Watched it out of morbid curioisity the last few weeks. The thing that confuzzles me most about is that save one band that were knocked out ages ago, I'd never heard of any of them. Considered that I follow music pretty discerningly (I'm on here, aren't I?) it struck me as pretty strange that I'd never even heard of, never mind heard, any of the bands?
Was anyone else aware of any of the acts before seeing the show?
Just the Gingerbread men
and Revenue have been on a couple of free sample album things. None of the others though.
Only heard of the Gingerbread men because they are always at eighties matchbox gigs.
I've not watched it but gather there was a band we played with a while back called Gilkicker.
They were okay when we played with 'em in a "sound like the Coral but as I like the Coral I found that reasonably pleasant" kind of way.
Hadn't heard of any other bands from it so far as I'm aware though.
i played
a gig with Gilkicker last year... twas an empty pub in Chiswick. They were, to be nice, somewhat conceited.
One or two
via myspace friends request (deny), and Rosalita (who didn't get through) are from my area.
The quality of most of the bands is pretty piss poor. And some of the bands have really shit attitudes towards what they're doing. Fuck it.
I'm surprised any of them got passed any audition
at least the few bands I've seen on it recently. Very few of them seem to be able to sing or play live
maybe because
no band who takes themselves seriously would want to make it through that show?
I think tha'ts the thing.
Most bands I know wouldn't have contemplated it in the first place.
Very true
it's a very american tv band thing to do - 'lets enter the contest and make it big overnight'... or not
^this, basically
I mean, most of the bands are completely jaded. They're the sort of bands who honestly believe that getting signed to a major is your only option.
They're probably bands for whom it is.
I mean in so far as that if you live in a small town and have a good local following but aren't known beyond that then another gig at the Bell & Whistle isn't likely to send hordes of A & R man charging through the door.
I've got some sympathy for those who do these kind of shows but I know that, living where I do and making the kind of music I make, I'm better off tryng to 'make it' (whatever that means) through other avenues and I imagine most other bands I know would feel the same.
Of the bands that were in it
their profile and number of fans must've gone up considerably because of the exposure. This, I guess, is pretty good. Depending on the band though, whether being on the show alienates your hardcore fanbase is another question.
My concern'd be the short-termism of it
I mean it will no doubt, for a short while, give these bands a far higher profile than they've ever had before but it also puts a shelf-lie on what they're doing as they become the latest "reality TV" stars which probably means a year or so's time no-one'll care...
i knew:
The Mentalists, This City... erm... Nemo (tho they didn't play)... who else... erm... i missed most of the shows. oh, Envy & Other Sins. they've been around for a while.
Envy & Other Sins
were the only band I'd heard of, saw them support Mew in Oxford a few years ago. They sound just like The Hoosiers now, its horrible.
Holy shit
I was at that gig and knew I'd heard of them somewhere. I remember they sounded nice but uninteresting.
Zodiac RIP
forgive me for this but
i liked one of Revenue's songs. The frontman is a twat though, he's your typical anti-Borrell Borrell and he could do with a slap. All of the other bands are completely shite, the judges are terrible and the whole concept is absolutely what music shouldn't be. If the fame is the most important thing to you then you shouldn't really be considered a musician. The most annoying thing about the whole series though, apart from that goofy sponge, was Peter Robinson, loser.
Yeh i hate those kinda shows
it's all too reality TV-esque for people who desperately want to 'hit the big time' but don't want to work hard. Correct me if I'm wrong.
The Mentalists
is probably the worst name for a band ever?
yeah
we know you are kerazzy and everything, why have a name like that - Lilly Allen tm
Quite liked
Envy and Other Sins and I like the bad Robots guy's beard and the foxy lass outta that other band but music wise there are countless unsigned (to the best of my knowledge) bands "in my area" and probably all over the place better than most of the bands on this show.
The Gingerbread Men? Seriously like?
Mentalists? Again, why?
I'm so confused
as to how both those bands got through. No songs, no talent, yet they both think they're the best thing since The Beatles.
I disagree with Pinball,
apart from with his final two rhetorical questions.
appalling
Ive heard of Envy and Other Sins... but quite frankly the standard on the show is appalling.
I saw it yesterday
something about the singer from The Bad Robots - he was properly annoying for no particular reason.
He wins points for his beard
Infact, his beard should win, independently of him and his band
I didn't like his manner
to be honest, and far too many people have beards like that. The band themselves were fucking shite.
But the beard!
I think Alex James should win.
mentalists: i think they
they got it from this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentalism
just makes met think of alan partridge
that's what it said on the V/O
I just found it funny it completely passed Lilly Allen by.
We played with them
The drummer had a nice bum
I really like Mancini
I thought they were pretty dull
Although they're probably one of the better bands on the show.
Yeah, but
hot?
Erm...yes?
I like Hijack Oscar
This City were pretty decent as well and there was a comedy rave band who were pretty funny as well.
Don't think that much from any of the other bands, especally the god-awful Revenue
Well there you go
The funny rave band
were (and still are, I presume) called You And What Army?. I'm playing with them on New Years Eve!
...
surely that should be "you and WHOSE army"..never mind, they were mormans.
Mancini stink worse that 2 week old dog-poo!
For fucksake! - the only reason they got as far as they did is 'cos that sleazebag creep Alex James fancied the singer, who looks like a CGI Disney animation.
