2006 Best New Performer
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17.18% All Nite Skate*
Others with Votes (more than one):
Echo's Hill, Made to Change, Crouse & Brita, Huckleberry Blue, Between the Rooms, The Goddammits, LadyParts, Logikally Insane, Riverbottom Nitemare Band, Rock County, Stone Soup, Under the Wake
Best New Performer
Best New Solo Artist
* On the ballot
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Perhaps the coolest aspect of the Best New Performer category is that it is not genre specific. All Nite Skate, formed at the beginning of 2005, could easily fit into a Best Instrumental Performer category, if that existed. Nonetheless, the band started creating a name for itself with the release of their self-titled 2005 EP. Back then the band included guitarists Omar Afzaal and Bob Haddad, multi-instrumentalist Darcey Flanagan, bassist Cole Strader, drummer Kay Gregg and Michelle Whitlock on violin. Whitlock left permanently for the West Coast after the EP was released. Losing a member normally forces other line-up changes, but that wasn't the case for All Nite Skate. The remaining members began experimenting musically and began to develop their distinctive sound. "We do not specifically confine ourselves to being a strictly ‘instrumental' band," said Afzaal. "So far all the pieces that we have written as a band sound complete without the accompaniment of voice. People have slowly stopped with the ‘why don't you sing?' comments. I believe the importance of instrumental music is coming full-circle, and people are starting to realize that rock bands don't need singers necessarily. We've played with numerous instrumental bands outside of Fort Wayne. The shock of singer-less bands seems to be confined to northeast Indiana for some reason." In 2006 All Nite Skate released Western Shame, their debut full-length project. Considering the album's promotion was mostly DIY - local ‘zines, newspapers and word of mouth - sales were high and reviews were more than favorable. At the end of the year Western Shame was nominated for Best CD Release in 2006 in whatzup. "A lot of work was put into Western Shame," said Afzaal. "Almost painful amounts. It is a sort of payoff ... just the fact that our work has been noticed." In regard to being a part of the Whammy Awards and being a winner, Afzaal seemed kind of amazed at the whole process. "This is not something we're really used to," he said. "We've never played for a crowd like this, but it was exciting, and we had a good time. We just really want to say thank you." (John DeGroff) |
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