The Next Lame American Band

Posted Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:29pm PST by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

This week on The Next Great American Band, celebrity judge Sheila E. was driven to tears. Ostensibly, she was emotionally moved by the Clark Brothers' poignant rendition of "You're In My Heart" (it was Rod Stewart Week, see)...but really, she should have be sobbing because weakest-link bands Dot Dot Dot and Denver & The Mile High Orchestra somehow survived another elimination round. I know this week's results had me reaching for the Kleenex.

Seriously, WHO is voting for these two bands?

I suppose I understand why Denver & The Mile High Orchestra keep making it through--they practically have more members than the Polyphonic Spree and the Arcade Fire combined, so if every orchestra-mate's relatives and friends vote, that's a purely numerical advantage right there. But really now, these guys are so whitebread that that execs over at Wonder Bread HQ are saying, "I don't know, I don't think this band is edgy enough..." And no, their attempts at hipsterness (abbreviating their name to the oh-so-snazzy "DMHO" and adding a few more dollops of Dippity-Do to lounge singer Denver's army-regulation haircut) are not enough.

It's bad enough that this glorified wedding band plays retro-swing music that went out of favor soon after the Gap sold out of its last pair of khakis in 1998. But c'mon, Denver admitted on the air that his single biggest musical influence is HUEY LEWIS. Huey Lewis! Apparently Denver picked up a copy of Sports and it blew his damn mind; he had an epiphany and thought, "This is the music I was meant to do."

Gee, thanks, Huey. And to think, back in the '80s we thought it was all the heavy metal bands that were leading the nation's youth astray. Turns out it was Huey all along!

America, DMHO cannot win. We don't need another Huey Lewis. It is NOT hip to be square, people! Just let these hacks get kicked off so they can return to the lucrative corporate-party circuit where they belong, before the holiday season is over.

Dot Dot Dot's continuing cockroach-like tenacity is equally troubling. They dress like they just looted Hot Topic; they all look about 48 (because let's face it, all that heavy Panic At The Disco! makeup isn't flattering on anyone over the age of 19); their Leno-chinned, overly guylinered, constantly mugging lead singer performs with all the subtlety of, say, Carrot Top on a Red Bull bender; they have the stupidest hair this side of Ryan Cabrera; and if they star in one more "wacky" montage in which they run around like the Monkees on bad crack, I'm going to pull my own hair out. STOP VOTING FOR THEM, AMERICA!

So because these two bands mysteriously made it through, one of my fave The Next Great American Band contestants, '60s-ish garage rockers Tres Bien, got the (Chelsea) boot this week. Tres mal! It would've been great to see the little Tres Bien mod boys take on Rod The Mod this week, but instead I had to suffer through Dot Dot Dot's cheesier-than-Cheetos version of "Young Turks" and DMHO's dorky "Baby Jane," while imagining what Tres Bien's interpretation of "Handbags & Gladrags" might've sounded like. Sigh.

I'm just relieved that my absolute faves, preteen hair-rockers Light Of Doom, survived--though it broke my heart when it came down to them and Tres Bien. I just hope Light Of Doom don't get voted off next week (after their kickass performance of "Infatuation" this week, that seems unlikely...but you never know). Because if they do, I'm boycotting this frickin' show.

19 Comments

1. Nancy B -
I don't understand why so many people are hating on denver & the mile high band. You all talk about how many of them in the band. Do any of you realize how much devotion it takes?, practice? commitment? How much it take's all of them? So what if he love's huey! The fact still remain's that they are all in it togather, and they are loving it! Most importantly they are awesome!!! Quit hating on a band that share's a dream, & work's togather to make it happen! It does! The fact remain's that it take's alot more dedication to make it with a large number of member's than it does with a few. The love of music is THERE, why isn't it enough? I alway's thought that was what MUSIC was all about! So what if they don't rap, grab their crouch's get on their knee's in compromising position's. They are true, doing what they love,& believing in themselve's! Believing in MUSIC! Quit hating on them cause they "ain't your style" Try seeing them as what they are.

2. leslie s -
Well I guess there is a place for Denver and the Mile High Orchestra and as soon as someone figures out where that place is please let me know.All I can say about the Light Of Doom is,(THE KIDS WANNA ROCK).I can't agree with you more Lyndsey.

3. Eric -
You know, looking like you just 'looted Hot Topic' isn't always a bad thing.
I like Dot Dot Dot.
They're better than DMHO, anyway.
But Light Of Doom is amazing, too.

4. Yahoo! Music User -
sixwire is overly polished and have tried too many times to become famous (they made albums like 10 years ago, and they're still trying get a break?), dot dot dot is just plain stupid and an imitation of better bands (hyperactive emo leprechaun! i love dicko, at least he tells it like it is), DMHO has good musicians but a very bad singer
clark brothers are ok, and light of doom will be absolutely sick (in a good way) when they grow up

5. bigdouth -
I agree that DMHO has a poor front man. His vocals are allright, but there seems to be no emotion. Dot Dot Dot has a good stage presence that could bring in a crowd, but the musicianship is lacking. Their records probably wouldn't sell. Light of doom should have a furture in the business, but probably won't win the show. Six Wire could also have a future if they play their cards right. The record companies usually eat that stuff (conformity) up. The Clark Brothers are awesome, but are they really a "band"? My faves are definitaly LOD and Clark bros. and I wish them both the best.

