I wouldn’t know an American Idol alum if he or she were biting my ass at this very moment. And, while I am glad that is not the case, I have, for the first time in my sheltered life, some reason to be interested in that monstrosity of foolishness that passes for entertainment.
Leslie Hunt, the nice young lady featured in the video above, was apparently a finalist and performed to an audience of millions. I suppose she would have preferred to win and become the next Kelly Clarkson or Taylor Hicks, but considering the abusive sounds those two artists have created (similar to fingernails on a chalkboard), I am glad that she lost.
Through some stroke of good fortune she has become connected to a Chicago-based instrumental outfit that fancied itself to be a junior version Liquid Tension Experiment. Great music to aspire to, but nothing that would pay the bills. But, if there is a way to bring a bit of sex appeal to the nerd-tastic sounds of District 97‘s modern prog, then these folks might have a tiger by the tail. Judging from the video, I am interested. The record is due out later this year, and I’m sure I’ll give it a listen.
Is this the record I’ve been waiting for all my life? Based on the early snippets, probably not. But I don’t have anything against popularity. And if a prog band can sell a million records in this decade, then all the better.
Special thank you to Bill’s Prog Blog, which brought District 97 to my attention. He’s featuring a Q&A with the band’s drummer at his wonderful site.
Great discovery, Mike!
Thanks for blogging about this!
Theo
Hey, Theo! thanks for stopping by. Obviously, the jury is out until we can hear the whole record (and check the song lengths and/or Roman numerals ;-), but I’m just shocked that someone from American Idol would end up with musicians like this. It gives me hope for the future.
Hey, thanks! Glad you enjoyed the interview, and like you, I’m looking forward to the album!
Bill: your site is awesome! Thanks so much for all the great info and hard work you do.
Wait until you hear them live!
Wait until you see them live! D97 is the Real Deal!
Mike, it’s Starr, I have to say I really really like that song. It reminds me of the Bruford/Annette Peacock collaboration back in the day. Rarely do prog/neoprog/metal bands with female singers get it right .. but it appears D97 has. I will be buying this album the day it comes out. Thanks for the tip.
Starr! Thanks for stopping by. I know what you mean about other bands trying a similar basic formula and NOT getting it right. This outfit has promise!
Leslie was AWESOME on American Idol. If it was an indie rock competition she would have went all the way – she had the chops and the fantastically wide taste in music. I’m so excited to listen to this. Of course, it isn’t, and she was quickly labeled as “the weird girl” and voted out.
[…] 6. Leslie Hunt was one of my favorite recent American Idol Semi-Finalists – she had a real identity and real taste in music, but was quickly kicked to the curb for her quirk. Mpomy.com blogs a video from her new project, District 97 […]