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Posted Aug. 15, 2007, 4:49 p.m. ET
Pick of Destiny: A Girl Wins This Year's Guitar Battle
By Carol Lee
New York City's most anticipated and talked about rock event, Guitar Battle: Shred for Your Life, took place last night at the Anthology Film Archives and it was (uh-oh) magic! The winner of the Third Annual Guitar Battle was none other than a 16-year-old girl Alex Niemetz who is already a veteran rocker and plays guitar in an all-girl band ModRocket. She shredded in a deadpan fashion looking cool as a cucumber while blowing all the boys out of the water one by one, including last year's winner Johnny Rad and eventually making rock 'n' roll history. She was apparently really nervous, according to Cheryl Dunn, who shot the whole event with four-camera crew for a TV show pilot, and had asked her family not to come to the battle. But you wouldn't have known it from watching her rip on that guitar like she was Toni Iommi from Black Sabbath. Whoa! I think the moment she appeared on stage in a bad-ass white T-shirt and cut-up black denim shorts armed with The Stooges' Ron-Asheton-esque strawberry blonde mane, everyone in the audience knew she was a force to be reckoned with. Some of us even predicted that she would take home the coveted "Shred for Your Life Pick" decorated by Neckface (along with a brand new guitar and a jeweled guitar crown) -- which she did.
At the after-party at Max Fish, upon her entrance, Alex (who was allowed in but didn't drink), was received with a whole lotta whooping and hollering and a semi-standing ovation. All in all, it was a night of girl power, no sore losers, a random straggler with homemade Heelys and feel-goodness all around. Kudos to Mark Razo, who painstakingly organized the whole damn thing, the radical Max Fish Crew, the sensational Sensei Crew, the magnanimous MC Wilder and the juicy and judicious judges Jesper Eklow of Endless Boogie, Brian DeRan of Leg Up and Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Comments
YAY!!!
You Girls ROCK!!
Posted at 11:07 a.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by Momrocket
We are Alex's parents and we are very proud of her. We would like to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged her.
Posted at 11:18 a.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by kerry and philippe
Way to go, Alex!!!
Posted at 2:15 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by Ann
Congrats Alex!! We knew you had it in you!
Posted at 2:35 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by geoff and clare
modrocket kills!
Posted at 3:14 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by vince
Congratulations Alex!! You deserve it. Peace & Rock On |m/ -Chris
Posted at 3:53 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by Chris aka a_funny_dude
ALEX YOU ROCK WOOTIE WooT VIVA LA MODRoCKeT
Posted at 4:22 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by helen
Congratulations Alex!!! I told you are gone a be a winner!! Rock is my favorite music and I am glad that your dreams are coming true with the Band..Love and Kises Alex & pina from Miami
Posted at 4:29 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by Alex & Pina
YO YOU MAH GURL
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT
ps
Nice guitar
Posted at 5:46 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by LOOOWIG
Congrats Alex! Not a surprise, really. You are pure crystal clear talent. Keep it up.
Love-Alexis, George, Arianna, Patrice & Tim
Posted at 7:24 p.m. ET on Aug 16, 2007 by Alexis
Congratulations Alex! Well done. When are you coming out here - we need some good music.
Love, Alda and Ryan
Posted at 10:52 p.m. ET on Aug 17, 2007 by Alda
its nice to see a young girl I have know since she was a little girl leaving her dreams , you go girl!!!
Lino and I are in paris right now,
thank you to paper mag and carol lee to keep me posted on new york life !!!!
love and peace
maripol
Posted at 6:25 p.m. ET on Aug 19, 2007 by maripol
i remember when u started playing and u kept asking me to ask u to give u the name of a song so that u could play it on ur guitar...ur risin quickly i can see good luck and i missed u in june i saw cody and he told me u wer away...see ya soon.peace.
Posted at 5:55 a.m. ET on Aug 20, 2007 by lino
you are so cool! My friend Alice just googled your band and there you were! Congrats!
Posted at 2:01 p.m. ET on Sep 15, 2007 by Lisa aka Chris' mom
Peace, Brothers!
Posted at 4:50 p.m. ET on Mar 06, 2008 by Dj
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