The Gist:
The wait is finally over and Best Summer Ever II has arrived! Those of you who participated in last year’s contest know the deal, but for anyone new to it, let us explain:
Everyone likes to have good times in the summer. Great weather, no school, vacations from work, good friends, and a chance to let your hair down. Now, anyone can have a good summer and with a little effort its not so tough to have a great summer, but it takes some planning, creativity, and intestinal fortitude to have the BEST summer Ever! Do you have what it takes? Well, here’s your chance to prove it.
We’ve come up with a list of killer summer activities, some classic, some common, and some that should encourage and inspire people to push themselves to bestness. All you need to participate is a digital camera and a registered screen name on this community message board, which you already have if you're reading this. To throw your hat in the ring (or even better your bandana), you simply get a photo of yourself engaging in any of the listed activities and post it under the appropriate category on the message board to prove you’ve done it and to share with the NWG community.
Now here’s the best part. Our panel of four highly qualified experts will assess each submission based on quality and creativity, offer their comments, and give you a final score on a 10 point scale (just like the Olympics, but a lot more fun). The average score for each activity will be calculated and overall totals will be tracked on our Leader Board so you can see how you’re doing compared with other contestants. At the end of the contest, prizes will be given in three categories:
(1) Bestest Total Score:
- Sweet 1970s model van, hand-assembled by NWG's bassist Tommy "Steve Dave" Lada
- $100 gift certificate towards any Nate Wilson Group official merchandise
- Band autographed copy of Unbound
(2) Bestest Average:
- $75 gift certificate towards any Nate Wilson Group official merchandise
- Band autographed copy of Unbound
(3) Bestest Individual Submission:
- $50 gift certificate towards any Nate Wilson Group official merchandise
- Band autographed copy of Unbound
Now, based on last year’s contest, we expect some stiff competition this year and hope to see some serious staches, attitude, and slammin’ good times! Some of the contestants really come through last year with serious effort and creativity, putting it all on the line for the sake of rockin’ their summer hard. But don’t let yourself get intimidated if you see some folks throwin’ down some outlandish shit early on. It’ll be a long summer and you’ll have plenty of chances to make your mark. Our judges appreciate a quality good time, even if it isn’t over the top. Let’s put it this way, you don’t have to put on a Mexican wrestler’s mask and smash your face into a rock to join in the fun. If nothing else, you will get a sense from the judges just how best a summer you’re having and some advice on how to take it to the next level. Last year’s participants clearly had their dull helping of bestness. Now grab a camera, pound some brews, throw on your cut-off jeans, and you can have the BEST SUMMER EVER, too!
Meet The Judges:
Harlan Felch Jr.
Longtime friend and current researcher for the band, Harlan Felch is a frequent contributor to the discussion forums, particularly in his “Helpful Harlan” thread in which he uses his research skills and personal philosophy to answer the questions of the curious and provide advice for those in search of answers. An electrical engineering researcher by profession and an avid audiophile, he is also one of the best Theremin players we know, having built his own custom instrument that truly must be seen to be believed! Don’t let his clean-cut good looks fool you though, because Harlan is one of the craziest bastards we know when it comes to “having a severely good time,” as he would put it. He knows the band, he knows what it takes to have a good time, and he knows the line between crazy-fun and just plain crazy. Who better to judge the quality of summer antics?
Richard Waters
Anyone familiar with Gonic, New Hampshire has probably heard the name “Dickie” Waters. An up-and-coming entrepreneur, Mr. Waters owns Trickie Dickie’s, a locally famous shop that carries numerous tobacco accessories, adult entertainment products, and a variety of statues, posters, weapons and cutlery with a fantasy/oriental/medieval theme. Mr. Waters was chosen for our panel last year, mostly because he insisted and a band member owed him money. However, like kudzu on an old barn, Dickie sort of grows on you, so we have invited him back for BSE 2. Sure, he can be about as pleasant as sand in your crack after a day at the beach, but one thing’s for sure: This dude knows how to party. As with last year, we had to agree to his “don’t gimme any shit about my posts” caveat, so we can expect the same shoot-from-the-hip judging style we saw last year. As he puts it: “I know fun when I see it, I know shit when I see it, and I sure as hell got no problem telling you which one I’m lookin’ at.”
Eugene Dubrowski
Gene Dubrowski, or “G-Dub” as we sometimes call him, is a man of many talents. At the age of 18, he co-designed a role-playing game based on the well-known novel Dune, which he sold to a gaming company for a sizeable sum, though the game never made it to market due to copyright problems. With the money he made from that sale, he started his own silk-screening company specializing in rock-themed T-shirts and blacklight wall hangings. After several successful years, he sold the company to his partner and went on to pursue his dream of becoming a cameraman and technician for a small local television station in Pensacola, Florida. We came to know Gene through many mutual acquaintances in the music industry, where he has gained no small notoriety for his stunning collection of photographs of the inside of musicians’ mouths. Part of this collection will be featured in an upcoming coffee table book, though the publish date has yet to be locked in. G-Dub has the goods when it comes to summer fun, especially when it comes to the festival scene. Be it outdoor music festivals, renaissance fairs or comic book conventions, G-Dub is on the front lines or back stage with his camera in someone’s mouth. We’re very excited to have him back for BSE 2.
Earl Peddigrew
Mr. Peddigrew is a semi-retired junior high school shop teacher and amateur HAM radio operator. He brings a deep knowledge of recreational summer activities from his experience working for several years at a summer camp in the mid 1970’s. An unfortunate mass drowning forced the camp to close, but Mr. Peddigrew has remained an active recreationalist, despite the loss of two fingers a few years back. As Earl puts it, “Hey, you ain’t a real shop teacher if you still got all your fingers!” Be it whiffle ball or badminton, shoes, jarts, wheelbarrow races or capture the flag, Earl dominates the field. Need a reminder on the rules of canoe safety or Marco Polo? Looking for some advice on your archery form or on how to build a campfire that will burn hot and bright yet still prevent forest fires? Earl’s your man. As if that were not enough, Mr. Peddigrew also excels when it comes to fun that is not so good and clean. Ever think it’d be weird partying with your old shop teacher? Well, it is, a little, but it’s also one Hell of a lot of fun if said shop teacher happens to be Mr. Earl Peddigrew!
The Fine Print:
- Contestants must be at least 18 years of age to compete in BSE 2.
- Submissions must be received by midnight (EST) on Monday, September 21st, 2009.
- Awards ceremony to be held at a live show TBD.
