Turnabout Is Fairplay

As good as those imports were, though, it was the homegrown acts that stood out the most this year. Although they had a meager turnout, the members of Deuce Mob -- who professed to killing Kenny -- absolutely shone during their gig at the skatepark. Meanwhile, folks gathered on the South Park Library Lawn gobbled up the Trampolines' buoyant ear candy by the fistful. A little later, Pee Pee played an exceptional batch of tunes that made its grin-inducing moniker all the more perplexing, and P-Nuckle lit up the American Legion Hall with its impassioned set of reggae-scorched rock.

And finally, Slim Cessna summoned his trademark Pentecostal fervor and delivered a set of tunes so good that -- well, hell, son, it kind of made you want to kiss a dude or something.

Upbeats and beatdowns: Make your mark with plenty of hand stamps this weekend. Collect the first at the Gothic Theatre on Friday, September 15, when Semifreak will fly the flag one last time with Spools of Dark Thread, Drug Under and Prayata; or hit Cricket on the Hill to catch Yerkish, Vices I Admire, Herm and Alias Unknown. That same night, Pena, Prolly and Action Friend set things in motion at the 15th Street Tavern; DJ Thought helms a think tank at the Larimer Lounge; the Photo Atlas charts its upcoming tour at the hi-dive; and Lotus Black, Josh Trinidad Trio and New Ancient Astronauts form a search party at Toad Tavern to locate Blackbird Down. Then on Saturday, September 16, get your pirate gear together and head to the Walnut Room to check out the Potcheen Folk Band with Sweetwater Mojo, or head over to Rockbar, the new high-class dive, for School Daze.