Youngblood Hawke Play "What's That Song"
Gearing up for the GRAMMY Nominations Concert tonight on CBS, we tested Youngblood Hawke's memory on some of the biggest songs in rock history. Each track on this edition of "What's That Song" won a GRAMMY Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, but could this indie group recall every artist and song title? Let's find out!
The Eagles "Heartache Tonight"
This track won the GRAMMY Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1980. This was also the very first time this category was entered into the awards show. Would Youngblood Hawke recognize it? You bet.
The band sang along on the chorus at the song's end and while they knew it was sung by The Eagles, they didn't quite know the name of the song.
"Is it going to be called 'The Heartache' maybe?" Simon Katz asked.
Close enough.
"The Eagles were definitely one of those bands that you learn as a guitar player growing up," Tasso Smith said. "You learn all of their songs."
Simon agreed.
"Everything. I definitely think that they have an influence in a lot of music these days because they're very popular songs to learn," Simon said.
"What did they say? 'We didn't break up. We just took a 20-year hiatus,'" Tasso remarked. "That was cool."
Kings of Leon "Sex On Fire"
Next up was the ever popular Kings of Leon track "Sex on Fire." The track won the GRAMMY Award Winner for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2009 and Youngblood Hawke instantly knew this one.
"It reminds me of traveling," Tasso said before Nik Hughes and Simon added "England."
"I remember when that song came out we were in the UK traveling with another band," Simon said. "It would be late at night and we'd just be walking out of the venue and walking down the streets and kids would be coming out of the clubs just screaming the chorus."
Sam had similar recollections.
"That song was huge," Sam said. "My favorite memory is we were outside getting into our van and this kid stumbled out into the street shirtless just hammered and he was just like, [starts singing the chorus], and we were like, 'Wow!'
The Black Keys "Tighten Up"
Sam couldn't forget the first time he was introduced to Black Keys' "Tighten Up," also the GRAMMY Award Winner of 2011's Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
"My brother showed me this band and I was like, 'Damn!'" he said. He then introduced bandmate Simon to the duo.
"Then you told me about it too," Simon said. "Even before this was out. I remember hearing this for the first time on the radio and I was like, 'Wow. This is bluesy and progressive.'"
"Is this the video where the little kids fight?" Sam asked. "The video is genius. It's probably one of my favorite videos."
"On the playground?" Alice asked. "I love that video."
Such a popular track Nik even taught one of his drum students the track.
"I was like, 'What song is this? Yes we can learn it!'"
The Police "Don't Stand So Close To Me"
The Police's "Don't Stand So Close to Me" had each member dancing along. Awarded the GRAMMY for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal back in 1982 it has survived the test of time.
Instantly, drummer Nik knew this one.
"Growing up I always wanted to be like, if John Bonham from Led Zeppelin and Stewart Copeland from The Police had a kid, I wanted to be that kid," the drummer admitted. "All of them are amazing."
Dire Straits "Money For Nothing"
At first the band seemed a bit stumped by this one. Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" was the GRAMMY Award Winner for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1986. While they sang along, they weren't sure who was singing. Eventually, Tasso figured it out.
"That is an awesome guitar riff. Talk about epic, classic guitar riff. It sounds simple, not the easiest thing to play though," Tasso said. "Those guys are awesome."
Youngblood Hawke will play KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas December 8.
The GRAMMY nominations concert airs live tonight on CBS.
-Annie Reuter, CBS Local
