Project M, Challenge 1

What do you think of the performances?

Mike's guitar, vocals and writing skills are phenomenal! Am a former voice major. You have such a raw- excellent talent in all ares here. Keep up the awesome work!

By far the most original (OK Mike too)

This contest is awesome!

The top 3 vote getters did give probably the best performances but garret vs. whitney is more like a tie than 2 to 1. Mark needs to just use his own voice and hes right there

what kind of loser needs to make negative comments about others in the comp?

next up better be ready to answer that question

Awesome! I see some people are bitter because he actually has a fanbase on myspace...Don't worry Garrett there's a reason you do!!

So much of who you are comes out in your music - you are touching the lives of so many in everything you do.

Awesome!!! My vote is for Garrett

Garret is great i hope he wins

Best Lyrics and calming presence...seen him live many times, he can rock too! Very excited to see next week's challenge. How cool for all these folks to put themselves out here!

I think your voice is beautiful and your music rocks! Go Mark!

Are you kidding me?? She killed it! Nice!

STRAIGHT BEAST!!!!! How you gonna beat this dude?

great song! Great voice!

Garrett you alway's no how to take the stage and give it your best hope you win your songs are the best

WOW!! Chills down the spine when I listen to the album Stories

Mark is a very talented musician. I have seen him live many times and he never ceases to amaze me.

Patrick Sweeney is the bomb....Love him

Catchy song and confident performance.

I hope challenges include: 1. writing a song in a specific genre--you need to be diverse if you're going to be a songwriter 2. Bring in an established songwriter for each contestant and make them collaborate--if you're going to work in the business, you have to be able to work with other people.

He's the only one who can really play--his skills are panormous!!!!!!!!

Garret you win hands down. You are the best and you surely deserve it!!

nick's guitar playing is super delicous! he is the best.

this guy can rock the most for sure! he's got the best voice and his songs are original.

There are 5 or 6 people in this thing that could legitimately take the cake. Am I right in that the judges make the final decision? It has to be that way in order for it to really work. I'd hope they'd pick the best songwriter, rather than hold a popularity contest.

I liked Droho, Lamps and Man. This contest is a great idea!

Pound for pound the best singer in his own video clip. Bar none.

Yea, the judges get to way in and have the final say of who gets eliminated, so it will be interesting to see who gets kicked out since the decision isn't solely based on popular vote! ...it's gonna get interesting :)

You are the best! I wish you best of luck!

Throw out the votes, myspace, and listen to the talent. Nick, Whitney, and Scott are the three best!!!!!!! IMHO

Is the best! Great performance!!!!!

He's the man for the job.

Tecku seems like the only songwriter willing to push the proverbial envelope like a young Dylan - both Dylan Thomas and Bobby Z. did., not to mention Van Morrison or Jim Morrison.

I can't say one way or another who I'd compare Mike T. too. He seems his own man, and his poignant lyrics and passionate performance separated him from the rest of his talented peers.

This competition is clearly all about Whitney, no doubt.

I can't wait to hear more from Mark!

Love the piano Mark! Keep it up! You're AWESOME!!

if you want to see history in the making go to garrett's myspace page and give a listen to you were the one, twenty thousand dreams and storm. it will knock your socks off.

garrett will always be the best. we love ya garrett. good luck.

Droho is a good guitarist but Hughs lyrics are keen/edgy. The video posted shows artistic depth and ambition

Definitely my two favorites, such raw talent there :) Can't wait to hear more!

Garrett is the best. I lisen to his songs daily on Myspace. An amazing and talented artist. Good Luck. Your the best!

This guy definitely needs to be in the top 3!!! Awesome performance I love that song!

You truly a gift from God to the music world! U have my vote forever and always. Good Luck!

Good job brother from another mother

What performance did you like best!Thats the title of these postings so if don't like how someones supporting a contestant thats your problem. Just write about who you like.

What a haunting song! Like early Bob Dylan.

Ha..I like how he is the only one people are writing negative comments about....looks like when you're the front runner...people will do anything they can to bring you down

Extremely talented and an amazing performer. I have seen him live several times. He represents Madison well.

