An only in LA Story: RockStar SuperNova

In the spirit of LA-ness, today I did something quintessentially LA, I went to the taping of a TV show. Now, I've lived here for 8 years, and this is only the second time I've been motivated to do this. The first was where I was lucky enuf to see U2, Trail of the Dead, Outkast and at The Drive-In perform on a soundstage at Universal, the second was today.

You will LOVE this...LOVE it I tell you. I went a full half a mile away to CBS for the taping of Tuesday's ROCKSTAR: SUPERNOVA. Yes, rock purists, I dared to set foot into the den of supposed faux-rockness. ANd jolly, jolly good fun it was too.

Here's what happened: We turned up at 1:30 for the 2:30 taping. Typically, we the audience are cattle who are lucky to be in line, so we are lined up in the upper 80's full sun. Despite being an hour early, atleast 100 people are already in line ahead of us. Everyone has followed dress code, and looks suitably rock - smart rock, no skungers here, smart LA rock. Some faux hawks, and True Religion jeans abound. We spend 2 hours on the street, and after yesterdays hanging at the street fair, my back is beginning to complain. Anyway, we get within 10 of the front and are told we are now on standby. 20 ins later we are in, but lined up on benches, still on standby. Atleast 200 poeple behind us do not get in. Bummer. We do. Yay.

By this point I really need to take a leak, and I need a drink as well.weird eh? Anyway, no chance of either it seems. Apparently TV audiences do not need to eat, drink or go to teh bathroom. We are a breed apart without normal bodilly functions.

Finally inside, and we are at the top, on the faux (lot of faux around here) balcony, but center of said balcony. We have to practice clapping on cue, and quieting it down. The guy who is employed to warm us up, and keep our energy level up is super annoying. He asks us to wave our hads in teh air, but not in a "gay" way. Then when we do, he tells us it looks "gay". Great. They want lots of audience energy, but its tricky after standing in the hot sun for two hours. From our balcony spot I can see that the audience is full of VIP's who jumped the line. Plenty of skinny hotties who weren't outside, and conversely bald, overweight men. The house band are amazing, LA rock pro's and they warm us up before showtime with a few songs. Great sound, great playing and it looks like it will be OK.

First the "rockers" (how they must hate that) come on. They are exttremely professional, slap peoples hands, wave smile and take their places. The crew then takes reaction shots of them listening intently to nothing, while the audience sniggers. Then Tommy (the Tomahawk) Lee, Gilby Clarke, Jason Newstead (guaranteed first member to split from Supernova) and Dave Navarro come in. Unfortunately we can't see em where we are in teh balacony. Later in teh show I stand and hang over a few times to catch a glimpse, but security soon puts a stop to that.

Anyway, teh show kicks off, and the shocking thing is, I thought there might be multiple takes of the performances, but each one is rock solid, picture perfect, ultra-hermetically-sealed tight (with maybe one exception).

Now, if anyone is expecting sarcastic coverage, my disclaimer is that despite not expecting to, I love this show. The people are pretty damn good, play originals sometimes, play instruments, and sing like bastards. Sorry, but I like it.

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD - don't read if u like RSSN (so the majority of u are OK)

Things are momentarilly delayed as Tommy is told that CBS censors insist he wears a shirt. Tommy refuses for all of a minute, then complies. Later we will see much more of Tommy.

Before the songs we get traeted to a reprise of last weeks drama, and much talk about how we have to move on, and let the rock speak for itself, all the while by constantly re-focussiing on it. Apparently thsi is about rock, and is NOT a soap opera. Bull, thsi is totally a soap opera. A rocking soap opera, with photogenic protagonists, skinny hosts, and petulant rockstars.

This week the audience voted for which song each contestant will sing. Lukas kicks off with a killer arrangement of Nirvana's Lithium - a re-arrangement, sacrilege, but it works. Magni was only allowed to sing bald songs and rocks I Alone by Live. Ryan decimates clocks by Coldplay, and loses the plot slightly. Storm is up next with a Evanescense song, the one that has the rap-metal dude on it. She sounds amazing, but her big old boots are distracting. She also allows another contetsant to join her onstage, and he kind of upstages her. Next up is Aussy Toby - he has been my least favorite of the 6, but today pulls off making Rebel Yell by Billy Idiot sound fresh, and he performs really well. Finally we get front runner Dilana, who takes Tracy Bonham's Mother Mother and rocks it so hard she kills it. She is a microman sized powerhaus.

