Cooking, boiling, baking and frying at the Capital in Ottawa, fourteen bands turning up the heat for the big final rock show, now it''s time to clean up and put away the dishes and one winning band who did it best was JACQUIE IN THE KITCHEN. Here is what the show looked like from the breakfast nook. THE STAND took the stage with their mix of punk alternative, tight playing and killer vox and guitar work, the song writing was not bad either. FOR THE FALLEN dished out a heaping helping punk emo thumping bass and intense energy gives this band a unique sound. THE MACHINE came out strong and impressed the crowd which was a sweet victory considering they wrote their entire set in the three weeks. FOLLOWING DESTRUCTIONS smoked out with dual guitar harmonies and one of my favourite singers of the evening, and of yea, one of the guitar players was one of few girls in the entire show. More women in rock-n-roll! CONOTAPH is an interesting line up, a bassist/lead singer two sick guitarists and a super talented drummer, their style is metal, metal, metal. BRAIN STORM a four piece emo band with no sh*t sound and song writing, an action packed performance and image. NOISE MONGER came in 7th place with keyboards intact which gives this emo/metal/hardcore band a special thang; the guitar riffs also add a furious punch. TAINTED SHADE took home 6th place as well as second best bassist, this unique metal band with a female lead singer, lit up the stage at the Capital. CAULDWELL has improved tremendously since January when we started out at Mavericks, they threw down some nice alternative rock and their guitarist is one of my favourites this mix earned them a tie for 5th place THE SEVENTH SIGN are EMERGENZA veterans also at 5th place used old school metal to not only entertain but to scoop up the second best guitarist, last year he took first, not bad for a guy who is still a teenager. FRIENDLY FIRE drive four hours from up north to play our shows, their music and performance is always a crowd favourite, I am especially fond of the different twist they put into their alternative/punk sound. LAST PROJECT are also EMERGENZA veterans and they won not only 3rd place, but one of the sweetest prizes, an evaluation of their peers, the other thirteen acts (no jury) called the band award. SYNCYTIA won a pile of prizes, including best bassist, best guitarist, best drummer as well as 2nd place, these guys are one of the top metal bands in the Ottawa area and their singers is one of my faves. JACQUIE IN THE KITCHEN 1st place, best vocalist and on their way to Toronto to play in the Ontario finals and a shot at more prizes including a trip to Montreal to play in the Canadian finals, the kids are all teenagers and have fantastic job through the festival, break a leg in T-dot. There you have it, breakfast is over in Ottawa, now it''s time for lunch in Toronto and dinner in Montreal, so get into the kitchen cook up something good.