For the sixth consecutive year, Sound Off!—EMP's tournament-style battle of underage bands—is taking over the month of February. Sound Off! has played a role in separating the cream from the crap in the world of local all-ages music, and it has spawned many a superstar—Schoolyard Heroes, Mon Frere (R.I.P.), Idiot Pilot, the Hollowpoints, the Lonely Forest, and Dyme Def, to name a few, have all made waves via Sound Off! competitions in years past.

The bands aren't always great (and there have been a few that were hands-down terrible), but fueled with the passion of fearless youth, they're at the very least entertaining. This year's roster boasts 12 more artists from all around the Pacific Northwest who are vying for a place on that coveted list of veterans. The first-place winner will also walk away with an impressive spread of prizes including a performance at Bumbershoot 2007, a live on-air performance on 107.7 The End's The Young & the Restless, studio time at Soundhouse Studio, and gear from Shure mics and Gibson guitars. That's the kind of shit that can make a band go from little to big.

Competition is high (especially in the world of "indie rock"... man, is there a lot of indie rock this year), but everybody's got a few tricks up their sleeves to win. Here's a quick look at the 12 young bands competing for their shot at fame.

ROUND 1, FEBRUARY 3

DON'T TELL SOPHIE

While DTS's musicianship harks back to the later catalog of famous indie rockers Death Cab for Cutie, the soaring, smooth vocals are reminiscent of other locals like Siberian and Slender Means.

Location: Tacoma.

Band Motto: "SYKE!!!!!"

Members: Brandt Dettling, 20; Orlando McCray, 19; Reuben Dettling, 15.

Influences: Death Cab for Cutie, the Strokes, Built to Spill, Steely Dan.

Secret weapon for slaying the competition: Our boyish charm and a couple of beards.

FOR YEARS BLUE

For Years Blue boost the catchiness factor of their indie rock even higher by adding lush piano and subtle strings to their folk-inspired songs.

Location: Spokane.

Motto: None given.

Members: Erik Walters, 18; Kyle Musselwhite, 18; Marcus Ourada, 19; Cole Tanner, 18; Mac Smith, 17; Sean McCotter, 16; Phil Pintor, 18.

Influences: Radiohead, Built to Spill, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Autolux, Modest Mouse, The Decemberists.

Secret weapon: Raising one foot in the air while lifting up one arm while trying to talk with our tongues sticking out.

HALFBREED

Within the first 10 seconds of Halfbreed's song "Don't Act Tough," the rapper pulls out a gun and blasts away a crybaby singing a whiny version of the Beatles' "Yesterday." It's sorta creepy, but also hilarious.

Location: Seattle.

Motto: "You only have haters when you have fans."

Members: Kyle Artzt, 16.

Influences: NaS, Fizzikal, Xzibit, Kashar.

Secret weapon: A lyrical triple-blade machete.

THE OREGON DONOR

Hailing from Anacortes, the same small northern town that brought us last year's Sound Off! winners the Lonely Forest, the Oregon Donor's fluid Modest Mouse–inspired guitar comes with dynamic danceability via influences like Karate and the Promise Ring.

Location: Anacortes.

Motto: "Meet me at the WrestleDome in Astamouff, BC."

Members: Jesse Cohen, 16; Lance Umble, 20; Christopher Edwards, 20; Kyle Holland, 19.

Influences: The Dismemberment Plan, Karate, the Promise Ring, Modest Mouse, and many more.

Secret weapon: Chris is related to Steve Perry.

ROUND 2, FEBRUARY 10

DREAMWRIGHT

Dreamy indeed. Dreamwright's blend of soft, keyboard-laced melodic pop boasts both male and female vocals; think a more sedated Mates of State.

Location: Mercer Island.

Motto: None given.

Members: Tammy Soeun, 18; Rob Salvador, 17; Anthony Choy, 17; Jacob Bowdle, 17; Andreas Baatz, 17.

Influences: Stars, Brightwood, Waking Ashland, the Spill Canvas.

Secret weapon: None given.

