Brattleboro-based youth rock band Nomad vs. Settler walked away with several top honors at the Youth Performers Club Showcase hosted by the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston on Nov. 13.
Out of 15 competing acts from around the Northeast, Nomad vs. Settler won first place overall for Best Group/Band, as well as awards for Best Instrumental Performance (Archer Parks, lead guitarist), and Best Original Song (“Dust to Dust”), according to a news release.
The competition featured a mix of solo performers and bands from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Rhode Island. A five-member panel of music industry professionals served as the judges, scoring each two-song performance in 12 key areas, including Technical Skill and Musicianship, Audience Response/Connection, Style and Professionalism, and Future Star Potential.
The event's sponsoring organization, The Youth Performers Club, has been in operation for the past eight years. According to the organization's website (youngperformersclub.com), it has sponsored over 850 events to date aimed at expanding performance opportunities for musical performers under age 21.
Nomad vs. Settler consists of Rei Kimura (13, vocals and lead guitar), Owen James (12, bass guitar), Archer Parks (15, lead guitar), and Milou Rigollaud (17, drums).
In November, 2015, the group took the top prize in Brattleboro Youth Services' bi-annual Battle of the Bands, winning 10 hours of studio recording time donated by Guilford Sound. They completed the recording of their self-titled debut CD (available on bandcamp.com).
Music producer and drummer Butch Vig, who has produced albums for Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sonic Youth, was sent Nomad vs. Settler's CD and replied with this feedback: “The musicianship is top notch. They put a unique spin on their music, and their vibe is totally unique, which is tough to come by these days.”
In summer 2017, the first-place winners of the Youth Performers Club Showcase events throughout the year, including Nomad vs. Settler, will be invited to go on a performance tour sponsored by the organization.