For the first time Albuquerque opened its door to Emergenza Festival for an entire weekend of amazing shows. The competition took place at the Launchpad and the bands were really excited to play in one of the best venue in the Southwest. On Thursday night the ska band CRITICALLY UNACCLAIMED started off with a horn section and nice tunes. The metal bands LEFT TO ROT and CRIMSON ECLIPSE played their gigs very powerfully and aggressively. TO BE ANNOUNCED put together a concoction of punk-alternative that had the people shaking and tapping their feet. THE QUICK ROOTS came on stage next performing an impressive rock set with great skill. CICA brought a breath of fresh air creating a neat atmosphere: incense and digiridu squawks attracted everybody to the stage. Metal back on stage with the extreme band APHOTIC BLITZ. THIRD HOUR closed the night with a very enjoyable acoustic set. The songwriter demonstrate to have skills! On Friday night the band 7OF9 kicked off the show with a solid rock performance. EX POST FACTO went up on stage next with a marimba and put together some great experimental new age sounds. The metal bands ...OF ONE LESS..., MALSUM and TORTURE VICTIM played heavy sound and a scream that could wake the dead! THE YA YA BOOM PROJECT performed a very cool funky set with an entertaining, sensuous and gutsy feminine voice. The post hardcore band DEEP FROM WITHIN played a fast and aggressive performance. The young post-hardcore-experimental band DEAR OCEANA impressed me a lot with their stage presence. On Saturday night the metal bands DAWN OF DESTRUCTION and FOREVER ENDEAVOUR kicked off with a bang! They filled the room with their power and energies. DEX AND KELLY performed an acoustic and emotional set that had me feeling good. The ska-punk band MADE IN BANGLADESH was a lot of fun: they got everybody to dance and clap. VENTURI and ABSOLUTE UNCERTAINTIES brought on stage some very special rock sounds. LAST FIFTEEN played an hard metal core set. The metal band TETELESTAI went up on stage next and they literally had a blast! The crowd was crazy for them and they didn''t let down demonstrating to be able to entertain them... I had to congratulate with the guitar player... he was just so good! Metal opened the night and metal closed the night with SUSPENDED. This young band of girls spread energy and power all over the place! On Sunday night the punk band LOS DUMS started off and it was very enjoyable... I like their quirkiness! The numerous band MONTEIL AND THE CGF BAND put together a unique blend of soul-jazz-funky and they impressed everybody with their voices... congratulations guys! MOURNING TO MERCY and SOMEDAY confirmed that metal predominated in this weekend of shows by playing amazingly powerful sets. Both bands rocked and the crowd showed their appreciation by moshing and screaming to their music. The alternative band cooked up some sweet indie sounds. FIDGIT and MORAY greatly performed solid alternative rock sets. UNUSUAL CONTENT closed the night with a brilliant mix of underground-rock-hip-pop sounds. They had a blast! I had a blast too! It was great witnessing the energies and the efforts that the bands brought on that stage. Albuquerque rocks!