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PezKat's incredibly detailed recaps

Week 3

In the song selection clip, we see Toby & a few others trying to keep the process organized and fair, but others are more competitive; Josh says he "can't be a nice guy all the time," takes his song off the board and leaves; we also see Jill giving Patrice a hard time for taking a song.

We're told that one of the SuperNova guys will join a contestant on stage for one of tonight's songs, but who and when will be a surprise...

(Note - I'm trying to condense & just include the basics instead of all the details because of time constraints, but if anyone wants to know more just ask, as I have most of the comments/quotes in my notes.)

Patrice: Helter Skelter (Beatles) - Very good! Both the vocals and stage presence. Most of the guys liked it.

Josh: Come As You Are - He played acoustic guitar and just stood at the mic, and his voice sounds too nasal to me at first, but it was really good overall. Tried to work some sexy looks this week and was fairly successful. ;-) Dave complimented but wants more "heavy/ugly," which Josh said he'd bring next week.

Storm: Just What I Needed - Just ok vocally, and seemed to take the song too seriously, playing up the sex-kitten look. It worked for the guys though (especially Tommy, who said he'd like to "see more of" her, and she said "Tommy: 6 letters - Google").

Lukas: Let's Spend the Night Together (Stones) - Excellent! This isn't my style of music and I didn't 'enjoy' it as such, but he did a great job with stage presence ('Jagger swagger') and vocals. All the guys loved it. Tommy said "You're raising the bar, and I'm pulling up a bar stool."

Jill: All Right Now - Also very good. Tommy said "I'm definitely all right now." Gilby said it was the 1st performance of hers where he could imagine them behind her.

Ryan: Fortunate Son - Worlds better than last week, good vocals. The guys thought he should've moved around more & didn't seem to be enjoying himself.

Phil: White Rabbit - with Jason on bass!! This was a different Phil than we've seen, harder rock with a sneer (and eyeliner, which rocked, but I could've done w/o the sneer). Even when yelling his vocals held. Jason was jumping around excitedly afterward, asking how he did, and Dave had to calm him down, saying "you've already got the gig" so he could get the attention back on Phil! Who received all compliments.

Dana: It's My Life (Bon Jovi) - She also had a sneer and intensity, but hers didn't come across as genuine to me. The guys didn't think it was a good fit for them.

Toby: Runaway Train (Soul Asylum) - I loved the end, especially the (intense but spot-on) vocals. Otherwise it was just ok and the guys agreed, wanting to see more grit (my word) in his stage presence. He said he would work on that and thanked them.

Magni: Plush (STP) - *Great* fit for his voice and an awesome job. Not necessarily perfect for the band but perfect for that song, anyway, and the first time I've really enjoyed him. The guys liked; Tommy said "Magni-ficent."

Zayra: Everybody Hurts - Appropriate title for her singing. Wasn't as off-key as her others but still, fast forward is my friend. Unfortunately the guys liked it. (though Dave admitted he thought she should've gone instead of Chris last week!)

Jenny: Drive - She played acoustic guitar while singing. She sounded off key to me and looked like she was playing 'rock star'. The guys didn't love it.

Dilana: Zombie (Cranberries) - Awesome performance of that song. Not to my taste/liking personally though. Jason gave her a standing ovation and Tommy just said "Dilana - I wanna."

Best performances of the night: Patrice, Lukas, Magni, Josh, Dilana, Phil, Jill. Worst: Jenny, Zayra, Storm, & Dana.

Early bottom 3: Jenny, Dana, Ryan.

My prediction: Jenny, Dana, and Zayra, with Jenny leaving.

July 19, 2006, 1:34 am. 2 comments • Permalink

Episode 2!

Already I am seeing a difference from last season, and I think a lot of it is because of the difference in the type of band. At this point last year I remember being very impressed and liking very much at least 2 contestants (MiG and Ty), if not more. Granted even they were perhaps a bit 'mellow' (or pop) for INXS, and definitely wouldn't fit Supernova. So... I know I won't like the style of music SN does, so the performances I enjoy the most are probably not the same as what will be best for the band. Still I can try to objectively judge what I think is best for them.

