2010 Best New Performer
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28.90% Cougar Hunter*
Others with Votes (more than one):
Black Cat Mambo, Sketch Bomb, Soma, Sun and Moon
Best New Performer
Best New Solo Artist
* On the ballot
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"We earned it with all the time we've put in," explained Justin Zych of Cougar Hunter, of their Best New Performer Whammy award. "Especially for the time it takes to get into those pants. It takes us about 20 minutes each to do our hair." Joking aside, Cougar Hunter were genuinely contented to win the award. "We were definitely excited," said Zych, who contributes on vocals, guitar and keyboards and whose stage name is Ripp. "We were there to support the other bands. We're good buddies with Brother, and I like Flamingo Nosebleed. " Besides Zych, Cougar Hunter are Gary (stage name: Diamond Drake) Wenglikowski on lead vocals, Drew (Le Tigre) Wireman on guitar and vocals, Jeremy (Big Bone Malone) Harmeyer on bass and vocals, Dan (Denim Dan) Wagoner on drums and vocals, and newest member Gene (Mike Manhattan) Donnelly III on vocals. When they first got together they wanted to have a cover band that didn't exist in the area -- one that performed only 80s music with a significant emphasis on entertainment and Aqua Net hair spray. And though Zych maintains that the music they perform is also musically challenging, humor and gimmickry are a "huge part" of their shows. Even on their Facebook fan page, the band remains in character. The night before the awards, they posted, "Tomorrow night we will be attending the Whammy Awards! So come and offer your women and money so that you might be able to earn our friendship!" Overall, the band's purpose and intention seem to be combining the amusing and the absurd. "What isn't the most fun?" answered Zych when asked what 80's song is the most fun to play, "They're all great fun playin'." Though, so far, they've performed only covers, the band is "in talks" to do some originals that would be "like a joke thing," said Zych. True to rock star form, just before their name was announced as Best New Performer at the awards show, the band rode off into the night to "score cougars" in the 15-passenger church van they use as a band bus. Adding another layer of irony to their persona, they've left the name of the church on the van. Zych explains that it's for practical reasons as well. "No one messes with stuff in a church van. You're going to hell if you mess with our stuff." (Angie Mazakis) |
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