Lawrence.com

Several thousand fans determined the combatants in the first annual Deadwood Derby by voting online from March 1 to 22 - the 16 bands below are the lucky winners. Every Tuesday night in April, a Derby round will feature four of these bands. The winner each round will be determined by 50 percent crowd vote and 50 percent judges' vote. The four finalists plus one wild card band will perform at the finals on May 6 for a shot at the grand prize worth over $2,000. Thanks to all the bands that entered and all those who voted - see you at the shows.

Brett Armstong

Brett Armstrong plays radio-ready singer/songwriter rock that should find favor with fans of Pete Yorn, Jesse Malin and/or Howie Day. It may be well-worn territory, but Armstrong's morning-after croon comfortably fits the bill. Still searching for the right group of backup musicians, Armstrong played nearly everything on his debut EP "Selling Something or Myself." He performs regularly at the Jazzhaus's open mic Wednesdays and other Mass. St. joints.

Basin

Basin is the music of singer/songwriter Jake Davis: songs focused on well-crafted lyrics sung with a blend of fragility and passion in the tradition of great Americana songwriters such as Willie Nelson and Ryan Adams. Basin is music that speaks to every man - and maybe even a few women.

Groovelight

Groovelight has a saxophone and they know how to use it. Beyond that, the sound is a blend of jazz and funk influences mixed with some rocktastic riffage. The jury is still out on whether they intend to "light" your groove or groove "light" (a la Kenny G), but most likely it's the former.

Adam's Eve

Adam's Eve is a trio that started in December 2005. All the songwriting is done by Adam Knoernschild. Dave Goodlove plays bass. BJ Knoernschild plays drums and adds background vocals. Knoernschild is also the lead singer of the metal band And So It Was Written, out of Shawnee, Kan.

The Afterhours

The Afterhours - formerly known as The Rivals - came to life in the summer of 2005. The band pledges allegiance to poppy "garage" bands like The Redwalls, Kings of Leon and The Soledad Brothers. Harmonies and beaucoup tambourine are just two of the tasty treats this up-and-coming Lawrence band has to offer.

Marry Me Moses

Marry Me Moses is a new band from Lawrence featuring three Kritikos brothers, Jenny Davidson on bass and Mark Harries on drums. "Rock in general" is the band's stated ambition, and you'll just have to give a listen if you want to go deeper than that. Singer Ted Kritikos also recently enjoyed a stint as Mary Magdalene in the Lawrence musical production of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Emperor Stan

With four music majors collectively pursuing degrees in composition, music theory, jazz guitar, music business and percussion performance, Emperor Stan have the foundation to realize their ideas. Influences include: Yes, Rush, King Crimson, Umphrey's McGee, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Genesis, The Beatles, Dream Theater, Ben Folds.

Apollo 13

Part spy-movie soundtrack, part Lenny Kravitz-style glam rock and part John Mayer croon pop, Lawrence's Apollo 13 is the rare band that pulls off radio-friendly melodic pop with enough talent and originality to not induce groans. Composed of former Band That Saved the World members Shannon Savoie, Mike MacFarland and Will Dinkel and Yards drummer Danny Rojas, Apollo 13's ace-in-the-hole is local Wax Clash champion DJ Proof, who fills out the band's sound with digital sampling and scratching.

Blackout Gorgeous

Blackout Gorgeous (featuring Nezbeat of Archetype) merges electronica with live instumentation, male/female vocals and a darkly pleasurable sound that at times recalls Portishead. The band's debut record "Tragic Logic" lets each member explore their various muses - jazz, hip-hop, rock or otherwise (a couple tracks even veer towards Brazilian Tropicalia).

Evening Grey

Huge guitars. Teeny guitars. Atmospheric dynamics. That's how Evening Grey lays it down. They survived the microburst and are in the midst of recording a record. They like Sunny Day Real Estate and The Appleseed Cast. They are Grant Fator, Corey Vitt, Cody Sanders and Richard Tanner.

Trucker

Trucker plays twangy rock and roll that falls somewhere on the spectrum between Social Distortion, Sugar and Merle Haggard. Lead singer Todd Johnson's backwoods drawl is the band's calling card, as is its fearless sense of humor in songs like "Text Message Me Baby."

Psilenus

Formed in 2002, Psilenus had a goal of utilizing each others' individual influences to create "an energetic sound with melodic overtones and thought-provoking lyrics, with intent to create a symbiotic union between sweet tones and luscious grooves." This original hard rock quartet will flat out "bring it."

Septinomicon

Septinomicon splits the difference between grindcore, jazz and experimental sounds. Influences include: Miles Davis, King Crimson, Mr. Bungle, Ruins, The Melvins, Dillinger Escape Plan, Bill Laswell. Songs include "Cheerleader Skin Mask" and "Severed Head Chandelier."

Lethe

Legend has it, in 1977 a young man named Alan "two tooth" Watkins managed to sneak his way into a sold out Black Sabbath concert at the world famous Bottleneck. Sliding in the back door, "TT" met a young dame named Cherry "blood/blood" Desmond. Cherry, who worked as road manager for Black Sabbath, offered Alan a visit to the green room where the two enjoyed their own rendition of "Sweet Leaf." Fate had its way and before "TT" could catch the last song of the night, Cherry was well pregnant. Low and behold, nine months passed, and by the hand of the metal gods, Lethe was born.

Tear At the Walls

Tear At the Walls is from Blue Springs, Mo., and they keep really extensive tour journals. They're a metal band, as indicated by the guy with the mic who appears to have an itchy throat muscle. They sound like "nothing else, but a mixture of everything else."

One Degree Difference

One Degree Difference recently finished crafting their first full-length album, "A Sphere of Influence." The 13-song record is "a balance of precision and brutality that creates a dynamic fusion of anger and emotion within the senses." Passionate screams, twisted and tormented layers of percussive drones and melodic voices characterize the band's sound.