Magni – My Generation (The Who)
Good, not great; good stage presence (and one lyric + gesture were edited out). Jason said "good control," and that his stage experience shows; Tommy made a comment about liking the "ho" but not having enough "hum," and I'm not sure anyone other than Tommy knew what he meant by that (Magni didn't, but didn't ask)!

Jenny Galt – Tainted Love (Soft Cell)
Brooke introduced this as Jenny with "her own version" of the song, and Jason later confirmed that she had arranged it herself. I thought the vocal was really good at the start (softer part), and decent overall. I don't care for her mannerisms & some of the things she does on stage (it's not really her stage 'presence' I don't like, though). Gilby didn't like the beginning at all; Dave liked her (but said she looked like she needed to eat something, which I thought was somewhat inappropriate).

Jill Giola – Violet (Hole)
She was wearing a white flouncy wedding dress (the skirt was mini, but still) and carrying a bouquet of roses. I didn't like it at *all,* but it's not my style of music. Mr. PezKat said "She's not as good as Courtney, and I don't like Courtney." Dave liked her willingness to "get messy & dirty," but said the "Courtney impersonation ws a bit uncomfortable." Jill replied that this was her own interpretation of the song and she didn't know what Courtney did. I didn't either, but Dave said she wore a white dress & had a bouquet of roses, so I doubt that was a coincidence! One of the other guys said she sings better than the screaming she did on this. Tommy said he just wanted to know if she was wearing panties.

Zayra Alvarez – You Really Got Me (The Kinks)
Ok she just needs to go home NOW, seriously. Her vocal was better than last week (but it almost had to be), but her presence & style were very strange and didn't fit the song well. Gilby said, "I can't say you didn't give it your all, but I don't think you have a clue what we're looking for in a singer." (Ouch! but true...) He asked her if she even owned any of the albums that any of them are on... and, get this, her reply was "I've heard of them... but I was in diapers then." There are hardly words to describe how disrespectful I think that was! (and the studio audience made noises that suggest they agree.) I don't care if you were in space then, do your homework!!! I just can't believe she would be here and do that, let alone admit it.

Chris Pierson – Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand)
Well, there's a lot to say about this one. Speaking of doing homework... I know they had to choose from the songs on the board, so whoever got this would have big shoes to fill since it was, to some of us, "Marty's song," and one with which he made a big impression. He did a decent job, but his look and his voice don't mesh at all for me (both are ok, though the look moreso than the voice IMO). Dave said he felt like he was watching someone who'd won a charity event where the prize was getting to sing with a great rock band; heh. Chris interrupted, asking him for clarification, and Dave finished his thought & then summarized by saying he lacked authenticity. Another of the guys agreed, saying that Chris needs to "get down to who you are."

Dilana – Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Brooke introduced this as a "stripped down" version; I'd call it an acoustic Middle Eastern version with a touch of spookiness! This was my favorite performance of the night, which surprised me because I didn't care for last week's performance at all. But it was one of the mellowest tonight and I like female singers with rough alto voices, so there you go. A couple notes were shaky but overall her vocal was good. All the guys loved it. Dave played w/her a bit & psyched her out, saying "you took a classic Johnny Cash song and did *that* to it?!" and pausing, before saying that he thought it was great!

Josh Logan – With Arms Wide Open (Creed)
In his intro Brooke mentioned last week's performance and the guys' critiques, saying "this week he chose a tune with a little more rock." Which I know got sneers from all the "real rockers" who dismiss Creed as a rock wannabe! Josh quickly said as he started that this was for his son (awww). It was good, but nothing outstanding. Dave said he's potentially "one of the greatest singers I've heard in a long time," but that this performance was just average. Jason warned him against some of his mannerisms, which he described as "ad-libbing Stevie Wonder stuff."

