In this election, your voice will be heard

It’s voting season, one of the most crucial races we have seen since, well, the last election.

And how you vote could very well decide the future.

Now more than ever, you have to act.

But maybe you’re hesitant because of the candidate pool.

Is there anyone out there really worth your support? And do you know enough about any of them to even begin?

It’s easy to become cynical with the seemingly limitless, yet ironically limited, information we have access to.

That’s where 7 comes in.

We’re offering a totally unfiltered forum (save for foul language, of course) for all views to be represented and help you identify that force worth getting behind.

But first, we need honest participation from the competition.

In early November, 7 is hosting its first mp3 contest to see who you, the reader, think are the best bands to represent Spokane in this day and age.

If Spokane’s music scene had a president, who would it be?

Of course before voting, it’s important to be well-educated about your decision. So we want to take this time to remind you to listen to the ever-expanding catalog of mp3s at www.spokane7.com/

soundwave.

So far, there are nearly 80 downloadable mp3s by more than 30 local bands (and one regional band, but it’s cool). And the best part is, it won’t cost you a penny to download the music from our Web site. It’s free and bands have given their permission. So download your brains out.

There’s a vast array of styles, everything you would expect and then some – folk, metal, punk, hip-hop, reggae, ska and world beat – from bands to watch in the all-ages scene to respected fixtures in Coeur d’Alene. And the list is getting longer every seven days.

Listen to the candidates online and get ready to cast your vote. The deadline for bands to get their mp3s posted is Nov. 12. The contest begins the following week, so the earlier bands submit mp3s, the more time you have to download them. We’ll post results and announce the top bands’ mp3s soon after the polls close.

If you or someone you know have music to share, send an mp3 to isamuj@spokane7.com or a CD to 7 For President, c/o Isamu Jordan at The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA, 99201.

If your music contains explicit material, please be upfront and let us know so we can apply the appropriate filters to keep this site safe for your little brothers and sisters. It’s not like we won’t find out eventually.

And if you don’t yet have something recorded, you’re running out of excuses …

So please, tell everyone you know, and even a few people you don’t know, to go online and check out the music created in your hometown.

At least you know the popular vote will count.

If you have any questions about submitting mp3s, contact 7’s tech guru, Mr. Efficiency, aka Ryan Pitts, at (509) 459-5587 or ryanp@spokane7.com.