Next Great American Band Taping #5 (ep6)

This was my fifth time at the taping for The Next Great American Band. After all was said and done, I felt (during the live taping) that one band really deserved to go home, and that Denver & the Mile High Orchestra was really picked on by the judges. It's no secret I have a bias. But that's ok, I believe we all do. Here's an unbiased report as is possible for me to write. I have a band I want to win. I have a band I think SHOULD win, and I think you probably do too. It can be tough to keep that in mind when we espouse our opinions, but I'm doing my best to do so.

The Rolling Stones

Considering this show is called "The Next Great American Band", it's interesting that The Stones were the band to cover this week. In fact, more than once the English have been represented. I suppose this program will find us a good American band.

And now, the bands.

Tre's Bien!

A likable band - they performed Get Off of My Cloud. They have a great personality, but aren't the strongest in the competition by a long shot. While this week really favored them, there were some key problems.

Tempo, tempo, tempo! The key change was unnecessary, something the judges had right. They showed their lack of experience by not checking their tuning. This is something that shouldn't happen, ever. Great bands are in tune (instrumentally at least).

Overall, they had a descent performance. This week really played into their hands. Also, they are so likable it's hard to vote against them. No matter what happens, you want to see them do well and have a long, successful career.

Denver & the Mile High Orchestra

What does, "For the third week in a row you've gone off piece." mean? Dicko has a problem pinning down this band. He has never heard what they do, or can do, before. He is not familiar with their depth of style. So, his only complaint is that he doesn't know what they are all about musically.

The band did make a statement by performing I'm Free, and Denver's comments were on point putting Rzeznik in his place. Rzeznik's comments were edited a bit. He tried baiting the band, but Denver didn't fall for it. There is no point arguing with the judges.

The performance was technically perfect. The band was into it, and embraced it as if it were their own. There is no question about their musicianship.

The intro video package showed some humanity, normalcy, and humor to the band. It's not all "squeaky-clean", but they are very concerned with being a good example, providing clean, wholesome music that covers a broad demographic range.

Sixwire

Last week there were problems with both conviction and background-vocal pitch. This week those were all resolved. They played like a band that wants to win this competition.

This Could Be the Last Time isn't really a good choice, subliminally, but it was performed as well as any band could do it. I'd much rather listen to Sixwire's rendition that the Stones.

Nailed it. My question is, was this as good as Sixwire can be? It's a plateau that may not be able to be improved on. That's great, but it also does not allow for growth. They are also easily lost in a market already saturated with their style.

Light of Doom

The intro video did not endear them to me at all. Comments like "when he was younger" just says they aren't even close to having perspective. That's ok. It just reinforces how young they are.

Starting out Jumping Jack Flash in the wrong key does not help. Not hitting pitch doesn't help either. The tempo was all over the place. ugh... it hurt to listen to. During the closing of the song, the band was all over the place, completely forgetting that they are a band. And the judges comments were way, way too soft. It almost makes me angry. If they want to compete with the other bands, they need to be judged on the same level.

I've been hard on them in my previous posts. Here's the reality. This was their worst performance to date.

They needed to be sent home before we had to hear this.

The Clarke Brothers

Finally some diversity this week. Give Me Shelter may not have been the best choice, but it was so well executed. Stylistically, this is what I would prefer to listen to (as opposed to the traditional styling's they have played in the past), and they hit it hard.

While the mandolin solo was a bit thin, it was performed well. The lap steel was incredible. The vocals were incredible. I got chills listening to it. Man, I want a rhythm section. So far it hasn't hurt them though. What makes a great band? Do you need a true "rhythm section"? I don't think so, based on what these guys are bringing.

With a performance like this, they could win this thing.

Dot Dot Dot

Let's Spend the Night Together.

Wow, live this song came across pretty well, but on TV, it was weak. The BGV's were way off. The girls can't sing. They can play, but not sing. The lead was even off at times, even with a more settled performance. The guitar solo was about the most redeeming thing. Tempo was good. The bassist missed the last note, the most important of the piece. It's what you remember. Overall, a lack of focus.

It was fun live, but it did need a lot of work. They have a lot of energy... live, but they just cannot seem to control themselves to really focus on what they are attempting to do.

Cliff Wagner and the Old No. 7

A very classy exit. The judges were great to them, and were fair and honest about their variety and flavor they brought. Now, if they keep going, and push forward like they said they would, it will be great to see them become a success.

I'll be heading back to LA for the sixth week in a row to attend the taping. Thanks for checking in!

chs

Next Great American Band Taping #4 (ep5)

Again, I attending the taping of the show on Wednesday, and then sat with my laptop writing this while I watched the show. The taping was great. It went quickly, and the crew made the set changes efficiently. There were only a few pickups as well, which left plenty of time for me to have dinner with my brother and Denver from Denver & the Mile High Orchestra after the show.

