By Dave Hoffenberg
posted
Jan 24, 2013
Photo by Dave Hoffenberg
Clint Pecor Winner of Favorite Guitarist
RUTLAND-Good times were shared at the 2nd Annual Cider Mag
Awards Show this past Friday Night at the Paramount Theatre. For
the past three months fans have been nominating, voting and slicing
down the competition to four finalists in each category, who are
the best of the best in the VT and NH entertainment scene. Editor
in Chief of Cider Mag, Brian Joy sums the night saying, "What we
are trying to do is create a night that all of VT and NH can be
proud of. We want every musician, entertainer and business to know
and believe that they are truly appreciated. It's not about winning
an award, that's just icing on the cake. This night is about being
present. About showing your appreciation for everyone who works
hard to keep this scene moving forward. Nobody will go home
disappointed."
I had a chance in the pre-show festivities to meet some of the
nominees, they were honored to be a part of this. Clint Pecor plays
in the heavy metal band, Dethavesk. He is the youngest award
nominee at 17-years-old, and is completing in the toughest
category, Favorite Guitarist. In addition, Cider Mag teamed him up
to play with Favorite Hip-Hop Artist Nominee RealEyez to play at
the award show. While Pecor was shredding the metal, RealEyez was
laying down some rhymes to his DJ's beats. It was a killer
combination and one of my favorite performances.
"It's really sick. It's cool to just be here and hang with all
these cool people," says Pecor of the award show experience. "Not
only am I nominated but I get to play too and that pushes it over
the edge for me."
Asked how he felt about having the biggest guitar names in the
state sing his praises, Pecor says, "It's really cool. I appreciate
all the help people have given me, doing shows and stuff. It's
really nice."
Pecor certainly earned their praises. He ended up winning
Favorite Guitarist beating out heavyweights like Duane Carleton and
Mihali from Twiddle. He also won Ultimate Fan of the Year.
Dethavesk is in the studio now recording their 2nd album which
should be out the middle of 2013.
I also caught up with performer Chad Hollister who has been
really busy touring the countryside. His band was nominated for
best rock band and he was for best guitarist. Although he was
honored, he really wanted to take himself out immediately because
he feels that nominees like Duane Carleton, Bow Thayer and Rick
Redington are "guys that can really play guitar." Hollister looked
forward to the night ahead for other reason. "To have Jeff Poremski
play with me tonight is such a blessing and Jared Johnson and Caleb
Bronz is an awesome line-up," he said. "I'm psyched to be here,
it's fun. It's a cool vibe. Everyone's real nice and friendly."
Hollister's band did win the Favorite Rock Band category.
The Pizza Stone, nominated in three categories and winners of
Favorite Party Spot, were dressed as if they were in a scene from
Alice in Wonderland. The Killington crew also arrived in style:
representing Green Mountain Body Art, Slopeside Bar & Grille
and Fire on the Mountain they pulled up in a stretch Escalade
limo.
Killington bands and businesses cleaned up the award show taking
home awards in 4 of 5 categories. Green Mountain Body Art,
Slopeside Bar & Grille and Fire on the Mountain all won and
joining them was Liquid Art.
The Logger Rusty Dewees hosted the award show. Dewees says,
"Hosting is good because you don't have to carry the show, it's
about everyone else." He adds, "Overall if you have a combination
of liking what you do genuinely but also liking people genuinely
you can succeed. I'm fortunate because I actually genuinely do like
people and I like what I do but I also like the business side of
it. Anybody in show business that's able to do it for a living is
darn fortunate if you can do it in a small state like VT." His
hosting and quick wit really added some fun to the show. This was
the 1st time I've seen his standup routine and he is hilarious.
Nicole Nelson from The Voice, played with guitarist Dwight
Ritcher to kick off the show with a beautiful rendition of Leonard
Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. It was that song that got her four turned
chairs on The Voice; she later chose Adam Levine as her coach.
Besides being on The Voice, Nelson won 2012 Boston Music Award
Female Vocalist of the Year.
Photo by Dave Hoffenberg
(from left to right) Bow Thayer, Chad Hollister, Jeff Poremski
and his daughter Maddie
Bow Thayer won a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by last
year's winner George Nostrand. His acceptance speech was one to
remember. Thayer was shocked that he won and said to come back in
10 years and see if he really deserved it. He and his band, the
Perfect Trainwreck also performed a jamming set.
Rick Redington, with his son Ben on Bass, also put on a great
performance. Redington also won a Lifetime Achievement Award which
was presented by good friend Phill Andrews, owner of Fire on the
Mountain glass shop.
Photo by Dave Hoffenberg
(Left to right) Phill Andrews, Wild Bill, John Durney
But the most memorable performance of the night has to go to
Wild Bill, co-owner of Green Mountain Body Art. After winning the
award for Favorite Tattoo Shop, Bill shocked the crowd, his friends
and his longtime girlfriend, Megan Poljacik when he got down on one
knee and proposed to her. Over the applause and standing ovation,
she said "YES!"
2nd Annual Cider Mag Award Winners
The Pizza Stone - Favorite Party Spot
Green Mountain Body Art - Favorite Tattoo Studio
Ziontific - Favorite Festival
Elm City Brewing - Favorite Wings
The Paramount Theatre - Favorite Live Theatre
Team Awesome - Favorite Promoter
Joe Bell - Favorite EDM DJ
Long Trail - Favorite Beer
Liquid Art Coffee House - Favorite Art Venue
The Lynguistic Civilians - Favorite Hip Hop Artist
Jatoba - Favorite Bluegrass Band
The Chad Hollister Band - Favorite Rock Band
Jonathan Kelley of Atlatl - Favorite Electric Bass Player
Roots of Creation - Favorite Jam Band
Rockingham Hill Farm - Favorite Live Venue
Dylan Blake of Atlatl - Favorite Drummer
Josh Parker of Stonewall - Favorite Vocalist
Elise Valentine - KIXX - Favorite Radio DJ
The Human Canvas - Favorite Artist
MacLomainn's - Favorite Local Pub
One Over Zero - Favorite New Band
Slopeside Bar & Grille - Favorite Grub
Atlatl - Favorite Metal Band
SRH Soundworks - Favorite Music Shop
The Blind Owl Band - Favorite Outside the Lines Band
The Natalie Turgeon Band - Favorite Country Band
Murphy's Blues - Favorite Blues Band
Fire on the Mountain - Favorite Glass Shop
Duane Carleton - Favorite Acoustic Act
Code 3 - Favorite Cover Band
Deb Bond of Mark and Deb - Favorite Keyboard Player
Main Crust Co. - Favorite Open Mic
Jason Scaggs of Jatobs - Favorite Banjo Player
Clint Pecor of Dethavesk - Favorite Guitarist
Jeff Richardson of Jatoba - Favorite Upright Bass Player
Cider Achievement Award Recipient's:
Bow Thayer
Rick Redington
Ultimate Fan - Clint Pecor
Business of the Year - Main Crust Co.
