouble with cover-judgment.
So, cover-judgment is sometimes necessary (and almost always misguided - but that's not the point), and it's an action in which I partake in regularly; sometimes, these types of judgments prepare me to like a band, and sometimes they prepare me to dislike a band. Here is a sampling of four cover-judgments of upcoming acts playing Toronto (taken from NOW Magazine's concert directory):
The Rolling Tundra Revue(Taken from The Weakerthans / Constantines show listing; March 31st at the Phoenix)
Okay, so I'm aware that Rolling Tundra Revue is actually the name of the Weakerthans / Constantines national tour. But were they an opener (and NOW Magazine's entry leads the viewer to believe that they actually might be), they would be a band I am personally ready to adore. With a name firmly referential of Canadian geography, and opening for two of Cancon's current torchbearers, Rolling Tundra Revue is a band who I'd make sure to catch; I know, even prior to seeing them, that I'd also purchase their t-shirt. Half disarming folk, half genteel orchestral pop, and most certainly consisting of young bearded dudes in flannel (and maybe a cute girl vying to be the next Julie Doiron), Rolling Tundra Revue, if they existed, could be, no, is my next favourite band.
With 6+ minute songs seamlessly juxtaposing stark troubador-folk with lush ochestral swells with a few quasi-country-ish licks thrown in for good measure, the fictional Rolling Tundra Review gets extra points if they play with an antique piano (who am I kidding - of course they play with one).
Sarah Blackwood (from the Creepshow)(Taken from Sarah Blackwood with the Roman Line and Liquor Box; December 18th at Lee's Palace)
The name 'Sarah Blackwood,' if not followed by 'from the Creepshow,' doesn't give us much room for interpretation. I'd guess that, based on her vaguely Anglo Saxon name, that she'd either be charming pop-country songstress, or a Sarah McLachlan singer-songwriter type who played cafes in University districts; and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, my cover-judgment goes sour when I learn that she's 'from the Creepshow.' Assuming that the Creepshow are a local act, I'm guessing that they play a brand of watery-thin horror-punk / psychobilly; if she's the singer, which is more-than-fair-assumption, I'm guessing that she's more hand-tattoos-and-female-pompadour than talent. Further, she is also playing with The Roman Line and Liquor Box, bands whose names indicate that they'd won the opening slots from a battle-of-the-bands contest. Sorry, Sarah and co., unless specifically recommended from a trusted source, I will not be attending your concert.
White Cowbell Oklahoma(Taken from White Cowbell Oklahoma, with Grimskunk and Diemonds; December 19th at Lee's Palace)
White Cowbell Oklahoma; now, I've never seen them, but they seem to be playing Toronto quite frequently, which leads me to believe that they're locals. Now, with this assumption in mind, I am going to focus on their band name: White; Cowbell; Oklahoma. Neither word is particularly reflective of Toronto (especially 'Oklahoma') which leads me believe that this band is not only interesting, but exotic. The words 'white,' 'cowbell,' and 'Oklahoma,' however, are signifiers that they are probably a country band; and while Toronto harbours plenty of good country acts, I'd guess that they differentiate themselves from the pack. I'm guessing that, unlike 100 Dollars or the Beauties, WCO probably play a fire-brand slice of jaunty cow-punk; half Jayhawks, half Replacements, they also probably have a schtick, like fire-swallowing, snake-charming, or a vaguely ethnic band member.
While they are playing with Grimskunk - a band most popularized for their marijuana-leaf themed merchandise - it's not a significant enough deterrent to mar the good name of White Cowbell Oklahoma. Good band; good dudes; I would likely attend this concert unprompted.
Boys Who Say No
(Taken from Boys Who Say No with Invasions and Elwins; December 22nd, Horseshoe)
Their name is meant to be nerdy, charming, and bashful. And while I'm 'a boy' and I've definitely 'said no' before, it's not something that I necessarily like to advertise prominently, especially in a band name. And, truthfully, if the Boys are angling at being nerdy, there is a certain consistency with bands with 'nerdy' names (read: Nerf Herder, Up Up Down Down Left Left Down A Start Select Wii Fit) - they're all grating and terrible. And, nerds are nerds for a reason: they smell like pee and have musch narrower shoulders than the average person. So, I'm inclined to believe that this band sounds like DC Talk at their evangelical height fused with Weezer's red album.
Which, believe it or not, is a fail.
Sorry, guys.
