Sound Off!, EMP's annual battle of the underage bands, doesn't start for another few weeks, but you should take some extra time to get familiar with all the semifinalists. These bands may be the future of Seattle's music scene—Sound Off! has been a launching pad for Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, the Lonely Forest, Dyme Def, and more. Here's who's who this year:

Round One, February 13

Sea Fever: Folksy rock that will appeal to fans of Hey Marseilles.

Sui-Generis: The opposite of Sea Fever, with metal-inspired guitar riffs and songs about wicked clowns.

Apache Chief: Buzzing garage punk played by three guys who, I'm guessing, are pretty bummed about the too-soon passing of Jay Reatard.

Candysound: Clean, '60s-vibed indie pop.

Round Two, February 20

A Cozy Kitchen: The self-loathing of early Modest Mouse with the campfire vibe of the Cave Singers.

Hooves and Beak: A young woman armed with a unique voice, an acoustic guitar, a banjo, and a harp.

Pan Pan: An instrumental project that makes beautiful noise with piano, trumpet, flügelhorn, and more.

The Cat from Hue: Do you like the Moondoggies? Then you'll like the Cat from Hue, too.

Round Three, February 27

Great Waves: Moody, female-fronted indie Americana.

SEACATS: Fun, bouncy, crunchy power pop.

Subtle Like a T-Rex: An instrumental band experimenting with prog-rock and jazz-inspired sounds.

Us on Roofs: A guitar-driven indie-rock outfit that has shared the stage with like-minded locals the Oregon Donor and Conservative Dad.

Tickets are available at www.empsfm.org. Good luck to all, and may the best band win.

Fri Jan 22: Fruit Bats, Sonny Smith, Tu Fawning at the Vera Project, 7:30 pm, $14/$15.

Fri Jan 22: Narrows, Heiress, Countdown to Armageddon, Constant Lovers at El Corazón, 8 pm, $8 adv/$10 DOS.