I didn’t mind the audition phase of LGAB cut down to one episode, but now that the bands are competing, I wish the show were stretched out a bit. Next week is the Top 6? I hardly know these bands.
Despite the speeded up competition, the contestants are managing to improve their game every single week.
The show would really benefit from a live elimination show. I’ve been eagerly posting elimination spoilers, and will continue to do so. But, it really kills the suspense knowing who is staying and who is going ahead of time.
This week’s video packages feature band members talking about the difficulties of their lives as struggling musicians. Well, there are some that struggle more than others. Light of Doom have given up that extra video game-playing time to be a band, while Franklin Bridge have had to rely on a string of crappy day jobs to keep themselves going. You get the picture.
The show is cut back to an hour this week. Each band performs one song, a Billy Joel cover. The best performances are from the bands who manage to put an interesting twist on some very familiar tunes.
Franklin Bridge - “Big Shot” - The band managed to keep the essence of “Big Shot” intact, while giving the song a hard-driving rock edge. They kept the arrangement simple, like the judges suggested last week, keeping the instrumentals down to a short, but sweet guitar solo. The judges were pleased that the band took their advice. Sheila E further advised them to “stay humble.” Could she be referring to their crack last week about the ladies loving them? Could be. I expect these guys to stick around next week.
Cliff Wagner and the Ole’ #7 - “You May be Right” - I’ve been kinda bored with these guys so far, but I liked the way they changed up this song–even if the judges didn’t. “You May be Right” is a bouncy pop tune. The band slowed the tempo down, turning it into honky tonk. The slide guitar and mandolin work added much to the arrangement. Nice job.
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra - “Tell Her About It” - Right at the point that the camera cut to Denver’s wife having a baby in a hospital–she gave birth two days before the taping–my video crapped out. I’ll edit in a review if I manage to find a video of their performance…Sawry!
Dot Dot Dot - “Pressure” - The band finally impressed the judges with their synth-heavy arrangement of “Pressure.” The lead singer dialed it back even more than last week. The result–it allowed the rest of the band to shine. The arrangement and performance was tight. I think these guys have crossed a hurdle in this competition. Good for them.
Sixwire - “She’s Always a Woman” - Eh. The arrangement did nothing new with the song. It was generic, but competent. However, the lead vocal was delivered with genuine emotion that saved the performance from being a total snooze. I still expect these guys to win the whole thing…or come close.
Tres Bien - “Movin’ Out” - Oh no! This could be the end of my beloved Tres Bien! Their turgid, uninspired arrangement of a Billy Joel song that’s pretty meh to begin with didn’t impress the judges. They got the worst reviews of the night. The lead singer sounded terrible. Billy Joel tunes don’t translate well to a loosey-goosey garage band treatment. Dicko gives them a thumbs down and a raspberry. Bye guys. Sniff…
The Clark Brothers - “She’s Got a Way” - The brother’s treatment of “She’s Got a Way” featured a lovely arrangement, intense vocal and and finished with an awesome instrumental section. They play with conviction and ease, and I expect their quiet confidence will keep them in the game until the end, with Sixwire and Franklin Bridge rounding out the final three.
With three bands left–Light of Doom, Rocket and The Muggs–it’s elimination time…
Eliminated tonight…
Rocket and The Muggs
Dicko said their elimination was due to “death by lead singer.” The guitarist from the Muggs laughed and gave a thumbs down. I read in one of the Detroit papers that they mocked Dicko’s suggestion that they find a fourth member to front the band by pretending to advertise for a lead singer on their My Space page.
Light of Doom - “The Stranger” - Reader Caffiend, attended the taping Wednesday and sat behind the parents. She said they seemed nice and encouraging and not at all like pushy stage parents. Ok, I’ll stop calling them famewhores. Having said that, the kids did a pretty decent cover of “The Stranger.” The band’s immature sounding lead singer still left a lot to be desired, but the band rocked hard. I still hate to see kids trying to perform like grown-ups, though, so they are still my pick to be sent home next. Not that they’ll be sent home. That would be, Tres Bien! and Cliff Wagner and the Ole’ #7…
Next week–the songs of Lieber and Stoller.
Related Posts
Where was everyone tonight? Having a life? I thought Franklin Bridge was horrible. Sixwire and the Clark Brothers were great. LOD didn’t suck. Neither did Dot Dot Dot (I can’t believe I just said that).
I think that time is up for Cliff Wagner and sadly, Tres Bien. I really want to like Tres Bien but I didn’t think they sounded great tonight.
Hey Jersey. Sadly, I missed it. Friday at 7pm is just not a good time slot. I met my friend at the gym to workout and then we went for Mexican (undoing the workout, plus more, no doubt). I thought I recorded it, but I screwed that up. Sigh.
Thanks for the rundown. I may try to catch the performances over at Rickey.org.
Can’t wait for your recap, MJ.
Finally watching this show for the first time tonight and I’m lost. Ugh.
I liked Tres Bien’s performance of “Movin’ Out.” It reminded me of Jellyfish, a woefully underrated alternapop band that recorded two sublime albums and then fell off the face o’ the earth.
I am loving me some Clark Brothers. I thought Six Wire was very good tonight, also. I think they will be the last two standing. I agree that LOD didnt suck tonight, but I hope they go away soon, along with Tres Bien.
Aw, I missed it, too. I ended up chasing my dog around the neighborhood for the first half, and then watching Avatar with my kids. I am sad that people think Tres Bien need to go. *sniff* They are the only band who I would probably buy music from. OK, I wouldn’t buy Billy Joel covers from them, but I really like their original songs.
