By: John Matthew Simon

There are many things that make up the good life, and being a finalist is definitely one of them. Chicago’s very own high-octane punk rockers Counterpunch won the right to represent our fair and blustering city in the final voting for PopChip’s Pop Up Live Contest. They swept the judges off their proverbial feet by redefining what it means to produce a pop-up show. With their Pop Up Live video for the song “We Believe” they simply out did the competition. Enough so that guest judge Tom Windish, founder and owner of the Windish Agency, was taken-a-back by their shoot location stating, “I love the idea for the venue, fantastic!” By simply transforming their tour bus into a mobile punk show they proved to the judges that they embrace and embody everything that is Chicago. With comparisons to local staples 88 Fingers Louie, Apocalypse Hoboken, and Alkaline Trio, to name a few, it is no wonder these “Punchsters” won the opportunity to make us proud. As one of the illustrious five finalists they will be competing for the opportunity to play a set at Spin Magazine’s SXSW stage this upcoming March 2012. They will be up against New York’s winner Christine Hoberg, San Francisco’s winner The Bruises, Los Angeles’ winner Starving For Gravity, and Seattle’s winner Ramona the Band. Fans are encouraged to support the city of Chicago by voting for Counterpunch to win the grand prize. What began as a contest of 250 bands from these 5 great American cities has wound down to the 5 best bands fit to represent their hometowns. So to keep our brows high, our swagger swinging, and our pride abundant let’s vote until our city’s punk rockers are in Austin showing them what Chicago is all about. Head over to Pop Up Live Contest page by November 14^th at 11:59pm Pacific Time to make sure they are in running for the prize an on November 15^th the winning band will be announced by PopChips and Spin Magazine.