Tom Sandoval and his band, The Most Extras, took the stage during the live quarterfinals of “America’s Got Talent” on Aug. 19, performing a cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.”
While the performance showcased the band’s energy, it received a range of feedback from the judges.
The Judges React
Judge Simon Cowell was notably critical, hitting the “X” buzzer mid-performance and stating, “That did not sound good, I’m afraid.”
Despite his personal fondness for Sandoval, Cowell expressed that the performance just fell a little short in quality in his opinion.
Judges Mel B, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel offered positive feedback after the performance.
Mel B praised Sandoval’s commitment and stage presence, noting that the performance made her smile.
Vergara acknowledged some sound issues but appreciated the entertainment value and loved the dancing. Mandel envisioned the band performing at weddings and parties.
The “Vanderpump Rules” alum took it in stride and explained what happened before his performance. “Right before I went on, my in-ears kinda went out,” he said of his audio monitors, “so I was flying in the dark there.”
He emphasized that he was not making excuses and expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “I had a blast.”
Sandoval Made His ‘AGT’ Debut in June
The 43-year-old made his debut on the competition show on a June 24 episode, where the band was praised for the rendition of the A-ha’s classic 1985 song “Take On Me.”
Prior to his first performance, Sandoval opened up to cameras on why the opportunity to be on the show meant so much to him.
“A couple of years ago, I made some really bad choices,” Sandoval said. “I was involved in a very bad cheating scandal, and I let down a lot of people.”
“It pretty much destroyed my life,” he added. “It was absurd how much coverage and how big it became. Ever since then, it’s like everything I do is completely criticized. I feel a lot of pressure.”
He also revealed his goal is for the band.
“I would love nothing more than for us to tour the world and be the ultimate cover band, the party band,” Sandoval said.
After the performance, the judges were extremely positive. Mel B noted the performance made her smile.
Cowell was the only judge to express some notes and told the Bravo star his vocals weren’t the best. Sandoval ended up responding to the feedback in a June interview with Us Weekly.
“I mean, Simon hears people that are comparable to, like, Celine Dion, and they sing incredibly well,” he added. “Of course I would expect some healthy criticism from him.”
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VIDEO: Tom Sandoval’s Latest Performance on ‘America’s Got Talent’