With only one band going home, I was fairly confident my personal favorite would be ok. But then again, there were a fans of a really good band very disappointed. One of the (technically) best bands in the competition was sent home. I personally feel it was due to their performance last week. It was uninspiring, and sloppy when compared to the bar that they set for themselves the first couple of weeks. Good bye Franklin Bridge, and good luck.

The first band up was...

Light of Doom

This song was very loud live, and inarticulate. In person, you couldn't hear the guitar solo, which sounded better on TV. However, you couldn't hear the vocals either in the taping. On television they sounded horrible. It's almost a good enough excuse for what the judges said, or rather, the lack of what they said.

When Sheila talks about playing fast, what she should have said, is "I can't play with so many random tempo changes." Dicko eluded to something, without having the courage to really say it. "I still think it's going to end in tears recording-wise." How true. There is virtually no market for this band, and the show can't afford them to win. It will delegitimizes the competition, turning it into a joke.

I will say this, they were better live. The energy didn't translate to TV, and the problems (especially with the vocal pitch and tempo) were not so obvious.

If you haven't read my previous post about parenting, please do. It was inspired by the Light of Doom parents.

Clark Brothers

Another performance that came across better live than on TV. It sounded a lot thicker in person. The vocals were awesome and passionate. It felt like they were digging down into their Pentecostal Roots and drawing it out for a song that fit them like a glove.

However, the arrangement was a touch thin. I'm chalking it up to instrumentation mostly. But, the guitars were moving so fast (and very well) that it got tiresome on the ears. The violin solo didn't sound finished, it was well executed, but disjointed going into the dobro solo. It feels like they are trying to cram all of their talent into something that can't quite contain them.

There is no doubt about their musicality, some of the best on the show, and a band that (unlike Light of Doom) validates what the show is all about.

Dot Dot Dot

Dot Dot Dot is getting more polished as time goes by. They are one of the bands put together, basically, for the show. So there was room for improvement. It's good that they are showing growth, and have the ability to pull it off.

Toning down the eccentricity has helped with their polarizing nature. They are showing that they deserve to be in the competition. I don't know how much further they will go, but they're earning their keep.

Cliff Wagner & the Old No. 7

The performance was way better than last week. It was tight, punchy and had a good groove going. However, after the first verse and chorus I was done listening. It could be personal, I'm not really sure. I wasn't as familiar with the song, and didn't really enjoy it. Dicko was right again, the song wasn't inspiring. Where I was seated, I couldn't see how disappointed they looked after his comments. I felt bad for them after seeing it in HD.

The song was arranged well, and ended great. Again, I'm not sure if they will make it through next week.

Denver & the Mile High Orchestra

This song had some of the best drumming they have ever done, and, I dare say, the best feel that has been performed yet on the show. Yes, every bit on par with what Franklin Bridge did their first week. The groove was tight, the horns slamming, and, unlike during the live show's mix, the key's came through really well.

Unfortunately, Rzeznik showed how ignorant he is. First off, it wasn't funk. It's groove was so good, that it could be mistaken for such, but it wasn't. It was also the thinnest horn arrangement the band has had for the entire competition. Yet this was the only time he commented on the horns "outshining" him. Of course, keep in mind, that early in the competition Dicko or Sheila said to make more use of the horns.

Dicko, Dicko, Dicko... perhaps you could think of something original to say. Two weeks ago you said, "Build your brand". Last week you said, "try something new". This week you said (after they tried something new), "Build your brand." Are you out of things to say? Or has the musicality of Light of Doom blinded you?

Sixwire

This performance was their weakest so far. The bgv's at the top of the song were out of tune, and, while the band played well, there was a lack of conviction.

The show is coming down to the bands who are willing to stick it out (assuming they get the votes). It did feel like they were just going through the motions. Wow, Rzeznik had it right. By this point it was becoming obvious that the best bands were getting the hardest comments.

However, the song ended very strong. Great, Great guitar solo.

Tre's Bien

These guys are fun to watch live, but it doesn't translate at all to television. The vocals were all over the place, sounding out of breath, and out of tune at times.

Any song would have been a good selection for these guys from this series, and this was another one that I wasn't very familiar with. I think Sheila's comments about them having their own cartoon was appropriate. It was goofy at times.

There were a lot more comments from the judges that were cut out. It was tough because they appeared to be up against Franklin Bridge, and were surprised themselves to get through. The judges (honorably) took some time to remind the studio audience that Tre's Bien didn't necessarily beat out Franklin Bridge directly. They needed just as much energy from the crowd as every other band, in spite of the shock of Franklin Bridge going home.

