The Next Great American Band

Fox  Friday/8PM 

The Next Great American Band is the brain child of Nigel Lithgow, creator of TV powerhouses ‘American Idol’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’.  The show begins with 60 bands auditioning for the shows 12 coveted spots.  There are, of course, three judges who are quick to hand out criticisms and praise.  Filling the judging seats are John Rzeznick, Goo Goo Dolls front man, Shelia E., percussionist and band leader, and Ian “Dicko” Dickson, music-industry veteran.  “Dicko” reminds me of an Australian version of Simon Cowell; offering the same harsh comments just with an Aussie accent instead of a British one.   

Unlike the auditioning process of ‘Idol’, where anyone can walk off the street and sing, bands first sent in video’s and then 60 bands were invited to the Las Vegas desert (yes the desert – not sure why someone thought the desert would make an ideal concert venue) to play their stuff live.  I liked the fact that these were established bands.  Some have been playing together for 15 plus years.  Their songs were polished and their musical abilities were tight.  Of course they invited some real ‘hacks’ so that America could cringe or laugh at them.  I personally thought this was a little on the cruel side.  Why invite them all the way to Las Vegas just to say “Thanks, but no thanks.  That was garbage.”?    

But in the end there were some real treasures found.  My favorites being ‘The Clark Brothers’, ‘Dot Dot Dot’, ‘Light of Doom’ and ‘Cliff Wagner and the Ol’ #7’.  I really liked the fact that the show will included everything from heavy metal to big band.  I’m looking forward to the challenges that will force bands to move out of their respective genres.  How interesting to see a heavy metal band perform country?   

The Next Great American Band earns a B+ grade.