WLSC2008 *Finals* are Tonight at Public Assembly!!!

Photo by Jen McManus

Jezebel Music NYC produces 150 shows each year. Some are weekly, some are monthly, and one is so very special that it can only take place once every year: the Annual Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition. Currently in its fifth year of production, the WLSC2008 accepted 700 song submissions. From these 700 songwriters, 150 performed live over 6 nights in Williamsburg. From these 150, 18 were selected to perform in the Semi-Finals last night, and from these 18, 9 extraordinary singers, songwriters, and performers have been chosen to advance to the Finals, taking place tonight at Public Assembly at 8:00p.

Of all the 150 shows Jezebel Music NYC produces, the Finals of the Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition is in many ways superlative. Not only is it guaranteed to be an amazing night of talent, but a grand prize of $4,000 is on the line. In case this isn’t enough, three amazing local bands will perform at the Finals after-party immediately following the announcement of the winners: Wakey!Wakey! (fronted by WLSC2008 host Michael Grubbs), Creaky Boards, and Schwervon. For a measly, meager, miniscule $7 (the price of two Pabsts), you can enjoy 9 contestants performing 2 songs each for their chance at $4,000, and hear three incredible bands immediately afterwards! We’ll be taking names of all in attendance at Public Assembly tonight, and those not on the list will be declared legally insane.

Last night, everyone (!) was fantastic. The competition was serious, and the entertainment potent. Performer after performer, the art of song was exemplified. 18 played, 9 advanced to the Finals: Annachristie Sadler, Becca Stevens, Carla Ulbrich, Cedric Lamar, Matthew Dorrien, Olentangy John Atzberger, Richard McGraw, Rosi Golan, and Stacy Rock. Among these performers we have expert musicianship, phenomenal vocals, brilliant lyricism, intense drama, and a shot at a very, very cool grand prize.

If we don’t see you tonight at Public Assembly, we can only assume a rift in the time-space continuum entrapped you in a state of temporal limbo, and as a prisoner bound between alternate planes of reality, your attendance has thus been rendered scientifically implausible. That or you’re allergic to fun.

All images copyright Jen McManus 2008