Copious Notes

RockStar finale

Out of the gate, viewers gave Supernova a tough choice pitting Toby against Magni (Photo, right, by Robert Voets for CBS). Both made the most of that, revisiting shining moments -- Magni’s Fire and Toby’s White Wedding. Gilby acquitted their choice well, knocking off the show’s best musician in Magni by saying the Ice Man often seemed more like part of the band than a frontman. Seems acquiring a six-string dueling partner was not the idea for Supernova, though it would not shock me to see Magni involved with Supernova.
So the final three were Toby, Dilana and Lukas. The three of them offered up a weird serving of modern rock for singers who aspired to be in a pop metal outfit. Toby, it seemed, had to win that round with his Killers cover. But it didn’t get him through. He was incredibly gracious in departing though, giving props to his competitors and thanking Supernova for his amazing artistic growth spurt this summer. I honestly thought he was the one.
Dave Navarro nailed the final two, saying Dilana and Lukas looked like the couple at a goth wedding. Goth fronting Motley-Metallica-Roses? Hmmm. Dave was also right, the band wanted someone  edgy.
OK, I cannot say I get the choice of Lukas Rossi (Photo, left, by Robert Voets). I find him to be an overall annoying voice and presence, and I don’t see how he fits in with Supernova. But, obviously the guys in the band and a lot of voters saw something they liked, so they’ll probably sell some CDs and concert tickets -- just not to me.
(If you read my last Supernova post, you should know I rarely pick a Derby winner, either. But my mom does. Wonder if she had Lukas . . .)
Anyway, despite the fact that the results were not what I would have chosen, it has been a much better show than I anticipated. I have never had a taste for reality shows like Big Brother where the competition evolved on deception and who could be the biggest jerk. RockStar was ultimately about talent and art, and despite the grief I took from some friends for watching the “Tommy Lee show,” it’s been fun watching and analyzing it. Thanks for dropping by to read, especially you Icelanders. What a kick.
Now, I will commend you to another show about talent and art, Project Runway, and the ultimate arbiter of Runway rundowns, Jamie Gumbrecht and It’s All About.

Supernova 9.12

Place your bets, no regrets, there's one episode of RockStar: Supernova left. Who's gonna win? Here in the Horse Capitol of the World, we're used to handicapping races, so here's my take (In the photo, left, are Dilana, Toby, Magni and Lukas; courtesy Gibson Guitars):
2-1: Toby: Isn't Throw it Away already a No. 1 hit? The voice, the showmanship, knowing his way around a song -- Karma Police is a dangerous song he navigated perfectly -- it's hard to see how Supernova could go wrong with Toby.
3-1: Dilana: She is Supernova's best shot at being something unique, and Tuesday night she was back in full stride. Storm would have made the band Garbage-esque. Dilana, with that incredible rock mezzo, could make them something grittier. The big question is her judgment, artistically and in her conduct. Is there a meltdown or creative difference showdown at risk here?
8-1: Magni: Easily the most polished performer with the best voice on the show. If the veteran musicians in Supernova want the closest thing to an equal from this field, it's Magni. But is he right for Supernova?  The man  has excelled at songs by artists such as Live that don't have much in common with Supernova's metal pedigree. If this was RockStar: Live, he'd be a slam dunk.
20-1: Lukas: He has shown a lot of growth over the past two months, and he's diversified. He's probably the only one you could hand any song to, and he could make it great. He could also make it sooooo mediocre. Lukas hasn't been a consistent player. His low-key set tonight wasn't terribly compelling, and the whole look screams, "I'm trying too hard." I just can't see it.
So there's one man's take. We'll see who the guys entrust their band's future to tonight.

RockStar: The Storm has passed

I know the guys in Supernova pay attention to the votes, and Storm was doing her second week in the bottom three and had been in danger for several weeks. But can they honestly say that Lukas is a superior performer and would have a better shot at successfully fronting Supernova than Storm Large (photo, left, by Monty Brinton for CBS)? If she was in the Final 4, I would say the best were truly last, but it would not be reality TV without an obvious injustice toward the end.
One of the points of debate at the beginning of this show was, would Supernova really consider having a woman front their band? The last two weeks seem to seriously put into question whether the fans want a woman fronting Supernova, which is kind of sad because Dilana and Storm are a powerful duo.
Dilana saved herself with a searing, desperate performance tonight.
Obviously, I think the fans made the right choice among the guys. Magni week-in and week-out has been the best performer, and Toby has had an incredible string of shows. They've got to be the frontrunners going into the finale.
So, who's gonna win? We had some good comments from last night's post, and let's hear some more. Make your case for your favorite rocker (ugh, I'm sounding like Brooke again) by hitting the comment button, below.
And speaking of reality shows with occasional gross injustices, click over to JamieG's It's All About for the definitive Project Runway rundown.