Is this a hunt for talented songwriter, singer, musician or a popularity contest?

Go Nick!!!

the lyrics were poetic & the voice makes me want to hear more!

I've watched Nick play for 25 years. He is an amazing musician.

hooray to you! you got my vote!

Nick deserves the shot!

Listen to the music.

Unbelievable song Mark. Keep up the incredible work. You've got talent above talent.

Nick is the one.

I watched all the videos. Nick Matthews is the best.

Wow, great song! Emotions and sincerity.

Great job Garrett keep up the great work.Love ya

Everybody loves Nick not Raymond

Great performance!

Nick is the man.

The new song is great! I can't wait to hear the next one!!! I also love the your voice!

In response to what's the purpose of this contest... it's all of the above! Singer/songwriter/musician/popularity... it's to find local talent that can make it big!

she's the one to beat. Sorry guys. Garrett comes in second, and Nick is intersting, maybe third. They're all good, who knows?

If you go back to the first promo info from MMM regarding its "songwriters" contest, you'd find that the categories of singing, performing, and online popularity that can be translated into "votes" were never mentioned. Also, just check this weekly assignments: NONE mention anything beyond writing a particular song. Of course, it's understood each person must sing/play it well enough to stay in the "contest" week-to-week. Facts, like Bush use to say about Iraq, can get in the way of one's agenda.

Sounds as good as ever :) Keep it up! Love your songs...

You make good points because they're based on the facts MMM first put out about the purpose of their songwriters contest. They NEVER said or posted that their contest was to have the weekly survivors determined by online vote counts OR that MMM was looking to ordain a Madison area songwriter who, "could make it big." Don't believe me? Just listen to what MMM's spokesperson said to the contestants prior to their first and second songwriting assignments. Finally, if MMM was more atuned to thier early on stated contest quest, the voting prompt wouldn't be "whose performance did you like best?" it would be "Who wrote the best song?"

This song kills me every time I hear it! Whitney Mann all the way!!!

First time hearing ya and you grabbed my attention!

This message board is OFF THE CHAIN! MArk I really liked your performance!Patrick S.

Triple M has the final say. Votes are just used as part of the consideration. Don't worry!

Amazed as usual

If you really think garret's myspace brings in more votes than one of the biggest and most popular radio stations in madison you're crazy. If that is the case, which it is not, I think an artist with such support like that should win a competition like this one.

Thanks for getting the most amazing song stuck in my head all day! You truly inspire everyone around you! Can't wait to hear your song on the radio:)

Whitney is the best, hands down! She is great and I would buy her CD.

It was the Best!!!

Good first week for everyone! Droho's was great: vocals, lyrically, and catchy.

I think this is hilarious...People are trying to put this kid down because he has a passion for music. A PASSION! A kid who wants to make a dream come true...ROCK ON GARRETT!

The one to survive.

reminds me of these great artists because he will do absolutely anything! from the bottom to the top

Lovely voice!! Powerful lyrics!

Powerful Voice!! Lovely Lyrics!

Powerful Go lyrically vocal.

Scott Lamps is cold lampin'

The only bona fide graybeard will take it all, except for IR.

more natural talent in his pick than notches on YKW's bed post

I'm in the competition and think Garrett is very talented.I'm wondering if he's tried out for American Idol.The negative stuff isn't necessary.I'm glad I don't have to vote any of this talent out.

Did you know that half of the world's population is below average? Thank God Mark isn't in the bottom half!!!

stand back all you youngsters, watch the old guy play

thinks Garrett is dreamy

Whoever thinks Garrett is copying Tracy Chapman has too much anger trapped inside of them and needs to find healthy ways to release it - maybe like eating a gallon of ice cream or listening to some Dave Matthews.

