2008 Best New Performer

26.46% Zephaniah* 16.49% The Outlaw Cowboys* 16.32% Heroes 4 Ghosts* 13.23% Wooden Satellites* 9.97% Pliers* 2.41% Shakin' Bake 2.23% Sum Morz 1.89% Mudbone 1.20% 3 S Eddie 0.86% Fistaface Others with Votes (more than one): 3:10 to Yuma, Edible, RP Wigs, Slip Kitty, Sour Mash Katz, Verge of Submission, Bill Certain, Dilemma, Flamingo Nosebleed, Love Hustler, The Staggerers Best New Performer 2007 Winner: Under the Wake 2006 Winner: All Nite Skate 2005 Winner: Unlikely Alibi 2004 Winner: Plow 2003 Winner: Matt Sturm Band 2002 Winner: Troolee Dangerous Blues Revue 2001 Winner: homeless J 2000 Winner: Shelly Dixon Band 1999 Winner: NA 1998 Winner: NA 1997 Winner: NA Best New Solo Artist 2001 Winner: Matt Gates 2000 Winner: Matt Sturm 1999 Winner: NA 1998 Winner: NA 1997 Winner: NA * On the ballot

For anyone who has been paying attention to the local music scene, Zephaniah's double win as 2008's Best New Performer and Best Metal/Hard Rock Performer should have come as no surprise. The power metal quartet made a lot of noise over the past 12 months. They recorded and released Stories from the Book of Metal, their Whammy-nominated debut album; made a bunch of new fans while competing in the whatzup Battle of the Bands; and toured regionally to great acclaim. The current lineup, which has been together for about two years now, shared members with last year's Best New Performer Under the Wake until that band's demise earlier this year. "We accomplished a lot in 2008," said drummer Ian Bender in a recent interview. "Our CD release show had almost 200 people in attendance and was a lot of fun. We have traveled to Virginia and Pennsylvania on tour and gained a lot of fans and recognition in the whatzup Battle of the Bands. We would like to thank everyone for taking the time to vote for us." Zephaniah are looking forward to another productive year in 2009, according to Bender. They just completed a short Midwest tour with Imminent Demise and are continuing to work on music for a new album that is likely to be released by the end of the year. The band also recently won the Wooden Nickel portion of the Search for the Next Great Metal Band, winning the right to appear on a compilation CD that will be distributed nationally, according to Wooden Nickel owner Bob Roets. More touring is sure to take place this summer, along with dates in and around the Fortress all year long. With a groundswell of support that garnered the band two awards in it's very first year of being nominated, it's likely Zephaniah will continue to collect Whammys for years to come. (Chris Hupe)

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