Sound Off! Battle of the bands is underway in Seattle

Sound Off! has announced its semifinalists.

The yearly battle of the bands has traditionally been a training ground for young artists aspiring to further success. Past finalists have included such popular bands as Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Dyme Def and The Lonely H. Both Natalie Portman's Shaved Head and The Lonely H have been featured in Spin Magazine. And, rap crew Dyme Def has opened for rappers Fabolous and Mos Def.

Hosted by the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (EMP|SFM), the competition is into its eighth year and is the largest annual battle of the bands for groups under the age of 21 in the Northwest.

This year, the 12 semifinalists hail from Vancouver, B.C. to Vancouver, Wash. Their genres span from rap to rock. The bands include:

• Dearboy: Seattle eclectic-indie, www.myspace.com/dearboyband

• Dyno Jamz: Seattle hip-hop jazz, www.myspace.com/dynojamz

• Love Trucker: Vancouver, Wash., bluesy rock, www.myspace.com/lovetruckerband

• Schoolboy Gutbuster: Issaquah pop, www.myspace.com/schoolboygutbuster• Brier Rose: Seattle rock, www.myspace.com/brierrosemusic

• Free City Collective: Vancouver, B.C. alternative rock, www.myspace.com/singaporeband

• Makeup Monsters: Tacoma post-punk, www.myspace.com/makeupmonsters

• The Mission Orange: Mount Vernon rock, www.myspace.com/themissionorange

• Cyrus Fell Down: Pullman experimental, www.myspace.com/cyrusfelldown

• Kids Get Hit by Buses: Everett pop-electronica, www.myspace.com/kidsgethitbybuses

• Razpy & The Vigilantes: Seattle rap-rock, www.myspace.com/razpymusic

• SOL: Seattle hip-hop, www.myspace.com/solzilla

Semifinals start Feb.14, with the finalists squaring off for the Sound Off! 2009 title Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Prizes for first place include a performance slot at Bumbershoot 2009, a live on-air performance on 107.7-FM, KORG USA products, Epiphone gear and a Recording Academy consultation. Prizes for the second-place winner also include KORG USA products, Epiphone gear and Recording Academy consultation.

Semifinal shows are all ages. Tickets are $7 for EMP|SFM members and students, and $10 for the general public. They go on sale January 19 for EMP|SFM members and January 22 for the general public. Tickets are available through the EMP|SFM box office, either in person, or by calling 206-770-2702. For more information, go to empsfm.org.

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com