The final installment of the Maybe Mars Showcase Preview features Beijing rising stars Rustic.

While Rustic aren’t even technically on the Maybe Mars label, creative team lead Nevin Domer has revealed that the label is heavily courting the young Hebei trio, stating that they “fill a spot that is lacking in the Chinese scene. That is a place for highly charismatic performers [and] rock stars.”

This isn’t Rustic’s first trip to Shanghai, they played very unmemorable gig at Yuyintang on Halloween, opening for 24 Hours . . . well, the music was unmemorable; Thunderbird-sporting bassist Rikki Sixx’s high kicks, leathers and blue eye-shadow left a lasting impression of his affinity for the vapid, early-80s L.A. glam-metal scene.

But therein lies the real question. Is Rustic more flash than smash?

It is my all-knowing opinion that bands have off nights, and, perhaps Rustic’s last show at YYT was, in fact, that.

Actually, since then, they’ve gone on the win the Hong Kong heat of the Global Battle of the Bands and are currently turning heads in London.

So will the new-and-improved Rustic show up at Friday’s showcase? Only one way to find out I guess . . .