Phil Ritchie – If You Could Only See (Tonic)
Phil is someone else whose voice and style don't seem to mesh for me. He's fairly affected, which one could get used to with time, but for now I enjoyed his voice more, for the most part, with my eyes closed. (Though he did surprise me a few times in being much more attractive than last week; he has a great smile and nice eyes but keeps them closed a lot while singing.) The guys liked it; Dave complimented his voice but said he still needs a better stage presence. Tommy said he liked the way he sings and his "swagger," and that he's a good-looking guy. Jason said what Tommy likes, he dislikes, calling it the "almost spineless feeling" way he moves around. He said he had to close his eyes to listen to him and wants him to stand still and just sing in the future.

Storm Large – Surrender (Cheap Trick)
This was good vocally, but I don't care for her stage persona/antics. I can see her fitting w/the band though. (Without the ponytails she wore tonight; too Courtney Thorne-Smith!) Mr. PezKat thought she seemed like she was trying to force it to be heavy rock, and she's too 'bug-eyed,' but that it was mostly ok. Jason said "the energy is always infectious with you" and that she keeps the audience's attention. Dave said "you can clearly sing" and said she has "a huge voice," but thought it had Broadway elements. He said "I want you to have character, but I don't want you to be one."

Patrice Pike – Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana)
Another song with big shoes to fill, as Jordis' version was an early standout last season. Other than missing the first line lyrically (which Dave pointed out but in his usual rocker fashion then said, "who cares?") she was decent. Good vocals, and she played electric guitar. Tommy said he'd prefer her to wear it lower. Gilby said he liked that "you stay yourself, do it your way."

Lukas Rossi – Don’t Panic (Coldplay)
Brooke said Lukas would show his "softer side" with this one. Definitely a different style of song than he did last week, more acoustic & mellow. I thought his rough voice seemed in contrast to the song style, but it was pretty good (and the small falsetto part was good). Dave said he has "a foot in today's rock & roll and a foot in the future." Jason warned him about constricting his throat when singing (Tommy interrupted & told Jason to "shut up," then laughed); that Lukas needs to take care of his "instrument," and Lukas seemed to understand.

Ryan Star – Jumpin’ Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones)
Mr. PezKat and I both pretty much hated this (in all fairness I hate The Stones in general, but Mr. PezKat is a fan, and Suzie actually got me to like a Stones song last year). Dave said that the song is "all about energy & attitude," and that he started out poorly but (after going into the audience & coming back) ended well. Tommy mentioned (and tried to demonstrate - seriously, his pants could not have been any lower and still be shown on tv!) Mick Jagger's "showboating" and said Ryan needs to "show me some boat!" (with some bleeping, I think)

Dana Andrews – Born to Be Wild (Steppenwolf)
Her vocals were again very strong - smooth and powerful, on pitch and with good control. The performance was decent though her outfit made it look like she was trying too hard. Gilby said he was still waiting for some "dirty, dirty rock" to come out (& she said she'd bring it next time). Tommy said 4 words came to mind: "born to be mild." She got defensive & said she had leopard print, headbanging, etc... but if you have to tell us what your style is, it didn't come across (just ask Jessica on SYTYCD). Jason complimented her powerful vocal and said she has killer potential and is "great clay to work with."

Toby Rand – Somebody Told Me (The Killers)
Again a hard act to follow (Ty's version seemed to be a hit last year), but he did pretty well. I think it was arranged & sung more 'hard rock' than the original, but even without the techno pop instrumentals the rough, rock vocal came across as incongruous to me. I liked how he did the bridge and the first verse really highlighted how strong his vocals are (confirming what I thought last week). Gilby said this was the "perfect example of picking the right tunes," and that he killed it (ha!). Tommy said it's obvious from the crowd response that the girls love him, and he replied that's "lucky," because he likes girls! Cute. Dave said, and I quote: "Vocally, you are dialed." I think that means he liked it. :-)

I think the 2 best singers of the group are Dana & Toby. My favorite performance of the night was Dilana but I doubt I'll like most of the other things she does. I think Toby and Phil have potential, but at this point there's no one I really care about yet; if the show ended tomorrow I wouldn't be disappointed that I'm missing anything that's to come.

