"Dot Dot Dot"
By Helen Marketti
"We're to the left of normal. We were the only glam band in the competition." These are some of the thoughts from Dot Dot Dot's lead singer, Adam, as he spends a few moments talking about their music, having appeared on FOX television in "The Next Great American Band" and what is next for the group.
Hailing from the Chicago area, Dot Dot Dot gives the impression that they have been together for years when, in fact, they will soon celebrate the one year mark. "We had all known each other but were in different bands. I've always been a songwriter and I had an idea to take it (music career) further. The other bands we've played in had a shelf life and a ceiling so we decided to take the leap and come together," said Adam.
Dot Dot Dot is a five piece sound machine featuring Adam on lead vocals, Rose on lead guitar/vocals, Lisa on bass/vocals, Michael on rhythm/keyboards and Stephen on drums. Their original music is a collaborative effort as Adam puts it, "Every song is a Dot Dot Dot song." Listening to "Stay" and "Take That Away" will give a music fan a taste of their sound and song writing talent. "Our originals are dance, pop rock style," said Adam. "We also play original versions of cover songs." That is Dot Dot Dot's way of putting their own spin on a familiar rock number. They are currently working on a new CD. "It's in the writing process now," said Adam. "Its kind of an 80s sound that we're going after."
Their fashion, look and style compliment each other perfectly. Having the look and the sound that gel together is part of the chemistry that propels bands forward. That and being in the right place at the right time.
As for the experience of appearing on "The Next Great American Band" (Fall, 2007) Dot Dot Dot made their way into the top five before being eliminated. However the exposure of having been on a national television show for over two months on Friday evenings certainly put them in the position on an increased fan base in addition to higher career status. "We have been approached by record labels since being on the show," Adam said. "Doing the show was like being in a giant commercial for your band. You are meeting so many people."
At first, Adam wasn't interested in being on the show as he recalls, "I didn't want to do it. Our submission tape for the show was done in a ratty hotel room in some college town with only three days left to send it in. I just did an improv on who we were and what we do. It was mostly our drummer and our manager who made us go after it." He continues, "All of the bands on the show got along. Different members of each band would jam together. The whole experience was like a dream. There's a difference playing to a couple hundred people versus four million people watching you."
Serving as judges for "The Next Great American Band" were John Rzeznik (singer, songwriter for The Goo Goo Dolls), Sheila E. (whose hits include, "A Love Bizarre," and "The Glamorous Life"), Australian TV personality Ian "Dicko" Dickson (Australian Idol) with host Dominic Bowden (New Zealand Idol).
"They are all great people. I liked them all. It was an honor for me when John Rzeznik told me he checked out our website and liked our music," Adam fondly remembers.
When asked if the experience had changed anything for them Adam responded, "We're always going to be the same band. We want to please people. People do recognize us a bit more and some more doors have opened. The word "change" is weird. To me it means that something was wrong. We're still the same band. We're getting better and growing into it."
Adam shares some final thoughts about what he would like to see happen for the band. "I guess its expected to say good health, prosperity and those kind of things which are important. But I think I'll go with hot girls and big, fat record deals," he laughs. Then becoming a bit more serious he simply says, "We want to be heard as much as possible. We want to entertain the world. If we can make one person smile...we can make one million people smile and then ten million and so on because that's what we do."