Next Week

I've heard some rumors that if Denver & the Mile High Orchestra are still in it next week, they will be pulling out all the stops. Yes, they have more to show than we've already seen. Let's hope we see them again. I'll be out at the show to give my A/B comparisons again next week! Stay tuned...

Vicarious Parenting

beginning...

I started this blog a few days ago wanting to write my observations about some parents who's children are competing in a nationally televised competition called The Next Great American Band. If you have been watching the show, you know who I'm talking about. Originally, it was going to be a hard look at them specifically, but I'm not sure that they really deserve it. As I began writing, I realized that I was writing this to myself as much as anyone else. Sometimes it's good to remind ourselves what we believe in order to steer clear of mistakes we vowed we'd never make. So, I deleted my original paragraph that set this up to be a salacious article on bad parenting and started over. Here goes...

I thought I'd take a moment and share some observations I've had about what it means to see your kids succeed, and what that actually looks like.

The situation

I have two boys, who (according to my own "professional" diagnoses) are very advanced for their age, and incredibly talented. I mean, at four and two, you can tell these things. They are talking, eating, sleeping, playing and pooping so far above and beyond expectations, I don't know where to begin. Ok, enough sarcasm. I want to say I can relate. I'm proud of my kids when they excel. I hope they are successful in whatever they do. But here's the problem. How do we define success, especially when it's our kids we are talking about?

The problem

It's far too easy, and tempting, to compare the success of our kids in relation to what other kids are doing. So, when my pre-pre-school kid is writing his letters, I get on the phone and call grandma. When my pre-pre-school child swings his diminutive (real) golf clubs with a perfect takeaway and follow through that I envy, I call grandpa. When I see other kids attempt these things and not do as well, I'm secretly happy, and slightly jealous when they do better.

But what happens when our children do the things well that we wish we could do now? Or show the potential of being really great at something that we dreamt about when we were kids? There's a skewed perspective that must be taken into account. Here's what I mean: We compare their success to the level of achievement obtained by other kids their age. That's not healthy. Every child is unique with immeasurable value, and potential beyond our comprehension. The next thing we do is compare through the lens of our own love, ambition, relation and yes, pride, of their success to the level of achievement obtained by those already successful in the chosen field .

Is it difficult to see where this leads?

The result

What happens then, when talented kids are thrust (with or without their own dreams in tow) into a situation where the comparisons and lenses no longer apply? What is left for the kids? When a child grows older, they begin to find out that their parents had (perhaps only subconsciously) their own interest and dreams at play, never really exploring all options for their child and allowing for full maturation. Then the kids find out that, they either weren't quite as good as thought (the comparisons no longer apply), and there is always someone better, or that "living this dream" isn't all they were led to believe it would be.

It's a difficult situation for a parent. I want my kids to do so well, and the most obvious litmus test is the averages of the world we are exposed to. It's worse for our children who are exposed to our own vision for their lives more than any other, and when our own exposure to the world around us is, in reality for us all, limited.

ending...

I had intended this article to take a hard look at the parents from the band "Light of Doom" as seen on The Next Great American Band. But here's the reality. I don't know them. I only know myself. I have sat behind them and observed what appear to be two major issues that need to be addressed.

1. They are living vicariously through their kids. They want to be doing what their kids are doing. It's obvious on their faces, in their demeanor, and in their attitudes.
2. They are somewhat blind, or ignorant, to what will most likely happen to their kids when a record company is put into a position of finding something marketable about these guys. The band doesn't really have a market as it stands, and the most obvious option is to create a "Hanson Metal" band. But the thought of "Hanson" doesn't usually conger up fond thoughts to most people. This is a result of limited life exposure.

I feel sorry for the kids. I feel sorry for the parents too. They are missing out on a level of pride that comes when you see your child do right, not just well. I remember the look in my father's eyes when I achieved a level of success that was more advanced than those of my peers. And while I could not have possibly recognized it then, he has a world view that I'm a large part of, thus diminishing other aspects of that perspective. I get in the way, as it were. Kids BIG, everything else small. That's not bad. It's the way it is, and it's good. We want to be big in our parent's eyes. We need to be big in their eyes. But I remember with a fonder memory, and my own perception of self-worth soared, when he and I sat down and had heart to heart, deep discussions about maturity, life, discovery, and growth. When he saw that I was my own man, providing for my own family, and loving others as I love myself, my heart swelled because his had burst.

I want these kids from San Diego to have that. I want you to have that.

Thanks for hearing me out.

chs