The early bottom 3 were Jill, Chris, and Zayra. My personal bottom 3 are also my prediction for voters' bottom 3: Jill, Ryan, and Zayra, with Zayra going home. If the voters put her in the bottom, and I don't see how they can't, I'll be shocked if the band doesn't cut her based on tonight's comments.

July 12, 2006, 12:47 am. 3 comments • Permalink

There was normal intro stuff, with some video clips from the mansion including song choice (which they pretty much admitted no one was taking terribly seriously yet). At the after-show party Lukas pretty much killed the mood when he asked Dana who she thought would be in the bottom 3; everyone was pretty surprised he asked, and to her credit she refused to answer. As did Matt when Lukas asked him; in fact Matt turned it back around and asked Lukas, who eventually said he thought Dilana "sucked" but didn't answer the question either! So Dave pushed him for an answer and he said Chris, Dana, & Jenny. They showed Chris saying he was "one of the best singers in the world" or he wouldn't be there in the first place.

In the recap clips not everyone was shown, which I thought was interesting. Storm was shown opening; highlights were Toby & Dilana; strugglers were Phil and Chris; and Lukas was said to end "with a bang." Q&A time: Dave asked Chris if he had any regrets about his song choice, and he said no, that he wanted a challenge. Dave then asked Phil if he would think differently about song selection in the future, and he said yes, he would take it more seriously. Throughout the evening several of the band members emphasized how important song choice is.

The first encore performance was given to Dilana.

Brooke then announced the early bottom 3 as Magni, Phil, and Chris. After the break we find out that Zayra, Ryan, and Matt were also in the bottom 3 at one time or another. So now she'll call out the final bottom 3 one at a time and they will perform a song of their choice.

1) Chris
Gilby asked what he planned to do to change people's minds or show he should stay? Chris said he would perform one of his favorite songs, The Doors' "L.A. Woman." I think he looks better w/tonight's curly hair, and his vocals were worlds better. He interacted with the audience a lot (rolled over on stage & sang on his back for a moment, then was face-to-face with some front row ladies). Overall a good performance and I think he deserves to stay.

2) Phil
Tommy asked about his song choice, and Phil said he hadn't done it before but wanted to start with something "heavy-hitting." Tonight he sang Switchfoot's "Stars," and Tommy Lee said he loves them (which surprised me, since they're a Christian band, but yay!). He then asked why Phil chose it and he said whenever he "wants inspiration" he goes to them. The performance was better than last night's but his vocal still wasn't great.

Before announcing the last of the bottom three, Brooke called first Ryan's name and then Zayra's, telling them they were safe. Then it was between Matt and Magni, and the third person is...

3) Matt
Jason said that he personally loved Matt's performance and thought the song (Yellow) was a good fit for him. Mentioned Dave's request to see something 'harder' and Matt said that "this isn't going to sound good, but..." and said he's doing a Duran Duran song!?! He did do a more rock arrangement of it & it was decent (the performance was better than the vocal), but, just, no.

Recapping the three, Chris was told that he made a good song choice tonight and did a great job, but they still question his vocals. Phil was told he had good vocals but they question his performance. Lastly Matt was told they question his song choice (and rightly so, though I love me some Duran Duran).

Tommy Lee called Phil first and said he's safe. Then, after pausing for an "I hate this" (I'm not surprised this part is tough for him), he tells Matt that his song choice - "for this," as he pointed to the band members - wasn't right and he will be the first to leave.

Matt had a great attitude, very respectful and gracious. He told the 3 band members that they were, & still are, his heroes; he had posters of all of them on his walls! Tommy was like, "You're making me feel bad!" ;-) He said that though Tommy gets a bad rap in the press he's "a beautiful person," and that he didn't mind "losing to these guys" (the other contestants) as they're all very talented. I'm sure all bootees won't be this classy but at least we're starting off well!