Brooke Burke looks so thin she might break, and is effortlessly plastic as she reads from the teleprompter. Dave and Tommy inject some spirit, and definitely run teh show. Towards the end we move around a bit so I can see the panel, and we are traeted to multiple views of Tommys half butt crack from above. The man has NO BUTT - no wonder his pants won't stay up. We see that Dave Navarro is tiny. He is as tiny as Dilana is. In fact the two of them would make a perfect pair that could be used as wedding cake decorations.

After a single re-take of a Dave Navarro line, some more viewage of the Tommy-crack we get to file out. I pick up tix for Wednesadys show, knowing I won't be able to go, and get a ballot sheet so we can vote manually if we want. Its super hot outside now, even tho it is now after six. The show itself took just under 2 hrs to shoot, and was for the most part a blast. Astroburger is beckoning, and despite feeling tired, thirsty and having expanded my bladder ten fold, I'm glad I went.

 

Ha! Thanks for the LA story Carl! So, is the plan for this, uh, "supergroup" to actually produce an album with one of these people as the lead?

I can see what you mean about enjoying the show...if you can ignore or alternatively enjoy the petulant rock star stuff, underneath it all, some of these people can really play and sing...

 

Great story Muton. I am probably also one of the few who is a Rock Star watcher. I watched since JD Fortune (HATED him) won the Lead signer spot for INXS. This season started off pretty crappy but now has become really good. My favorites (who are still in the running) are Magni (Boy can sing!), Toby, and Ryan Star (not Old American Idol)... I am sick of Lucas, and could really care less about Delana... but Storm is not bad on the eyes!

I went to a trapping back when episode 3 or 4 was to air. We got in line, on a hot Sunday, at just around 3:00 in the afternoon. There was a hige line in front of us and we waitied a good 45 minutes to an hour until we were told the show was probably too full to let more people in. I was pretty bummed because I really wanted to see a live taping of this... but we ended up leaving and not seeing the live taping. Tickets for the show are super easy to get, and if I was guaranteed I would get in, I might attempt to go to one of the final tapings... but I doubt I'll be doing it this time around...

Thanks again for the great story! Can't wait to see who is voted off this week... My pic: Storm or Lucas (I hope)

Top Four: (Said from beginning): Toby, Magni, Delana, and Ryan

Winner of Supernova: (hope) Magni or Toby

We shall see....

Anyone watch BB7 All Stars???

 

Based on yesterday, Ryan should go - he did the same ol thing, but this time lost it and kind of forgot to sing. Magni was solid, but unimpressive - sure he can sing, but he is not the frontman these guys will pick. I don't like Toby, he is too much of a "lad" for me, but he rocked it hard, and will get thru. I thought Storm was great, but the judges don't like her - and she didn't do the best performance. Basically, Dilana stole the show, with Toby and Lukas close behind.

hee hee, just my opinions tho.

 

too bad you weren't there when Sayida was still there... man she sucked!

 

Haha - I only saw her once, and I liked her actually, especially that original song she did. She was kind of off the wall whenshe did a song called Razorblade by Blue October. She was scary, which I kind of dug.

 

Muton, I saw you last night on Rockstar! Just after the crowd started booing Newstead for "meh"-ing one of the hopefuls, they did a shot of the balcony and I spotted you in the back wearing a black tshirt...It was kind of funny, because I was just telling my wife about this guy on the message board that got in for a taping and BOOM! there you were on the damn television!!!

Wifey watches this show regularly, but last night was the first time I watched the whole thing...you probably could have slipped that Dilanna chick into your pocket and taken her home, as little as she is!! except she is kinda spikey...

Anyway, you were on the tube, dude!!

 

Was he carrying a [expletive deleted]?

