“Gothenburg is not second in music” was the title for the first article we wrote about Gothenburg. Well, no forecast could have been more accurate, as the winning band from Gothenburg, GRANVISTA, not yet satisfied with regional final, decided to repeat again in Stockholm, and this time playing out of home with twelve resident bands. Everybody knows about the rivalry existing in each country between the two main cities, but this kind of stereotype falls down immediately in front of the fact that Granvista was even the band awarded as “ best band 2004” by all the other musicians taking part to the competition. A great confirmation that “rivalry” doesn’ t make sense in music. We already wrote about their straight rock sound, and we already wrote about Johan, awarded as best guitar player in Gothenburg; then, if we say that Johan has been awarded as best guitar player again, it’s not our repetition, but his own one , as a different jury in Stockholm took the same decision about it. All this during a big successful night in Gota Kallare ( “sold out” on a Sunday is a special case in Sweden!!). Out of the first seven , GIRL WITH THE MONKEY and SULTANS OF SOUND deserve a special mention: the first ones for their powerful electro-pop and their charismatic leader, Monika, that really sometimes made us forget about the others on stage, and the second ones for their perfect mix of r’n b and soul, and a great bass player ( awarded from the jury with a Music Man Bass as the best one of the night). More prizes to Niklas from IN GREY, awarded with an OLP guitar as second best guitar player, and to the drummer of FLITCH, whose band brought us in a sort “nowhere” land with their particular atmosphere made of progressive rock supported by a special oniric voice. But the big show, once again, came from ROYAL MADNESS, the band who really feel the stage as the best place to express all their energies, with the result of a great time for all the audience: the existing proof that playing live takes much more then just being good musicians. Good musicians as TED, the perfect successful pop-band: good-looking talented guys with a store of well built delightful songs, which makes us think that their success it’s just a matter of time. And a matter of time is the celebration of the international winner for Emergenza 2004 at Taubertal Festival. And my best wish for Granvista could be “ Gothenborg is not second in music”…who knows…it could work again!