Congratulations RenoVation Band!

Myrtle Beach Music: The RenoVation Band is anounced as the winners of the Grand Strand's Best Cover Band for 2012. Click on photo to see full gallery from event.After more than 16,000 votes cast through five rounds of online voting and one great night of head-to-head competition, The RenoVation Band has been named the winner of the second annual Grand Strand's Best Cover Band Contest.

In addition to the honor of being named the area's best cover band, RenoVation will also recieve a $500 cash prize and will be featured in upcoming editions of the Myrtle Beach Herald, Carolina Forest Chronicle and Horry Independent after beating out Sushi For Breakfast in Sunday's live showdown at The Bowery bar in downtown Myrtle Beach.

RenoVation, a five-piece group which performs every Sunday as the praise band at RenoVation Church in Little River, was led by the husband-wife vocal team of Walt and Caroline Anderson,who wowed a packed house at The Bowery with renditions of everything from The Beatles to Michael Jackson to Johnny Cash.

Rounding out the band's lineup were Jon Wilson (Keyboards), Steven Rinaldi (Drums) and Erik Bulakowski (Bass) who complimented the lively duo up front.

In addition to energetic covers of tunes such as "Joy To The World" by Three Dog Night, Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" and The Raconteurs "Many Shades of Black," the group also stayed true to its roots with a pair of praise tunes in an otherwise secular set.

Noted as perhaps the first-ever worship songs performed in the long-running history of The Bowery stage, the crowd of both RenoVation and Sushi supporters — as well as a number of drop-in visitors and fans — took the tunes in stride as they showed great enthusiasm throughout the performance. 

Frontman Anderson even took a short moment to deliver a message of God's love for sinners and saints alike and made at least a few jokes throughout the night of the irony behind performing in church for Easter Sunday in the morning and at a bar that night.

Going on before RenoVation, Sushi For Breakfast also delivered an high-energy performance, setting the stage for what would be an exciting night of music. 

The six-piece act consisting of Michael Sertz (Guitar/Lead Vocals), Benny Tomko (Keyboard/Vocals), Pete Briggs (Lead Guitar), "NiZ Zle" Briggs (Bass), Derek Stone (Drummer/Vocals) and Craig Casey (Horns), showed their versitilty from the start with a setlist that covered everything from Elton John to Eminem.

With a sound that quickly morphed from rock to pop to hip-hop and back, Sushi delivered Top 40 hits such as Gym Class Heroes "Stereo Hearts" and current Billboard No. 1 track "We Are Young" by Fun. In addition, a mash-up of Eminem's "Lose Yourself" and Tool's "Sober" turned heads with the crowd and judges alike and showed "a little bit of what we're all about" according to frontman Sertz.

Final Cover Band Contest Bracket (click to view larger)The band also played to a strong contingent of loyal fans — many the same fans who helped Sushi edge out RenoVation in the contest's final online vote — with both Sertz and Casey taking turns playing through the crowd, circling the Bowery's large loop of wooden tables.  

After both bands had performed, judges took no time to cast their votes, scoring in five areas including musicianship, vocal talent, song selection, stage prescence and fan reaction. Once scores were totaled from all four judges and the online vote, the RenoVation Band grabbed top honors with a score of 208 to Sushi's 188 points.

Both bands were awarded trophies for their participation courtesy of Budweisier and Better Brands and in a show of good sportsmanship the runners-up Sushi performed a rendition of Sublime's "What I Got" with Walt Anderson joining on vocals before handing the stage back the winning band with RenoVation performing another half dozen songs to close out the night.

Next up for RenoVation — in addition to the weekly church gig — are a string of upcoming shows at Patio's Tiki Bar & Grill in Little River beginning April 28, while Sushi For Breakfast will perform at Wet Willie's at Broadyway at the Beach on Friday and Sunday at The Boathouse with Crowded Streets (Dave Matthews Tribute Band).

Stay tuned to ListenUp for upcoming profiles of both bands or check out RenoVation or Sushi on Fcaebook to learn more about either of the two finalists.

