You watching? Probably not. Recap later anyway….
I’m still working on a recap, but here is a nice picture while you wait… Light of Doom! My favorites! Not really. Go home, little metal tots….
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Is it Rolling Stones night? Well not quite. Dominic, our host says, “Tonight, we honor the partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.”
This week’s video package include fun facts about YOUR band members! Not so much fun that I’ll bother to mention any of them. On with the recap…
Tres Bien! - “Get Off of My Cloud” - Yeah, the chord change and the Beatlesque “ahhs” tagged on to the end are a little twee, but I love the riff with the break. And, I don’t mind the “Satisfaction” riff tagged in the middle one bit. Overall, a good arrangement. John thinks the end is “Broadway.” Sheila, who I don’t think likes this band much, advises the guitar player to keep his guitar in tune. Dicko compliments the lead singer, calling him, “the most natural and gifted front man” in the competition.
Denver and the Mile-High Orchestra - “Free” - Denver and the band are better than last week. But, although, the horn arrangement and sax solo adds some punch (the band is better than the bland Denver) , it’s still too much cheesy lounge act. Bleah. I think this is the band that’s overstayed their welcome, personally. John likes the horn arrangement, but thinks it “seemed a little squeaky clean.” Sheila loves them. Dicko says, “Variety is good,” but they shouldn’t be performing b sides when trying to win a competition. He said it was “labored, awkward and largely pointless.”
Sixwire - “This Will Be The Last Time” - For the first time in a few weeks, Sixwire doesn’t totally bore me. The song is propelled nicely by a driving, energetic arrangement and excellent harmonies. The band shows off their musical chops with a sweet instrumental break and guitar solo. John says, “That is exactly what I wanted to hear from you guys, you tore it up, you owned it.” Sheila says, “Incredible, so exciting, so much energy, I want to hear it again.” Dicko says, “You brought the rock tonight.”
Light of Doom - “Jumping Jack Flash” - The lead singer not only sounds young, but doesn’t have much of a range. Other than the vocals, the performance is pretty good. Dicko says the arrangement “swung more than normal.” with a “bit of a lilt.” He has a good point…their arrangements are usually pretty turgid, but tonight the boys add a little sweetening to their melody. John says, “You young punks are killing me…the song could use some harmonies.” Sheila says, “The key was too low, but it was good.” Honestly, I still think they are too young. I wouldn’t miss them if they left this week.
Clark Brothers - “Gimme Shelter” - Holy crap. Amazing. The Clark Brothers never fail to take the audience on a 3 minute journey to a place that is both soulful and intensely spiritual. The guitar and mandolin work are dark and foreboding, building to a crescendo, until Ashley finally pleads, “Peace, people, it’s gonna come some day, it’s gonna come some day…” Goosebumps, people goosebumps. I think these guys deserve to win the whole thing. A standing ovation from the judges–Dicko says it was “absolutely thrilling.” John says, “Brilliant…You guys are such monsters up there…fantastic” Sheila says, “You guys are the band to beat.”
Two bands are left. Cliff Wagner and the Old #7 and Dot Dot Dot.
The last band performing tonight are….Dot Dot Dot! Cliff Wagner and the Old #7 go home.
The hugging commences, and it’s apparent that over the weeks, the bands have become close. There’s time to kill tonight, so the band is given a proper goodbye and a chance to thank their fans.
John says he’s going to “miss their sense of humor and the chemistry between the band members.” And then asks their fans to continue to support them. Dicko thanks the band for bringing “some real variety, some real variety to this competition.”
Then, he asks the band about their ambitions. Cliff says they have “new inspiration and new ideas” from having to play outside of their box. He adds, “I think our sound is going to expand way beyond where we were before we started the competition.”
Cliff thanks the fans, “I want to thank everyone in America that voted for us, and good luck to the other bands, they’re all good friends of ours now.” Class act.
Dot Dot Dot - “Let’s Spend the Night Together ” - The lead singer is back to mugging too much for the camera, but I think he’s endearing. Love the guitars in the arrangement–Rose really plays a commanding lead guitar. Dicko complains that the keyboards should have been more “rootsy” but I don’t agree. The 80′ swirling synths is a nice underpinning for the arrangement, but not overbearing. John says, “you guys keep surprising me.” Sheila says it was “exciting” but that Adam’s vocals were a little distracting. Dicko gives the performance a b- and tells Adam that he needs to “command attention rather than be desperate for it.”
