2008 Best Punk Performer
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28.65% Grave Robber*
Others with Votes:
* On the ballot | 
The area's punk rock scene has grown by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, thanks mostly to venues like The Brass Rail and Berlin, who host the best local, regional and national acts on a regular basis. So it came as no surprise that this year's competition for Best Punk Performer was a hotly contested and wide open one. Though it was a close contest, Grave Robber secured enough votes to notch it's first Whammy win, just edging out scene mainstays Riverbottom Nitemare Band, Flamingo Nosebleed and The Lurking Corpses, among others. Grave Robber formed in 2005 as a side project of two members of two-time Punk Performer of the Year The Migraines. The concept of Grave Robber melded a new idea with an old one to create a unique concept called Christian horror punk. According to lead vocalist Wretched, "the idea was to start a band that sounded as close to the Misfits as we could and use Biblical references in a horror context." The side project quickly became a full-time band, as they began touring regionally and nationally while continuing to play shows in their hometown. Last year brought the release of their CD, Be Afraid, sold not just locally but through various distribution deals in Europe and Japan. The band received national press attention in 2008 from HM Magazine and Rue Morgue. They also garnered a lot of attention last year by headlining the Underground Music Stage at the prestigious Cornerstone Festival in Illinois. "It's awesome to see that we have a lot of fans in the area that were willing to vote for us, even though we are kind of a freak show" said guitarist Lamentor about this year's victory. "We want to thank them for their loyalty and votes and hope to see them again soon. We're hoping to win best R&B performer next year." What lies ahead for Christ's costumed crusaders? The band, who cancelled a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina gig in order to perform at this years Whammys, plans to begin recording the follow-up to Be Afraid in April and will tour the Midwest this summer, with another headlining spot at Cornerstone already secured. The new album should be released by the end of the year, if everything goes as planned. (Chris Hupe) |
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