Local rock bands were the main attraction Friday and Saturday nights during Atomic Promotions New Music Showcase 3 at The Whitehorse Sports Bar and Patio on Brice Road in Reynoldsburg. More than 600 tickets were sold for Friday night’s show. Everyone who attended the showcase is given a compilation CD of songs by all of the participants in the showcase. There were nine bands featured throughout the two-day weekend, and the array of music played included; alternative modern rock, punk, power pop and spiritual rock. The bands on Friday night’s roster were: Krawl, The Vague, Weasel King, Zedos and NUdE.Troy Stacy, owner of Atomic Promotions and vice president of Ratti Records looked forward to putting on the showcases because of the opportunity it gives the artists. “The artists are able to use the showcase as a platform for self-promotion,” Stacy said. “We give out 1,000 CDs at each showcase.” Ratti Records has received national acclaim for its work on the “Bullworth” and “Blade” soundtracks and has six confirmed soundtrack projects for the new year. Of the five groups mentioned, Weasel King is the only group that had performed at an Atomic Promotions showcase before. Eric Hauter, lead singer for Weasel described their last performance as very successful. “We gave away 400 CDs and it helped a lot with our exposure,” Hauter said. “Last time, bar sales doubled while we were on stage; we hope to do that again and we want everyone to get involved and have them freak out.”The Vague, a group that describes their sound as power pop, has received national accreditation from “Musician Magazine.” They were rated the third-best unsigned band nationwide. As Chuck Oney, lead singer and rhythm guitar player of the group explained, one of their goals for the showcase was to play for other bands’ crowds in hopes to get new fans.Krawl, a hard alternative rock band, has opened for national recording artists such as Bad Company, Cinderella, Warrant and Bullet Boys. They have played around Ohio, including Cleveland and Cincinnati, but as Andy Crothers, drummer for the group sees it, playing at OSU would guarantee them control of the local scene. “In order to rule Columbus we have to start on campus,” Crothers said.Brian Lucey, singer and guitar player for NUdE, said that other people describe their sound to be comparable to that of The Doors, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. According to Lucey, the main goal of the group was for everyone to enjoy themselves. “We just do what we do and people will respond if they’re moved by it,” Lucey said.Fat Johnny, the host of a “Local Stuff” on WMGG (99.7) the Blitz, came to the showcase as a fan of Zedos. “I’ve never been to any of the showcases, but I’ve seen Zedos at college shows two or three times before,” Johnny said. “They are good musicians and their songs are really catchy.”