The 2007 Atlanta Laptop Battle Championship is on @ Lenny’s!

It’s that time of year once again when Atlanta’s finest amateur computer music heads leave the safety of their bedrooms to compete in a battle of wits, skill and mouseplay at the Atlanta Laptop Battle III final competition.

Eight of city’s finest laptop virtuosos who have thus far made it through two semi-final competitions earlier this year are now going head-to-head for the grand prize: over $1,000 in software and a ticket to Seattle to compete in the National Laptop Battle Championship this December.

The aliases for this year’s eight finalists include: Andrew Provine, Charlie P. (both of whom perform together in the band Random Rabbit), pH., Josh Clayton (DJ for WREK/91.1FM’s “The Mobius” show), Dr, Maximilian Reinhart, El Hadron, Citizen Green and Poodleface. These bold souls will converge upon Lenny's to do battle for the crown of Atlanta’s 2007 Laptop champion.

The winner will be crowned by a panel of three judges, whom this year's ATL Laptop Battle organizer and last year’s winner Matt “Threv” Simpson describes as thus:

Jason Freeman (www.jasonfreeman.net) - Jason Freeman's works break down conventional barriers between composers, performers and listeners, using cutting-edge technology and unconventional notation to turn audiences and musicians into compositional collaborators. Freeman received his B.A. in music from Yale University and his M.A. and D.M.A. in composition from Columbia University. He recently joined the faculty at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he is an assistant professor in the music department.

Randy Garcia (www.randygarcia.com) - Founder of Nophi Recordings & transplant from the hell of Florida, Randy calls Reynoldstown home nowadays. With countless electronic & rock albums under his belt, Mr. R_Garcia is no stranger to the foibles, peaks and valleys of laptop recording & performance.

Alex Hofelich - One of my closest friends & the catalyst behind Skinny Puppy Education Day, Alex has a discerning taste as a music *fan*.

All three judges will focus on audience response, laptop interaction and sound quality, and originality. Each contestant faces off in a double-elimination tournament using only a laptop and one external MIDI controller, and three minutes to do their best while keeping their eyes on the prize.

For more information go to www.nophi.net/laptopbattle

The Laptop Battle Championship happens at Lenny's on Thursday, Oct. 18. Competition starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $5. Battle will be followed by a performance from R_Garcia.