US Air Guitar Finals

AUGUST 16. THE FILLMORE @ IRVING PLAZA. NEW YORK CITY
THE 2007 US AIR GUITAR FINALS
PRIMED TO BE THE BEST COMPETITION YOU’VE EVER SEEN

Above are just three of the competitors hoping to dethrone Hott Lixx Hulahan in this year’s US Air Guitar Championships, which will be held in New York City. The winner will move on to the World Championships in Finland, but unfortunately, the ol’ USofA holds a two-year losing streak in the event. If you’re in the New York City area, allow yourself a stiff dose of patriotism and cock rockery and get on down to Irving Plaza. Read the full press release, if you’re so inclined, after the jump.

This past June, US Air Guitar boarded a (rather expensive) tour bus, loaded the air-gear, and took to the road for their first National Tour, spanning 14 cities across the country. MC’d by journeyman/star of the theatrical movie Air Guitar Nation/THE Ambassador Of Air, BJORN TUROQUE, and with the support of TouchTunes, the Tour brought out an unprecedented line-up of virtual virtuosos both seasoned and new. In its 5th year, with more US cities and sold-out shows than ever before – and with a two-year losing streak at the World Championships – US Air Guitar is hopeful that on August 16, THE US AIR GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP in New York City will spawn the US Champion who can turn things around in the 2007 Air Guitar World Championships in Finland this September.

Before a sold-out Bowery Ballroom audience in June 2006, San Francisco Regional Champion HOTT LIXX HULAHAN became the 4th US Air Guitar National Champion. With near-perfect scores in the compulsory round, he defeated a formidable array of talent from across the country, including defending National Champion THE ROCKNESS MONSTER and the raw talent of New York’s WILLIAM OCEAN. For those who were not in attendance that night, let’s just say that amidst a scoring controversy, the judges, crowd members, and fellow contestants alike were all clamoring for a sudden death Air-Off between the eventual champion, Hot Lixx Hulahan, and the local NY hero, William Ocean. Well, they will all get their collective wish. William Ocean repeated as New York City’s Regional Champion, and has arch rival Hot Lixx Hulahan in the crosshairs in 2007.

The tour kicked off in Washington DC to a sold-out show of over 1200 people at the 9:30 Club, where a (oh, how do we put this) seasoned veteran known simply as THE SHRED brought the house down with moves he must have learned watching American Bandstand or at various sock-hops, we’re guessing. Frankly, we were just glad he didn’t break a hip The tour wrapped up on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, where perennial LA champion and 2005 US Champ The Rockness Monster narrowly edged out what was probably the single greatest display of talent in a Regional event thus far. In this, his 3rd US Finals appearance, “Rockness” has vowed to wipe last year’s Finals disappointment off the books and reassert himself as the nation’s preeminent Air Guitar powerhouse.

But in 2007, the veterans of Air Guitar will not be alone in their quests for greatness. News of the 2007 Tour spread like wildfire over the last few months, bringing out of the woodworks a very promising array of Air Guitar hopefuls from all over America. Chicago Champion and upstart young-gun SKEETY JONES is, by all accounts, the real deal. By bringing a whole new level of style and flow to Air Guitar, “Skeety” dethroned The Windy City’s popular incumbent NORDIC THUNDER. Boston’s McNALLICA brought the thunder on a muggy New England night to become the greatest female contender since 2004’S US and World Air Guitar Champion, SONYKROK. USAG headed south in 2007, and at a truck stop along the way, we found a pair of identical twins known as STRYKER and BIG RIG, who took top honors in Dallas and Houston, respectively; no doubt, a proud moment for the entire family. San Francisco’s regional champion won the whole thing last year, and this year’s representative looks to do the same. And with a name like RICKY STINKFINGERS who’s bold enough to doubt him?

In short, the 2007 Air Guitar Tour was chock full of wild misadventure. Air was shred, scores were given, hearts were broken, dreams fulfilled, and the Gods of Rock looked favorably upon all the land.

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