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Finalewatch 07: 'The Next Great American Band'
Look, let's face it: This was 50 minutes of filler eating up time until we could get to the real point of the show -- telling us who had won. Some of it was enjoyable, some of it was pointless, and some of it was awful. Fortunately for me, I'm watching this from my parent's house, and my dad, from whom I inherited the curmudgeon gene, provided color commentary. Hey, it kept me more or less awake until the end.
Your Next Great American Band is -- Spoilers!!!
The important stuff
The Clark Brothers win it all. Whoo-hoo! I'm thrilled, the judges are thrilled, the audience is thrilled and the boys themselves are completely gobsmacked. They actually fall to the ground when they find out they won. Then Austin starts jumping up and down like a madman. It's kind of awesome. I love these guys -- they're talented as all hell, but humble and real at the same time, you know? I hope they can keep that as they move through the industry.
However, I'm damn glad they didn't play tonight's song earlier in the competition, or we may not have seen the same result. However, I do give them credit for performing an original tonight -- Sixwire and D&MHO stuck with covers.
The original, "You Are Still the Same," was a sweet song, but kind of slow. You'd call it swoony and contemplative if you were being complimentary, sleepy and boring if you weren't. I can see it being a decent album track, but it's hardly something I'd play to get people to call in and vote. So good job, guys, holding this one until the end.
Sixwire and D&MHO are both great bands, however, and I'd be amazed if someone, somewhere didn't offer them a record contract based on their performances on the show. Here's hoping...
The obligatory Christmas cheer
I'll admit it, the Christmas-song medley with a bunch of past bands was a lot of fun -- obviously filler, but it was good to see some of the musicians again. However, a lot of the bands really didn't mesh well together.
- Light of Doom sounded pretty god-awful doing "Merry Christmas Everybody," but even worse, I found myself agreeing with my dad that it was "just noise." When the hell did I become a crotchety old woman?
- Dot Dot Dot with a couple of the guys from Tres Bien! were kind of all over the place -- something that could be said about both bands throughout the entire competition.
- Cliff Wagner and the Old # 7 did "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer," one of the most horrific Christmas songs ever written. I'm afraid I was too distracted to comment on the performance in any depth -- my dad insisted he really liked that song, so I spent much of that time staring at him in horror.
- Light of Doom drummer Mitch's high-energy sleighbell performance with Tres Bien! On "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" was possibly the best part of the whole medley. It was ridiculous, but that was the point.
- Why oh why did anyone decide to have the Clark Brothers perform "Last Christmas"? Wham? Seriously? I'm an 80s aficionado, and I don't even like the song.
- D&MHO's take on "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" was a bit too corporate Christmas party for my tastes. Dad agreed: "Who's he trying to be, Bobby Darrin? Actually, they're not bad -- it was kind of an insipid song." That it was.
- Everyone getting together for "Another Rock 'N Roll Christmas" was complete chaos, but hey, it looked like they were having fun.
Thoughts, highlights and odds and ends
- Sixwire brought the energy and fun with "The Last Time," and D&MHO rocked "Vehicle." Dad was particularly impressed by D&MHO -- "They were clearly musicians; they were playing music, not noise; and I could understand most of what the guy was saying." Tragically, my dad didn't vote, and D&MHO was the first band out.
- Northmont's lead singer and guitarist sang Santana's "Smooth" with an assist from D&MHO's horns, Sixwire's rhythm section, and Austin on that sweet flying-v Dobro. Northmont was the band that got two chances at the audition, but didn't make it in because the band wasn't up to the singer's level, remember? Yeah, well, the singer was nothing to write home about, either, as proved by this song. Snore!
- What the hell was going on with that jazz piano break in "The Glamorous Life"? Totally jarring.
- Why bring in Geoff Byrd and The Likes of You to sing in front of the crying montage? The song was boring and forgettable, and they got bounced the first week -- why give them time on stage? Actually, why have a crying montage at all? Oh well -- at least it wasn't Fifi LaRue, the Psycho Killer Clown.
- I love Sheila E., and the Goo-Goo Dolls are just fine, but why have them play? Yes, I know they're famous musicians, but Paula Abdul never sings on American Idol, does she? Do Carrie Ann Inaba and Len Goodman do a quick paso doble on Dancing with the Stars? No? Then why give Sheila and John the stage?
- Notable in their absence: Franklin Bridge, The Hatch, The Muggs and Rocket. Were they not invited? Or did they decline an invitation? As The Hatch's lead singer made an ass out of himself, saying "I guess 300 people in Nebraska have spoken," I can see them not inviting him back. I'm guessing The Muggs and Rocket were feeling pretty bitter about how their lead singers were (deservedly) raked over the coals. I'm bummed about Franklin Bridge, though -- they were awesome, and the judges loved them. Busy schedule, or deliberate snub? Considering the attitude Curt had when the judges spoke, I'm guessing it's the latter.
