America's Got Talent Portland Auditions

America's Got Talent has traveled from Orlando to the great Northwest and where they landed in Portland, Oregon. The nine Portland talents that were sent through by the judges to Vegas include (listed in alphabetical order by first name) - Airpocalypse, Bhangra Empire, Connor Doran, Iron Horse, Jeremy Vanschoonhoven, Northwest Dance & Acro, Sally Cohn, The Strange Familiar, and William "Scott" Anderson.

Airpocalypse on America's Got Talent
Strange. That's the one word that describes these 3 guys. They not only play air guitar but play the complete air band. Of course they got easy brownie points with Sharon by using Paranoid, one of Ozzy's songs from Black Sabbath as their song of choice.

Bhangra Empire on America's Got Talent
The Bhangra Empire is an Indian Folk Dance Group made up of 18-28-year-olds.

Connor Doran on America's Got Talent
This teenager that has been diagnosed with epilepsy uses indoor kite flying to reduce his stress. Indoor kite flying sounds dumb, right? But it was actually inspirational to watch as he guided his kite around the stage to The Arms of an Angel. It's something you just have to see to believe.

Iron Horse on America's Got Talent
Iron Horse is a band that didn't get enough TV air time to make an assessment of them.

Jeremy Vanschoonhoven on America's Got Talent
This 27-year-old stunt bicyclist was sent to Vegas even though he fell off one of his props.

Northwest Dance & Acro on America's Got Talent
Another young dance group of 6 young and 6 older girls (7-18) who are very limber.

Sally Cohn on America's Got Talent
Sally Claims to be a hand whistler but I'm not sure that she's not a stand-up comedian. She did whistle a great rendition of America the Beautiful right after she licked her hands which was a trunoff for Sharon. Sharon gives her the big red X and immediately gets rebuked from Piers for doing that! Sally then went on to peddle a book she has published; Howie went to the stage and bought one from her.

The Strange Familiar on America's Got Talent
This singer and musician weren't given much air time but it was enough to hear the great voice; I'd like to hear a complete song or at least the 90 seconds the talents are allotted in the first round.

William "Scott" Anderson on America's Got Talent
Scott is a Medical Evacuation Pilot in the U.S. Army whose main passengers were Afghan children. He liked to perform magic for them to try to put a smile on their face. His origami-based magic is executed brilliantly.

So far auditions for America's Got Talent have been held in LA, Dallas, twice in New York, twice in Orlando and now in Portland. Here's my list of top ten contenders so far:

1. Fighting Gravity, Fraternity Brothers, Dance Group, NY Auditions 1
2. Prince Poppycock, 32, Singer/Entertainer, NY Auditions 1
3. Haspop, Entertainer,LA Auditions
4. Arc Attack, Technological Performance Group, Dallas Auditions
5. William "Scott" Anderson, 31, (Military) Magician, Portland 1 Auditions
6. Michael Grasso, 36, Magician, NY Auditions 2
7. The Strange Familiar, 27, Musician/Singer, Portland 1 Auditions
8. Nathaniel "Nate" Kenyon, 19, Musician, Orlando Auditions 1
9. Wreckless, 17-26, Dance Group, Orlando Auditions 1
10. Michael Grimm, 30, Musician,LA Auditions

Even though there is not an America's Got Talent just for under 18-year-olds, I have a top seven list for the 18 and under talents.

1. Simeon Mulder, 16, Musician, Orlando 2 Auditions
2. Lil Chris, 12, Singer, Orlando Auditions 1
3. CJ Dippa, 11, Rapper & Writer, Dallas Auditions
4. Northwest Dance & Acro, 7-18, Dance Group, Portland Auditions
5. Connor Doran, 17, Indoor Kite Flier, Portland Auditions
6. Taylor Matthews, 18, Musician,Dallas Auditions
7. Anna & Patryck, 12, Dance Duo, NY Auditions 2

America's Got Talent Portland Auditions aired Tuesday, June 23 on NBC.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION

Sources:
America's Got Talent