Oct 19, 2007 08:09 pm I'm gonna watch it but due to time travel it's not on yet.
The Next Great American Band
Posted on Oct 19, 2007 07:22 pm
dbmasters
Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002
Anyone watching it? It's like American Idol for bands...I just watched a group of 12 and 13 year old kids pull off Iron Maiden's Flight of Icarus pretty darn well...a bass player with no arms, played with his feet and blew me away...a tent revival family, three brothers and they rocked. Wide range of peeps, most sucked, but some pretty good ones mixed in.
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Oct 19, 2007 08:09 pm I'm gonna watch it but due to time travel it's not on yet.
Oct 19, 2007 10:01 pm Not heard of it. But sounds like it might actually be interesting. I'll have to try and catch it next week.
Oct 20, 2007 11:00 am My TIVO screwed up and I only saw the last 1/2 hour. They are featuring actual bands not gimmics, I only saw one girl band where they were pretty hot if that counts for anything :)
nextgreatband.msn.com/
Oct 20, 2007 11:59 am I caught the last half... the show seems pretty good... though some of the bands weren't :)
Oct 20, 2007 12:11 pm That one girl band was Atomic Blonde wasn't it? They are on MySpace, I think they are friends of HRC, or Noize2u or something...
I missed the last half, had to go get my family from the airport...family is such a PITA sometimes :-)
I did miss the band from planet plutonia or whatever those freaks were...The Gothic Clown of Rock n Roll or whatever that idiot was was a joke, made the Ramones look like virtuoso's.
Oct 20, 2007 12:20 pm Quote:
... they were pretty hot if that counts for anything :)
In a "girl band"... yes... absolutely... alot... especially in this studio. Oink.
Haven't caught the show yet, but want to... when's it on, dB ?
Oct 20, 2007 12:22 pm Oh, I saw Atmic Blonde on a commercial, so they will be on at some point.
It's on Friday's, it was 7-9 last night, but I think it'll only be an hour the rest of the season.
That bassist that played with his feet was amazing...still freaks me out.
Oct 20, 2007 12:23 pm They already have the top 12 and Atomic Blonde isn't one them
Oct 20, 2007 12:25 pm The top twelve bands were
The Clark Brothers, a Bluegrass/Country band from Nashville, TN;
Cliff Wagner and the Old #7, a Bluegrass Band from San Pedro, CA;
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, a Big Band/Swing Band from Nashville, TN;
Dot Dot Dot, a Modern Rock band from Chicago, IL;
Franklin Bridge, an R&B/Soul band from Philadelphia, PA;
The Hatch, a Pop/Rock band from Brooklyn, NY;
Light of Doom, a Heavy Metal band from San Marcos, CA;
The Likes of You, a Pop/Rock band from Los Angeles, CA;
The Muggs, a Classic Rock band from Detroit, MI;
Rocket, a Pop/Punk band from Los Angeles, CA;
Sixwire, a Country band from Nashville, TN;
Trés Bien, a Retro Pop/Rock band from Clearwater, FL.
Oct 20, 2007 12:27 pm Clark brothers were awesome, The Muggs were great too, Fres' Bien did little for me. Light of Doom are those kids that rocked maiden...dot dot dot should be sued by a friend of mine for stealing his name...Remember Ward from Comp Ren downtown Noize? He's the original dot dot dot and he's awesome.
Oct 20, 2007 06:21 pm Ya, I thought that sounded familiar and now know why. I do remember him though. Maybe he sold the name??
Oct 20, 2007 06:23 pm And ya, Atomic Blonde. Fun girls for sure. Too bad if they didn't make it, their live shows are pretty good.
Oct 28, 2007 11:06 am After watching week 2.
This show is really pretty good.
While I can't say I like the music of all the bands most of them are very worthy and have something to offer. In most cases the singing is the weak spot, the voices just don't have the meat of the pro's.
Light of Doom (the 10-13yo metal band) are truly awful IMHO.
Rocket, the girl band, still good to look at but they are also one of the weaker one's.
