>> Sound Off! 2009

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Saturday, March 7: Finals >>

Saturday, February 14: Semifinals #1 >>
Saturday, February 21: Semifinals #2 >>
Saturday, February 28: Semifinals #3 >>

For the eighth year EMP|SFM hosts Sound Off!, the Northwest's largest underage battle of the bands competition for musicians 21 and under. 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.

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, The Lonely Forest, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head and New Faces. We are excited to announce the newest group of Sound Off! bands that will join the ranks of these luminary groups.

Sound Off! on Comcast On Demand
EMP|SFM and Comcast have partnered to bring all of the Sound Off! 2009 concerts to Comcast On Demand. Miss one of the shows? Now you can view them at home! All Comcast Digital Cable customers in Western Washington will be able to access the streaming videos. New content will be posted each Saturday during Sound Off! featuring the previous week's performances. To access Sound Off! on Comcast On Demand, follow these steps:

• Go to Channel 1
• Select the Get Local folder
• Select the Around the Sound folder
• Select the Sound Off! folder

Saturday, March 7: Finals

First Place Winner: Dyno Jamz
Second Place Winner: Sol
Third Place Winner: Dearboy
Fourth Place Winner: Makeup Monsters

Saturday, February 14: Semifinals #1

Congratulations to Dyno Jamz, winners of round 1.
Dearboy was the second place winner and potential wild card finalist.
Dyno Jamz also won the audience response prize.

Dyno Jamz, Seattle, WA
Semifinals #1 First Place Winner
Semifinals #1 Audience Response Winner
This impressive hip-hop jazz combo features seven classically trained musicians who showcase funky brass arrangements, fronted by one dynamic MC. Think Miles Davis meets De La Soul and you've got Dyno Jamz--bringing the cool jazz of the West Coast to the 80s hip-hop of the East Coast. Ya dig?

"Come Out and Play"
Web: www.myspace.com/dynojamz

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Dearboy, Seattle, WA
Semifinals #1 Second Place Winner: Potential Wild Card Finalist
Dearboy is an all-girl band of troubadours that sound like they could have formed in an 18th century Prague caf�. Armed with instruments such as mandolin, upright bass and accordion, this group combines seemingly opposite genres to create fresh, bouncy indie pop that's been likened to a meeting of DeVotchKa and the Spice Girls.

"You Live in Your Head"
Web: www.myspace.com/dearboyband

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Love Trucker, Vancouver, WA
Love Trucker embodies the raw purity of new school rock 'n' roll. Their music is influenced by the sounds of 70s excess rock, the driving beats of Zeppelin, and angelic country sounds of classic greats like Gram Parsons. Love Trucker transports classic blue collar rock to bright new horizons with their tight rhythm section, unmistakable charm and distinctive front man with bold vocals.

"Come On and Dance"
Web: www.myspace.com/lovetruckerband

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Schoolboy Gutbuster, Issaquah, WA
Schoolboy Gutbuster, a high school trio from Issaquah, WA, have the rare talent of bringing a fresh and new perspective to the pop/rock genre. With sincere vocals, frank lyrics and 2.5 minute gems, Jeff Stillwell crafts delightful pop songs earning comparisons to early Beatles.

"Too Tired"
Web: www.myspace.com/schoolboygutbuster

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Saturday, February 21: Semifinals #2

Congratulations to Makeup Monsters, winners of round 2.
The Mission Orange was the second place winner and potential wild card finalist.
Brier Rose won the audience response prize.

Makeup Monsters, Tacoma, WA
Semifinals #2 First Place Winner
Thriving in their minimalistic approach, Makeup Monsters, a duo from Tacoma, WA, transforms the typical indie rock genre. Their infectious songs and instrument swapping creates a charmingly quirky sensibility that captures the DIY spirit and audiences alike.

"Calamine"
Web: www.myspace.com/makeupmonsters

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The Mission Orange, Mount Vernon, WA
Semifinals #2 Second Place Winner: Potential Wild Card Finalist
The Mission Orange is a melody-infused, bombastic, garage rock band hailing from Mount Vernon, WA. With a tsunami of distortion punctuated by driving rhythms, you'd never guess a live sound this large could come from just two musicians.

"Hammer Fever"
Web: www.myspace.com/themissionorange

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Brier Rose, Shoreline, WA
Semifinals #2 Audience Response Winner
Brier Rose showcases its talented musicianship while creating dynamic tension-filled compositions which highlight the passion in their crescendos. They connect with the audience through their epic live shows which deliver soaring vocals reminiscent of Jeff Buckley and Muse, haunting guitar riffs -- an overall powerfully rich sound.

"I Thought I Was Much"
Web: www.myspace.com/brierrosemusic

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Free City Collective / Vancouver, B.C.
Free City Collective is a 5 piece alt-rock band from just outside of Vancouver, BC. Known for their high-energy performances and stellar technical abilities, the bands musical chemistry tops off the electrifying listening experience.

