LittleBrownCat
10-19-2007, 09:20 PM
***spoiler alert***
I'm not normally one to watch these kinds of shows (never seen American Idol or America's Got Talent) but something made me want to watch this. As I expected, there were some pretty bad bands, but some really good ones too. The three judges were Johnny Rezenik from Goo-Goo Dolls, Sheila E. and an australian bloke named Ian Dickson (responsible for foisting Ozzie Osborne on the world :rolleyes: ). He took on the "mean judge" role, ala Simon Cowell; Sheila E. was the "nice" judge, but less loopy than Paula Abdul.
There were some really wierd bands there (a polka band, of all things). I wasn't expecting much from the Zombie Bazooka Patrol, based on their looks (yeah, yeah, I know, but honestly--zombies?) but I actually liked them. FiFi LaRue was weird looking (with Kiss-like makeup) and had a bad attitude as well--the lead singer made a snarky remark to Sheila E. which is a sure way to guarantee a "no". The music was just plain bad. Then there was the band that claimed to be from other planets, with outfits to match. Ooookaaay. The best quote of the evening was when Ian Dickson asked one of them where he was from, the guy replied "Plutonia" and Ian said, "Plutonia? That sounded more like Uranus." Yeah, it's a little juvenile, but considering how bad those guys were... :D
One of the most inspirational bands was Big Toe. The bass player was born without arms, and plays bass with his feet. DH is a bass player, and was quite impressed with the guy's musicianship. I liked them, but I think the judges were right that the rest of the band wasn't up to the bass player's standards. Too bad. Another inspirational band was The Mugs, "America's Ugliest Band" (their words, not mine :) ). The bass player had a stroke and looks like he lost the use of his right side. But now he plays bass on the keyboards (this reminded me of the drummer from the old 80's band, Def Leppard, who lost one arm in an accident, but came back to play drums with the band; he had a specially modified kit made so he could use his feet to make up for the missing arm). They were really good, and I was glad to see them move on.
One of my favorites was Sixwire. I like country music, but I particularly like country music that mixes in a little rock (think Montgomery Gentry). I think these guys have real potential, and I'm already considering voting for them in the next round. I also liked the band of 12-year-olds (can't think of their name); they were better than some of the bands with members twice their age! With the "cult of youth" thing that seems to be going on nowadays, they'd probably do well commercially (and if they're already good, they'll probably only get better with age). I did think it was pretty funny watching the parents watching them. I wonder if they're living out their rock dreams through their kids?
The all-girl band that did the cover of the Ramone's "Blitzkrieg Bop" wasn't bad, but I think the singer's vocals were weak, espcially for that song. They may do better in the next round. I really liked Cliff Wagner and the Old #7, but then I'm a sucker for banjos and mandolins. I almost peed my pants laughing when the judges mentioned doing a cover and they improvised a bluegrass version of "Like A Virgin". :D For that alone, they deserved to move on. One band that won't be moving on is Northmont. They struck me as a weak Third Eye Blind clone. With two tries, they still couldn't do it. The lead singer did have a good voice and good stage presence; with better musicians behind him, I think they could do well on the club scene (I think the current line-up is toast, especially with the backstage sniping I saw from the lead singer).
And for more drama, we had not one, but two bands that said this was their last big shot, and neither one made it. I was a little surprised that the first band talked about selling their equipment. I know several bands who play out on weekends just because they love to play, not because they're hoping to make it big--the record execs aren't going to be looking to sign them any time soon, but that's okay with them. They're just having fun doing what they're doing. Nothing wrong with that. And how sad that the New Zealander from the second band had to leave his daughter behind to go to America. Well, at least now he'll get to see her.
All in all, I think the judges made some pretty good, interesting choices for the next round. I think everyone who moved on deserved it. Now the fun begins. Thank god for tivo, so I don't have to stay home on Friday nights. :D
I'm not normally one to watch these kinds of shows (never seen American Idol or America's Got Talent) but something made me want to watch this. As I expected, there were some pretty bad bands, but some really good ones too. The three judges were Johnny Rezenik from Goo-Goo Dolls, Sheila E. and an australian bloke named Ian Dickson (responsible for foisting Ozzie Osborne on the world :rolleyes: ). He took on the "mean judge" role, ala Simon Cowell; Sheila E. was the "nice" judge, but less loopy than Paula Abdul.
There were some really wierd bands there (a polka band, of all things). I wasn't expecting much from the Zombie Bazooka Patrol, based on their looks (yeah, yeah, I know, but honestly--zombies?) but I actually liked them. FiFi LaRue was weird looking (with Kiss-like makeup) and had a bad attitude as well--the lead singer made a snarky remark to Sheila E. which is a sure way to guarantee a "no". The music was just plain bad. Then there was the band that claimed to be from other planets, with outfits to match. Ooookaaay. The best quote of the evening was when Ian Dickson asked one of them where he was from, the guy replied "Plutonia" and Ian said, "Plutonia? That sounded more like Uranus." Yeah, it's a little juvenile, but considering how bad those guys were... :D
One of the most inspirational bands was Big Toe. The bass player was born without arms, and plays bass with his feet. DH is a bass player, and was quite impressed with the guy's musicianship. I liked them, but I think the judges were right that the rest of the band wasn't up to the bass player's standards. Too bad. Another inspirational band was The Mugs, "America's Ugliest Band" (their words, not mine :) ). The bass player had a stroke and looks like he lost the use of his right side. But now he plays bass on the keyboards (this reminded me of the drummer from the old 80's band, Def Leppard, who lost one arm in an accident, but came back to play drums with the band; he had a specially modified kit made so he could use his feet to make up for the missing arm). They were really good, and I was glad to see them move on.
One of my favorites was Sixwire. I like country music, but I particularly like country music that mixes in a little rock (think Montgomery Gentry). I think these guys have real potential, and I'm already considering voting for them in the next round. I also liked the band of 12-year-olds (can't think of their name); they were better than some of the bands with members twice their age! With the "cult of youth" thing that seems to be going on nowadays, they'd probably do well commercially (and if they're already good, they'll probably only get better with age). I did think it was pretty funny watching the parents watching them. I wonder if they're living out their rock dreams through their kids?
The all-girl band that did the cover of the Ramone's "Blitzkrieg Bop" wasn't bad, but I think the singer's vocals were weak, espcially for that song. They may do better in the next round. I really liked Cliff Wagner and the Old #7, but then I'm a sucker for banjos and mandolins. I almost peed my pants laughing when the judges mentioned doing a cover and they improvised a bluegrass version of "Like A Virgin". :D For that alone, they deserved to move on. One band that won't be moving on is Northmont. They struck me as a weak Third Eye Blind clone. With two tries, they still couldn't do it. The lead singer did have a good voice and good stage presence; with better musicians behind him, I think they could do well on the club scene (I think the current line-up is toast, especially with the backstage sniping I saw from the lead singer).
And for more drama, we had not one, but two bands that said this was their last big shot, and neither one made it. I was a little surprised that the first band talked about selling their equipment. I know several bands who play out on weekends just because they love to play, not because they're hoping to make it big--the record execs aren't going to be looking to sign them any time soon, but that's okay with them. They're just having fun doing what they're doing. Nothing wrong with that. And how sad that the New Zealander from the second band had to leave his daughter behind to go to America. Well, at least now he'll get to see her.
All in all, I think the judges made some pretty good, interesting choices for the next round. I think everyone who moved on deserved it. Now the fun begins. Thank god for tivo, so I don't have to stay home on Friday nights. :D