Supernova 9.5

The past few weeks, each time Toby (photo, below, by Monty Brinton for CBS) has performed, I've thought, "You know, he could fight his way into the finals." Tonight was the first time I really thought he could win, and the selling point was his original. That was an infectious little chunk of rock the crowd was singing along to, and I think Tommy Lee wanted to go out and record right away. I think he also wanted to go out and record Storm's original. She finally elevated her stock tonight after several weeks of coasting and letting Dilana pull ahead. Alas, Dilana, the one-time front-runner may well be history by this time tomorrow. It would seem a shame for her to get the boot after sustaining that leg injury. But between some lousy choices, disappointing performances and that interview episode, you have to wonder . . . Jason talked about respecting her for fighting through the injury and all, but then at least three performers got up and killed, when it counted -- amazingly, I'd include Lukas in that group. Didn't think much of his geared down Livin' on a Prayer, but Lukas' original actually felt tres Bon Jovi. Is that what Supernova wants?

So, a week from tomorrow night, we're talking about the winner. Any thoughts on who it'll be? Hit the comment button, and share your thoughts -- that means you, all you Icelanders who've been dropping by. I've appreciated the visits.

After you weigh in, go over to Jamie G's It's All About for her take on Katie Couric's CBS Evening News debut.

RockStar: Ryan's gone

The RockStar voters finally had the good sense to keep Magni out of the bottom three tonight, but they also gave Supernova a tough choice to make. Dilana in no way deserved to be in danger after killing with Mother, Mother Tuesday night.That had to be continued fall-out from her catty comments at the press clinic. But she made the least of her do-or-die number with a misguided cover of Psycho Killer.
Fortunately, she had enough credit with the band to survive.
Ryan (photo, left, by Monty Brinton for CBS) wasn’t so lucky. 
His Baba O’Riley re-proved Jason Newsted’s point that Ryan is stronger at the piano. File his escapade under “trying too hard” or “what the heck was that?” He reached for every cliche in the book -- spraying champagne, mounting the amp stacks -- trying to prove something. Ultimately, he proved that being the most-improved performer wasn’t enough.
Lukas can start his Christmas card list with Ryan, because tonight should have been his exit. But once again, his fans kept him out of danger. He can’t have more than a week or two left -- assuming Dilana doesn’t have any more Psycho Killer’s up her sleeve.

So, that was this week. I’m off to see if they can finally get rid of Jeffrey on Project Runway. Make sure to read fabulously fashionable Jamie Gumbrecht’s mandatory Runway rundown at It’s All About.

Supernova 8.29

As a baseball fan, sometimes I fear throwing decisions to the fans -- baggage from watching head scratchers take the field year after year at the All Star Game. But on RockStar’s viewer’s choice night, the fans really nailed the picks, hearing things like Bring Me to Life in Storm’s voice where she didn’t. It wasn’t her best, but it was nice to hear.
In the reax segment after Lukas’s version of Lithium, with all the guys giving him huge props, I just had to think there’s something I’m not getting. His range is limited, as is the power of his voice, and he prowled the stage like he was confused. All you had to do was look at Magni after Lukas to see everything Lukas is lacking. Magni gave us what we wanted when we asked for I Alone. Though that may also reveal why Magni’s spent a few weeks in the bottom three. His voice has so much in common with Live’s Ed Kowalczyk, and Live has little to do with any of the band’s Supernova has sprung from. So, while he may be the best all around performer on the show, he may not be what Supernova fans want in front of the group.
(OK. I’m looking at Tommy Lee’s lowrider jeans now fearing a wardrobe malfunction.)
I loved the energy of Ryan’s Clocks, particularly that twirl back to the piano. It did seem in all that intensity though, that he lost his way at several spots. Jason Newsted (photo, right, by Robert Voets for CBS) nailed it when he said Ryan’s strength is behind the piano.
Dilana started the show as the problem child, still paying an emotional price for her interview faux pas from last week. Mother, Mother was a great way for her and us to get over it. She’s a shoe in for the Top 3.
But Toby (photo, above, with Supernova, also by Voets) was tonight's MVP. Not only did he make Billy Idol a memory with his groupie assembling rendition of Rebel Yell, but he also stole a little of Storm’s thunder backing her up on Bring Me to Life.
The bottom three should be interesting Wednesday night. It seems to be depending more on fan bases and subtle style points. So, see ya, I’ve got some voting to do.