And *yay,* the performance show is moving to Tuesdays! So my shows-to-recap won't be in conflict any more which makes me happy (but also takes away my excuse not to keep up!). 'Til next week-

Whee! First episode. This year we have 15 finalists, and I actually know (or at least recognize) all 15 songs!

The show format, for any who don't know: we're looking for a lead singer for a new band called Supernova, to include instrumentalists Tommy Lee (from Motley Crue and Tommy Lee Goes to College), Gilby Clarke (from Guns 'n Roses), and Jason Newsted (from Metallica). They will record a single to "drop" at the end of September, make an album (produced by Butch Walker, who is also on hand to comment on the singers), and do a big New Year's Eve concert in Vegas. Voting will take place online or by text messaging. House band same as last year (yay!) On to the contestants!

1) Storm Large – Pinball Wizard
Yes, that's her real name! She describes herself (in her intro video clip) as a "performer," after mentioning that some people say she exploits her sexuality. She is very pretty and has a good voice, but her range seems very limited (she changed the melody to eliminate the lowest notes). Tommy asked why she chose the song? "I'm unafraid."

2) Ryan Star – Iris
Ryan points out that he's not your typical "tattoed and pierced" rock star, and even says he has the "rock" part down but isn't a star yet. He played acoustic guitar while singing (the band played too). I like his voice, it's rough but not too screamy. Dave said he could see Ryan's passion; Jason liked his versatility and performance but mentioned he kept looking at his guitar to play the right chords.

3) Toby Rand – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Toby is an Aussie who's a high school dropout and surfer. They did this acoustic and I really love his voice! I don't love his performing expression though, like he thinks way too much of himself. He was seated for part of it & held one note for a really long time, which (to me) shows good 'pipes' & vocal technique. Tommy enjoyed it, saying "I don't know how I'm going but I know where I'm going!" and Toby replied "hopefully I'm comin' with ya'." In general the band loved him, and looking back he's definitely in my top 3.

4) Patrice Pike – Somebody to Love (the Jefferson Airplane version, not the Queen song)
She mentioned in her intro that she has toured Europe. She was the first to interact w/the band while performing, & of course got praise for that. Her voice sounds a lot like the original; she has a good voice and good lung capacity as well. Overall it was very good, and comments were in agreement: Dave said she "killed" it and Gilby loved the tone of her voice & said he could tell she really wants this.

5) Magni – Satisfaction
Magni is from Iceland (!). His voice was just ok for me & too screamy for much of it, but he was good at interacting w/both the audience (encouraging them to sing) and the band and used a lot of the stage. Dave called his stage vibe too "Vegas" (& Magni defensively said he's never been to Vegas!). Tommy said he wished he could say something in "Icelandic" to him! He asked how to say "Hello" and Magni said with a slight accent, "Hello." ;-) Tommy just kind-of shrugged & sat back disappointedly (he cracks me up!). Again referring to his stage presence, Gilby said that they're a "dirty" rock band, so they want him to be himself but also keep that in mind.

6) Zayra Alvarez – Bring Me to Life
She is from a small town in Puerto Rico, and her name is pronounced in 3 syllables (zi-ear'-uh). This is a very ambitious song choice, but as she started out we found she has the perfect tone of voice for it. Unfortunately, she's not a good singer: not enough strength/power, missed notes, and was out of breath before the end. Apparently the band didn't care: Dave bonded w/her over being Puerto Rican, Gilby loved her 'style,' Tommy said "spicy," and Jason got down on one knee and asked her to marry him!

7) Jenny Galt – How You Remind Me
Jenny is 29 (they only mentioned ages for a few) and Canadian, with long blond hair. Apparently she has toured (Canada) and done videos but has yet to hit it big. She has a unique voice, and played electric guitar (very comfortably) while singing. I think she missed some of the high notes though (flat). Dave said she was hot & sexy, and a great example of someone who's comfortable playing an instrument on stage.

