John - Keyboards, Vocals, Melodica. Is actually a trumpet player in the music department at UNT...in a lab band and everything. What the hell. Dan - The Amazing Fretless Bass. Not a music major, but, arguably the most talented member of the band, we'll never understand why. Has mastered the pointless octatonic run. Chris - Guitars, Vocals. The one with the most questionable stage presence of all of us. He'll be the guy screaming insults at people and throwing himself on the floor at the end of our set. Nate - Drums, Percussion. Is in the orchestra on the side. Has won the award for sexiest man in the band, and is the former holder of the prized "biggest beard" trophy. Before he cut it off, like a douchbag.
Influences
Jamiroquai, Ben Folds Five, Steely Dan, White Stripes, Phish, Explosions in the Sky, Elliott Smith, Europe, Dismemberment Plan, Death Cab for Cutie, YES, Medeski Martin and Wood, Nirvana, Alicia Keys, The Police, etc.
NEW INFORMATION: The Great American Challenge as the world knows it is now defunct! Chris had a few creative differences and walked out on us with no warning, just like your mom did to you when you were six. She probably didn't leave on such great terms, though. No hard feelings, no years of therapy...et cetera. However! The band will still exist as a trio, under a different name. For the time being we'll probably be going by The Great American Trio. We may eventually get a new guitar player, or horn player, or whatever, we'll figure something out. We've lost about half of our songs--the ones Chris wrote (of the ones in the demo, we will still be playing "Circles" and possibly "D to the P," since John wrote the music, though Chris wrote and sang the lyrics; in the divorce proceedings, Chris expressed no interest in continuing to play it on his own, wherever he goes). New material is coming in spades, though. John will now step into position as our primary songwriter, though Dan has a few up his sleeve, and I'm pulling out some old ideas and working on some new ones. Covers may fill the void on our next few gigs, when they get scheduled, most likely. Any musicians we know are certainly welcome to come jam, maybe we like your sound, maybe we break your arm, who knows? So. Ignore any outdated information on this page, and we'll update it soon with funny shit, and at some point a page for the trio project. Until then...keep watching the stars!
We're We used to be a kickass band out of UNT in Denton, TX. We were also known as Pyramid Scheme for a while (the name under which we gloriously defeated all contenders at the Clark Grill Battle of the Bands), then found out that other, lesser bands shared our name, and had to change it. Before that, we did a single gig known as Sequitur. Before that, we didn't exist.
Songs posted now:
"I Know You Get Excited," our grungy punk song with the Beach Boys chorus
"Circles," a sappy tale of shapes and their relation to heartbreak
"You're Gonna Get it," an angry, hatred-driven series of threats set to music
"D.P.," the revenge song with the mystery title
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE DEMO OR SOME SHIT. AND JOIN OUR FRIENDS LIST. NEW GOAL IS OVER 1000 FRIENDS.
CONTINUE LOOKING FOR GIGS ALL THE TIME
The Great American Challenge's Friend Space (Top 8)
I'll tell you three times but then I won't tell you again.
So you better listen good, and then we'll all be best friends.
I've got no time for excuses, no time for you to justify.
You're the living denial, baby, but you can't deny...
You're gonna get it
Happy is the man who is on fire
You could be the one who sets off that desire
I'm so tired of reasons man (or something to that extent) too late *scream*
You're gonna get it
I'm the type of man who'd cut off his nose just to spite his face.
You can give me a polygraph test, man, but in this case,
I'm forecasting a dillema, I forsee your demise
You're the living denial, honey, but you can't deny.
(Improvised blowout/tantrum)
D to the MF'n P
I'm coming down your street at a hundred miles an hour because that's as fast as this car will go. I bust in through your window, now I'm in your living room, and Ziggy Stardust is on the radio
(I) never said justice, just call this retribution
We're not enemies, we just don't have good conversation.
I'm shopping in home depot for a brand new set of tools and a chainsaw to chop down your oak tree. Now I'm laughing as it topples onto the top of your roof. Tell the insurance man to send a picture to me.
You say you're feeling shitty
so I call you "Suppository"
You say you hurt like Everyman
I got no time for allegory
You can write your story
send it to the local paper
but they'll never catch me
I'm still your mischief maker.
I'm standing by your stove and setting fire to your kitchen because making food just didn't seem appealing.
Now I'm running down your hallway and standing in your closet stapling your favorite clothing to the ceiling.
People who get the closest to me seem to get my best, so get ready for the punchline of the century:
The reason why I treat you the way that I do is so that you feel half as bad as me.
you guys are excellent. love the demo. it came out really good. it captures some really driving, quirky, rockin goodness!!! we must have a show together. but only if your singer/guitar player throws himself on the floor again. cheers.
HA! What's going on fellas. Good to see you're movin' on up and have gotten yourselves a Myspace account. Kudos are in order. I think it's Bizarre that you somehow landed the same gig we did. It'll be interesting see how a different crowd reacts our varied musical stylings.
Best of luck,
Aaron
R.O.T.
P.S. YOU'RE GOING DOWN BITCHES!j/k
but seriously.....
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