The Band Said No to AGT…Their Mom Said Otherwise

How'd you guys get together? We're a family. That's my brother and my dad and then two really good friends of ours. So it started 15 years ago. We all started on fiddle when we were four and my brother did not like the fiddle at all. So we went to the pawn shop and bought a banjo and a guitar and that's kind of where the band came from. We actually all worked together at my dad's tire shop. Dad would change a tire and then we would run over and we would practice a song and then another customer would come in. It's a tire shop and then we have a gas station and a little deli. So the guys do tires and I burn biscuits. That's true. I'm a terrible cook. Once in a lifetime opportunity especially for a banjo player. I'm just kidding. I'm kidding. We play in Silva several times a year. Definitely a big change from New York City. One summer when I was here my hero Allison Krauss was playing at Radio City Music Hall. The thought of playing on that stage that's literally would be a dream come true for me. Go get them guys. Thank you. You guys look good. Thank you. You look like you're happy actually. We're very happy. I'm not familiar with this look. Well welcome. Thank you. What's the name of your group? We're Mountain Faith Band. Where are you guys from? We're from Silva, North Carolina. That's that family up there. How did this group get together? We actually all work at my dad's tire shop. At the tire shop. How convenient. Now you have trouble at the tire shop because you probably want to practice all the time, right? We actually do practice in the tire shop. That's the only place we can find time to all get together. Are you guys great? I don't know. All right. Well we're anxious to hear you the Mountain Faith Band. The stage is yours. All right. I feel something so right I couldn't lie Losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be Lately I've been I've been praying hard Said no more counting dollars We'll be counting stars Yeah we'll be counting stars Take that money Watch it burn Sink in the river The lessons I've learned Take that money Watch it burn Sink in the river The lessons I've learned Take that money Watch it burn Sink in the river The lessons I've learned I'm not a fan of bluegrass music. If someone took me to a bluegrass festival I swear to you I would probably jump off a cliff. But you guys are great to look at. You have a great sound. You know how to contemporize bluegrass so we don't all want to jump off a cliff. That was a very strong addition. Very smart. Thank you, sir. Heidi, do you think it was smart? I thought it was really cool to hear that song, you know, performed that way. I've never heard it like that before. I thought the band is very tight and I think that you sing beautifully. I appreciate that. She's got a great voice, right, Mel? Yeah. Uh-oh, Mel. I found it really, like, surprisingly great, actually. It all just kind of made sense and it came together. Thank you, sir. Yeah. Thank you so much. Howie, what do you think? You guys were wheel good. Oh, my God. That was horrible. I'm sorry. Don't judge me. All right, Howie, time for you to vote. Go ahead. Yes. Mel B. I have to say yes. You were great. Heidi. I give you a yes. You deserve four yeses. I can't wait to see you in the next round. I think you did a great job. You've got a great voice. She is. She's adorable. She can sing. They've got a great sound. Very good. I'm very excited about them. And they're different. Yeah, very different. Okay. The sense that you're making me feel My heart's in overdrive And you're behind the steering wheel And it's touching you Touching me Touching you, yeah Yeah, you're touching me I believe in a thing called love Just listen to the rhythm of our hearts There's a chance we can make it now We'll be rocking till the sun goes down I believe in a thing called love There's a chance we can make it now We'll be rocking till the sun goes down I believe in a thing called love There's no doubt about it. You make everybody happy. And everybody was bopping along. But I just want to ask you, when you finished, were you wiping away tears? Why were you upset? This is just my dream. Aww. I want to assure you that you're really, really good at what you do. The kind of music you love. Oh, me and my people, we love this. Oh, don't you dare look back Just keep your eyes on me Said, you're holding back He said, shut up and dance with me This one is my destiny He said, ooh, ooh Shut up and dance with me Here we go! We're victims of the night The physical, chemical, kryptonite Help us to the base and fading lights We were born to be together Born to be together He took my arm I don't know how it happened We took the floor and he said Oh, don't you dare look back Just keep your eyes on me Said, you're holding back He said, shut up and dance with me This one is my destiny He said, ooh, ooh Shut up and dance with me Oh, don't you dare look back Just keep your eyes on me Said, you're holding back He said, shut up and dance with me This one is my destiny He said, ooh, ooh Shut up and dance with me Giving us a little bluegrass. Howie, talk to him. I've never been to a jamboree, but I feel like I've just been to a jamboree. You know, for that kind of music and America celebrates that kind of music, I don't know how to describe how I feel about it except, yeah! Judge Howard Stern. Yeah, I've been a big proponent of yours. Many times I'll discuss you with the judges and I push for you because I too am not a fan of this kind of music. There has to be a way to contemporize it and bring the audience more, you know, down home but yet feel now. But you guys are really talented. Your harmonies are great. Your musicianship is great. So well done. Really. Heidi. What an interesting arrangement of a pop song that you turned into a bluegrass song. So great job. You have a beautiful, sweet voice and the band was great. Good job. And I know you'll be the death of me At least we'll both be numb And he'll always get the best of me The worst is yet to come But at least we'll both be beautiful And stay forever young This I know He told me don't worry about it He told me don't worry no more We both know it can't go without it He told me you'll never be in love I can't feel my face when I'm with you But I love it I can't feel my face when I'm with you But I love it And I know you'll be the death of me At least we'll both be numb And he'll always get the best of me The worst is yet to come All the misery was necessary When we're deep in love This I know He told me don't worry about it He told me don't worry no more We both know it can't go without it He told me you'll never be in love I can't feel my face when I'm with you But I love it Oh, I can't feel my face when I'm with you But I love it I can't feel my face when I'm with you But I love it I can't feel my face when I'm with you But I love it Can't feel nobody on their feet here in Radio City, Mr. Mandel. As my cohorts have been talking about, only five people can go through, so as she said before the commercial, the young lady said you gotta be bigger and better. I think the bigness and the betterness comes in your harmonies, rather than the solos. And that's not a knock on you, it just becomes bigger when you're harmonizing. That being said, because it's such a tough night, I thought tonight was more Branson than Radio City Music Hall, I don't think it was big enough. Doesn't sound like the audience agrees with you, Howie. Judge Stern, how do you feel? Yeah, I'm with Howie. It was okay, it was good. You guys have, first of all, you're terrific musicians. The problem is when we get into the vocals, you're lacking that big moment. There's a moment that happens in music where you go, oh my God, I'm getting the chills. And we didn't have that tonight, and it is the semifinals, and it is a big moment for you, and we didn't find that. And I think Howie's right. If your vocals get thin, you need that sense of harmony, something big to happen. Heidi. Well, I have to be honest, tonight I did see your limitations. You know, this song's range maybe wasn't for you, because on the high note, you kind of dropped out and the band kicked in, and I want to hear you, and I want to hear you hit that high note, and I didn't hear that today. And it's really a shame, because I really like you guys. All right, well, Mel B. Well, there's two things. First of all, I think that song was completely the wrong choice, but having said that, I've always loved you guys. I love what you bring. I love your vibe. You don't need a big moment. You're a groove band, and I like what you bring to the table. Just choose the songs more wisely next time.