No concert deserves a higher recommendation than Thursday's Battle of the Bands finals at the Vogue. Six acts, advancing from an original pool of more than 90 competitors, will vie for a cash prize of $1,500 and a new van for future tours. The weekly survivor series began March 6 at the Patio. At the finals, a complex formula will determine the winner. Each audience member will select first, second and third favorites on a paper ballot. These votes will be compiled for 50 percent of the final tally. The other 50 percent will come from 11 judges and a 12th weighted ballot -- which will replicate the top three audience picks.

For anyone remotely curious about original music in Indianapolis, the event will be a one-stop showcase of elite musicians. Which isn't to say that these are the only high-quality bands in town. But all six are great.

Here are capsule descriptions of the finalists:

Devil To Pay

Lineup: Steve Janiak, vocals, guitar; Rob Secrist, guitar; Matt Stokes, bass; Chad Prifogle, drums. About the band: Devil to Pay is one of two finalists to feature Steve Janiak on vocals and guitar. With four public performances on its resume, the band specializes in riff-intensive metal akin to Black Sabbath and Queens of the Stone Age. "Heavy rock is always going to be around, no matter what people try to do," Janiak says. "I think people like their extremes in music." More info: www. deviltopay.net.

Extra Blue Kind

Lineup: David Handy, vocals, guitar; David Barajas, guitar; Randee Eimer, drums; Squirt Plew, bass. About the band: Winners of a spring band search sponsored by WRZX-FM (103.3), Extra Blue Kind earned radio play for its song "King of Everything." Handy says songwriting comes naturally for the quartet. "When we get together to practice, a lot of times we won't even rehearse any of our material," he says. "We'll just kind of go at it with fresh and new things." More info: www.extrabluekind .com.

The Fuglees

Lineup: Andy Kuhn, vocals, bass; Erich Anderson, vocals, guitar; Tom Knapp, drums. About the band: The Fuglees, also one of three finalists in the X103 band search, released debut album "Go Apesh*t!" earlier this year. Kuhn says the trio views the Battle concept as more of an introduction than competition. "If we can play in front of people and sell some CDs, that's great," Kuhn says. "It's a way to get more people on the Fuglees team." More info: www.the fuglees.com.

Loretta

Lineup: Jason Weidner, vocals, guitar; Damon Weidner, vocals, guitar; Jeremy Weidner, drums; Stan Muller, guitar; Matt Akers, bass. About the band: The members of Loretta offer Radiohead and Sunny Day Real Estate as reference points when describing the band's sound. Brothers Jason, Damon and Jeremy Weidner perfected their vocal harmonies as youngsters in church. "When I write a song, I'll sing along in a half-voice and not think a lot of it," Jason says. "Then we go to put it together and I think, 'Oh, how are we going to pull that off?' But we find the spots in our voices to let it fit." More info: www. lorettamusic.net.

Pub Sigs

Lineup: Steve Janiak, vocals, guitar; Larry King, guitar; Chris Coy, bass; Mark Davis, drums. About the band: As the third X103 finalist also to advance to this event's ultimate round, the Pub Sigs have roots in the local music community that date to the early '90s. Guitarist Larry King overcame a finger injury and fresh stitches to perform during the battle's semifinal round. "I was really surprised that we made it," Janiak says. More info: www.pubsigs.com.

The Slurs

Lineup: Justin Allen, vocals; Jim Kuczkowski, guitar; Nick Pryor, guitar; Kris Messer, bass; Brad Wallace, drums. About the band: As the Hives and White Stripes usher a garage- rock revival to national prominence, the wild and woolly Slurs seem made for these times. "We're trying to be like preachers in church: Get everybody going, but it's not just about us," says Kuczkowski. "It's about rock 'n' roll." More info: www.punkrocknight.com.