We started with somewhere in the neighborhood of 75 local acts, pared
those down to 16 semi-finalists and now, after five weeks of
competition, here we are. The final showdown. Friday, at Revolution,
five acts, none of which sound anything alike, square off to join the
likes of 607 and Velvet Kente as a winner of the Arkansas Times
Musicians Showcase.

But before I preview the finalists, a quick word about last week’s
wildcard round, which had enough talent to stand in for a final round.
Flash LaRue claimed the win despite a wave of equipment problems, but
everyone showed out. Amazingly, of the four
acts, only Bonnie Montgomery has recorded material and hers is several
years old and essentially out of print. Get to the studio, people.
Montgomery, especially, seems to have the tools — the voice, the songs,
the charisma — to be the next must-see local act, something like Chris
Denny when he first hopped onto the scene. Stella Fancy’s already
enjoyed some of that sort of buzz. Hopefully, it’ll only expand; their
bossa nova-flecked lounge rock is endlessly infectious. And like I said
last week, if you care even the least about throwback metal and hard
rock, go see Iron Tongue. It’s heavy. More on Flash LaRue below.

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Unlike weeks past, we shift nights, start times and venues for the
finals. So clear your calendar: Friday at 8 p.m. we’re at Revolution.
It’s open to those 18 and older and there’s no smoking.

Below is a quick recap of the acts with a case for each to win the
Showcase:

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Bobby. From round one, the rapper comes with impressive
pedigree. His brother, 607, won the Showcase two years ago. Through
that victory, Bobby served as Six’s hype man. Now Six is returning the
favor for his younger brother. In his semi-final win, the MC had the
crowd, our emcee and the judges whooping with delight.

Why he’ll win: Because he’s practiced. He’s done hundreds of shows with
Six and he knows how to work a stage. Look for narrative, theatrics —
something extra. Which, sometimes, is what it takes.

Brother Andy & His Big Damn Mouth
. They roared to a third
round victory with deranged, religion-obsessed pop songs folk-punked up.

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Why they’ll win: Because they don’t sound like anyone anywhere.

Elise Davis. In the second round, she led her
four-piece band with a breezy confidence and a knack for
relationship-focused pop songs. Performing since she was a teen, the
college senior sings with a voice that often recalls Liz Phair’s. And in
the semifinal win, with the withering looks and comments she directed
at ex-husband and guitarist Trevor Ware, she had a sensibility to match,
even if it was just play-acting.

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Why she’ll win: She’s the only finalist who works within conventional
pop structures. She’s also probably the only contestant with a pretty
voice, and her backing band is tight.

Underclaire. The round-four winner specializes in a
dynamic brand of alt-rock that harkens back to the early, respectable
days of emo. The four-piece has played together almost a decade longer
than its competition.

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Why they’ll win: Because they’ll probably be the most adept band in the
finals. And the most anthemic.

Flash LaRue . The wildcard round winner includes
members of Notion and The Poeboy Society and specializes in a winning
brand of big-tent rock ‘n’ roll. A lot of their shifting arrangements
sound like contemporary indie rock, but at other times, they’re
full-tilt Southern rock.

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Why they’ll win: Because, like I said last go ’round, they’re
infectious. And even with all the stylistic shifts, they’re still the
most straightforward rock ‘n’ roll act in the wildcard round. Everyone
loves the rawk.

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