0034 - West Michigan Idol: The Blog

West Michigan Idol, for those of you who don't know, is Michigan's little practice-run for the big ol' American Idol competition. If you win, they pay your way to wherever you get to actually audition for the big show. Brandy, my wife, insisted I sign up. After performing last night, I thought I'd make it on the news. I didn't. I thought I'd get in the paper. I didn't. I did, however, get the following mention in this Grand Rapids Press blog thingy. HERE is a link to the actual blog, so you can be sure I'm not making this up...

LeOnna Evans nearly missed out on her chance to be crowned "West Michigan Idol." The 24-year-old aspiring singer from Battle Creek got lost on her way to Thursday's WXMI-Fox 17-sponsored contest at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center. "It was just an experience. We got lost on our way here," Evans said. "I didn't know if we were gonna make it."

I was happy to find out that Press reporter Rachael Recker talked to one of the night's entertaining performers, "The Screamer" or you could also call him "Michelle DeSelmes' biggest fan." I was one of the judges, so I was a little busy.

Rachael sent me this report:

Musicians are strange beings.

If they want to wear sunglasses at night while staring at long-forgotten sunsets, we don't ask questions.

They're on a different plane. We respect that plane and don't try to understand it.

Which might help explain Levi Bailey's performance Thursday night at WXMI FOX 17's "West Michigan Idol Contest" in Forest Hills Fine Arts Center.

The 27-year-old Kentwood resident took the stage in a black T-shirt, sunglasses and a nonchalant ponytail.

"I'm gonna send this one out to you, Michelle," he said to Fox 17's news anchor and one of the evening's master of ceremonies, Michelle DeSelms.

Audience members were probably expecting a music selection of the saccharine and ballad-esque variety thanks to the schoolboy shout-out to his TV-star crush ("Got a thing for (DeSelms)," he admitted backstage).

What occurred, however, was a string of streams sounding somewhat like a dying baby vampire.
Bailey, lead vocalist and drummer for metal/rock outfit Spit For Athena (a Coldwater/Kentwood-based alt-rock/indie band that plays often at Skelletones and The Division Avenue Arts Cooperative), described it differently.

"I've heard it described as the pterodactyl sound -- a little bit dinosaur."

Dropped mouths and stunned laughter followed.

It seemed as though the laughter was just a easy way to buy time as the audience tried to figure out what was going on: serious musicianship? Or someone out to get their jollies from making fun of "American Idol"?

And actually, it was neither, really. Bailey came clean in the entrance of the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center as he was leaving -- following his performance -- with wife, Brandy, 24.
"I should stick around to see if I'm in the top 10, but I don't know," he said, smiling. "I'm kinda hungry," he added.

"I heard so many of these people singing and there's a lot of talent. ... After hearing 40 people sing like that -- all the same -- it gets a little boring. (I'm) just trying to break it up a little bit," he said.

He wasn't planning on screaming. He might have sung. It was just that the moment moved him to vary the string of scatting, soulful vocalists.

Brandy wished he had competed.

"He always does crazy stuff. I was hoping he would sing. I'm the one that made him sign up," she said. "He can sing just fine."

Even with hindsight being 20/20, Bailey wouldn't have changed his performance.

"No, I'm happy with it," he said. "I enjoyed the audience reaction. And Michelle will remember me."

Spit For Athena performs Friday night at Juke's Bar, with bands Coin and Baby Guts. Visit their Web site: myspace.com/spitforathena.

...Cool, eh? "Nonchalant ponytail"! Afterwards, in the parking lot, someone leaving in another car screamed "Hey! You suck!!" and then "Wasted my fucking time!!!" My audition was thirty seconds long, so I imagine this guy's time must be pretty important to him. Maybe it was a lawyer or something. At least I got to plug tonight's show at Jukes. Be there!