An outstanding performance by everyone at Columbia’s finals left the crowd in shock. Amplified kicked off the show with an amazing array of melodic riffs and vocals that got the crowd moving. They ended their set with a blast of rhythmic percussion that ended up sending the prize for best drummer home with one of their own. Tyler of Amplifyed was cheered on by the crowd as he accepted his award for best drummer of the night. Next up was THATZ IT, who used a mix of soulful blues and R&B to sway the crowd their way. With their two beautiful female vocalists, and bass and guitars that pumped the crowd and got them dancing, it’s no wonder why they took home prizes for best guitar player and best bass player. Congratulations go out to Pharo and William for their amazing winning performances. Ace & O.C. took the stage with a full house to entertain. Their upbeat hip-hop performance was nothing short of amazing. Making their way from Charleston, their dedicated fans added to the crowd. Their high energy set; complete with a blend of hip hop and rock style music and lyrics that excited everyone, was definitely a set to watch. After that, Necessary Evil rocked the house with a rock performance that everyone loved. Using their skills to leave their impression on audience members and musicians alike, their high energy set was one that won’t be forgotten. Examining Emma, one of Columbia’s finest rock bands, put on a great performance. I was thrilled to see their use of dynamics; mixing screams, subtle sounds, and fantastic melodies, they definitely lived up to expectations. The crowd was definitely in agreement. Hopeless Ambition was the next rock band to show their skills off. They did a great job using the crowd to their advantage, and pumping Headliners full of savage rock enthusiasm. Tropic Culture, a 9 piece Latin pop band, got virtually everyone in Headliners on their feet and dancing. Using acoustic and electric guitar, trumpet, violin, and a wide range of other instruments, it was no wonder that they were chosen by the judges to represent Columbia next week in Nashville. Detox, took the stage at full force, giving quite a contrast from the bands before them. Their aggressive rock sound took the crowd by surprise, and left them with nothing but a positive impression. A Chime in Darkness, who describe themselves as “metal, metal, metal” was definitely that. With hard hitting breakdowns, and double bass beats that rang loudly throughout Headliners, this metal band, complete with shirtless vocalist, was indifferent to the rest of the lineup and still managed to represent their genre strongly. Foxes That Fight ended the show on a high note. Using horns and a fresh, upbeat, fast-tempo rock sound, (not to be confused with ska) these guys put their hearts and souls into their set; and it definitely showed as the crowd’s applause echoed throughout the venue. This night, jam-packed with bands representing a wide spectrum of musical influences and sounds, was one that should not have been missed by anyone in the area. Many thanks to everyone at Headliners, and everyone who came out to support their local music scene.