European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday april 82007 scene tars and stripes Page 7 Kent the one constant at base competitions in Safe idol is touch n go the seven member Safe band that includes guitarist Jason Gale the staff sergeant wowed the crowd at Aviano with a few blistering solos Scott maj Larry Speer a c20 Pilot at Ramstein air base Germany belts out Neil diamonds America Well enough for first place during the 2005 Safe idol contest at Ramstein Kent master of ceremonies Bobby Mccorkel tries to lighten up nervous contestants at Aviano by asking them a few questions before they perform Here the staff sergeant asks Jovone Lewis if she sings in the Shower Brammer works for american forces network but said talking into a camera didst give her an advantage i do a lot of theater acting she said so that helped some Brammert stage experience probably helped while vocals make up 60 percent of the total score judges who Range from three to five at the various base competitions base 40 percent on stage presence 1 Admire your Talent Brig Gen Robert Yates com Mander of the 31st fighter Wing and one of the judges at Aviano told the 10 contestants at his base i also Admire your courage because theres no Way id manage the courage to get up and do that it helps to have a few friends on Kent senior airman Brad  emotion into his version of incomplete during the Aviano idol Competition on March 24 stage in this Case that touch n go a seven member band from Safe that plays at All the shows Matthew Peacock Doug Bennett Bass Jason Cale Lead guitar and Jerry Textor Drums Are there for every song its the contestants who change its definitely a Challenge for someone who has never Sung with a band before said Geoff Fisher one of two vocalists with touch n go it takes some getting used to the band practices with each contestant for 30 minutes the Day before the performance much of the time is spent playing the primary song the contestant wants to sing Guidry said contestants must select two songs one from a list of about 300 the band already knows and another of their own Choice the second song is Sung Only by the Winner at the local contests Michael Smith the bands sound Engineer records the band play ing the song and then makes a go so the contestant can practice later and he and the rest of the band offer a few tips if were too High or too Low we can change the key for you Ben Nett told one contestant at the rehearsal 1 know you dont want to put the microphone closer to your face be cause it Doest look As Good on television but it sounds better he told another an Kaiserslautern is expected to tape part of the final com petition for broadcast later Guidry said most of the songs chosen Are pretty easy for the band to pick up no one has chosen to try rap yet or Metai Rock the final round the 2007 Safe idol contest will begin at 7 pm saturday at the officers club on Ramstein air base Germany there is no admission charge for spectators and seating will be available on a firs come basis Here Are last years winners 1 St place senior airman Tony Howard Volkel air base Netherlands 2nd place staff sgt Michelle Miller Ramstein air base Germany 3rd place master sgt Douglas Gosselin Raf Lakenheath England honorable mentions master sgt Irand Denton Raf Mildenhall England capt Shelly Frank Raf wicca Bury England capt Hallie Losee Lajes azores senior airman Elizabeth Milliken Laviano air base Italy i tech sgt waiter Womack incur Likiar base Turkey most of it Falls within a realm of what they normally do he said pop Rock or country everyone shows up for a dress rehearsal the morning of the show for a final run through with the band the audiences and number of performers vary across the theater there might be Only a few dozen people watching at Raf Alconbury there were almost that Many contestants on stage 19 at the local show at Ramstein Brammer said she didst expect to win at Aviano and will just try to enjoy her experience at Ramstein to be wanted to do mis just so i could sing with the Safe band be said  be there Simon Paula and the rest Wilf have to read about it or Snag a tape from an email Kent Harris at