THe other band with a girl in and a Lukas Rossi wannabe as singer are also weak.
Beyond that there is something to like about all of them
The site has lots of info and some vids nextgreatband.msn.com/
I'm not sure how the host or Aussie judge got the job though :)
Oct 28, 2007 12:35 pm Yeah, Light of Doom sucked on the second show, the girl band did nothing for me at all. The Clark Brothers the band of black guys (something Bridge or whatever their name is) are both great, and I love The Muggs, I just wish their bass player could be active on stage rather than stuck doing it on the keyboard due to his previous stroke or whatever it was, the music is great tho.
Oct 28, 2007 01:42 pm I watched the show this week too. I pretty much agree with everything you guys said. Light of Doom did nothing to impress me. My son's band sounds better than that.
The Clark Bros. were great. I love their style of music. Franklin Bridge was great too. The Likes of You made we want to gag, as did Dot Dot Dot. Don't take yourselves so seriously. Sixwire will have to change their name first, but they have what it takes to be successful in today's new country market.
All in all, I wasn't overly impressed with anybody. The original songs were all pretty lame, especially when compared to most of the stuff I hear around HRC. And I hate hearing Dylan covers done by bands that have never grown to know the original songs. Totally uninspiring.
Oct 28, 2007 03:51 pm if the next great american band emerges from 'the next great american band' program, god help us all.
Oct 28, 2007 06:01 pm Quote:
if the next great american band emerges from 'the next great american band' program, god help us all
Gotta say that's kind of a worthless statement. This is a TV show, and any band worth their salt would love to get the exposure this gives. I don't think Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood could be called failures and they are both pretty good but neither of them would have likely made it as big as they are without AI.
I guess that musical snobbery is one of my hot buttons.
Oct 28, 2007 06:03 pm Yeah, I pretty much agree with tony, but I was gonna leave it alone.
Oct 28, 2007 06:38 pm Well I probably should have to :)
I am actually quite impressed by how genuine all of these bands are. They all come across like real bands not some fake made for TV stuff. I like watching American Idol also but this is a lot better musically.
Oct 28, 2007 06:54 pm Well, the word great gets thrown around waaay too much. The best of these bands are merely pretty good.
Save great for the Beatles, etc.
Oct 28, 2007 08:40 pm I have no idea how these bands even got to be on the show or how they made it to where they are. But I gotta say that I didn't see anything that worthy of the title "America's Next Great Band".
It's NOT musical snobbery. That's not my style.
A band doesn't get great by going on a TV show and having a bunch of people call in their votes. They get great by writing great songs and polishing their act and putting out a product that is honest and sincere. And by deveoping a following and then putting out another album of great songs. And then another one. And then they sell out tours. If any of these bands get great it'll be because they did it the old fashioned way. Not because they won a contest on a TV show.
Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken did not become America's Next Great Singers.
I wonder how the Beatles or the Rolling Stones would have fared on such a TV show! (Remember, The Beatles were turned down by Decca before the signed on with Polydor/Capitol.)
Musical snobbery is one of my hot buttons too...
Oct 28, 2007 10:31 pm Lets be clear here - the title of the the show is "Next Great American Band" i.e. it's the title of the show. I don't think anyone in the world is suggesting that they are actually finding the next great American band. "Survivor" is the name of another show but people aren't actually at risk of death :) There are 12 bands, one wins, there is no mystery and no actual requirement for them to qualify under each individuals definition of great.
There were open auditions for the bands, send in a tape, go to an audition etc. Anyone could have done it, I have personal experience of a few bands that felt it was below them, I guess they didn't want x million people to see them each week.
All but a couple of these bands are working bands that were around before the show, most will still be around after it, but guess what, they'll be more popular = success for them.
Your definition of great seems based on what you like, mine is based on popularity. Carrie Underwood has sold more records in the last 2 years than anyone else by twice as much - that seems pretty great to me.
I can pretty much guarantee that the winner will sell records and sell out a tour and at least 5 or 6 of these will be quite deserving.
I think for every band that does make it great there are 100 exactly the same that did not get the lucky breaks, every one of these bands is making their own luck by entering.