"Twenty First Century Blues"
Web: www.myspace.com/singaporeband

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Saturday, February 28: Semifinals #3
Congratulations to Sol, winners of round 3.
Cyrus Fell Down was the second place winner and potential wild card finalist.
Kids Get Hit By Buses won the audience response prize.

SOL, Seattle, WA
Seattle hip-hop artist, SOL uses his music as a catalyst for stimulating the senses. His music is high-energy, and brings together personal and social statements from the music industry to world politics. Influenced by Langston Hughes, Bob Marley and De La Soul, this wordsmith takes a page from some of the greats but creates his own voice in Seattle's hip-hop scene.

"Road Is Rough"
Web: www.myspace.com/solzilla

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Cyrus Fell Down, Pullman, WA
Spokane WA's Cyrus Fell Down meticulously crafts a hurricane of experimental, progressive, video game rock, spiraling with high energy sounds. Boldly displaying their musical abilities with intricate time signatures, aggressive guitar riffs, and uber-passionate stage presence, this trio has mastered the art of chaos and the end effect is quite literally mind-blowing.

"The Epoch"
Web: www.myspace.com/cyrusfelldown

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Kids Get Hit by Buses, Everett, WA
Using computers, keyboards and game consoles, Kids Get Hit by Buses pack as much extravagance and stage antics in their act as they do hilarious lyrics and effervescent beats. This awesomely weird Everett duo plays chiptune infused electronica, exercising their unique charm and pixilated energy to leave you singing LOL! OMG!

"r0ck3tdOwn"
Web: www.myspace.com/kidsgethitbybuses

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Razpy & The Vigilantes, Seattle, WA
With a gritty voice that lives up to his name, Razpy leads the Vigilantes with thoughtful lyrics and powerful delivery. This 6-piece group creates their own genre of rap by adding rock and R&B sounds through soulful female and male vocals and a tight backing band which includes cello, keys, beats, bass, viola and guitar.

"When Im Down"
Web: www.myspace.com/razpymusic

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Event Tickets
Tickets go on sale January 19 for EMP|SFM members and January 22 for the general public and can be purchased at the EMP|SFM box office either in person or by calling 206-770-2702 or 1.877.EMP.SFM1. Tickets to each concert are $10 for the general public, $7 for students or EMP|SFM members.

Competition Prizes

First Place Winner Prizes
Performance at Bumbershoot 2009
Live on-air performance on 1077 The End's Locals Only
2 Days Studio Time at Orbit Audio
Production of a song by producer Glenn Lorbecki of Glenn Sound Studio
Shure microphones
Korg M50-61 synthesizer/music workstation
Korg D888 8-track digital recorder
Korg Vox Tonelab LE Floor based guitar effects
Marshall MB60 Bass Amp
Marshall MG100FX Guitar Amp
Korg Beatlab Metronome/Rhythm Machine
Korg KP3 Kaoss Pad Effect Unit
Epiphone Thunderbird-IV bass
Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top guitar
Epiphone Valve Jr. Combo amp
Industry Consultation from the Recording Academy
DrumCore software package

Second Place Winner Prizes
Performance at Northwest Folklife 2009
2 Days Studio Time at London Bridge Studio with producer
Shure microphones
Korg X-50 Synthesizer
Korg D888 8-track digital recorder
Korg PX5D portable guitar/bass effects
Marshall MG30FX Guitar Amp
Marshall MB30 Bass amp
Microkorg XL Synthesizer/vocoder
Korg Beatlab Metronome/Rhythm Machine
Epiphone Dot guitar
Industry Consultation from the Recording Academy
DrumCore software package

Third Place Winner Prizes
Performance at the Gibson Seattle Showroom
2 Days Studio Time at The Vera Project studio
Shure microphones
Microkorg XL Synthesizer/vocoder
Korg Pitch black Pedal tuner
Korg Electribe MX Beat Box
Korg Nano Kontrol Midi fader bank/controller
Korg Vox JamVox Jam/Practice Tool
Epiphone AJ-200SCE guitar
Industry Consultation from the Recording Academy
DrumCore software package

Fourth Place Winner Prizes
Performance at the Gibson Seattle Showroom
2 Days Studio Time at the Redmond Firehouse studio
Shure microphones
Microkorg XL Synthesizer/vocoder
Korg Pitch Black Pedal tuner
Korg Electribe MX Beat Box
Korg Nano Kontrol Midi fader bank/controller
Korg Vox JamVox Jam/Practice Tool
Tech clinic at the Gibson Showroom
Industry Consultation from the Recording Academy
DrumCore software package

Semifinals Audience Response Prize
Korg Kaossillator
Korg Mini-KP Koass effects unit

Finals Audience Response Prize
$500 IKEA Gift Card

Sound Off! is sponsored by IKEA, Shure, 107.7 The End, 90.3 KEXP, KORG, Epiphone, Bumbershoot, The CW11 Seattle, The Stranger, Orbit Audio, Glenn Sound Studio, London Bridge Studio, Northwest Folklife, The Vera Project and Redmond's Old Firehouse Teen Center.