8) Josh Logan – She Talks to Angels
Josh is from New Hampshire and is a "soul" singer. He describes himself as multi-dimensional and says the term "rock star" needs to be re-invented. His voice is somewhat nasal and his look is a bit too boyish & pretty, but the performance was good despite over-embellishing. Dave said he's "like Chris (from The Black Crowes) went to finishing school" (hee!). Tommy asked why he picked that song and Josh said because he could "feel it;" T. said it was a good choice for his style. Jason asked why he thinks he can front their band, and he said he will bring his style/funk to them.

9) Matt Hoffer – Yellow
Matt is from Chicago and worked in real estate (aww, just like mmmMarty!). He mentioned how much money he thought he'd be making if he were still doing that, but said "life is about taking risks." Interestingly, his was one of the only clips that showed him singing (& playing acoustic guitar). His voice is different, rather soft, and his falsetto was not good. Dave mentioned the pitch problems but waved them off (nobody cares because "it's rock & roll"), saying he still "delivered." He wants to see something "uglier, heavier" next time.

10) Dilana – Lithium
Dilana grew up in a poor family in Africa and now lives in Texas. She has a very 'interesting' look, very extreme (mostly in makeup). For most of the song she stood very still at the mic, just singing intensely in her very growly, even somewhat snarly, voice. Then she ran around the stage frantically. Tommy loved watching her & was shown giving her a standing ovation; Dave said she was "awesome" and found her intensity "riveting."

11) Dana Andrews – I’m the Only One
Dana is the 'baby' of the group at 22; she's from Georgia and it's mentioned that she sang at weddings. She says she grew up very sheltered & took her first plane ride for the show. She has a low voice with a nice tone and surprising power! She started softly but really wowed a lot of us at the chorus (Jason was shown mouthing "wow"). From what we can tell I think she has the best voice of anyone. The crowd like it; Gilby said her voice was "awesome" and she had great pitch (and compared her to Bjork & someone else I didn't catch). Jason agreed and said she has a "gift."

12) Phil Ritchie – Cult of Personality
Phil is a former marching band member (yay) and college chemistry major from Maryland, but says he's passionate about music. His vocals weren't great nor did I enjoy his 'antics' on stage, though he was animated and used a lot of the stage. Dave said his stage presence lacked strength & confidence and implied the vocal was good, but Gilby called him "pitchy." Tommy said it was a "crazy" song choice for him, but he liked his style and said it was "well done."

13) Jill Giola – Piece of My Heart
Jill is a 4-11" well-endowed blonde from Long Island who's wanted to sing on stage since she was 3. (I think they pronounced her last name "Joy-a") I'm not exactly sure why but she really annoyed me with this performance (and I normally love the song), but then I didn't like last season's well-endowed bouncy blonde female's version either. ;-) I tried to stay objective though and am interested in seeing her do something else. Dave loved her and Jason said she's like a stick of dynamite - "a small package with lots of power." Oh and I laughed at Tommy Lee leaning backwards out of his chair to sing along into the camera!

14) Chris Pierson – Roxanne
Huh? That really says it all, but here's the rest... Chris is from Atlanta & was a baseball player until he injured his arm, and then music was his "outlet." This was a weird song choice and he rearranged it to be more rock, but it didn't come across well; they kept showing the band members who looked... somewhat bewildered! He had a good stage presence but *not* a good voice. Dave didn't like it and said the song showed what a limited range he has; Gilby & Butch both criticized the arrangement, acknowledging the intent but that sometimes you can't mess with classic songs and they didn't like it.

15) Lukas Rossi – Rebel Yell
Lukas is another Canadian (from Toronto) who says he lived on the street since (or at, at least) age 15. He said he's not here for the tv exposure or "to be a pop star," but to be in "a serious band." He has a very 'interesting' look and style, somewhat punk (which caused Mr. Pezkat not to like him). I thought he was very good, as did the crowd & Dave. Gilby channeled Randy and said he "made it [his] own," and Tommy just said, "Can you say 'Rock star'?!"

~ It's hard to tell just from one performance, but my early favorites are Dana (11) and Toby (3), though Josh (8), Patrice (4) and Lukas (15) have potential. Easily the weakest are Zayra (6) and Chris (14). Whew!