These type of comments are ridiculous. There is a reason why the Madison music seen is not the hotbed of music!

all these Mad haters can't get behind the fact that Mark Saigon goes deep

I wish I knew all the nicknames but I'll try to keep up with it. I love Whitney and Garrett, they should do a duet!!! Mr. Gogh is cute, like a muppet? anyway he's fun too, if that's what everyone means? ...and everyone else is so terrific. I do likeMakr too,I don't get the Saigon thing but I like it and his piece.

are the only 3 with a legitimate shot at this thing...in my opinion. i love this thing!

I agree with the above but I think you have to add Harrod to this. I like Whitney's voice just not my style of music.

Vote for Mark. He speaks to the soul!

This Friday, May 8th MMM’s one-of-a-kind songwriting contest evolves to a higher level: Surviving songwriters will sing their original songs about Madison. For this reason, the station’s contest organizers should let us all begin READING the songwriters’ lyrics. Of course, this would be strictly each contestant’s option, not a requirement. Song lyrics could be posted below each person’s bio. section each Friday when the new videos are posted. This would give all interested audience members a rare way of experiencing songs: Reading them! Come on, MMM contest judges! You gave us bio. pages for us to get to know each songwriter. Why not begin allowing the posting of song lyrics, of those who wish to share theirs, so we can better get to know and appreciate their songs?

Yeah, so at first I was all about Garret. I mean, this guy's got style! But the more I look at Mark Harrod, the more I like him. And especially now that he's known as Mark Saigon, I really think it's edgy and I love how it fits in with his smooth keyboard style. I think Mark Saigon takes this whole thing!

Sounds great Hugh!

Loved it!

great mark

After watching all these performers, the only ones with any originality are Mike Droho and Hugh G. Gogh. If Gogh sings like a muppet (I would actually say Fozie Bear), then Droho sings like Miss Piggie. Gogh's song is really intersting and well written. He should be in the lead. Go Gogh!

Whitney Mann is the only female artist in this contest; female or not, she stands out way more than the others. Mann is the best all-around and needs to be acknowledged for her talent. I checked some songs out on her myspace and I have fallen head-over-heels for her voice.

Hey, nobody ranks on the Old Style! We used to drink it all the time! This one time in high school, me and my buddies stole a bunch of Old Style and got drunk and cruised around in my one buddie's Chevy Impala. It was awesome! Old Style rules!!!Anyway, that Garret dude rules! That bandana totally kicks ass!

Right on JR! Mark Harrod's name change puts a whole new paint job on his image and made me change my vote today.

liked Hugo's acoustic guitar licks but wishes he would open his vocal cords

I caught Scott Lamps set at Lollapalooza last year. He was pretty good but is sounding even better now in this more intimate setting. It might be the Old Style in my doin' the talking but he has what it takes to clear the transom and take it deep intothe bunker.

i am really looking forward to mark saigon getting unplugged and going crazy bottom to top

I like that Scott Lamps. Is he amish or something?

It's good to see that Mark Saigon finally got the balls to change his name. What was up with Harrod anyway? All I can say is now this guy's got it going on!

Whitney Mann is Amiee Mann's daughter

Whitney was very impressive. I liked her the most and I think she really should stay in the competition. She has a great voice and I just want to listen to that song over and over again.

I noticed that Garrett's bandana matches his t-shirt in both the intro and episode 1. That is totally cool! This guy so deserves to win!!

Whitney is of no relation to Amiee Mann

Or to Aimee Mann for that matter.

all those other guys are done like a pre-op johnson. Mark Saigon takes it in the end!!!

actually, aimee mann got pregnant by vito before she met michael penn... they had a little daughter named whitney, nickname "johnnycakes." now the truth is out!!!

Aimee Mann, are you serious. Not to dis Whitney but her composistion is more Manfred Mann than Aimee Mann, either way it's a complement and should be taken in the end as such. She will win and be Queen of the Krausened!!!!

What am I supposed to think about all of this. who is Vito and why do we keep talking about transoms and bunkers and not about Garrett's bandana and song (Old) stylings.

I happen to think Patrick is going to take this whole thing. He's got a darkhorse quality to his stuff.

They rule. Like a huge pretend six pack on the mighty Mississippi.