Next week–the songs of Rod Stewart. The rock songs, I hope.
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Yes…watching. Love the Clark Brothers!
As usual, they were really intense tonight…
Me three. Good show tonight. Those not watching are missing out on some top notch entertainment with these very talented bands and musicians.
Can’t wait for it to be on here. Love those Clark Bros. big time!
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, MJ!
I was thinking the same thing while watching tonight. I love the judges on this show. They offer constructive criticism, and the bands are listening. No one sucked tonight either. I miss FB, though. They really should still be there, but I suppose I can’t complain because I didn’t vote.
I loved the show last night. My faves as usual were The Clark Bros and Sixwire. I really did think that Sixwire was awesome last night. I wish LOD would leave my tv but I think they’ll be there for a while longer. I think Denver and Tres Bien! are vulnerable. I did like Tres Bien! alot last night too.
I agree jersey…thought Tres Bien was entertaining and while I don’t vote for them I am always curious to see how they will handle the songs….but I also think they are vulnerable along with Denver (big band) next week.
LOD can leave any time and I won’t be sad.
I think Denver will be gone this week. Sixwire and the Clarks were outstanding this week, and unfortunately, LOD doesn’t appear to be going any time soon. This one could really go a number of ways. And yeah, I’m invested. Not as much as I get into Idol, but invested nonetheless.
This show is sometimes so mystifying to me. There are so many unanswered questions like…why is there a guy with an Australian accent heading a show that has “American” in it’s title…why is the singer who looks like Sawyer not in the band called “The Hatch” (this makes sense to “Lost” watchers only)…why does the retro British sounding band have a French name…when did Hanson go metal? Yeah, this show makes no sense. Yet I find myself watching. And for some reason, writing this long ass recap.
I was looking forward to hearing songs by Jagger/Richards as The Rolling Stones are one of my favorite bands. When I read that The Clark Brothers were doing “Gimme Shelter” I wondered how on earth they could sing the line “Rape, Murder.” But they just repeated “War, Children” instead. I really liked their performance because they did the song in a new way. It wasn’t better than the original but it wasn’t worse either. It was different. And it was very good.
I also liked Tres Bien but I have to admit, I always do. I didn’t hate the “Satisfaction” snippet either. It was a good song choice for them although any song from the Brian Jones era would have been good.
Sixwire were okay. They’re very mainstream country to me & nothing new or different. The Stones have a lot of country tinged songs (including a country version of “Honky Tonk Women” called “Country Honk”). I didn’t really like “The Last Time” as their song choice. “Wild Horses” seems to fit their style better to me. But they seem like the frontrunners no matter what they do so what do I know.
Dot Dot Dot would have been hot hot hot in the 80’s but now they’re just not not not. I don’t find them amazingly good or entertaining. They aren’t great musicians and the judges praising of the guitarist just because she’s a woman is really getting old. We get it, you don’t need a penis to play guitar. Duh!
Metal Hanson a/k/a Light Of Doom were awful as usual. With Sanjaya, there was only one kid we had to deal with but a whole band? Everything is a cliché from the song choice to the guitarist in the rafters. And Dicko lecturing them to read about the Stones but not do what Keith did was lame. He should have told them to listen to “Exile On Main Street” & “Let It Bleed” and leave it at that. They are a cute novelty but they shouldn’t be on TV every week. Once was enough. But they aren’t my least favorite band. That would be…
Denver & the Mile High Orchestra is the worst to me. Their arrangements are an insomniac’s dream come true (if insomniac’s slept enough to have a dream that is). And the lead singer has the sex appeal of a glass of milk. I’m not anti big band either. I’m sure Brian Setzer’s Orchestra could have done a rippin’ version of just about any Stones song. They are not only boring, but annoying as well.
R.I.P. to Cliff Wagner & The Old No. 7. I was looking forward to a bluegrass version of a Stones song. This episode would have been so much better if they, along with Franklin Bridge, had replaced Denver & L.O.D. But the people have spoken & they like the big band schlock & the kiddie metal. By the way, who are these people?
