Cruze-ing to Vegas

April 6, 2011 12:17 pm CT

ATTENTION ALL MUSIC FANS: Chevrolet, along with Billboard.com, is launching a brand-spanking-new band contest, “Cruze-ing to Vegas.”

Billboard scouted many of America’s unsigned bands, and narrowed down the playing field to 18 of the most talented groups from six regions across the country, including three from right here in Texas!

Here’s the lineup from our Southwest region:

• Butcher Bear and Charlie: Straight out of the ‘live music capital of the world,’ Austin, Texas, Butcher Bear and Charlie combines pop, punk, and electronic influences to deliver “sweet melodies and memorable lyrics.” Band members, Ben Webster and Maricela Mayo have already made their mark in the industry – Ben playing drums in Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee and Sean Na Na, and Maricela playing with the Dallas Lyric Opera.
• Don’t Wake Aislin: Beginning their music journey back in 2004 in Dallas, Don’t Wake Aislin brings a fresh alternative rock style that produces “powerful, high-energy live performances.” Band members Deena Jakoub, Brandon Brown, Kalen Orr, Jordan Landers, and Guerin Williams have even been lucky enough to play at SXSW in both 2009 and 2010, and toured the nation alongside The Wedding and We As Human.
• Otenki: Another band born in 2004, Houston’s Otenki played at the Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour in 2005, 2006, and 2009, and even shared the stage with such big names as My Chemical Romance. The band’s music features “soaring vocal melodies, pulsating beats, ripping guitars while maintaining the band’s love for pop sensibility.” Band members German Hernandez, Enoma Asowata, Colton Majors, Fausto Padilla, Josh Tenorio, and Hector Tenorio is currently working on their new EP, KINETIC.

Visit our Southwest region page, and vote for your favorite band. The six regional winners will each receive a 2011 Chevy Cruze for their road trip for Las Vegas where they will compete directly against each other at the Battle of the Bands concert. The final winner from the six finalists will perform at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards on May 22.

Don’t forget to keep up-to-date on our latest stories, as we’ll be highlighting the three Texas bands that are in the running for the grand prize. Go Southwest!