Warped Tour Battle of the Bands: Help an Austin Brotha Out

The Vans Warped Tour is back and taking charge this summer with more rocktastic bands than ever. Flogging Molly, Less Than Jake, NOFX, and tons of others are on the docket for this summer's tour. Like years past, there is a Battle of the Bands competition. What's different about this year's competition? An Austin band is currently second in line to win the ultimate grand prize—a trip to Hollywood to play at the Vans after party, $15,000 Guitar Center shopping spree, Alternative Press Exposure, full Ernie Ball Music Man endorsement, guaranteed fame for life, etc. Who are these lucky bastards? Fatback Circus, up-and-coming avant-garde funk masters of the city. While it's an incredible accomplishment to get this far in the game, they still need your help to go all the way (That's what she said?). Here's the deal. You can vote once per day for your choice of band. We recommend that choice of band be Fatback Circus. They're already winning for the Dallas, Houston and San Antonio tour spots, but wouldn't it be cool to see a local act make it to Hollywood? Regardless of origins, wouldn't it be shameful if a band called "American Hitmen" won—well, anything? Sure, their trashy metal skeeze rock might fit right in with the Warped Tour crowd, but it's time the Tour threw some jazzy bluegrass into the mix. These guys blow the whistle right off the teapot in the talent department with the combination of soaring vocals, syncopated drum beats, thriving bass lines and twangy guitar hooks. Oh and don't forget the kooky charm. They lay it on thick in the unnervingly awesome videos for "Dustbowl Blues" and "Jessica."