Overall, it was great to have The Rolling Stones as the song choice. I wish Idol would do it sometime. I’m looking forward to The Clark Brothers doing Rod Stewart next week. I really like his early acoustic & rock stuff from the 70’s (pre “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” & the standards CDs). I’m sure they can step up to the challenge. And I hope Tres Bien gets a chance to play too. The others, I could care less about. But hopefully it’s Denver or Doom that go home next week.
Love love LOVE the Clark Brothers. They just keep showing week after week how awesome they are, and I’d really love to see them win. I actually voted for them this week ’cause there is no way I want to see them going home any time soon. LOVE ‘em. Clark Bros FTW!
I also really liked Sixwire and Tres Bien! this week. I still really like Dot Dot Dot, but I didn’t really think they were up to par this week. Rose IS a kick-ass guitarist though.
I think Denver & TMHO is probably the most vulnerable this week, unless they have some huge voting block out there that I don’t know about. I have resigned myself to accept that LOD is going to be around for a while, but gah, I hope they go home before the finals…
Are they all boys????
Sixwire is my fav. Oh how I wish those annoying little imitaters (LOD) would go home they bug me BIG TIME.
Are who all boys, Lu?
There are only two girls left in the competition - the two guitarists in Dot Dot Dot.
speechless = clark brother’s performance.
Watched for the first time, and enjoyed the hell out of every act. Well, maybe not Denver as much as the others. Sorry, but their lead singer is not very melodic or passionate.
The first week it came on, that precious Elliott Yamin was in town for a concert. So that was a “sign” that I wasn’t supposed to waste my valuable time watching it… ever. heh heh
So… I accidentally caught a glimpse this week walking by the TV and it was just starting. Loved it. Even the little boogers and the judges.
LOL - The Clark Brothers - are they all boys?
Spot on, MJ.
My take:
Tres Bien. So much fun. I really like all the members of this jolly band. If I were younger, I would probably be screaming and holding up signs. They did a bang-up job on their song, in my view. OLD, OLD Rolling Stone music, so have at it, you retro boys.
You know. I am totally in love with Sixwire. What amazing musicians and singers and, well, ahem, lookers, too. I am hoping they will go to the end. I know they are a bit more generic than some of these bands, but they have a great amount of charm and they are really top notch performers.
The Clark Brothers pin me against the wall every week. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. And Ashley’s kid is beyond adorable. And I love the name, Ashley (But I digress). I agree with you mj. These guys are like laser beams of intensity. And I love that they do THEIR take on the music each week. I take back what I said about needing drums and bass. No they don’t.
The rest:
LOD - I still love the eensy weensy drummer. He is such a backbone to that group and looks like he stands about 3′4″, max. They are good musicians, but much is lacking. Vocals, for one.
3 Dots - Talented. Growing on me. Did a good job with “Spend the Night Together” but didn’t convince me to spend the night together. They do entertain. No question. But I truly hate their studied, “cool” look. (I think I OD’ed on Lukas Rossi on the last Rock Star)
Denver Yada Yada - Over them. White Bread is just too dull to tolerate despite the fact that they really are a very tight, together big band. But I got bored with them early on with this song. The weddings are calling, guys.
Back to the Bluegrass circuit, Old No. 7.
LOL. I sure hope so, or they’re billing themselves falsely. ;)
Clark Bros. Probably were the best…Tres Bien were the most entertaining.
I think the Clark Bros. could benefit from Rod’s Folk-Rock songs, such as “Gasoline Alley” or “Mandolin Wind.” However that would be playing it “Safe.” However any Mercury Records recordings of Rod’s would be best for the instruments they play…Every picture tells a story would probably be best overall for them.
I would like to see Light of Doom play a Faces song, like “Stay with me” …Although they probably just want them to play Rod solo stuff.
I think Dot Dot Dot would work well with “Young Turks.”
Tres Bien would probably do good with one of Rod’s 80s pop songs done in a retro 60s feel…I don’t really see any of his 70s songs working for them.
Denver High …mmm somehow I think Da ya think I’m sexy would be something they’d do…
Something tells me one of them will do “Do ya think I’m sexy” because it is funny and fun.