NATALIE PORTMAN'S SHAVED HEAD

Their dirty dance party comes laced with synth, glitter, sassy attitude, and a sense of humor. My favorite track is "Beard Lust," a silly homage to scruff with the line "Look at my facial hair/Oh man, shit damn, it's everywhere!"

Location: Seattle.

Motto: "Don't be intimidated, but I just looked in the mirror and I look really freaking good today."

Members: Luke Smith, 18; Shaun Libman, 19; Claire England, 17; David Price, 18.

Influences: The Unicorns, Hot Chip, Of Montreal, Curtis Mayfield, LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, Mister Rogers.

Secret weapon: Soul power + the power of swoon-inducing dance-move busting + the power of unbridled teenage love.

EMI MEYER

She's only 19, but Meyer's strong and creamy voice has already landed the jazz siren gigs at Tula's and the Pink Door. She's currently attending college in California, but she still calls Seattle home.

Location: Seattle/Los Angeles.

Motto: None given.

Members: Emi Meyer, 19.

Influences: Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Thelonious Monk.

Secret weapon: None given.

LEFT AT THE CASTLE

Thankfully this isn't a battle of genres—I really can't stand the band's main influences like Dave Matthews and John Mayer. The point is that they play it well, and Left at the Castle certainly do.

Location: Seattle.

Motto: "LeChaim!!"

Members: Tom Eddy, 17; Ari Wes, 16; David Marowitz, 18, Forrest Marowitz; Daniel Gronfein, 18.

Influences: Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and Coldplay.

Secret weapon: As a band, we don't endorse violence. However, if we were forced to choose... samurai sword, yeah.

ROUND 3, FEBRUARY 17

THE ARMY CORPS OF ARCHITECTS

They sound like Neutral Milk Hotel's endearing little brother with a big crush on Barsuk Records. That makes sense, since their name is also the title of Death Cab song.

Location: Bainbridge Island.

Motto: "Jessica Alba."

Members: Brian Hurlow, 16; Sean Leonard, 17; Colin Schulze, 17; Ryan Christoffersen, 18.

Influences: Neutral Milk Hotel, the Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, the Shins.

Secret weapon: The Fuzz Factory.

BLACK SWADE

The youngest band in the competition flaunt the oldest sound. Black Swade draw their influence from heavy classic rock like Sabbath, Zeppelin, and AC/DC, along with more modern rockers like Rage Against the Machine and Tool. And he may only be 14, but vocalist Luke Kyle sings with just as much passion and guts as Eddie Vedder and Axl Rose. Seriously.

Location: Squamish, British Columbia.

Motto: "Get'er done."

Members: Alex Toews, 13; Liam Alvernini, 15; Luke Kyle, 14; Iain Rommel, 14; Scott Verbeek, 15.

Influences: Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, Tool.

Secret weapon: Guitars that are so loud and so fast they'll melt your face.

THE FREETOWN

The Freetown tackle a lot of different sounds, from rock to acoustic singer/songwriter stuff to reggae. Their sound is far too sunny to come from rainy and gray Seattle, but alas, they are indeed local.

Location: Seattle.

Motto: "Wing it."

Members: Andrew Ching, 19; Jordan Platz, 19; Sam Sparks, 19; Jakob Vankeirsbilck, 21.

Influences: Soul, reggae, rock and roll.

Secret weapon: Pouring our heart out no matter how many people are in the audience.

SKULLBOT

Too fast for stoner rock, too punk for classic rock, Stanwood's Skullbot are definitely the loudest band in the competition, and KEXP already loves them. They also cite beer as being another influence but, uh, they're under 21, so we all know they're joking. Right? Right?

Location: Stanwood.

Motto: "You bastards owe me money."

Members: Jason Palaniuk, 19; Garrett Zipp, 18; Derek Palaniuk, 17.

Influences: Were under it.

Secret weapon: Swords.

The finals, which I'm excited to be judging, are Saturday, Feb 24. Tickets for all shows are available in advance at EMP or by calling 770-2702. Tickets are $7 for EMP members and students, and $10 for the general public. The shows start at 8:00 p.m. and are, of course, all ages.