Results

Here's a look at the voting results for the final showdown between Sushi For Breakfast & The RenoVation Band:

Online Vote

• Sushi For Breakfast: 57% (585 votes)
• Renovation Band: 42% (426 votes)

Judge #1

• Sushi For Breakfast: 38 "Lots of energy," "Lead singer needs to breathe!"
• The Renovation Band: 46 "Strong vocal performance"

Judge #2

• Sushi For Breakfast: 36 "Good energy, good appeal from fans!" "Musicianship could use more time to make things more dynamic, but what they lacked in musicianship, they made up in energy," "lead vocals were good, but piano man and singer should pick more tunes that harmonize."
• The Renovation Band: 42 "Takes faith to come into a bar and perform covers without sacrificing beliefs. Keep preaching, your passion shows!" "Pro level players with some real chops," band seemed relaxed and took charge of room."

Judge #3

• Sushi For Breakfast: 28
• The Renovation Band: 36 

Judge #4

• Sushi For Breakfast: 29 "Likable, but not much range, no high end," "Good perfomance by Brass player" 
• The Renovation Band: 42 "Church produces good musicians," "Lots of old and new tunes with the classics"

The Final Showdown

Well, here we are. After a month-long vote and more than 15,000 ballots cast by the fans, we've reached the Final Showdown of this year's Grand Strand's Best Cover Band Contest. 

It's been an awesome experience for us here at ListenUp and as we've tried to do along the way, we want to make sure and give big thanks to all the bands who've participated and the fans who helped make March our biggest month ever!

And now with our two finalists in place, all that remains is to make the final determination of this year's winner, which will be crowned this Sunday, April 8 at The Final Showdown at The Bowery beginning at 7 p.m. Here, each band will peform their best stuff live for a panel of judges and fans — who will still be able to vote online throughout the show — and in the end one will recieve $500 cash, an awesome trophy from Budweiser and the title of "Grand Strand's Best Cover Band." Check out all the details and RSVP on Facebook today!

• How to vote: To vote, simply click at least one poll below. You can vote in each matchup once per day, so make sure to come back an vote often and share this page with your friends and fellow music fans below! This week's online vote will count for 20% of the final tally on Sunday, with judges scores making up the other 80%. Voting will cut off 10 minutes after the final band has performed at The Bowery on Sunday, April 8 (roughly 10 p.m.) and the winner will be announced live that night and posted online Monday, April 9.

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FINALS

The RenoVation Band (1) vs. Sushi For Breakfast (6)

• Our take: What else can we say about these two groups? For the most part they've steamrolled all competition in their paths and been on a collision course for each other since about Round 2 of this contest. While its obvious both have strong fan support in this "popularity contest" format, these relatively new-on-the-scene groups will need to prove they can really play and get a crowd going performance-wise if they plan to take home the ultimate prize. We're not sure who will win either, but one thing's for sure ... it will be a blast to find out Sunday night!

IE Users: Direct link to vote

Final Four

And then there were Four...just as the NCAA heads on to New Orleans for its Final Four, the our cover band contest has entered its final phase with only a handful of the area's best bands still standing with a chance to be named the 2012 "Grand Strand's Best Cover Band."

After three weeks of fierce competition, the votes flowed in even more rapidly in Round 3 totalling more than 12,000 for the contest and leaving each of the semifinalists poised to make a run at the title.

As we narrow in on the big finale event, the Final Showdown at The Bowery on April 8 we just want to remind you to mark your calendar for this awesome live show on Easter Sunday. The event will feature not only both finalists performing for a panel of judge, but a few surpises as well ... so make sure and check out all the details on this Facebook event.

Thanks again to all the bands who've kept this interesting and brought your fans out in force each week!

• How to vote: To vote, simply click at least one poll below. You can vote in each matchup once per day, so make sure to come back an vote often and share this page with your friends and fellow music fans below! The deadline for Final Four voting is Sunday, April 1 at 11:59 p.m. and the finalists will be announced no later than noon on Monday, April 2.

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East/West Semifinal

Wahoo Creek Band (1) vs.

