On Saturday, February 17, at the Experience Music Project, the last round of Sound Off! semi-finals came to a close and one young local band was declared the last finalist for 2007.

Black Swade, the Freetown, and Skullbot all played impressive sets, but in the end, the judges declared a single winner... (insert drum roll)... the Army Corps of Architects! The Bainbridge Island quartet weren't only the judges' favorite, but they also took home the audience-response prize. On Saturday, February 24, they'll join previous weeks' winners For Years Blue and Natalie Portman's Shaved Head as Sound Off! 2007 moves into its final countdown. Only the best will be crowned the kings (and/or queens) of local underage music.

According to Sound Off! organizer Janine Logsdon, this year's competition has been outstanding. "We never quite know what we're going to get in the live performance," she said via e-mail after the show, "especially because we do all of the selection by screening demo CDs, and [all the bands] have stepped up to the plate. It's incredibly impressive to see the professionalism and originality of the musicians. Imagine where some of them could be in five years!"

Many a Sound Off! finalist has moved on to be local music regulars. Just a few years ago, Schoolyard Heroes were runners up in Sound Off!, and Idiot Pilot, the Hollowpoints, the Lonely H, the Lonely Forest (lots of loneliness in young bands, it seems), and the now-defunct Mon Frere all played the EMP stage, too.

This year's talent has promised even more stars in the making.

"We are so amazed, year after year, at the caliber of entries," said Logsdon. "I'm excited to see who ends up winning. All of the bands will certainly put on a good show, and they are all great kids, so I'd be happy to see any of them take it home. The winner is going to get a ton of great prizes, and I'm excited to see what they can do with it."

The prizes for the first-place band include a performance at Bumbershoot 2007, a live on-air performance on 107.7 The End's The Young & the Restless, two days of studio time at Soundhouse Studio, a bunch of gear including Shure microphones and a Gibson guitar and amp, and an industry consultation from the Recording Academy.

No small potatoes for any band, but the grand-prize package is especially priceless for these young artists anxious to find their niche in the music community.

While two of the shows have brought in about 400 people, one round of semifinals is already sold out, so get there early Saturday to support your favorite. I'll be there judging, along with Chris Travis, host of The Young & the Restless; Scotty Crane of Soundhouse Recording; and the Lonely H, Sound Off! winners of 2004. And I won't accept bribes. Probably.