No Monday morning movies, today

Dear Readers,

In light of the tragic plane crash yesterday at Bluegrass Airport, it would seem entirely inappropriate for this blog to engage in weekend box office analysis or discuss other cultural news, today.

That said, I do believe that the arts, and music in particular, can be a companion in grief and healing. I would like to offer some pieces that I have found to be a great comfort in times of sorrow, and I would appreciate it if you would click the comment button below and share music or any other art that has been a balm to you in times of grief.
~ Samuel Barber’s painfully beautiful Adagio for Strings
~ Horatio Gates Spafford’s incomprehensibly hopeful hymn It is Well with My Soul
~ The Beatles’ masterpiece Let it Be
~ Squeeze’s bittersweet Some Fantastic Place

I have also always considered the flag at half staff a beautiful expression of sorrow and compassion, and so I offer the photo above by Timothy D. Easley of the Associated Press.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

Peace,
Rich

RockStar news

What? A RockStar post on the weekend?

Well, it isn't all about the competition, though it mostly is.

If you've been watching the show, you've probably heard Brooke Burke mention the Fan Selection Week. You should do it. It's pretty cool. Vote to put Live's I Alone into Magni's (photo, right, by Monty Brinton of CBS) hands and Evanescence's Bring Me to Life in Storm's style. The fan poll allows you to pick from three of the rocker's (Oh, no. I just called them "rockers," like Brooke. I've been watching this show too long.) previous performances or tap a new song for them. You can even go to each rocker's (THERE I GO AGAIN!) blog and tell them why you picked what you picked, so tap the hot link above.

Also, tour dates are out for the Supernova (photo of drummer Tommy Lee, left, by Monty Brinton for CBS) tour that starts New Year's Eve in Las Vegas. The closest it gets to here in the Bluegrass is a Columbus, Ohio date on Ground Hog Day, Feb. 2.  I do note with pride (pride?) the band will also be hitting my alma mater's arena: The Constant Convocation Center at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. Go Big Blue! Check out the link above for all the tour dates.

Rockstar Supernova: Patrice eliminated

We'll say it again: Magni does not belong in the bottom three until there are only three left. But thank you taste challenged voters for giving us that Magni rendition of Fire. Once again, he got to show his vocal chops and was also playing Jimi Hendrix licks. Nice showcase. That's the most fun I've seen a band have in a long time. But he doesn't belong in the bottom three.

And we'll say it again: Lukas (photo, right, from CBS) must have a heckuva a fan base. Certainly, he belongs in any bottom three from here on out, but he's been dodging it, despite a steady stream of uninspiring performances.

But this week, it was Patrice's time to go. She has a solo album coming out in October. She's gotten some good exposure. She was one of my favorite singers on the show, but I would have hated to see her fronting Supernova. It just wouldn't have been a good fit. Her performance of Middle of the Road was a prime example why. She was trying to dirty it up for Supernova, but as a singer, she has much more in common with Chrissie Hynde than Storm or Dilana, who look like they could front Supernova. So good luck, Patrice, I'll order your album.

There was some interesting tension at the beginning of the show with the contestants meeting the press. Dilana probably lost some goodwill with the fans for appearing to dog Lukas. But it was a good learning experience for all involved Co-host Dave Navarro (photo, left, from CBS), who's been in the press with a high-profile divorce, treated the singers to a moment of brutal honesty: "Whoever wins this thing is going to be the lead singer who won a reality show. ... Good time to develop some thick skins."

Supernova 8.22

This week we were back to the rock ‘n’ roll, which is right for Supernova. What some viewers may have feared is originals, but both Patrice (left) and Ryan showed song writing chops as well as great performances.
Patrice, in particular, had a great poppy rocker with her Beautiful Thing. Dave Navarro got a round of boos for suggesting to Patrice that maybe a solo career is the way to go, but I’d have to agree. She probably would not be a good fit with the metal vets -- Beautiful Thing seemed reminiscent of, say, The Smithereens, pop with a little grit. But I’d love to hear the Patrice Pike solo album. Ryan’s solo turn was easily the best thing he’s done on the show.
When I started this entertainment journalism thing, I remember talking to a singer named Danielle Brisbois about how great Kurt Cobain would be without a guitar. Magni showed us how that would look with his rendition of Teen Spirit. Another scorcher. It was interesting then that the band advised the singers to play and trash instruments during the show -- which Ryan subsequently did. Hope Supernova is ready pony up for a bunch of shattered Les Pauls. 
I guess Dilana’s Every Breath You Take was good, but those eyelashes were really freaking me out. Looked like they were going to take flight. Weird.
But the band has been taking a shine to Dilana and Ryan, while they seem to have run out of superlatives for Magni and Storm.
Being a giving person worked for Storm, though, who showed she had no reason to worry with Aerosmith’s Crying. But still, she’s in danger of the bottom three, again.
This could be the most interesting bottom three so far, because no one crashed. So it will probably depend on fan bases and taste more than anything. That’s why I still fear for Patrice, because as much as I liked that performance, as good as it was, I don’t think she is the Supernova fans’ choice. But the reason Patrice can rest easy is I have yet to be right predicting who will be booted, so see you next week.