The RenoVation Band (1)

• Our take: The two top seeds in their respective brackets face off in a Final Four matchup that should be hotly contested from the get go. Wahoo Creek has built a strong following playing all over town and has parlayed that into three straight victories, while the upstart RenoVation Band has come out of seemingly nowhere to become a force in this competition. Fresh off a performance at The Taste of the Coast festival on Saturday will RenoVation continue to roll or can the Wahoo boys bang out a scrappy victory to advance to the finals?

IE Users: Direct link to vote

 

North/South Semifinal

Sushi For Breakfast (6) vs.

Josh Brannon Band (3)

• Our take: These two well-known local acts deserve to be here after putting forth a strong push  to rally fans up until this point. Sushi is coming off a show at House of Blues and ready to roll towards a final showdown, while JBB has ridden a steady string of shows at the new Rodeo Bar & Grill continuing to build its already-strong fanbase. Which of these high-energy acts will represent strongest in an effort to reach the finals?

IE Users: Direct link to vote

Round 3

As fans were glued to their TVs watching basketball over the weekend and partying the night away for St. Patrick's Day, eight great local bands were still hard at work rallying their fans to vote them into the next round of this year's Grand Strand's Best Cover Band Contest. 

With nearly 9,000 votes now cast in this year's competition, things are really getting interesting as we enter Round 3 with some favorites distinguishing themselves through back-to-back weeks of strong fan support and others just getting by past tough competition. 

Thanks again to all the bands who've helped make this a success for the second straight year! As we begin to get a clearer picture of who you might see in our Final Showdown at The Bowery on April 8 at the "8th Wonder of The World," we just want to remind you to mark your calendar for this awesome live show and stay tuned for further details. 

• How to vote: To vote, simply click at least one poll below. You can vote in as many matchups as you like; once per poll, per day, so make sure to come back an vote often and share this page with your friends and fellow music fans below! The deadline for Round 3 is Sunday, March 25 at 11:59 p.m. and the winners will be announced no later than noon on Monday, March 26.

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East Division

Wahoo Creek Band (1) vs. Humble Vibez (7)

• Our take: After starting out very strong in the competition, Wahoo Creek cooled a bit in Round 2 sliding by the Refried Blues Band by a narrow margin. Humble Vibez performance has been less than humble so far, bullying bands around with two straight victories, including an impressive one over recent Hard Rock Battle of the Bands Power Born Rebellion (who's looking to make the turn toward more original tunes). Now cool country jams meet rockin' reggae vibes in a quest to reach the Final Four.

IE Users: Direct link to vote

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West Division

The RenoVation Band (1) vs. Painted Man (6)

• Our take: The church-based quartet known as The RenoVation Band has seemingly come out of nowhere to contend as one of the competition's top vote getters in rounds 1 and 2. Though 2011 runners-up Lee Travis & The Bouth Hunters proved to be tough competition, RenoVation powered through and is poised for another strong showing this week. Coming off a performance at Irish Fest over the holiday weekend, Painted Man has plenty of talent and a strong fanbase that make them just as tough, but will they pull out all the stops to rally their supporters for a chance to advance to the final four?

IE Users: Direct link to vote

 

North Division

Sushi For Breakfast (6) vs. Mafia (8)

• Our take: Sushi For Breakfast continued its tear through the bracket in Round 2. Once again posting the week's highest vote total in a rout of Chronic, this new-ish band (formed last July) has emerged as one of the favorites to advance to April's Final Showdown. However, standing in their way is Mafia, who's been nothing short of impressive themselves, taking out two top local acts — Sick Stooges and Tru Sol — and relishing the role of underdog thus far. Do they have another upset in them this week?  

IE Users: Direct link to vote

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South Division

Colossal (1) vs. Josh Brannon Band (3)

• Our take: The top-seeded rockers in Colossal have had no problems dispatching both opponents so far in this cover band clash, but they've also yet to face competition as stiff as the Josh Brannon Band, who showed impressive fan support in Round 2 as they took down last year's champions, The Mullets. Will the veteran rockers have have it takes to lasso the Rodeo Bar house band, or is JBB on track for a spot in the Final Four?

