The last band standing?

When bands do battle, guitars shred, strings break and vocal cords are bound to rip. Rock-n-roll as a competition can be brutal. This fall, Baton Rouge-based indie rock sextet The Last Chalaron became a Top 12 finalist for Rhapsody and Land Shark Lager’s Battle of the Bands 2009. In September the group traveled to Nashville to perform a four-song showcase for the competition. Polls for online voting are open ’til Nov. 23, with the winning band getting a digital distribution deal, an advertorial in Rolling Stone and other prizes. To vote and view video of The Last Chalaron’s performance, visit landsharkrocks.com.

“Being picked as one of 12 bands out of almost 400 was a pretty good feeling, but being in Rolling Stone is every band’s dream, so I imagine it would be pretty surreal,” says lead singer Christian Crawford. “We’re just excited about getting our music out there. Whatever happens, happens.” myspace.com/thelastchalaron