6. B and K . -
Who is this chic kidding. Light of Doom the best on the show???? Please. How did she get a music journalist position anyway?? You have to give it to the kids because they are aspiring artists for sure, but are seriously lacking that signable quality. Dot Dot Dot has that college kid flavor and would do fairly well in todays market. Clark Borthers are very musical but we are'nt sure they are really a band that could sell records. This leaves Six Wire as the best marketable as well as the most talented musicianship wise. We personally would have given the show to Franklin Bridge as the best band!!

7. closetufcfan -
I still can't believe Franklin Bridge got voted off so early! Light of Doom will be great someday but they need to learn their craft a little better if they want to grow from rockers to true musicians.

Dicko is great !

8. Yahoo! Music User -
i don't know, i just haven't seen ...any band...so different or entertaining as any other band, past or present. not thrilled.
i guess if i had to vote, it would be for the young kids,based on some tallent and shere determination.

9. Yahoo! Music User -
It is true that the guys in DMHO are good musicians, probably better than most of the players on the show. But whoever wins this show gets a record contact, right? Well who would buy a DMHO album? Their style is dated, their singer is corny and not even that vocally talented. I could see people buying records by all the other remaining contestants, but as long as DMHO still have Denver singing lead, all they'll ever do is play weddings and bar mitzvahs.

10. Yahoo! Music User -
Dicko said once that Dot Dot Dot look like a marketing person's idea of a rock band. That was SO on the money. Dot Dot Dot go thru every rock 'n' roll cliche in the book, and their singer is incredibly annoying and schticky. The only cool person in that band is Rose. She should leave Dot Dot Dot and join Tres Bien.

11. LANCE LOS ANGELES -
COME ON CLARKS ROCK !!! LOVE THE KIDS TOO BUT HELL I HATED TO SEE THAT STONES BEATELS KINKS BAND GO LOVE THE SHOW SO FAR

12. s3eed715 -
laefu

13. dnbennett320 -
Apparently it is you who is voting for "these bands," which would explain why the "preteen hair-rockers" made it through. I hope we don't have to keep listening to them, though, because that kid's voice is about to start changing any day, and it won't be pretty. But no need to worry, they won't be around long, and will surely go before Dot Dot Dot if the voters have any taste at all :)

14. mbjcas -
Dot dot dot? ... isn't that a form of puntuation overused by pubescent poetesses? Light of Doom should change their name to Light on Originality , they're a novelty act is all; what used to be referred to as a "One-Trick Pony" DMHO could be much better than they are but the show isn't called Next Band in Training, is it? The Clark Brothers are the only ones left that deserve to be there. Dicko is the only one of the judges with a real and current career, and he recognizes their level of musicianship. The other two has-beens seem to like anyone better than themselves and that's everyone but my tone-deaf Uncle.

15. diobalik1 -
I can't stand this show. First of all, let's look at the "judges". Johnny reznik? A couple top 20 songs, sappy, bad pop songs at that. And how long has it been since we heard from the Goo Goo Dolls? Then Teena Marie? WHAT? One hit, and that was only a hit thanks to Prince. And the other judge, who the hell is he anyway?
So, now we move on to the bands. Is it any more obvious they picked some of the bands just to have a wide variety of music, which in most cases would be cool, but that Denver band with 20-some odd people in it. Is anyone actually considering them the next great American band? "Swingers" was a great movie, but that fad is passed. Think of it people, "The Next GREAT American band". So are we going to compare the winner of this god-awful show to bands like, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, or The Ramones? Please.

16. Yahoo! Music User -
Get over your facination with the punk kids of Light of Doom. They were an interesting novelty at the beginning, but I tire of their attempt at being metal rockers....reminds me of kid songs cd. Give em a few years and some life trails so they understand the music they are trying to play. DMHO is talented musically but lacks edge....Dot Dot Dot is a good Emo band....you dont like that genre you won't like them, however you cannot deny that Rose is amazing. Where Tres Bien getting the boot was a travesty, nothing was worse then Franklin Bridge's eviction, their singer is simply amazing on a guitar and I hope there will be something more from them outside the show. Sixwire would have been a great band 15 years ago...its too late for them now in my opinion. I'd like to see what The Clark Brothers could do with a couple more members to their band. Those guys know the intruments they choose to play, and do it amazingly.
Oh, and one more time for everyone. Please let Light of Doom go away for around 10 years. I'm tired of they gimmik.

17. blusette2001 -
I think dot dot dot need more stage experience they only have been playing like for 6 months, Light of Doom would be great in a couple of years but i think they need another name. Sixwire plays really good but i think they are a little old but the leadsinger is hot, DMHO they are great musicians and really love their music but that style.... i don't think is coming back, The Clark Brothers are so good and when they play you get all those feelings like they are playing just for you but they look so "clean", is a turnoff.

18. Whitedingo(new CD) -
I'm proud to say that I didn't watch 1sec of that show. These shows are all fake anyway. I read the release form for this show and said no way is my band signing rights away to these greedy producers.

WHITEDINGO

19. miriam_maske@att.net -
LIGHT OF DOOM WAS GOOD AND DANIEL'S SOLO ON JAILHOUSE ROCK WAS AWESOME. IT'S SUCH A SHAME THEY BROKE UP. THE LEAD SINGER QUIT.
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