Letters

HAMPSTEAD - Just before taking the stage for his latest show, guitarist Geo DeCampo sounded more like a politician than a musician. He is attempting to garner as many votes as possible. If DeCampo can get enough of them, his rock band might just open for KISS, the legendary performers he's idolized for most of his life. DeCampo, the guitarist for Carroll County rockers P.U.S.H., entered his band into the Guitar Center On Stage KISS Contest. At each stop during the 22-city KISS tour, an unsigned band will serve as the opening act. The winning band at each site will be chosen, in part, by an online popularity contest. The top five online vote getters at www.eventful.com/competitions/kiss2010/bristow will be considered as an opening act for its 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21 concert at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Va. KISS band members will pick one of the five finalists to serve as the opening act. Online voting continues until approximately two weeks before the concert. That means DeCampo and his bandmates have a little more than a month to make sure they qualify. So far, P.U.S.H. is near the top of the leaderboard. P.U.S.H. is currently in second place in the voting and had almost 1,000 votes as of Wednesday. "I don't think anything could touch it," said DeCampo, of opening for KISS. "Maybe the only thing would be joining them on stage for a couple songs." Opening for KISS would cap a landmark year for P.U.SH., a rock band founded in 2003 that is enjoying a breakthrough year. The band, comprising of DeCampo (guitar), Johnnie Black (lead vocals), Jamie Loud (drums) and Alan "Space" Chapman (bass), released its debut, self-titled CD earlier this year. DeCampo lives in Manchester. Black, who joined the band nearly a year ago, lives in Mount Airy. Chapman is a North Carroll graduate. P.U.S.H. performs throughout the region and most recently performed in Carroll at Genova's in Hampstead Friday. The set list included selections from their debut CD and covers of Van Halen, Buckcherry and Papa Roach hits. P.U.S.H. also performed "Rock and Roll All Nite," the legendary KISS single originally released on their 1975 album "Dressed to Kill." It's a cover DeCampo has performed dozens of times through the years in multiple KISS tribute bands. He is accustomed to donning white-and-black face makeup, just like his favorite band. While all four band members said it would be a dream come true to open for KISS before Friday's show, DeCampo seems to be the most enthusiastic about the opportunity. DeCampo said he also organized the Baltimore KISS Expo in 2001 and 2002. The event attracted about 600 people in 2001. He keeps an extensive collection of KISS memorabilia, including signed postcards and a pinball machine, at a room in his Hampstead home. "In my opinion, this is legitimately the biggest band in the world," DeCampo said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Stiff competition Several unsigned bands are competing for the right to open for KISS when the legendary rock band performs at 6:30 Aug. 21 at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Va. The Guitar Center On Stage online KISS contest will help decide who opens for the band. P.U.S.H., a rock band with Carroll ties, is among the leaders in online vote getters. Here�s a look at the contenders to open for KISS: . P.U.S.H. Votes so far: Nearly 1,000 About the band: The rockers just released their self-titled debut CD and feature plenty of ties to Carroll. Guitarist Geo DeCampo is from Manchester. Alan �Space� Chapman (bass) is a North Carroll graduate. Lead singer Johnnie Black lives in Mount Airy.