The Photosynthesizers were confident their music would catch on. “We knew there was a different vibe to it,” bassist Michael “Mikemetic” Williams says. That vibe got mad props from none other than Snoop Dogg, for whom they’ve opened twice, and who can be seen on YouTube being serenaded by MC Samsun. This summer the group will play First Avenue in Minneapolis, the legendary venue from Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

Myspace.com/photosynthesiz

Second Place: Les La Britanica

Third Place: Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz)