Hoosier Guitar Idol showcases local talent

They shredded and squealed, whammied and wailed their way to the top in a contest akin to American Idol.

The crowd packed themselves in Friday night at Max’s Place to see the third annual Hoosier Guitar Idol, sponsored by IU’s Business Careers in Entertainment Club.

The event featured eight guitarists playing in three different elimination rounds. First, each guitarist played an original several-minute-long solo. Then, judges narrowed the field down to four, and the entrants played with the house band. And then there were two, before judges selected the winner.

The prize for first place was $250, while second place received $50. Proceeds from the concert will help music business student club members gain knowledge and experience of the industry.

The final round came down to Parker Weidner and Shane Provost. Weidner was the winner, barely edging out Provost after the judges admitted that it was close.

Weidner has been playing guitar four years, and the IU freshman said metal music has influenced his playing style. While he was able to get a good rise from the crowd, he wasn’t certain if the judges were going to like him as much.

“I was really nervous,” Weidner said. “I actually saw the Hoosier Guitar Idol on YouTube, and I actually thought, ‘I want to win this.’”

Weidner also said that when the two finalists talked to the judges, one of them joked that whoever played with his teeth in the final performance would win.
Weidner played with his teeth near the end of his performance.

Deuce Thevenow, a business and marketing major and the event’s co-director, said he was pleased with the turnout.

“I thought it was awesome,” Thevenow said. “It really exceeded my expectations. Next year we might have to have it somewhere bigger with the crowd we had.”

Thevenow also said the event is part of a course within the club to help teach students how to plan events.

“It allows them to get a lot of experience working with the artists and building relationships with people,” he said.

Brian Binkley, president of the club, has been in the program for two years, though he was in Iraq for part of that time. The 26-year-old senior is majoring in music business and said he just returned to school this semester. He was named president as soon as he came back.

The Business Careers in Entertainment Club, which Binkley said formed in 2002, began planning for the event in early November. He said the organization’s goal is to help students gain the knowledge they need for the business world.

“IU will give you a degree in anything you want,” he said. “We basically show you how to get the street smarts and the leadership skills and just that common confidence to be able to sit in a room with someone that’s going to give you the job you want.”

Like Thevenow, Binkley said he was also pleased with the way the Hoosier Guitar Idol played out and said he looks forward to the group’s future events.

“It was great, and I think next year it’s going to be even better,” Binkley said.