We are looking for Madison's most talented musician. you want people to attend your shows, so having people like you counts. Being a good performer also counts, if you want people to attend your shows. If you want people to like your songs, you have to be a good songwriter. So all of the above. Thanks!

sorry i have been unable to respond. i drank a case of old swill for breakfast and have been on the toilet/dragon chamber all afternoon.

Old Style has a delightful mascot...brewmasterBob Newman. We could have a week where the contestants each sang a song about what they liked about Bob or about Beer making. But is HAS to include kreuasening...it just HAS to. And this one should be maybe, 4 minutes long. Schedule the meeting and lets make it happen.

Love him. Voting every day.

What is gong on with this board? It's all messed up!

this isn't working very well

Patrick and Whitney would be an amazing duet. They are the best!

I can't understand a word that Gogh guys says. I mean it sounds like it should make sense and is going to but then just rambles on with more big syllabics that get louder and louder... maybe I need to get high? naaah, didn't help, lyrics please!

The chord progression in Garrett's song is i6-IV-vi-V which is NOT the same as either Fast Car or Learning to Fly. Similar, yes, but don't accuse him of stealing.

This contest is the bomb. Who thought of it? Pat Gallagher seems to be the brains behind the judging panel, so I'm guessing it's his deal. Whatever, these artists are true artists. I love them all and can't decide which is the best. Triple MMM rules!

I just logged on to see my friend Whitney Mann's video. I used to listen to her play through the transom window. These posts are really unexpectedly harsh and unpleasant. I think I will journal about my feelings for my women's studies class. I am going to make some green tea and chill out now. Vote for Whitney or Hugh G Gogh.

This contest is for real! Why can't you guys take it seriously? Garrett is a real artist who makes beautiful music! His song makes me feel things I've fought back for a long time now. I can't believe your'e just making a mockery of it all! AGHHHH!!!

Last night I read a contest suggestion that the judges start letting us read the lyrics to the different songs. Makes sense to me. After all, at its core, this is a “songwriting” contest. If a songwriter doesn’t want to participate that’s O.K. Is there anything wrong with being able to read the words they’re singing with all their hearts? What do you, fellow contest audience members and judges, think? I’d like to know. Thanks.

This guy seems really cool. I don't think he's like a muppet at all, except maybe like the Swedish Chef because he words are really hard to understand, but I still voted for him.

I'm with you. Garrett is the best! It looks like he works out alot, but he still seems like he's really cool. I would totally want to hang out with him.

Yes, we think it's a good idea, and we are going to talk about it with the artists tonight to see if they can start sending us the lyrics. Thanks - Triple M

This contest is so great, I can't beleive I only just found out about it! Garrett - OMG!! He's like some sort of Nordic warrior/bard! I totally love him. And Mark Harrod (Saigon?), this guy is out of control!! I can't tell if he actually changed his name to Mark Saigon, but even if he didn't (which he totally should), he can bust out a meloncholy piano ballad like nobody's business! And that G.Gogh character?- totally love him! He seems whacky, but I think he's just a really free spirit who loves life. What a great kid!!! What does everybody else think? This is so cool - I love this forum! I can't wait to hear from everyone!!!

Yeah, I'm with you, G. Gogh is really kind of loveable. There's something about him that is muppet-like. I voted for him.

I don't get why he calls himself Saigon? Is there some connection to Vietnam with his music? Irregardless it is provacative.

I don't know why either, maybe just to put a harder edge on his image. But you're right, it is very provacative. Even though I didn't vote for him, I really do like the new name.

When can we vote again? I can't wait to show my support for Whitney. She's awesome! You go girl!!

Love the name change! Rock on, piano man!

I love his stripped-down, roots approach to it all. He's like a young Colonel Sanders.

That falsetto part was great, I really liked the song. By the way, Pat Gallagher, "high voice" is more commonly known as falsetto. Get with the program, learn something about music and TURN UP YOUR MIC!!!

When he started playing that acoustic guitar and I thought it would be all pretty and all of a sudden WAHM! it's rockin' like an electric. WOW!!! That was so cool! That rocked!!

