LA WeeklyPhotos and text by Timothy Norris
Or as it's known among some in the know: The 2008 Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Tour, Presented By TouchTunes.
Fans are lined up early. It only happens once a year in Los Angeles and US Air Guitar is back at the Troubadour.
Contestants get the run down and then chose numbers out of the hat for their time slot. Last years winner, Rockness Monster, gets to choose his position. He chose 19 of 20.
Damn right the chops are real!
Holy Shit! The Caplickster brings the fire, and makes the final round.
Prinz Of Belle Air flying high in the final round.
The Crusher brought props! And the licks to go with it! He makes it to the finals.
Miss June 2004, Mr. Kaps, Miss September 2006 and Mr. Hays outside the Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Championships at the Troubadour.
The Houston Rocket, from Los Angeles, rocks Loverboy all the way to the final round. The fans are going crazy for this rising star.
The Houston Rocket stuns the crowd and the judges with his trek into the crowd and then climbs the wall to hang upside down from the rafters of the Troubadour. The man kills it and the place is in a frenzy. Do we have a new star? Oh my, things are looking close.
Living legend C-Diddy rocks the Top Gun theme during intermission. He is truly a master!
The judges Greg Proops, Jeff Davis and Bret McKenzie aren't taking shit from no one. Well maybe that one guy…
Oh no, not the mime again! Poison The Will rocks a pretty tight set, but that doesn't mean he's not creepy! He has a rough time with the judges…
That is one pissed off mime … and he lets the crowd know it. Life of a judge isn't as easy as it looks.
Rockness Monster wows the crowd and the judges – but will it be enough?
The finalists are announced! Things didn't go well for Rockness. He may have been trying to recreate past glories by walking on the crowd. When the song ended he was only half way up. Disaster! This may be the heartbreak of the year!
The Houston Rocket slips into the splits. That kind of dedication to his craft is rarely seen these days.
Los Angeles, we have a new Champion! The Houston Rocket will represent the City of Angels in the nationwide finals later this year in New York. It's a Cinderella story.
Let the “Free Jam” commence. Fans and would be Air Guitar champs share the stage with the best of the best!
The Houston Rocket rides the wave of tonight's success. But how will he do in New York? Stay tuned…
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.