For the record while I acknowledge their influence I am not a fan of either The Beatles or Rolling Stones.
Oct 29, 2007 04:35 am i haven't seen the show.
i do understand the normal drive for exposure.
but there's something totally not 'rock' about going through a network television show. to me, impressions matter. i am a snob.
i watch american idol as entertainment. seems like some here watch greatest band seriously?
ok
earn it, bands. whether its on this show or on the circuit, just earn it. the thing about shows like this is that someone will win, even if they haven't really earned it.
there is a built-in falsehood. occasionally, i'd bet, a really good and worthy band will win. but wait. one of these seasons, someone who doesn't deserve it at all will win. a winner must appear. the winner will be hyped.
i'm against the concept. i watch american idol with my tongue in my cheek.
i'll check this out if i run across it, though. music reality shows are fun.
but i mean, my only point is: come on. imagine if the doors broke this way.
Oct 29, 2007 06:16 am You sound like these bands got put together just for the show, some of these bands HAVE earned it, some have been together for 10 years...read the story of the band The Muggs and tell me they haven't earned it...The Clark Brothers have been performing together since they could walk, just because there is this new trend for exposure in reality shows does not make these bands any less real or worthy, just gives them a new avenue for exposure.
These bands play (or have to now) original music and covers, that is one one single aspect that to me makes it different. The one thing about American Idol that always bothered me at the root level is just that, these people just sing, they don't necessary play an instrument or have any musical knowledge or songwriting ability, which makes it fake to me. This Greatest American Band, while still network television, at least has a hint of originality which to me puts it on a different field.
Will any of the bands be the "Next great American Band", well, in short, no, but a new band or two that is very good will come out of it.
Oct 29, 2007 10:16 am Are you aware that the Doors and The Beatles and many others broke primarily by being on TV ???
Beatles on Ed Sullivan - a variety show - ring any bells :)
Oct 29, 2007 11:25 am I mostly agree with everything you guys say...
I guess I just took offense to being lumped in with the musical snobs. That ain't me.
Oct 29, 2007 03:05 pm arghh, tony i know that. but those were just 'gigs' that happened to be televised. i think it's the title of the show and specific contest nature of it that seems 'un rock' to me. because it makes it nakedly about 'being accepted' or 'winning.' bands registered for the shows are sort of letting their desire to be loved hang out in the open. they strike a supplicating stance by submitting themselves to be judged in this official sort of way. there's something fundamentally not rock about that to me.
Oct 29, 2007 03:31 pm Quote:
Your definition of great seems based on what you like, mine is based on popularity.
Under this definition, meth is a great drug, and prostitution is a great way to make a living in Las Vegas.
The show and the bands on it can't be taken seriously because "greatness" is determined by the amount of phone calls each band generates. A bogus system at best.
Among other flaws, mathematically, the more members a band contains, the more friends and family they have, so the larger the pool of potential callers they have. May seem a trifling point, but any such advantage would be unfair, no?
Popularity contests of this variety are for the birds..
Oct 29, 2007 03:34 pm I have a great idea, how about you guys seriously over think a show that just has some good music and good bands on it that one can enjoy...and some bad ones we can mock.
oh, wait, you already are, never mind...
Oct 29, 2007 03:38 pm Bring back American Bandstand!
Ehh, no, I didn't really say that..
Oct 29, 2007 03:55 pm Wow, the first post seemed innocent enough. ;-)
Was Tommy Lee in the house band? - lol
Gonna stay outta this one.
Oct 29, 2007 05:41 pm I should have stayed out of it.
::slaps own fingers::
Oct 29, 2007 07:16 pm Quote:
prostitution is a great way to make a living in Las Vegas.
Trying to argue against me with a completely true example isn't gonna work :)
Oct 29, 2007 07:24 pm I just got home from our local public library and they had a CD by The Muggs...potentially America's Next Band. Copyright 2005 on TimesBeach Records. I'm listening to it now. Great guitar-based blues. Vocals are nothing special.
