'Idol' double-take: 'The Next Great American Band'
Nov 1, 2007, 02:29 PM | by Shirley Halperin
Categories: 'American Idol', Music, Television
After interviewing one of the executive producers of Fox's The Next Great American Band this past summer, I'll admit, I came around to the idea of Idol for bands. But with the show's shaky start (an auditions special, in the Idol tradition), it didn't take long before I was having second thoughts again. Still, I had a hunch it could be awfully entertaining, even in that so-bad-it's-good kind of way, so I went to the taping of the first performance show last week to see (and hear) these groups for myself.
It all seemed strangely familiar: the CBS Television City stage was the same one Idol uses, and there was Nigel Lythgoe racing back and forth. Sheila E. was guarded by Paula Abdul's security escort, while host Dominic Bowden had that Ryan Seacrest air about him, only with a New Zealand accent. But the differences — constructive comments and actual critiques; the lack of pointless Paula drivel; a rowdier, more rock & roll crowd — were all too welcome. As for this evening's theme, the songs of Bob Dylan? That wasn't so easy to swallow, sort of like Idol in the Twilight Zone. Some bands butchered the arrangements more than others but, all in all, most were (surprisingly) pretty good. (They must have been, to keep me in that seat for more than three hours!). Who's worth your valuable DVR time? Here's my assessment:
Light of Doom (pictured)
Five head-banging 12-year-olds who easily could have played young Van Halen in the "Hot for Teacher" video, these kids from outside San Diego take their rock seriously. Proof: the Iron Maiden T-shirt; leopard-print skintight pants; hell, they even went shirtless for their TV debut (thoroughly creeping out the judges in the process). I ran into them outside the studio where they were already greeting new insta-fans, yours truly included.
The Clark Brothers
This Nashville-based country-bluegrass
sibling trio definitely stood out in my mind. That's because I'd seen
them before, about six years ago, when Curb Records paraded around a
family group called the Clark Family Experience. The label's big pitch:
that Tim McGraw had worked on their debut album. Brothers Adam, Ashley
and Austin (if memory serves, all the siblings' names started with A)
were part of that sextet (there are five more Clark kids in the clan),
but obviously broke away to do their own thing. In the last couple
years, two of the brothers have played in Carrie Underwood's band (I
distinctly recall Ashley, who's a dead ringer for a young Gram
Parsons). Unfair advantage? Probably not, but I'll bet these guys have some sort of a following already. Here's hoping they go far.
The Muggs
Proud to bear the title of ugliest band in the world (even their website,
which hasn't been updated since August, says so on the home page),
watching this Detroit trio, you have to wonder: who's covering their
day job shifts while they're off in Hollywood? But seriously, these
dudes shred (guitar, not lettuce) with a sound that's part scrappy
garage rock, part weekend warrior, all kick-ass. Kudos to
singer-guitarist (and Trey Anastasio look-alike) Danny Methric for
ripping through that TV mix. Ricky Minor never got guitar tones that
good.
Tres Bien!
Fully embracing the "That Thing You Do" vibe,
this foursome from Clearwater, Florida bop their heads Beatles-style
while churning out 60s-inspired power-pop. Think: the perfect openers
for The Hives. Judge Sheila E. gave them hell for their supposed
scrappy guitar leads, but she's missing the point and comes off like a
prudish schoolmaster trying to quash their youthful energy. These guys
rock!
Cliff Wagner and the Old #7
With an almost punk rock take
on traditional American acoustic music, Cliff Wagner is a bruiser of a
vocalist with a campy hee-haw sensibility, while his band, the Old #7
(easily — and, perhaps, intentionally? — confused with veteran
alt-country act The Old 97s) are serious pros and super tight. The
combination keeps the whole thing on track, but let's see how that
banjo plays out in weeks to come.
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra
Overachiever singer
Denver Bierman emotes like an anxious puppy dog desperate for love,
posed in front of players that look like extras from the Dick Tracy
movie. The rat pack love may give out before their time is truly up,
but if this big band takes down the Sinatra shtick a bit, it could have
some legs.
Rocket
This LA girl group, formed in the parking lot of
Silverlake hipster headquarters Spaceland, has already done a stint on
the Warped Tour and opened for the likes of Butch Walker. They've got
sass, charisma, and something to prove (which sounds like a shamble at
times, but in a totally endearing aspiring Go-Gos kind of way).
Tune in on Friday night to find out who lost this week's battle of the bands, but in the meantime, who are you feeling, PopWatchers?
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