Wow. I TOTALLY agreed with your first five.

But I have some doubts with some of these picks.

40 Watt Hype is undoubtably one of the best, tightest, and most well-known bands from Fresno.

However, I never see them performing successfully in front of more than several hundred folks at a club, at Woodward Park, or at the 9ers pre-show at Monster Park.

Labels need to sell millions of records (you know what I mean, DVD's, singles, whatever they're called now).

I think they're very very near the peak of their potential...and subsequently will be able to tour forever with success, and sell DVDs with success, but on a very small scale....not enough to appeal to a major label.

Super Lucky Catz you acknowledged was one of your faves, and therefore a pick. I think you might be much closer to this pick, as they could ride on the John Mayer bandwagon, but again.....well, no. If they hit the Dave Matthews niche, then yes, I actually agree with you. They're really tight, can sound great live and recorded. Yes. Good choice after all.

Marilyn Fernandez will be signed soon. She's been packaged all her life in Sanger, choreographed, professionally photographed, put in front of the big Norteno crowd here in Fresno. I'm really surprised she doesn't get more Fresno Fair type gigs. I was stunned when you announced her as not being signed yet.

Trey Tosh. Hm. He's a superior talent. AMAZING. And smarter than Corby Yates. Corby played fast. Superfast. Could play Jimi at age 13. Trey's story is similar, but he's got a bit of soul where I always wished for Corby to get his heart broken a few times.

HOWEVER...who's going to sign Trey? A John Mayer type? I dunno. He strikes me more like Kenny Wayne Shepherd...NOT front-man material (tho he's really funny onstage). A Cash McCall. No Stevie-Ray Vaughn, and still sooo young.

I really enjoy seeing him perform in front of 20 folks who are stunned by his abilities...but it would take major marketing to stun the entire world. Tough pick, MikeOz.

I agree that you had a tough decision to make for your last pick...after the top 6 or so picks, the bands really muddle together. Rademacher was your choice, but it could have been any number of other folks/groups.

I personally really like Rademacher and their local following. Brad Basmajian knows a thing or two about band-making and indie record labels, and the gender mix of the group is appealing. Definitely a possibility in the indie world. I can definitely see them one day showing up on SNL, with the world saying "WHO??!?" but the smart music crowd applauding and already loving them.

With Rademacher, I defer to a Kendra Glazebrook or Kat Jones, somebody who really knows what good music is for the twenty-somethings (or even a MikeOz!), but whether they'll really make it or not?

Who knows?

Some good picks here, and obviously you worked hard on it. THANKS!