>> Sound Off! 2009 old

The 2009 Youth Advisory Board Sound Off! selection is Kids Get Hit by Buses! Check them out on MySpace.

Eleven more semifinalists will be announced within the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Battle of the Underage Bands
For the eighth year EMP|SFM hosts Sound Off!, the Northwest's largest underage battle of the bands competition. A launching pad for musical careers, Sound Off! has enjoyed hosting many young up-and-coming bands over the years including Schoolyard Heroes, Idiot Pilot, Mon Frere, The Lonely H, Dyme Def, Capitol Basement, The Lonely Forest, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head and New Faces. If you're age 21 or under and play rock, hip-hop, electronic, pop, or any other kind of music, this is your chance to join the ranks of these luminary groups and perform at EMP|SFM.

From Portland to Vancouver, young artists playing any and all genres of music are encouraged to submit their original material for consideration in Sound Off! The competition supports the local underage music scene by giving young artists from all different backgrounds a once in a lifetime opportunity to come together and play their original music in a great all-ages atmosphere.

The live concerts for the next Sound Off! will take place Saturday nights February 14, 21, 28 and March 7, 2009. The competition culminates in a Sky Church show that will pit the winners from each semifinal night in a duel for a number of great prizes.

In addition to receiving the press and recognition traditionally awarded to those who are a part of Sound Off!, the groups selected to participate will learn from industry heavy weights what it takes to have a successful music career post-Sound Off! Competition finalists will also get a personalized consultation to help guide them in their development as artists.

Competition Prizes

First place winner will receive:
Performance at Bumbershoot 2009
Live on-air performance on 1077 The End's The Young and The Restless
Epiphone Gear
Recording Academy Consultation
PLUS MUCH MORE TBA!

Second place winner will receive:
Live on-air performance on 90.3 KEXP's Audioasis
Epiphone Gear
Recording Academy Consultation
PLUS MUCH MORE TBA!

Additional prizes will be announced Selection Process*
A panel of music-industry professionals reviews all the applicants, choosing twelve bands to perform live at EMP|SFM. Bands are scored based on song composition and arrangement, creativity and originality, technical ability and musicianship. Each of the categories is equally weighted. Following are examples of questions the judges may consider when rating bands:

Composition and Arrangement
How sophisticated are the musical arrangement, vocals, lyrics, instrumentation, rhythms and/or technologies used?

Creativity and Originality
Have I heard anything like this before? Is this a sound they have created? Did they take a unique approach to the music?

Technical Ability and Musicianship
Is the band in time and in tune? Are the vocals on key? Is the band proficient with their instruments?

*Band selection criteria subject to change Want more Sound Off! info? Check out our myspace page at: myspace.com/empsoundoff. Sound Off! is sponsored by IKEA, Shure, 107.7 The End, 90.3 KEXP's Audioasis, Epiphone and Bumbershoot. Main image: Photo by Rick Barry.