We are now very clear on the concept that air guitar people are insane. Exhibit A.? The press release for tonight’s U.S. Air Guitar Championship Finals in San Francisco included an X-RAY of the Brooklyn regional winner Bettie B. Goodes BROKEN TOE, as a testiment to the hardcore nature of geeks who rock out on invisible instruments.
As the Air Guitar peeps say, “If you thought this was a game, you’re sadly mistaken.”
Point well made.
Aside from serious toe injuries, generally air guitarists make us giggle. Check out our video clip of the semi-finals, held in S.F. earlier this summer.
Bette’s clearly not alone in her enthusiasm for the sport. According to the Air Guitar folks, in one regional show, a father of three defied all physics and took flight, costing himself a perfectly good ankle upon landing. One talent rode into the venue and up to the stage riding a Harley. Meanwhile, a man in Los Angeles made flames rise from his fingers, only to be outshined by ROCKIT, who finished his routine hanging head over heels from the rafters. There were vikings, leprechauns, a professional stripper, an inflatable fat-suit, an official NBA mascot, and, in an old church in Pittsburgh, they heard the very Voice of God.
Tonight in S.F at the Grand Ballroom (8:30 p.m./$20/tickets selling out fast) 25 of the nations fiercest and finest face-melters will go head-to-head to represent the red, white, blue, and undecideds at the World Air Guitar Championships in Finland.
Defending 2007 US Champion WILLIAM OCEAN will again have to fend off a crop of talented newcomers, all gunning for his crown. But those are the least of his worries, as arch rival and local Bay Area hero HOT LIXX HULAHAN is back, and by all accounts, better than ever. McNALLICA and BIG RIG both look to improve upon their top-5 results from last year. Living legend THE ROCKNESS MONSTER looks to go out on top in this, his final US Air Guitar competition.
The Bay Area appears to be a breeding ground for air talent. Past SF Regional winners Hot Lixx Hulahan (2006), RICKY STINKFINGERS (2007), and this year’s winner AWESOME will be in the finals.
LIST OF REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
CITY
STAGE NAME
Aspen
Big Rig
Boston
McNallica
Brooklyn
Bettie B. Goode
Chicago
Nordic Thunder
Cleveland
Derek Not-So-Smalls
DC
Hot Lixx Hulahan
Denver
Magic Cyclops
Des Moines
Joseph of Air-imathia
Detroit
Stryker
Los Angeles
Houston Rockit
Minneapolis
Airosol
New York
Shreddy Mercury
Philadelphia
Windhammer
Phoenix
Hardcore Henry
Pittsburgh
Will Clear Will
Portland
Ricky Stinkfingers
Salt Lake City
D.R.U.S.A.
San Diego
Rockness Monster
San Francisco
Awesome
Seattle
Chuck Mung
Vegas
Guitarsonist
Houston
Rip Darko
Austin
MOD
Dallas
Guardian
DEFENDING US CHAMP
William Ocean
Check back at BandsOfTheBay.com for video from the event.