Any chance my friends and I could convince Mark Siagon and Garrett to do a meet and greet with us at Dotty Dumpling's Dowry soon. Just thought we would ask. xoxo

I represent and do PR for Droho and I resent and will persue action for any meet and greets that do not include all 10 members of the contest.

If Triple M isn't doing a meet and greet with everyone I think it would be up to Mark and Garrett if they wanted to do it. You should ask them personally through email. They can do whatever they want

I think if they do a meet and greet by themselves they should be penalized, like when Farve does intentional grounding. This is 4th and 26 baby. This is for all the marbles. Play fair or don't play.

He's definitely my favourite. I just think that the keyboards really set him apart from the typical singer/songwriter. I can't wait to see if he sticks with piano for the next song. Plus his singing is really good. I think Mark Saigon really could pull it out in the end.

You guys don't even care about this songwriting contest or about Triple M or the beautiful people in this contest! They're just trying to do their jobs and you keep beating them up. I just don't get you people, it's like you hate everything and everyone who is just trying their best to make things work. Because of it, I don't even get it anymore or anything else like it. Just grow up!!

R u kidding me! you're trying to compare the rules of a CONTRACTED football player to the artists in this competition?!!! They're not the same at all there's no contract. I understand it being viewed as unethical if MMM is planning to do a meet and greet with all the contestants. If they're not then Mark and Garrett could def. do something if they wanted to. All contestants are able to be playing shows during the comp. it's the same thing!

I totally agree. My girlfriend and I would love to meet up with Mark Saigon. Just name the time and place and we'd totally be there and have some drinks and hang out. That'd be so great!

First of all, Brett Farve is not under any contract right now so I can compare him to Droho or Whitney Mann and it fits in perfectly. Secondly, any teaming up to have a separate Meet and Greet that excludes Scott Lamp is not fair or fun or even Amish minded. They can play shows alone. It is the teaming up--forming alliances--that I object to. And I am so not kidding about it.

I want to meet Garrett and Mark!!! It'd be cool to meet all the contestants. They should put on a show!

Mark Saigon is the man! Balls out, emotions on the sleeves piano man! He's like a young Billy Joel, except in the 21st century, and not a raging alcoholic (probably).

I'd really like to meet Hugh! I'm probably too young for him, but at least I'm legal(barely). I'm too young for the bars, but is there any way to arrange something, like at a teen center or something?

So the next challenge is tonight right? I can't wait to hear what everyone does for their Madison song!

This next challenge is going to rule... i hope everybody sounds just like Dave Matthews and/or Willy Porter and that the lyrics mention trannies and their place in Madison culture

sounds like a battle right out of starwars! These two need to rock head to head in the BATTLE V. This is greatest music competition ever - MMM is awesome

I really really Patrick was the best one...I used to catch him live and am estatic that he's finally playing his own music. So so touching.

no. You are not alone. There is an entire growing community of Project M fans following along and really pulling hard for Whitney and Garrett plus the 8 guys in the contest.

Must be one of the finest blues guitarists in the midwest

For answers to a lot of comments/concerns on this forum, check out the Project M blog. In terms of the polling, we had to take the poll off this page. It was the only way to deactivate the poll in the back-end of our website. Sorry about that. - Triple M

Patrick should win

Mark Harrod is damn good! I'm not all that impressed with anyone else. We'll see with the next contest - there are a couple that I'm surprised are in the top 10!

Aint gonna win this thing

You "top ten" are so completely white men. Did you even consider the erosive potential of alienating huge segments of the population? I guess hip hop nation won't be shopping at FastFrame or drinking any more Old Style.

She is really good

Best yet

No one in the hip-hop nation tried out for this contest. -Triple M

Keep it up, you sound amazing! Best of luck!

Hands down

f

he realy is boosy

what a jacked up format this web site is so hard to navigate why don't you put all the project M content in one spot you morons

agreed, i've given up trying to vote, i have spent the past 45 minutes trying to figure out how to vote. Go Nick!