The semi-finals at the Babylon are basted, cooked and done, the toughest bands both on the stage and off are headed to the Capitol for an all ages throw down, where the most talented bands and musicians will receive prizes and one band will travel to Toronto to play in the Ontario finals at the Opera House. Here''s how the action kicked. FRI APR 29: In second place was FOLLOWING DESTRUCTIONS and they achieved this goal with dual guitar harmonies and a sick rhythm section and despite some bass problems it still went their way. On top of the pile landed SYNCYTIA who delivered metal on an insane level, death defying guitar work, a drummer bent on punishing the china symbol, and a front man with a golden voice, even the sound man was screaming and holding up devil hands. SAT APR 30: EMERGENZA veterans SEVENTH SIGN stirred up some old school metal (Iron Maiden style) and did a blistering set of six and seven minute songs with last years best guitarist shredding in his preferred mode, fast and furious. THE STAND ripped through their punk rock goodies and grabbed a first place spot; all the pretty ladies in the front row didn''t hurt either. SUN MAY 1: BETWEEN THE BROKEN managed to squeeze into a runners up position with their emo alternative when all was said and done. ROCK AND ROLL DEBACLE proved their name fits by playing a set of down and dirty rock-n-roll. And underdogs FRIENDLY FIRE stole the show by dishing out a sound that could be right at home in a Quinton Tarintino movie. FRI MAY 6: Quebec boys NOISE MONGER put the pedal to the metal with a sound they call tex-mex, but it''s still rock-n-roll to me, brilliant key board work really makes this band stand out large. JACQUIE IN THE KITCHEN completely dominated the evening by performing a sweet set of pop rock, Jacquie is barely out of high school but has a voice way beyond her years, and of course she has a band to match. SAT MAY 7: THE MACHINE has made to the Capitol with a fire proof set of rock and a band with a high melting point, their monkey-boy lead singer and his stage antics really hit the whole thing home. And again LAST PROJECT slaughtered the competition by playing a animalistic set of rock, emo, and hardcore. SUN MAY 8: On this last night of semi''s screamo boys FOR THE FALLEN slid through and defiantly won most improved band in this writers opinion. And finally we have TAINTED SHADE who captured first place for the night with a female singer who moshed with the boys and a whole bunch of ridiculous guitar riffs. So there we have it nothing left but the finals, one band will move from there to bigger things, but at this point all the bands are winners considering we started out with over 60 bands at mavericks, so congratulations and work hard for the Capitol. By Mitch Chinasky