1/31/07, 12:00 pm EST

Our New, Ace Concert Reviewer: Jason Coon Wins Assignment Three

For our third “I’m From Rolling Stone” writing contest, we asked you to write a concert review for a show you attended in the new year. Last week, we introduced our twenty finalists, and today, we present the winner: Jason Coon, for his review of The Wynn Brothers Band in Maitland, Florida. As if going to the concert wasn’t prize enough, we’re throwing in a brand new First Act SFA Edition Lola CE120 guitar and a Rhapsody Sansa MP3 player.

Executive editor Joe Levy had this to say about this week’s entry:

Jason’s entry had the best lede of the bunch: “I smelled puke in the parking lot as I exited the car.” Bonus points for a fitting description of 90 percent of the opening bands I’ve seen in my life: “It doesn’t suck.” Delivers on feel, sound and smarts.

RUNNERS UP

Noelle Ibrahim on Justin Timberlake (San Diego)
Best straight-ahead journalism of the bunch. And the writing glows like the neon wristband on a Justin Timberlake fan’s wrist.

Brian Wheeler on a street exchange
Best creative writing. Turns an argument in the street into a musical performance.

Justin Baker on Deep Blue (Chicago)
Best sense of place. The drinking is more vivid than the music, but it is a bar after all.

Matt Ziselman on street musicians (New York City)
Another great lede. You want compelling? Try making the reader want to hear a nameless singer in a bus station.

Bummed your concert review didn’t make it to print? Here’s another chance to, as Jay-Z would say, “Show us what ya got.” For our fourth assignment, it’s your task to curate your own music festival. You still have until Friday at noon to enter, so send ‘em here.