- After their win, The Clark Brothers perform their original "Billy the Kid" -- with drums and bass this time. I liked it better without. Were they bowing to pressure from the judges or the record label by adding them in? That doesn't bode well.
Did the right band win? Will you seek out a Clark Brothers CD, or are you holding out for Sixwire or D&MHO releases? Who were you most glad to see again -- and who should have been denied entrance? And do you think this show has a chance in hell of coming back for another season?
I loved the finale. All other reality shows should take a lesson from NGAB on how to fill a final show without beating it to death and sucking all the enjoyment out of it.
Love the Christmas stuff. It beated the duets and group songs American Idol loves to do during it's finale. It was great seeing the past bands actually going something and they all looked like they were having a good time. I think that's the first time the LOD kiddies really looked like they were having fun.
When I watched the first show three bands jumped out at me. Clark Brothers, Sixwire and Franklin Bridge, it was nice to see two of them in the final. The Clarks Brothers were my favorite so I was so happy to see them win. This is the first time the performer(s) I liked from the beganning and voted for actually won. My usually take second.
I do hope this show comes back for another season, liked it so much more than AI. but something tells it won't. Someone suggested on a different board, that maybe they should have the Clark Brothers perform on Idol and use that to promote the next season. One can always hope.
This was a great finale. It was like all music all the time. It wasn't all talk then some music then more talk. There was no "and the winner is......we'll find out after the break" crap.
This christmas medley was fun. That guy who sang smooth is still a jackarse. He is a good vocalist, but that song does him no favors. And the other band they brought back to do a whole song, could have done without. But it was still a great show. I was actually glad we got to see Shiela E. and The Goo Goo Dolls perform. I tell you Johnny Reznik has come a LONG
way as a performer. When they first hit it big in the mid 90's they were an aweful live band IMO. But after watching this, and the Breckinridge show that's been on MHD for the past few weeks, I'm pretty impressed. Anyway, I really think they added to the show.
I'm fine with the outcome. This show is the only reason I hope the writers strike continues, so we get another season:) Also, I wish The Clark Brothers well, hope they sell records if only so we get another season of the show:) The bands looked like they were all having so much fun tonight, and it didn't have the stuffy paegentry feeling of an AI finale.
At least I don't have to look at Sixwire every week now, lol. And to all the people still complaining about Franklin Bridge, get over it. They were not that good. Nothing more than an above average church band. Seriously. Shout out to the judges. Shout out to The Clark Brothers, DMHO, Dot Dot Dot, Tres Bein!, Cliff Wagner, etc. Here's me crossing my fingers for another season, and that Fox will show it in a time slot thats not otherwise known as the "time slot of death".
realgenius | Dec 22, 2007 6:23:57 AM | #I pretty much agree with realgenius. This show is definitely on a whole other level than American Idol. It's at least as good as So You Think You Can Dance (which also has judges who actually make useful comments and critiques most of the time), and maybe even better.
I can't help but wonder if it would have done better in the ratings were it on a different night. That and maybe a little more emphasis on original songs rather than covers.
I quite agree that FB was highly overrated. Bad sound + bad attitude = glad they didn't come back; I don't doubt that was THEIR choice, not the producers'. Was also quite happy to see no return of The Hatch or The Muggs; didn't really miss Rocket, either, though they didn't bother me as much as the others.
As for Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer ... that's just good Christmas fun! I mean, humor may be terribly subjective, but seriously. My only problem with the Cliff Wagner performance was it felt too frenetic, like they were trying to cram a 4-min song into a 2-min time slot without editing out a single word or note.
All in all, I'm happy with the outcome and do hope the show gets a second chance. With the writer's strike, Fox may not have a lot of choice. Producing a 2nd season of an existing show has got to be a lot easier (and cheaper) than ramping up a whole new reality or competition show to replace it.
Dan | Dec 22, 2007 10:18:52 AM | #I thoroughly enjoyed the finale. I laughed so hard during Grandma got run over by a reindeer and also Mitch and his sleighbell performance. The show for me went by pretty quick. Just music music music. As for Sheila E and the Goo Goo Dolls, I kind of thought they didn't sound as good as the top 3 bands. Just my opinion. I actually voted for the Clark Brothers. Thought it was the vote of death. Every person I've ever voted for on a show got kicked off. lol
I do believe I really enjoyed them the most when they were just the 3 of them. They got pressured to add a drummer and base. I didn't really care for the song that week. Hope they stick with what they do best. Just be themselves. As for another season, I'd watch it again. I like music and it was interesting to see the diversity.
I'm glad I missed it. Who was this show geared for? Those really don't represent all the great bands out there...well I hope not.
If it does come back...put an age limit on it.
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