You can still vote them back in
Mancini were gash
as were Revenue. Were Hijack Oscare the jazzy blues band - they were the best by a mile; in fact, I quite liked them. The Bad Robots were just depressing.
Also, who was the guy who was a judge along with Alex James and Joe Wiley? Some big industry guy or something; anyway, he said the Bad Robots were like =W=eezer.
That man is an idiot then
But yeah I agree, Hijak Oscar are pretty good, and at least they have an element of excitement to them.
Hijak Oscar are the best thing in it by miles
Given that there are 3 left now (plus one to be voted back in) they should win it. But it will probably be that wanky same old guitar indie noise Revenue
hey
It's about selling records remember? ;)
Probably
I'd imagine they'd pick a band that sound like the current high-riders i.e. Razorlight, The Kooks et al. And then give them a few months and they'll be gone, hopefully.
They might be the best thing in it
but are still shite
Hijack Oscar...
...Have been on the York scene for ages now, they've all played in various americana, blues and folk acts (believe it or not, York has quite a big alt-country scene!). Hijack absolutely maul every other band on the show and seem to be the only band who have a clue what they are doing. They don't win it (dunno if I'm allowed to be saying this, but really who cares!? It's not like you're finding out footie results before MOTD now, is it!?)...I don't know who does though, just praying it it isn't Bad Fucking Robots...WEEZER!? More like Fountains Of McFly. Ughh.
SPOILER ALERT
YOU WANKER, YOU'VE WRECKED MY LAZY SUNDAY SLEEPY TV VIEWING FOR WEEKS ;o)
And actually how can you know they don't win it?
Next weeks show involves an act being voted back in by the public, so how can it be pre - recorded months ago?? It must be filmed this week surely???
Oooh, this is a good point
Maybe its another Phone vote rigging scandal
A la Cookie the cat on Blue Peter?
Wouldn't
the gig recording dates be in the public domain?
I could be...
...TELLING FIBS! Or be hearing dodgy rumours...
Anyway, more to the point, did you really think that the show was gonna be credible enough to simply let the best band win!? TOO RISKY! Can you imagine Hijack on radio 1!? The A1 would be littered with the debis of hi-speed accidents...
It was obvious they wouldn't win
The judges have already said as much. I really don't see the appeal of them, unless you only ever discover bands through Sunday morning television.
Fountains Of McFly
now, that sounds like a band i'd actually like.
The ironic thing is
when Stacy's Mom was a hit quite a few media outlets, including Teletext, referred to FoW as "America's McFly".
must be their youthful good looks.
ThisCity
...were the only band on it I was really feeling. Heard quite a few of them before. The girly punk band and the shit 70s Darkness-alikes were some of the worst things I've ever seen. In my life. Ever.
I dunno, how any band really expects to get anything out of a show like this apart from some nice photos and a live video is beyond me. Anybody remember that Breaking Point show from a few years back? The Holiday Plan anyone? Thought not.
I do
That show confused me though. The Holiday Plan had a record deal, videos on MTV2 and two EPs out by that point, so how exactly were the unsigned or in need of breaking?
they were clearly in need of breaking
but they didn't.
so they broke up.
well, i presume they did.
Daniel
I think I can offer a reason: Some of the bands, believe or not, are not from London.
The band I've heard of I saw play in Oxford
Golly
Racist
I thought
The Holiday Plan were awesome at the time and bought their 'Stories / Sunshine' single. I always used to wonder what happened to them; I guess back then 'teenage emo' was sort of bigger than it is now.
I quite liked them
They used to drink in the same pub as me. They are back together now, under the name Stay Puff.
Funny story
One of my old flatmates has a 'Holiday Plan' tatoo on her leg.
What of?
I don't remember them having a logo or any distinctive art work but it was a while back I suppose?
Come across anyone with a TTNG tattoo yet? Or would that be just a bit weird?
The only band I know
is Envy And Other Sins
Are you quoting me?
Besides, your point isn't relevant. Tools such as this here website and Myspace mean geogrpahy isn't a consideration here.
id heard of envy and other sins and the mentalists
but were Nemo on it? I hope they were slated the shit out of. I played a gig with them once. Arrogant little shits, with a super annoying street team.
Street teams should be banned for, err, bands.
^this
played with them in Hitchin, didn't even make an effort to say hello. Were they good? Were they fuck!
they drove to sheffield
and then james the singer decided he didn't wanna do it.
or at least that's the way it was edited for telly.
How come all the bands are so offensively poor?
I hate them.
Revenue are typical student pricks, who no doubt 'discovered rock n roll' when Pete hit the tabloids.
The one with the REALLY ugly people in. The girl who sings and looks like cattle, yet they all bang on about how sexy she is, and her ugly band mates. I think they've gone.
Then that beardy wanker fronting that AWFUL fucking band. I hate him and I hate everyone who has a beard like him. I hope he gets kidnapped.
Although I did like that Kojak band. The blues people. If they got rid of that stupid girl they'd be ace.
Girls and bands never work do they? Apart from Juanita in Howling Bells.
Shit! There's worms everywhere!
lulz.
please no.
I believe this to be
the best programme on the TV. It's like X-Factor auditions, but for whiny, pointless, indie white kids with too many Pete Docherty posters instead of backward mutants. Brilliant.
^agrees with Hahaharoldramis