I have to say, I am humbled, I feel my jaded rock-n-roll attitude washing away, no more wining and crying about where all the good music is, because I found it at the Opera House on June 18º“ at the Ontario finals, we had 13 bands from the T.O. area and one kick ass band from Ottawa. But hey, what the f*ck, we still shot that bastard right through the head, and only one came out alive, the bad boys from FORGERY, they will move on to Montreal to have a kick at the Germany can, bust a leg and represent, respect. Here''s my take on the action. IRON FISH: This young band came into the festival playing Deep Purple covers, and with a little persuasion and a few shows later they peeled off a solid set of original material, keep an eye on the Fish, they have youth and talent on their side. DEAD SILENCE: The only metal band of the evening (diversity, baby) screamed at us, spit at us and basically scared the sh*t out of us, and we loved it, and having a rock solid drummer don''t hurt neither. SOUND 23: Played a wicked set of hard rock, fine musicianship and good songwriting topped off by the lead singers sick hair-cut, it''s not easy being the opening band for a show like this, but these guys did the trick. SOUL''D: Oh yeah, super funk, r-n-b, and a little rock-n-roll thrown in for good measure, these guys make me want to dance and get nasty, and they contain one of the best vocalists I''ve seen all year, and it''s kinda cool that E.M.I. came down to check the set. SIX O''CLOCK NEWS: A monster band and very cool dudes, rocked it special on Saturday, it''s too bad though, that their main guitar player is moving on, it was their last show together, I wish them all broken legs. FIELDBABIES: This band creeps up on you, over the last few months I have become a huge fan of the babies, their music is highly original, slick, loose, and the live show is tight as hell, we will defiantly be hearing from them in the future. AM GLORY: These guys are the next wave in rock-n-roll because they mix the old and new schools together in just the right way, their front man is a young Mick Jagger, well done. JACQUIE IN THE KITCHEN: Down from Ottawa, the best of the best, winners at the Capital, best singer award, in the EMERGENZA Ontario finals, pretty damn good for four kids in high school. WINSTON: Pure hearts and perfect gentlemen, until you put them on stage and then they turn into rock-stars, with a lead-singer piano, (piano, not Casio) and his brother on guitar and back vox, they are a sweet combination. MARYJAYNE: One of my favorite guitar-players of the season, not a fancy player but he plays with his gut, and it fits perfectly with the brit rock sound that they are so good at. EIGHTY 8: A sasquach of a bass player, and the rest of the band ain''t bad either, they play a unique sound, rock, punk, funk, and a little bit of whatever, enjoy the awards homeboys.