Almost Urban

Deborah Sengupta grew up in a cornfield in northwest Ohio where her multicultural family was something of a curious anomaly. She didn't like it very much. On a whim, she landed in Austin in 1995, where, before coming to Austin360.com in 2004, she drove a limo, played bass in a band, promoted fabulous parties and answered a whole lot of phones.

In 2000, she began building Web sites about Austin's urban music scene and became so insistent that Austin hip-hop shouldn't be ignored that KOOP radio gave her a show to prove it. In a country town with a heart full of rock 'n' roll, she firmly believes it also has a funky underbelly that's almost urban.

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The entry titled "'Making the Band 4' Finally, a band is made."

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Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2007 > August > 26 > Entry

‘Making the Band 4’ Finally, a band is made

By Deborah Sengupta | Sunday, August 26, 2007, 10:43 PM

Ok, I refuse to wax nostalgically from the top this time after last episode’s big dupe. I will give you my picks, however. With his killer vocals, Robert is my number one guy, followed by Big Mike and my fellow Texan, Brian A. After that, it’s a toss up, but I think I’ve got to throw in for Willie. Yes, putting Donnie in the mix would diversify the crew, but I just don’t think the reverse affirmative action is the right decision in this case. With those goofy dance moves, Donnie’s no Timberlake, and I think the lack of suave is likely to be a problem.

Diddy appears at the jump to psych us up for the evening’s action. “We about to make a band. Let’s make a band,” he chants.

Next our crooners show up individually and each poses and stunts in front of a lighted background before the scene opens onto the screaming crowd in front of MTV’s studio in Times Square. Inside the building, our crooners appear onstage suited up for an a capella version of “The End of the Road” full of soaring harmonies.

As a quick clip sequence recaps the harrowing journey our crooners have been on, we find out that Diddy will be eliminating people throughout the show. Diddy’s dream team, including new choreographer Jamaica who smiles sweetly and waves at the camera, is introduced, and somewhere in the distance you can feel Laurie Ann quietly skulking in her fishnets.

Diddy makes a grand entrance, and to prove that this is indeed a live television event, he takes a phone call from the audience. The caller poses the astute question, (paraphrased) are you really crazy or do you just play a crazy person on TV? To which Diddy responds, it’s a little bit of both. Next an audience member asks Mike about his weight loss and how he feels about the size he is now. He says, “Big or small, I’m still going to be sexy.” See, Mike doesn’t have that suaveness problem.

Next we’re treated to a montage of summer camp style, behind-the-scenes goofing out from our crooners, part of which includes, oddly enough, an Irish fiddle in the soundtrack. Then our crooners are split into two groups, and they each take a crack at New Edition’s “If It Isn’t Love.”

Group two, which features Brian A., Jeremy, Brian H., Willie and obvious crowd favorite Big Mike, has the stronger performance, although Qwanell and Deangelo both bring it so hard that I might be forced to back-peddle a little on my top picks. My man Brian A. is adorable as always.

After the performances, the crowd boos as Diddy makes his first cut, Dyshon. Don’t worry, D, that studio audience is packed full of willing shoulders to cry on!

For the next challenge, the guys come up with a ballad version of “Exclusive” they want to perform. Donnie plays the keyboards, while Deangelo dedicates the jam to the ladies and Qwanell croons the intro. Four bars in, and it becomes clear the slowed version of this jam has a laboriously tortured Tori Amos-esque quality. But our crooners sing their hearts out, and even as Donnie flubs a couple chords on the keys, the ladies in the audience show their love. A girl drifts forward and grabs Brian A.’s hand while he sings, and once again, Mike gets the biggest crowd response.

At the end of the song Diddy makes another cut. Brian H. gets the ax.

Then, oh no, it’s a visit from Danity Kane. Apparently our crooners have a tour with Danity Kane to look forward to. The DK girls have been watching the “MTB4” marathon, and while they think they had a rougher run than our crooners, Dawn confides, “Diddy made all of us stronger.” Thankfully, the DK ladies do not perform, Diddy instead brings out Yung Joc for that honor.

Finally, the eight men left standing are shuffled around while Diddy explains that he does things spur of the moment. He’s had a premonition (or perhaps, he’s read the comments on this blog) and he’s going to make a five-man group, in the spirit of the Jackson 5. Robert is number one. Willie comes in next, followed by Qwanell and our man Brian A. Finally, the feel-good man of the year, Big Mike, who’s dropped 50 pounds since the show started, makes the band.

I feel good about this. All of my men made the cut, plus Q who really pulled it out in the final hour. Good stuff. And to sweeten the deal, Donnie gets a solo deal on Bad Boy. Not bad. While I don’t buy Donnie as a Temptations, he might be another Robin Thicke. Yeah, I like this band. I’d go see these guys live. Unless, of course, it meant paying for a package tour with Danity Kane. Oh wait… Maybe I’ll just download the ringtone.

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