SEMIFINAL ROUND ONE – Saturday, February 12 at EMP’s Level 3
Ambulance (Seattle, WA)
Northern Departure (Renton, WA)
Tomten (Seattle, WA)
Young Pacific (Vancouver, BC)
SEMIFINAL ROUND TWO – Saturday, February 19 at EMP’s Level 3
Chinook Jargon (Seattle, WA)
Electricity and its Double (Seattle, WA)
Fit For Hounds (Seattle, WA)
Kung Foo Grip (Kirkland, WA)
SEMIFINAL ROUND THREE – Saturday, February 26 at EMP’s Level 3
Kids and Animals (Seattle, WA)
Land of Pines (Seattle, WA)
Micah B. (Federal Way, WA)
The Oh Wells (Surrey, BC)
Congratulations to all of the bands selected as finalists for this year’s EMP Sound Off! The board received 136 entries this year, which is the most that they have ever had. I was actually invited to a Kids and Animals show last year where I had written a review for them and they were a great up-and-coming band. I also can’t deny that I do have a favorite among the finalists: Chinook Jargon. These group of guys are students at Seattle University and they are incredibly fun to watch live! They did a small performance last month and absolutely blew me away. It was the drums, the random screaming, the face paint, the props – it was quite the performance! They also remind me of one of favorite bands – Local Natives – formerly Cavil at Rest.