BTW, the elimination show will be at the usual time, 8 p.m. Wednesday. If that 10 p.m. timeslot tonight threw you, seeing Big Brother was also a reminder how truly awful reality TV can be.

Magni-ficent mistake

I don't belong here -- Creep, Radiohead

Magni seems like a fairly humble guy, so the appropriateness of some of the lyrics to the song he chose to save himself from the ax may have been lost on him.

But voters, a question: Magni in the bottom three?! Here's when Magni belongs in the bottom three: When there are only three people left. The one thing we can thank RockStar voters for in their bone-headed decision to put Magni in peril is giving us another great performance by the Ice Man.

Other than Magni, the bottom three were predictable (and can we say, Lukas must have one heck of a fan base). Patrice and Zayra worked hard to fight back fate, and Patrice avoided the trap door again with a blistering performance of Hole's Celebrity Skin.  Zayra, well, I guess we're on the record about her. But it was almost a little sad that she had to go out this week, because her original tune last night and rendition of Blue October's Razor Blade tonight were probably her two best performances of the competition. You do have to wonder how the psycho-chick act of Razor Blade went over with Supernova. It was daring, but it also could have affirmed that talented as she may be, Zayra would never be a match for the band. 

We did get our first real taste of who would sound really good with the group, and as we'd expect, the best throats were Storm, Dilana and Magni. Bottom three. Please.

Hey, make sure to go over to Jamie Gumbrecht's It's All About for the Project Runway rundown.

Moving Day

First off, what was that? Was Supernova trying to tell us that they are sometimes going to play with a string section and make Gilby strum an acoustic guitar? If these three guys are trying to find a new singer for their ROCK band, what's the point of having them audition with a bunch of folk and disco songs with a string section?

Here's how weird tonight was: I thought Zayra did OK. Really, if you did the elimination solely based on last night, she should get another week. How come a searing hot pain just flashed through my fingers and up my arms?

But seriously. If you follow golf, you know that Saturday is often regarded as moving day in a tournament, when people either move into positions to win or drop out of contention. At just over the midpoint of RockStar: Supernova, last night may have been a moving night.

The biggest moves up were easily Dilana (left, last week with Gilby) and Ryan (lower right). Dilana followed up last week's knock-out with the most searing performance of the night on that folkie classic Cats in the Cradle. She showed tremendous vocal range on the tune, and did the best job reinterpreting it as a rock song, despite all the hurdles. (Was that the point? Maybe.) After getting a bum rap last week and winding up in the bottom three, Ryan's In the Air Tonight was also a solid performance, with a strong sense of drama.

So they'll be contending for the encore Wednesday.

The golden children, Storm and Magni, had off nights. Magni's version of David Bowie's Starman just didn't move the ball forward. Really, he had done the acoustic thing last week with Dolphin's Cry. Storm's stock actually fell though. Saddled with Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive, Stormie simply didn't seem to know what to do with it other than add the word a-- a couple dozen times and make it sound like a James Bond song. Supernova will never do James Bond songs. Storm has earned enough credit to avoid the chopping block though, and probably won't be in the bottom three. But among the women, she did cede the creativity banner to Dilana, and she'll have to work to get it back.

But sadly, Wednesday will probably be Patrice's night to fall through the trap door. Why sadly? Because we like her. But she's been in the bottom three too many times, and her Message in a Bottle was quite underwhelming. Clearly, she will never be a good fit for Supernova. She's a good singer, but her future seems to lie more in modern rock than anything these guys will do.

Really serious

Yes, the twin killing was the headline of last night's RockStar, but first, a questions for RockStar voters: You put Ryan in peril over Zayra's (left) joke of a David Bowie cover. What is wrong with you?! Do you just need comic relief? Is her verbal foreplay with the band worth the painful performances she's delivering? Yes, Ryan's Paint it Black performance was a bit different -- I was wondering if he was aping Robert Smith from The Cure in Orange with the faux hair at the beginning of the bit -- but it was fiery and soulful. Surely, it was not worthy of the bottom three.