Oct 29, 2007 07:30 pm yeah, vocals are totally nothing special, to me it's their vibe...they rock.
Oct 29, 2007 07:42 pm Vocals are a problem for most of these bands actually. I think I'm starting to have 2 theories
1) bands that make it have singers who are one touch above the rest.
2) bands that make it have "work done" on their vocals to make them sound better.
Oct 29, 2007 07:46 pm In my experience
3) A "great" or even "very good" vocalist that is also able to get along in the context of a band that doesn't cater to them, kiss their *** or otherwise revolve around them is hard to find.
Oct 29, 2007 11:13 pm what night is this show on, and what network? i'll check it out. i may overthink it, but that doesn't mean i can't also like it. after all, i watch idol for reasons i don't fully understand.
Oct 30, 2007 01:03 am Friday on Fox 8pm I think.
I think that's the trick. Forget all the other junk and just watch it as a TV show. As I said earlier I don't think the winner of AI is actually America's Idol so don't worry so much about the title :)
Oct 30, 2007 04:10 am i know. i just don't like to see the trend when it comes to bands. we need bands who care about one thing and one thing alone: rocking.
lol
attitude is to me a big part of that.
at the same time, i am capable of watching tv shows.
Oct 30, 2007 09:06 am Tis true, I watched this show last Friday and managed to overlook its horseshit qualities.
Oct 30, 2007 09:07 am Whhoops. I meant horse&%$#.
Did the censor bot step out for a smoke?
Oct 30, 2007 10:22 am I think you'll find there are plenty of bands out there. Some of these bands rock (you can find a lot of clips at youtube by the way) and most have actually paid their dues also.
Oct 30, 2007 04:43 pm yes yes, bands on the show can hypothetically rock. but you can't say they care about one thing and one thing only. you would think that most of these bands would have sat down and had a 'values discussion' before deciding to appear on the program.
putting yourself up for judgment by a committee or by phoned in votes is just not a rock thing to do. you all know that, you must. like i said, i'll still be able to enjoy the show and the bands if they're good.
Oct 30, 2007 05:13 pm I just don't get the "values" discussion point.
If you had a band and you had a guaranteed way to go from 1000 listeners/fans to multi millions are you saying you wouldn't do it ???
These guys have probably being trying to get signed for years in a market where that verges on impossible, I just can't see the fault in taking every opportunity you can. Remember back when the Beatles and Doors etc. were coming up it was relatively easy to be signed to a major label, now it's virtually impossible.
Oct 30, 2007 05:24 pm Quote:
most of these bands would have sat down and had a 'values discussion' before deciding to appear on the program
Oh jeezuz, you so remind me of CONSTANT arguments I had with a guitarist I jammed with for many years...if you mentioend one single thing to him about how ****** stupid he looks wearing something at a show, or suggesting doing a song cuz it'll get people dancing, regardless if we like it, he'd pull the stupid ol "it;s about the music man" ****...
Like wearing a different shirt or playing one song that the PEOPLE will like sells us out.
I HATE that attitude.
Oct 30, 2007 10:05 pm that's not what i mean, though, db. i am very for mass market appeal. selling out is fine by me. my songs all try to have big, catchy hooks. i'm all for getting as many fans as you can and i think it's stupid to 'try' (key word there, because i think THAT describes the attitude you hate, db) to achieve less than you're capable of in terms of popularity just because of some kind of alligience to some indy code.
but when you go and stand before a committee and allow yourself to be judged like that, man, there's just something lame about that. that's just not fundamentally rock to me. this is a talent show. with judges who are looking to find fault. if it's at all like american idol, then after the anarchist, play-by-my-own rules, screw-you-all rockers play, they'll power down and stand there out of breath, waiting to see 'how they did.' it's not about knocking things over any more in a smoky room, it's about seeing how you compare to others. to me that is just not a rock attitude. it goes against the music itself.
