Boston resumed rock this weekend after a week off, and it was good. Really good. Regardless of being held over the coldest, nastiest part of winter in New England the turnout for all the bands was as high as ever, and all that participated were solid and original. February the 2nd kicked off with a wild mix of genres and styles that seamlessly fit together as if it was destiny. Acta Non Verba came all the way from Maine with good dueling guitar riffs and a solid rhythm section. Their indie rock songs and epic compositions filled the Middle East with great energy. Coraburn played a great heavy melodic rock set reminding me of Chevelle and Tool. The Fens were a great Boston Rock band with theatrical swelling riffs and great vocal harmonies. Inhale rocked out with a great New Metal sound that got the crowd moving. The Garage Dogs (in picture) were some of the dirtiest rockers ever that belonged in a cage as much as they belonged on stage. The Dearborn Project was a great metal band with a tinge of gothic rock added to their sound. Easy Target might as well have time warped to early 90’s Seattle for all the grunge style they had. One Degree of Separation came to stage with great female vocals and searing riffs filled out by one solid drummer. In the end is was Acta Non Verba, Coraburn, The Fens, and Inhale that moved on to the next round. Friday the 3rd was no exception to the weekend. The room was packed all night long for all the acts. Johnny Scifo had great song compositions complete with three lovely ladies sings back up in harmony. The Locksmiths killed it with a solid live hip-hop show that got the room dancing. Stronghold in Siam was a great acoustic rock band with a “wall of sound” style and great vocal harmonies. Outburn were a couple of young rockers leaning toward the punk side of metal. The Pillar Line had nothing but solid music and heavy tuned down effected guitars going for them. The Murder Weapon had one of the best stage shows and series of antics I’ve seen yet with their Psychobilly rock. Hiss of Atrocites was easily the loudest, nastiest, and heavy death metal bands of the festival. Paint Your Wagon was a great highschool Punk band with good tunes and great attitudes. In the end it was Johnny Scifo, The Locksmiths, Stronghold in Siam, and Outburn that moved on to the next round. Saturday the 4th was the busiest most crowded day yet in Boston, and for good reason. The bands were all phenomenal! Melodisiac was an amazing nine-piece Latin hip-hop band with a full horn section that received the highest vote of the first round so far. Vudoo Soul was an great soul funk band that brought the whole MIT crowd out for a great set of grooving music. Melodeego jazzed up the stage with a big funky chicken, literally. They had a guy dancing on stage with them in a giant chicken suit. The Adrian Kelly Band had a great instrumental Jazz Pop sound and finished off their set with the Power Rangers theme. Twists’ sound encompassed everything from reggae to metal to hip-hop and all in between. Days Unknown had a solid New Metal sound and proved why they had a wild popularity in Providence. Graveyard Party was a funky, noisy, rock band with heavily distorted guitars and great horn parts. The Coming Storm was a great rock band with some of the best three part vocal harmonies I’ve heard yet. In the end it was Melodisiac, Vudoo Soul, Melodeego, and the Adrian Kelly Band that moved on. Thanks to all the bands that participated and hope to see all of you soon at the next Emergenza Show. Thanks also to Emily Putnam for all the pictures of the shows she provided. Check out her works at www.elputnam.com