THE RUMBLE RUNDOWN: THE FINALS

It’s alllllllll over, and John Powhida International Airport — after trouncing each night of competition since their preliminary round — were crowned the victors of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble.

I’m absolutely thrilled for Mr. Powhida, as JPo remains one of my favorite Boston musicians to watch (and work with!) and they turned out fantastic performances each and every round of the Rumble. John’s stage banter is incomparable, his band is just as crazy and talented as he is and plenty of folks left TT’s frequent flyers of the John Powhida International Airport.

WITH THAT SAID: Oldjack and Spirit Kid need to be acknowledged as forces to be reckoned with in this whole shebang. I do not intend to take anything away from John Powhida International Airport in the slightest. If anything, I want to give them an additional pat on the back, because Oldjack and Spirit Kid were dictionary-worthy definitions of “worthy opponents” last night. I love me a good underdog, and Oldjack — who stunned people with their preliminary set, lost to Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents that round, took Jenny Dee’s place when they pulled out of the Rumble, lost that round and then moved on to the final as the final wild card (daaaamn) — delivered some of the finest numbers I’ve heard out of a Boston band as of late. Dan, Kelly and crew, as far as I’m concerned, you guys are the mascot for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble and what it’s all about. That, and “Chorus Line” is the one song that everyone belted out down Brookline Street:

Spirit Kid, however, will forever go down in record books as the most adorable goddamn band yet with the best tambourine player in Suffolk County. Emeen, thank you for the shout out for “Fly Trap,” you scamp, you. This song has been a regular in my iTunes queue since their album came across my desk. This isn’t a clip from the Rumble — and definitely not one with Emeen saying “This is for Hilary because she told me to” -- but it’s just as good! Guys, gimme another record to love soon, please.

So there you have it, friends. The Rumble has come and the Rumble has gone for another year, anyway. What we can take from the Class of 2011: Show up. Sing hard. Slug down a pickleback or two. And for chrissake,  open your ear drums because the friends and fans of Boston music are here to spread this kind of talent around like wildfire and love each other’s music harder than a drunk kid loves them some Falafel Palace at 3AM.