2007 National Youth Gathering Music Reviews:Rough Draft Could Become a Fine Thesis

Part of a series of reviews of concerts at the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod National Youth Gathering, July 28-August 1, 2007

They’re only young kids with that fun, open-eyed wonder of a band just hitting the stage of success like the `Oneders in the movie, That Thing You Do. Yet, Rough Draft has written a fairly good essay on this first time with enough of the ingredients to make this an excellent paper after some editing.

Spinning around and doing axe dips, the band is definitely developing a good stage presence. They have the showman moves, but they need the songs to hit high points to match.

The hard rock/Emo songs are fueled by this stage energy and Brent's power rock guitar solos. There are also enough breaks with drum, bass, or guitar fills to add punch. Yet, as compared to the guitar sound on their debut album, Not Far Away, Rough Draft will have to work on getting more definition in their guitar sound on stage. It seemed muddy partly to the guitarists perhaps not getting their own volume knobs up at the right time.

When lead singer Andrew pulled out an acoustic guitar for “Winded,” they got into an amped-up jam band groove with started to give them a tighter sound. If they follow that outline, this rough draft will become a thesis of fine words.

Thanks to Rough Draft for the review CD.