All too often, I've heard young local bands whimpering about how hard it is to get a show in this city, especially if you don't already know someone in the industry. Even with a wide array of clubs hosting rock shows (especially nontraditional venues like the S.S. Marie Antoinette, Punkin House, and Gallery 1412), there are bands who feel overlooked, unable to get a gig that isn't in a basement or coffee shop.

Chris Caballero feels their pain.

"Since Second Avenue Pizza closed, there has been a big void in venues where bands could develop," says Caballero (AKA Cab), a local booker for Infinite Productions. "I get a ton of demos every month from bands all over the state with handwritten bios and even high-school yearbook pictures used as promo photos, so I picked a few bands that I felt showed drive and potential and gave them a show."

That's how Cab's new local band showcase series started out last fall at Graceland (now El Corazòn). Featuring the Orphan Project, Matthew Shaw, Up Falls Down, and Martian Memo to God, the 2:00 p.m. Sunday show successfully drew about 200 people, and gave these fairly unknown bands a chance to play for more than just their friends. Since then, Cab has been putting together more shows just like it, hoping to give new but hardworking acts a shot in the spotlight, despite lack of prior experience.

"Seattle has so many bands, it's easy to get lost in the cracks, and that's awful because a lot of bands have the potential to be huge. Unfortunately a lot of talent buyers/promoters in the city overlook them because their bio isn't the King's English or they don't have a massive draw yet."

Right now Cab's doing about one showcase a month at El Corazòn (the next one is this Sunday, February 20, with the Look, Last Great Liar, Loved in Minnesota, and Wallpaper), but he hopes to book as many as three or four a month in the future, as there certainly isn't a shortage of talent to pull from. When booking an artist, all he asks is that they're good, passionate, and willing to work hard promoting the show and selling advance tickets (although this isn't a "pay to play" situation).

"My main goal is to help get these bands the attention they deserve," says Cab. "When the band first plays a show they usually bring about 50 people, then the next time they bring 75-plus. It can get to the point where they're drawing over a hundred people all by themselves and I know I can put them on a national show and feel confident that they will bring a crowd."

If you think your band fits the bill, send a demo to Cab at 109 Eastlake Ave, Suite 208, Seattle WA 98102. You can also e-mail chriscab@infiniteshows.com. MEGAN SELING

megan@thestranger.com