This youtube user has all of the performances from the last three weeks up:
http://youtube.com/user/Kaykohl
cheese - I’ve liked their originals, too. And, like I said last week, I like the idea of them - retro brit pop. Their cover of “Movin Out” however, I just found a bit plodding. My 16 year old though, liked them the best; so what do I know?
Thanks for the recap, MJ.
If I’m not mistaken, and I could be, I think only one band goes home next week and in the coming weeks. Although given the ratings, Fox may decide to continue eliminating them two at a time.
Thanks for the re-caps mj. Tho’ the numbers watching this show are tiny, I think we are enthusiastic. Well….I am.
And if the writer’s strike continues, there will probably be a plethora of shows like this to fill the void which is just FINE with me. I love this stuff. (Find a band who needs a lead singer and bring back Rock Star! Celebrity Duets? I hear your name being called.)
Anyway.
Sixwire - When is their album coming out? I am ready to buy it now. Especially if they have the original song they did last week. This group, besides having an amazingly hot lead singer (Get in line, Sheila E!), has lovely harmonies and seem to be very tight and together. I like them a hell of a lot better than a lot of established country acts. (I am looking at you Big and Rich and Rascal Flatts)
The Clark Bros - Nice eye candy and talented to boot. I liked how they performed their song. They also have an intensity that is both scary and fascinating. Maybe it was all those years on the bus.
Dot Dot Dot - While I still don’t much like their vibe, they KILLED on “Pressure.” Fantastic synth work and the whole arrangement was terrific. I cannot believe I am saying this. I think they did the best by Billy Joel last night.
Franklin Bridge - They are so damn talented and SO into themselves for it. They are still a little busy for me. Their fretwork is astonishing (ditto the drums), but they leave me reeling a bit and sometimes wondering where the groove of the song is.
Light of Doom - The MiniMetals surprised me with the choice and how well they did the song. The still pose a bit too much, but these little boys can play and I want them back just to see that midget drummer drive that entire group with his backbeat.
Tres Bien - Disappointed me a bit. That is one of my favorite Joel songs, and they sort of underplayed it. I agreed with the judges about the guitar solo. Not so great. They are a VERY appealing band and I like how they stay true to their style. Their drummer is a trip!
Denver and the yada yada’s - They really are a talented band, but do nothing for me. Decent interpretation of “Tell Her About It” but I felt it sort of lacked the energy it needed. Maybe the lead singer was sleep deprived.
Ol’ No. 7 - Sorry, Cliff. When you have heard Garth Brooks do this song in concert … ‘Nuff said. I think they are on their way home next week.
Did a dance of joy when I read the spoiler about who was going home. Never more deserved, in my book.
I’m rooting for the Clark Bros but honestly, I didn’t think Ashley’s vocals were as good as Sixwire’s. Vocal quality aside, it definitely was intense, passionate, and emotionally resonating.
Overall, I think they are in a good position to go all the way for two reasons: they aren’t polished, front-runners like Sixwire, and are slightly more mainstream than Franklin Bridge (whose style I don’t understand or appreciate). Plus, singing songs like “She’s Got a Way” could draw them out of the “hokey” country market make them potentially successful crossover artists.
So I just watched the show…
The Clark Brothers - WOW. I loved them. Where’s their album? I’d buy it now. Clark Brothers FTW!
Dot cubed seems to be improving weekly. So far, they get the award for most improved. I really liked them this week - and that lead guitarist can PLAY.
Sixwire is just great… the harmonies on their song sounded incredible. They’re definitely very polished and professional… and I agree, totally blow current big name country bands out of the water - and this is coming from a Rascal Flatts FAN!
Franklin Bridge was really good this week… I like that they actually listened and toned the arrangement down. But hello - screaming? Yikes! LOL.
Light of Doom was not bad this week, although it pains me to say that. LOL. Denver et al were pretty good, but I agree with Dicko’s criticism. Tres Bien! was not as bad as I expected from reading some recaps, but still not as good as usual. LOL. And Cliff Wagner et all are talented, but definitely niche. And I’m not a fan of their particular niche.
Hmmm.. who goes home? It will probably be 2 (or 1? depending on the breakdown the rest of the way out) out of Denver, Tres Bien!, and Cliff Wagner.
Thanks for the recap, MJ, as my satellite was out last night. The competition is getting more exciting as the finalists are pared down.
It was good to read that both Dot Dot Dot and LOD showed much improvement last night. I really look forward to seeing last night’s songs from Franklin Bridge, The Clark Bros., Cliff Wagner and Sixwire later on with a high speed connection.
I’m thinkin’ if Disney has any sense at all they will snap up LOD and base a show around them ala Hannah Montana. This would appeal to the tweener girls, and since they are metal- tweener boys. They could be huge in that market.
During the auditions, I had Dot Dot Dot pegged as the Band Most Likely To Bug The Carp Out of Me, but I have to say that I’ve been impressed with how they’ve grown on me. They toned down the annoying Ka-Razee antics and have really delivered. I noticed this week the lead singer even stopped (for the most part) doing that hand-behind-the-back thing Dicko called him out on last time.
Query: Is it easier for a band (rather than an individual singer on, say, AI) to tweak its performance? Maybe the bands on NGAB are more willing to adapt because the focus is more on the group and how the individual can benefit the group as a whole. Maybe the bandmates can reality-check each other more effectively than the musical directors on AI can help the singers. Maybe the producers on NGAB are leaving the bands more or less to their own devices, in contrast to some of the rumored shenanigans of the AI producers.
I have to say that I love LOD’s drummer. He’s not as fancy as FB’s drummer, but he gets the job done! He’ll have time later to perfect all the tricks, but it’s nice to see a kid executing the basics.
Hey everybody- I am in the music industry and often see bands of all talents- I must say Denver is one of the most talented bands on the show right now- I think Denver will go all the way!!!