IE Users: Direct link to vote

Round 2

Selection Sunday has come and gone and the field is set for the NCAA basketball tournament, but here at the beach our tournament is well under way and moving on to Round 2. Even with more than 5,500 votes cast in the opening round, many of the matchups came down to the final hours of voting Sunday evening before being decided and things are sure to heat up even more as the competition gets tougher this time around!

Each of the 16 bands still alive in this week's head-to-head matchups brought their fans out in numbers during Round 1 and for that we thank you all, as well as those bands who came up just short this time around.

As we move one step close to our Final Showdown live show on April 8 at the "8th Wonder of The World," The Bowery, bands will need to spread the word and keep their eye on the cash prize of $500 in order to keep moving along to round 3! Good luck to all!

• How to vote: To vote, simply click at least one poll below. You can vote in as many matchups as you like; once per poll, per day, so make sure to come back an vote often and share this page with your friends and fellow music fans below! The deadline for Round 2 is Sunday, March 18 at 11:59 p.m. and the winners will be announced no later than noon on Monday, March 19.

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East Division

Wahoo Creek Band (1) vs. Refried Blues (5)

• Our take: With both groups coming off strong showings and rolling over their competition in Round 1, it's anyone's guess as to whether country or blues will prevail in this showdown of two talented bands. 

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Power Born Rebellion (3) vs. Humble Vibez (7)

• Our take: These bands couldn't be more different in style. PBR rolls with in-your-face rock, while Humble Vibez thrives on laid-back Island grooves. The high-energy PBR may try to skate by on sheer enthusiasm, but don't be surprised if the feel-good foursome of Humble Vibez musters the fight — figuartively — to give them a real run for their money.

IE Users: Direct Link to vote

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West Division

The RenoVation Band (1) vs.

Lee Travis & The Bounty Hunters (4)

• Our take: In round 1, The hell-raisin' country quartet picked up right where they left off in last year's contest and showed strong fan support. On the other hand, the God-loving group of RenoVation Church-goers showed they deserved a No. 1 seed with a strong showing in round 1. This is sure to be one of the most hotly-contested matchups of round 2.

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Painted Man (6) vs. Roadside Assistance (7)

• Our take: Painted Man put Di Hoffman and crew face down with Round 1 lashing, while Roadside Assistance eked out an upset over The Fab 2. Now, these two versatile groups go toe to toe, each with theri sights set on advancing to the third round for the second straight year.

IE Users: Direct link to vote

 

North Division

Mafia (8) vs. Tru Sol (4)

• Our take: Mafia posted a large vote total and slugged it out in Round 1's toughest matchup, beating out the top-seeded Sick Stooges by a handful of votes. Do they have enough left in the tank to take out one of the contest's heavy hitters in Tru Sol, or will the Conway-based R&B group soldier on to Round 3 again this year?

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Sushi For Breakfast (6) vs. Chronic (2)

• Our take: Sushi For Breakfast took no prisoners in Round 1, posting the highest vote total of any group in the competition, winning their matchup in a rout. Chronic also won handily, rallying their fans in impressive fashion. Now these heavy hitters will clash for a chance to advance to the round of eight.

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South Division

Colossal (1) vs. Tammy's Tangent (5)

• Our take: Neither had much trouble advancing to Round 2, but they'll find the competition much tougher this time around. The question is: will the in-your-face rock and big hair of Colossal outdo the fun-loving variety and big voice of Tammy's Tangent?

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Josh Brannon Band (3) vs. The Mullets (2)

• Our take: JBB came on strong with support from their new-found Rodeo Bar & Grill fans to overcome The Necessary Band in a showdown of house bands, while the defending champs, The Mullets, coasted to a slim victory over the upstart The Seth Thomas Band. Though it's obvious fans love The Mullets, it's hard to tell just how far their reputation alone will carry them in the contest, especially in the face of some smokin' hot competition from JBB.  

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