Unfortunately, for Josh and Jill, they were, and both got the ax. Well, I won't say they "deserved" to end up in the bottom three, but clearly they were not going to end up fronting Supernova. Now there are eight, and while some stand a better chance than others, all are serious contenders . . . well, as soon as they get rid of Zayra. 

Don't forget to check in on Jamie Gumbrecht's Project Runway rundown at It's All About.

It's getting serious

RockStar: Supernova is reaching that point in a reality TV talent competition where the pretenders have been mostly weeded out, and we'll start seeing people on the chopping block who did give good performances -- though don't interpret that to mean I thought Zayra's All the Young Dudes was good.

Dilana started the show off with a bang doing The Who's We Don't Get Fooled Again with Gilby on guitar. Sometimes Dave Navarro's shtick is a little trying -- I'm so cool, barely holding my microphone as I pass judgment on these people -- but he was right to point out how unbelievable it was everyone else passed on the chance to play such an awesome tune with Gilby. Dilana made the most of her opportunity. Encore! And Storm and Magni delivered their usual strong performances that showed the distance between them and the field.

Ryan did make some inroads though with his theatrical performance of Paint it Black. And Toby did the unreal in turning Talking Head's Burning Down the House into a credible rock song (Sorry Dave, I know the bullhorn has been done, but Toby did it very well). The bottom three at the end of the show were Patrice, Jill and Zayra, and that felt right. Patrice's Instant Karma had a lot of pizazz, and I like her with the black Gibson SG, but it's not Supernova.

So long, Dana

I started my career in Augusta, Ga., so I had a soft spot for Dana Andrews and was bummed to see she got the boot on Rockstar last night. I was out seeing Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby, and I forgot to set a tape, so I missed the show -- I sooooo need TiVo. But I saw the performance clips on the Rockstar website, and Jill and Patrice did save their butts while Dana's House of the Rising Sun wasn't quite there. She came in a bit green for this competition, and though she was improving, it was hard to imagine her being ready to go toe-to-toe with Storm Large in a few weeks.

Still, how did Zayra manage to avoid the firing line after that goofball performance of 867-5309?

BTW, make sure to catch up with Jamie Gumbrecht's It's All About for the rundown of last night's duo elimination on Project Runway.

A plea to Tommy Lee . . .

Dear Tommy:

Hey man, I'm still digging the show, a you did a righteous thing for Magni offering to fly his family in from Iceland. But I have a request: If you get Zayra on the chopping block tomorrow night, which looks like a distinct possibility, please put her out of our misery. I mean 867-5309? In a cape? What the . . . Gilby's comments seem to indicate you think she's good TV, and in reality TV terms, she probably is. But the joke is getting old.

Not to be totally negative here, this is the week to break away from Storm and Magni for the encore. Ryan earned it with his piano-based rendition of Losin' My Religion. As a big R.E.M. fan, I view their music as a bit sacred, but Ryan did a great job of dirtying it up while preserving the integrity of the song.

So there you go Tommy: More Ryan and say adios to Zayra. That'll be a good show.

Peace,

Rich

Phil's gone!

A few weeks ago in the Herald-Leader, I wrote about my unfortunate fixation with RockStar: Supernova. So, if you have a blog and you're fixated on a reality show, I believe the rules state, "Thou must blog about it." I will note here that I also follow Project Runway, but Jamie Gumbrecht's It's All About is the essential Runway rundown.

So, about tonight's elimination episode: After Patrice Pike killed with Radiohead's My Iron Lung, my dream duo of potential losers was on the chopping block: Phil Ritchie, who can't sing, and Zayra Alvarez, whose attitude far outstrips her talent. She's the one who told Tommy Lee and his Supernova cohorts she was in diapers when they were on the charts. Zayra did survive one more week, though it's the only time I think Phil got a raw deal. His Failure cover actually masked his annoying slur and warble, while Zayra's simpering effort on I'm Not an Addict didn't merit any further consideration.

Really, it is all somewhat meaningless because the finale will be Storm Large (pictured to the left) vs. Magni. The band is clearly loving their work, and they are virtually the only ones that really look like they could front Supernova. Given the guys' taste for the ladies thus far -- Jenny Galt was the only female booted out of four now -- you'd think Storm enjoys the advantage, even if her name sounds like something Yoda would say: "Hmph. Storm large this way comes."