The Likes of You and The Hatch eliminated from The Next Great American Band
Week 2 of The Next Great American Band brought an interesting twist. I’m not sure if this was well known or not but only 10 bands would be moving forward and performing tonight – the bottom two bands in terms of fan votes would be eliminated. The bands waited backstage in the green room to be called out to perform. This week the bands would be doing an original song and a song from the great songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The order in which they were called out did not reflect the number of votes they received. The last two bands in the green room would be going home.
Sixwire was the first band to make it through tonight. Their original song was called “Gotta Get Away” and their cover song was “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” I loved the original song, to the point where I would go and buy a CD of theirs. I was worried at first about the cover, because I’ve heard quite a few remakes of that song but they did such an awesome job. They are still one of my favorite bands in the competition. The judges loved them, and John even said they should be huge stars.
Tres Bien! was the next band to perform tonight. The judges loved them, but I just don’t care for their retro, 60’s sound. Nothing wrong with it, just not my style. Their original song was called “How I Feel” and Dicko told them not to steal too much from the Yardbirds in their songwriting. They did the Elton John song “Love Lies Bleeding” and I did not care for it at all. The judges (in other words, the experts) thought they did a good job on it. They are pretty boys so I’m sure they’ll do well in the fan voting this week.
The next band performing was Franklin Bridge. I loved them in the auditions, but they were not my favorite last week or this week. Their original song was “Love’s Fool” and the judges said they wished they could have heard the entire song. They did a cover of “Philadelphia Freedom” (big surprise) that I did not enjoy. I think it’s because I really love the original song and how Elton John performed it – you get so used to hearing a song one way that it is not enjoyable to hear it arranged a different way. Dicko told the band that they are over-arranging their songs and that in order to make it in the business they need to hear his tough love. He closed by telling them that they were too good of musicians to need to do that. Sheila E told them that simplicity, less is more, is a way they should be going with their music as well. However, even with these borderline harsh comments the judges really love this band and said their musicianship is excellent.
The Clark Brothers were up next. I think they are a nice band, but just not my style of music. The judges loved their original song “Country Time” and liked the way they did the cover of the Elton John song “Country Comfort” saying that it showed their versatility. The judges were very happy that they made it through the first week of competition, and Dicko said that he thought they could go pretty far in the competition.
Light of Doom performed next. I think these boys must spend hours watching VH1 classic or old episodes of “Headbanger’s Ball” to find out how to pose on stage. I also think the fact that they did not know Bernie Taupin’s name shows their lack of maturity and respect for the music. The judges liked their original “Light of Doom” and the cover of “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” but it just did not move me. I loved hair bands and heavy metal back in the day of the 80’s but I’ve outgrown that. Dicko thinks they are kind of gimmicky and I don’t think I’d describe them that way – I just personally do not think they are in the same class as some of the other bands in this competition. I don’t know if they can do anything except a driving metal type sound. I’d love to hear them unplugged and see if they sound the same.
Dot Dot Dot were up next. Dicko had the nerve to say he really hoped they did not see them this week and that they would be on their way home. OK, maybe they did not give the best performance last week but that was kind of harsh to say. But then again he is there to fill the harsh judge role. My husband said to me this band reminded him exactly of Simple Minds. Their original, to me, was OK and their cover of “Your Song” was strange. I kind of liked it, but it made me feel dirty to say that. Like a deep, dark secret you don’t want to admit. This week the judges thought they stepped it up from last week but were not completely impressed. There were several comments made that the lead singer (Adam, I think) needed to calm down because when he was out of breath he could not concentrate on the vocals.
Cliff Wagner & the Old # 7 followed with their original “Little White Chapel” and a cover of the Elton John song “Honky Cat.” I don’t care for bluegrass usually, but I could really see myself at a party or in a bar just kicking back and listening to these guys perform. The judges loved how much fun they have when they are performing and Dicko said he did not know rednecks could be so much fun. I think they might be staying around for a while.
The Muggs were the next band to make it through this week. I loved this band last week, but I thought this week they were disappointing. I did not like their original song “Should’ve Learned my Lesson” and I absolutely hated the Elton John cover “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.” The judges criticized the vocals, and Dicko went so far as to say they should become a four piece band and hire a singer. They were not one of my favorites this week.
Rocket was the next to last band to perform. Their original song to me “Future Ex-Boyfriend” reminded me of a song you might have heard in the early 1980’s movie “Valley Girl.” I also did not like the cover “Rocket Man”. I thought the lead singer Lauren was going to cry with the criticism of the judges, but I truly think they were trying to help her. With the attitude she showed tonight, that “there is nothing wrong with the way I sing and I have conviction when I sing” is going to cause them to get bounced from the competition soon because many of the other bands you can see are taking the criticisms to heart and trying to improve based on the judges’ expertise.
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra were the final band to make it through this week. I loved their performances. John said they were amazing and Sheila called them fantastic. Dicko, as always, was not as favorable but acknowledged they were listening to the judges and were a work in progress.
I was disappointed that The Likes of You did not make it through because they were one of my top three bands from last week. I thought that Rocket or maybe Dot Dot Dot should not have made it through. But then again, what do I know? The Hatch also did not make it through week 2 of competition.
I can’t believe how some of the bands were getting argumentative with the judges. These people are experts in the field, and they are not giving them crazy criticisms but some legitimate, pointed and focused comments. You can see where some of the more mature or older bands are welcoming the critique while the younger bands are getting a little po’d at the criticism.
Tonight my favorite three bands were Sixwire, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, and surprisingly Cliff Wagner & the Old # 7. I never thought I would list a bluegrass band as one of my favorites.
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