Perhaps the most intriguing element to the annual Shiner Rising Star competition is the length of the contest: In years past, the winners have been the acts that lit the stage on fire not once, but multiple times, over the course of several weeks. There have been many acts to dominate their opening round only to falter in later rounds, when they just weren't able to replicate the magic from their opening-round triumph.

For this year's competition, a prime example of such an unfortunate turn occurred this week: Battling for the last spot in next week's final showdown, which will determine the winner of a recording contract with Shiner Records was, Dallas' Chris Miller Band and the darlings from the early stage of the contest, Shutdown Town, duked it out to interesting circumstance.

We weren't on-hand this week to see how things went down--and, in all honesty, we didn't figure we needed to be. Shutdown Town's powerful, dominant formula of soul and classic rock seemed to be destined for one of the coveted, final slots. According to certain attendees on-hand last night, such a destiny wasn't meant to be, judging by their performance. Taking advantage of an alleged off-night from the Amanda Graves-led Shutdown Town, Miller and his mates made the judges choice a seemingly easy one.

 

With all of that out of the way, the climactic, final round will finally take place, next Thursday at Love & War in Texas, Plano.

Fighting for a record deal will be: Two Door Ford, The Big Benders, Rock Bottom Ramblers, The Will Callers and the Chris Miller Band.

With four of the five acts hailing from the metroplex, Thursday's showcase will be one that any local country fan shouldn't miss.