that wasn't my teenage years. sure you want people to like your stuff, but you want to have some self-respect i'd think too. take the essential rock archetypes somewhat seriously, try to tap into that and represent/embody it. believe in it. have some sort of basic awareness of the rebel spirit behind rock and how this approach is just fundamentally antagonistic to that. imagine an unknown axel rose up there, waiting with bated breath to see how he stacked up. or think about morrison whispering to densmore 'do you think they liked the freudian thing? oh i hope so, i do'
would werewolves have a roaring contest? did billy the kid get famous by fake-killing 21 men in a rodeo? did the huns go and take a poll after burning a village, check 1 for 'scary' 2 for 'coulda been a little more intimidating?'
haha
Oct 30, 2007 11:01 pm I understand your point, though your examples are terrible, I think you've got it backwards though. A really cool band will go on the show and get the exposure and ignore the judges.
However, the judges to me, just like they do on AI play a good role, Johnny Reznik gives excellent advise, as does the Brit, he can be harsh but he's usually spot on. Shiela E. plays the gushing role.
Your examples are bad because none of those people were trying to ultimately sell a product.
Oct 30, 2007 11:22 pm well remember, i'm gonna watch the show. looking forward to it in an honest way.
those examples aren't direct metaphors. i thought the huns example was amusing. the examples are just trying to get to the heart of a matter of intent and spirit, that's all. i do think that when a band submits to be judged in this way, a mixed message gets sent.
Nov 02, 2007 10:29 pm so far these bands seem to suck. many seem dated and/or cheesy. i don't know if i can watch the rest.
Nov 02, 2007 10:42 pm I was glad to see the Mile High Orchestra make it at the end.
If they had been cut while Rocket (eccchh) and The Muggs (eccchhher) made it, I'd have lost all hope in society.
The wife and I are now committed to watching the show until it commits suicide in front of us.
That's guaranteed to happen very soon, we're sure.
Nov 03, 2007 05:53 am I think the Muggs are great, they sucked last night but on the whole they rock. Rocket, well...they get by cuz they have boobies.
Nov 03, 2007 06:02 am i didnt get to see either of those bands. i saw sixwire and tres bien, and i was absolutely aghast. it was worse than i expected.
Nov 03, 2007 06:07 am They were the only bands I saw, I turned it on very late. Oh, I saw the big and too Denver and Mile High Orchestra...I like them, the singer has a very limited vocal range, but it's fun music.
Nov 03, 2007 06:09 am i think it would be better if they don't try to cash in on simon. no need for british accents here. it actually feels like a program from a different country. a knockoff of idol. simon isn't simon because of his accent. he's simon because he's a di%^#&ad.
therefore the show would do well to replace the brits with people who are just mean and who can cause drama.
Nov 03, 2007 06:13 am Agreed, there are plenty of American jerks they could choose from, why that Dicko bloke in in there and the foreign MC I don't get, it's supposed to be the next great AMERICAN band...how about Mark Farner for a judge! Not a jerk, but definately an american band member, gotta love Grand Funk Railroad!
Nov 03, 2007 10:36 am Well Forty I'm sorry but there was clearly no chance of you liking it cause you already made your mind up - at this point nothing you can say can convince me otherwise.
The show is owned by Idol and that Brit (who lives in Australia) is part of the Idol family. He's on Australian Idol and he's done the UK shows also and the "World Idol" thing. He's got in pretty big trouble in the past for his comments but, like Simon, I find him to often be spot on. Also like Simon he's quite a player in the business, he ran Sony BMG or something like that.
Why we have the wimpy Australian presenter I don't know.
Nov 03, 2007 03:50 pm tony i am more than capable of enjoying things which i don't really 'like' in principle; that's one of the strange joys in life, liking cheesy things. i just didn't enjoy the first two bands i saw or the banter.
Nov 03, 2007 06:57 pm Quote:
that's one of the strange joys in life, liking cheesy things.
This is the exact reason why I make out like a felon at estate sales.
Nov 05, 2007 02:59 pm Yes fortymile, "worse than I expected" fits my concept of the show, as well .
I was bummed the guys from Detroit sucked so bad... at least that night. The coupl'a country bands seem to have most of the tallent going on .
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