Charlotte... the unexpected jewel rose again this past weekend with its phenomenal talent at The Casbah Room. In its first year in this lively southern town Emergenza has unveiled the fact that this an exceptional city for rock, pop, hip-hop and metal bands alike. If you can imagine the perfect example of a rock club then you can picture The Cashbah Room of the Tremont Music Hall. Incredible sound quality, pool tables, a busy bar and roomy dance floors add to the ambiance of this Charlotte staple. People began to pour in for Emergenza’s Semi-Final rounds of shows in Charlotte to see which 12 bands would break through to play Charlotte’s debut Final show at the Tremont Music Hall this June 9th. Thursday, May 17th There is no mistaking the rhythmic hardcore essence of Fraudulent Mistake, Thursday night’s opening band. They kicked off the weekend’s events to a great start with an in-your-face style aided by melodic guitar solos and a raging stage presence. Slingshot Afterbirth followed up with a sound that was purely rock, drumbeats that kept the crowd on their toes and an overall original sound that was alluring to even those who may not always appreciate hard-rock. Wes & The Moons then changed the vibe of the evening for a bit with an original blues set that incorporated smooth solos and jazzy beats. These brothers worked together to create an all-around positive atmosphere for the many attendees and staff alike. Black Ritual stormed the stage with an amazing original rock set complete with powerful vocals, an entertaining stage presence and ripping guitar work. This was definitely not the last rock curse Final Curse will perform! Their intriguing stage presence, strong bass licks and intricate guitar work aided strong screaming vocals backed by tight drum beats as they kept the audience alive and dancing, singing along and raging! The Hard-Rock style of Such As Life wafted through the venue with an air of glory. They exhibited an array of excellent compositions and interesting instrumentations that had everyone begging for more. Sister Trish closed out Thursday’s show with a perfect depiction of what good rock should sound like. Driving guitar playing mixed with a thumpin’ double bass pedal and powerful lyrics prove to be effective as these guys are professional and talented. Friday, May 18th Firefly Epidemic started Friday nights show blending their melodic vocals with a tight rhythm section as they delivered their music, class, effects and feedback with the gumption of a band made to entertain a wide audience of listeners. Carmona, led by a talented father and son duo, played off of each other’s guitars, ripping through solos like there was no tomorrow and astounding the audience with their spectacular musicianship, stage presence and vocals. S.O. Stereo kept the crowd alive with their ability to blend their harmonic vocals with the ever-growing innovative sound. They had the feel of a band with an ability to speak to anyone willing to listen. Humans. Wow, there is so much to say about this incredibly entertaining and original Rock’N’Roll band hailing from the heart of Charlotte. With a front man full of energy, vocals that slice into ones soul and guitar playing that is hard to top these guys tied the audience up and whipped them full of great music and fun. Lindy Dobbins & The Red Velvet Manx followed with an amazing performance complete with stellar vocals and great compositions. Whether you are in the mood for rock’n’roll or pop this group has a flavor for everyone. Lindy’s ability to capture the hearts of the audience and keep them involved with the show is truly spectacular. Sin Recursos, with their many fans, show what it takes to be a true contender as they kept the crowd on their toes with a captivating pop set. With a mix of Spanish and A