North Carolina residents hoping for the next Scotty McCreery, Fantasia Barrino or Clay Aiken on this season of "American Idol" are likely disappointed with the show's Top 20 males and Top 20 females.

Two Tar Heel residents were sent packing before the final cut to the Top 40, which was shown Thursday night.

Particularly surprising was the elimination of Kez Ban, right, a 27-year-old street musician and fire performer from Durham. Kez Ban had received a lot of airtime earlier this season because she was like no one else — a quirky troubadour wearing boots wrapped in crime-scene tape. But her unique voice blew the judges away.

"American Idol" doesn't air its North Carolina auditions episode until next week. But an unusual performer from Durham was featured on Thursday night's show, which was devoted to auditions from Chicago last year.

Kez Ban, a 27-year-old street musician who says she also sometimes performs with fire, doesn't look anything like your typical "Idol" auditioner. With her jaunty hat and a boot wrapped with crime scene tape, Kez Ban, right, seems like the kind of quirky cannon fodder we often see on the auditions. Somebody who sings terribly and gets giggles and pained faces from the judges.

But when the Durham resident sings, we're all in for a surprise. Kez Ban is actually pretty good! She sings "I've Got No Strings" (yes, from "Pinocchio") first. Then she asks if she can play her guitar and perform one of her original compositions. The song, "Wandering," is nice. And it certainly stands out amid some of the overwrought ballads or screechy rock anthems that other hopefuls audition with.