TVSquad

So. I saw Rock Star contestant Storm Large in a coffee shop yesterday morning and nearly started hyperventilating. (It's a super small coffee shop and I didn't have the balls to ask for a photo) You see, I have had a bit of a girl crush on her since I saw her perform live last year. Anyway, she was dropping off her new CD to her friend behind the counter.

I went online and found it and here it is. You can preview the tracks on CD Baby and on her MySpace page (Warning: "Ladylike" is profane, but also awesome). This new album is the first in a pair of CDs she's releasing, called Side One and Side Two. Side One, which came out earlier this month, was recorded with the house band from Rock Star. She's touring it with her band, The Balls, starting tonight in Seattle. Besides hits such as "Ladylike" and "Beautiful", it also includes a cover of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind". Side Two comes out early next year.

The New York Post has a great Op/Ed about why the band Rock Star: Supernova sucks. If you'll remember, Lukas Rossi won the competition last summer and the right to be the lead singer of a band full of crusty or virtually unknown rock stars. According to the Post, the band's tour is far from being sold out. In fact, 11th row seating is still available for tomorrow night's show at Radio City. Good seats are also available at upcoming concert locations. And, the band's album didn't even break the Billboard Top 100. This is in stark contrast to season one, where INXS got a new lead singer and sold out its concert tour.

Why doesn't anybody care about these Supernova guys? NYP says it's the name (already used by a punk band), the '80s hair band music, the lack of superstars in the group, and a dirty, dirty old man named Tommy Lee.

Why do you think no one is interested in this band?

[Via Pop Candy]

Here she is (opens iTunes). Just like I promised. Storm Large, the best contestant on last summer's Rock Star: Supernova, was a guest on an Oregon public radio program called Live Wire. It's a variety-type show that is recorded in front of a live audience (I attended the December taping). She sang "Beautiful", a PG-rated version of "Ladylike", and a sultry rendition of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" at the very end of the show.

That show has finally aired- it made air in Oregon just before Christmas and now Live Wire's podcast is in iTunes. Not only does Storm blow away the public radio types with her performances, she also gives an entertaining interview about being a very scary stepmom.

I just had to drop a quick note to fans of Storm Large, one of the most popular contestants on last summer's Rock Star: Supernova. I got to see her perform live last night for a public radio program here in Portland, Oregon. The radio show is called Live Wire (it records once a month at the Aladdin for you P-towners), and it's sort-of like Prairie Home Companion, but for young people. Storm Large and the Balls, who are a very big deal here in Portland, performed three songs last night for the radio program. She sang two of her originals, "Beautiful" and the uber-popular, PG-rated version of "Ladylike". She closed out the show with a very sultry version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas".

I freely admit that I'm a Johnny-come-lately fan of Storm Large, but... damn, she rocks! I saw her on Rock Star a few times last summer and the television does her no justice whatsoever. You have to see this woman perform live. Her stage presence is captivating-- probably a combination of her self confidence and her amazing voice. I felt like I was in a trance as I watched her-- she's so damn commanding. Plus, she's drop-dead gorgeous!

For Oregonians, the Live Wire featuring Storm Large airs at 8 pm on OPB on December 23rd. The radio program also has a podcast version so I'll post a link to that when it comes out during the week of Christmas.

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K. While there is no official word from the band, it seems that Storm Large, Magni, and the Houseband have all been axed from the upcoming Rockstar: Supernova tour. Trying to piece together why is where things get a little muddy. Storm posted a somewhat tongue in cheek entry on her website confirming that they have all been dropped. She brings up that the decision was a financial one and is pretty gracious about asking people to still support everyone involved.

Not everyone comes off as that happy with it though. As the story has gone on there are a lot of posts being copied between different sites attributed to different members of the Houseband. Over at Television Without Pity one shows up that begins with "Nate (Morton, drummer from the Houseband) just sent me this..." which would purport to be a response from the Houseband. I'll leave it up to you to decide the legitimacy of the posts, but it gets into some of the details from the band's perspective.

(S02E18) Tonight was the much anticipated (at least by me) chance to see Lukas finally play with Supernova. Is it just me or did the room suddenly turn golden when he took the stage? Now I love Lukas like a fat kid loves cake but I did notice that he doesn't interact with the band as well as Toby did. I still think the goth leprechaun would be better as a solo act.