Brace yourself, Kansas City. In one week's time, the lunacy begins.

US Air Guitar National Finals will be held at the Midland Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 9th (buy your tickets here!). But that's more than a week away, you say. You are correct, Captain Calendar. But the Dark Horse competition is one week from today, marking the kickoff of all the festivities. I would tell you where it's taking place, but I don't actually know yet. USAG has told us that it's going to be in Lawrence, Kansas, but that's as much as mere mortals know.

Dark Horse

Mere mortals do, however, know a bit more about how it's going to be in terms of competition, though. Contrary to some of what I had speculated in my last post on the subject, this year won't have fewer than last year's roster of 25 air guitarists - it will have MORE! They're looking at 30 competitors this year, which seems nearly impossible. As usual, I'm going to try and report live over the Twitters, but with 30 competitors, we'll just see how long my phone lasts.

We also know that there may be some invitees from the qualifier level after all. USAG has confirmed that they will ask qualifier hosts for their thoughts on certain competitors, so even if there wasn't someone from HQ in attendance, if they've heard good things, they may extend that invitation. I'm happy to hear it! After all, if only the top 3 of each qualifier goes on to semis, who's to say that the 4th place finisher wasn't also a superb air guitarist who missed it by thaaaaat much? And oftentimes that is precisely the case. I'm not going to retract my statement that the semis are hugely important, and that most of the Dark Horse invitations will be decided at that level, but I guess what I'm saying is not to lose hope if you can't crack the top 3 in your town.

To bring it back to Boston for a second, this year, with our smaller number of competitors, is not the year for surprise Dark Horses. There are really 5 people who may get an invite this year, and I can confirm one of them did. The top 3, DTT, Rockupine, and Dark/Dead Ghost of Operation Rockapussy, made it to semis but did not win there, so that's an obvious set of choices. Captain Airhab has also been invited, and also competed at semis, since qualifier hosts get a bye through to that round. He's the one I can confirm is going to compete. And I'd also assume that Filthy Fingers got invited - I don't know if he did or not, but I'd be a little shocked if he didn't - and while he didn't compete in the Northeast Semifinals in NYC, he did make the trip down to DC to compete in the Southeast Semis. I'm not saying his invitation would be only due to his semis performances this year - he's a constant in the Boston scene and has competed up and down the East Coast before, USAG is aware of his skills - but the fact does remain that every one of these clear choices did compete in a semifinal as well as just the Boston qualifier. The rest of the competitors this year were either walk-ons or relatively new and green (not that a first-timer can't get Dark Horse, but they would need to be a very impressive first-timer, perhaps like last year's Awkward at Best). So, no one would be startled by any of these gentlemen getting the nod. Not all of them will be there in Kansas City, but that's a constant concern with any invitees who don't live in the host city.

I'd expect a similar situation has played out with regard to most cities. If there were some impressive qualifier competitors who didn't get a semifinal invitation, they may well make it! I suspect that is a small number and may be mostly air guitarists who have a history, and while they may not have qualified to semis this time, their talents are known. I hope there are a handful of actual newbies, because those are the people I'll never see otherwise and that's something I love about Dark Horse - seeing the people who I'd otherwise never get to see.

Finals

We know most of the air guitarists who will be competing. Everyone who came in first through third in a semifinal is in. Then, add in the top 3 or 5 from Dark Horse. Would you like to see who everybody (minus Dark Horse) is? USAG has you covered! Behold!

(click image for full-size version)

The Midwest Semifinal made a little bit of a splash by sending on 4 people to the finals, since there was a tie at 2nd place and they didn't have them do an air-off. So, I guess, this final in the midwest will be ever-so-slightly weighted to a midwestern winner. I'm not mad about it. After all, any one competitor can have a great or a bad night, so any one of them, or any other air guitarist, could win next weekend.

I myself am really excited to see Thundergland and The Shred return, and Whalen Big Air to take the stage at finals for the first time. And, of course, to see who makes it via the Dark Horse! I also have high hopes for Rocky Rhoads - not to put pressure on her or anything, but I hope the judging recognizes her brand of high-energy awesome. I don't know who I have winning it all, but I see her getting round 2, anyway. What about you? Who are you excited to watch, and who do you forsee going on to Air Guitar World Championships in Finland?

Stay tuned to this blog (you can subscribe at right) or follow on Facebook or Twitter to get all the updates - I'll be doing it live as best as I can. Or, hopefully, see you in Kansas City!