Artist: Various Artists

Title: The Almost Famous Band CD

Label: N/A

Format: Full length compact disc

Disc condition: Brand New

Container condition: Sealed

UPC: N/A

Comments: A benefit CD for the Richmond, Virginia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Includes 16 tracks by various area musicians. It was part of the Almost Famous Band competition held in 1980 at the Innsbrook Pavillion. An article in the Richmond, Virginia alternative news site "Style Weekly" reported on the event, and the winner Seth whose performance appears on this CD set: "The Richmond power-rock quintet Seth has the dual-guitar assault of Judas Priest and vocals reminiscent of Metallica. But it's not a cover band. The group's hour-long set proudly boasts almost all original compositions. The one cover they perform, Cheap Trick's "Dream Police," has been so changed in sound that it is, in bassist Joel Benson's words, "not a cover but a remake." The band has opened for Quiet Riot, released a four-song CD and is now gearing up for a celebration performance at Mulligans on Jan. 25. The winners of the "Almost Famous" battle-of-the-bands contest are scheduled to appear this week with several other local bands for a three-day CD release party. The "Almost Famous Band CD" will include the Seth song "Can't You Forget," as well as songs by a number of other contestants. For this turn-the-amps-up, thunderous rock act, the honor was unexpected. When the group signed up for the June best-original-band contest along with more than 25 area bands they never expected to win. Drummer Sammy Lee figured that a hard-rock/heavy-metal act couldn't possibly be picked for the winning slot, so he said they just jumped on-stage and put on their usual act. "When we got up there to play we decided to just have a good time," Lee says. "We didn't have the mind-set of winning, so it was a shock when we won." Anyone who has heard them play won't be surprised by their victory. Vocalist Carlton McMichael would be overpowering if he were not matched by the virtuoso guitar duo of Kenny Tibbs and Chris Perkins. While Tibbs and Perkins can rip up the fretboard, you won't hear any drawn-out guitar Odysseys from Seth. The reason: Seth is a tight ensemble that focuses on playing as a unit. "You won't see any long guitar solos where the rest of the band leaves the stage," Tibbs says."