 

Brooke Burke is hot skinny or fat!

 

Well, I bet she won't be skinny much longer. . .
news.yahoo.com/s/eo/20060822/en_celeb_eo/19810

 

no truer words have ever been spoken.


i've never seen the show, but i do love me some astroburger!

 

I watched it last night and was looking for you Carl, but never saw you. I may have to rewatch it tonight. I thought last nights show was the best so far. Magni and Toby killed it and I though Ryan's version of Clocks was great. I hope Lucas goes home. His presence bugs the shit out of me!

Guess we'll have to wait till tonight to see.

 

Haha - somehow, I made it onto the screen. I watched it and never saw me, apart form at the beginning in sillhouette, when I did some weird circular arm movements - knowing I was so far back that would be the only likely way for me to see me. Pathetic, I know, but I like the idea of dorking around like that. I am heard on a BBC live session for Swervedriver and the Hearthrobs doing a weird chant inbetweeen songs. You can also catch me in an early Kings of Leon vid jumping up and down in a cowboy hat in Griffith Park.

Anyway, Ryan sucked hard in the studio. Strange he sounded so good on TV, but he should go. They also cut all the judges comments about him forgetting to pick up his mic when he jumped on the piano. Toby rocked harder in the studio, but didn't come across so well live. I loved Lukas performance, but if u don't like the guy, then he will never do it for u. Dilana killed it, hands down best performance - and I don't even like her, but she killed it!!! That jump off the speakers was super tweaked!

 

Call me a mongoloid, but who is Gilby Clarke? and what band was he in...?

oh, and is Dave Navarro actually going to be in the final product?

I thought he was just the moderator...

shamelessly, I have watched this but I think the song choices are rather weak and would enjoy hearing a wider range of genres.

Poor Jason, I was hoping the Voivod thing would have worked out but this probably pays more money.

 

Gilby Clarke-Guns N Roses..I was hoping the Voivod thing would come to fruition also-Sounded great and heavy as hell..

 

Jason does seem to wear a VoiVod shirt nearly every show.

Dave Navarro is not in SuperNova. That original they played last week was crap btw.

Question: For the uninitatited, and the person not into the super heavy, but with a rock background (i.e. me) - should I check out VoiVod when they play in LA next month? Will I be able to handle it?

 

Voivod has to find a new guitarist before they can tour...no more Piggy

This band will play at least one show (the New Year's Vegas show they keep plugging) and then politely fade away...no way they can stick together through an entire tour...

The dude that jumped on the piano blew it at the very end...it looked like he was trying to hump the steinway (or whatever)...did not look very "rawk" imho...

This season is much better than last, though...much easier to find a singer than to replace a very, very good one...

Next Season: Rock Star:Barry Manilow's Replacement!

 

see Voivod!

and I guess they have a suitable guitarist (my bad...)...if they are touring in support of the new disc...

Navarro was hot in Jane's, and had his best gig with the Peppers...to be a Red Hot Chile Pepper would be the shitola, I would think...

 

Next Season: Rock Star: Search for new bass player to replace Jason Newstead who split due to musical differences!

 

Jane's = awesome and groundbreaking
Chilli Peppers = suck my scok covered cocky brain

just kidding....not!!!!!!

Please recommend VoiVod music for me to check out

 

I would recommend VoiVod's first, War and Pain.

a Thrash Metal original with a sci-fi road warrior-like apocalypse in sound, style, and imagery.

If you like that, you can move on from their, though by Dimension Hatross, the music has mutated into long, progressive pieces.

I would 100% go see them tomorrow. I did in 1986 in NOLA at this club called Jimmy's along with Celtic Frost. Really amazing show...the only show where I got a bloody nose from thrashing.

Sadly, one member died just recently but they were three original members still...

 

where is voivod playing tomorrow?

 

Thanks Chad.

As for ehere they are playing, its House of Blues...but next month- I think?

 

So this isn't you in the black skull shirt and glasses?

 

oh yeah, thats me - my work mates are getting big laughs out of mine and my friend Janette's cheerful demeanors.

Hey, thanks for this, so, did u do a frame grab to get this?