Miles From Nowhere took a huge step towards reaching the goal of countless musicians last week by winning the invitation-only, Shiner Rising Star competition sponsored by Shiner Records and KHYI The Range 95.3 FM. The group earned a record contract with Shiner Records by outlasting some of the best unsigned bands in Texas music during the 13 week contest that culminated at Love & War in Texas (Plano).
The finals, which were broadcast live on KHYI, featured Miles From Nowhere, Blacktop Gypsy, The Bois D'Arcs, Becca Dalrymple and a host of celebrity judges. Miles From Nowhere was the third band to take the stage shortly before 11pm. From the first note of "When I Get Mean", the lead track on their self-titled CD, to the last riff of their cover of Shooter Jennings "Steady At The Wheel", the small-town band took control of the big-time stage and delivered an exceptional performance to take home the top prize. The evening's activities were overseen by a panel of celebrity judges that included former CMA and Billboard Magazine Country Female Entertainer of the Year Janie Fricke, Actor Burton Gilliam, Coach Joe Avezzano, Shiner Bock head Jay Finnigan, Trent Summar, Darryl Lee Rush, James Dunning, and Brett Dillon, Dallas Wayne, and Joshua Jones from The Range. Coach Joe Avezanno, referring to Miles From Nowhere being the least known of the competing artists indicated that he only had one thing to say, "[Wow]...y'all are good!!!". General Manager of KHYI The Range, Joshua Jones, said that he "gave you guys the highest score I've ever given anybody in this competition."
As the winners, Miles From Nowhere will be the next new artists signed to Shiner Records (nationally distributed through Universal Music), earn a spot on the main stage at next year's KHYI Texas Music Revolution and will appear on the 2007 Shiner Bocktoberfest line-up. Merrol Ray, lead guitarist, summed up the evening by saying "It really hasn't sunk in yet, it has, but it hasn't. The support from our fans and peers was unbelievable, it was just one of those electric nights."
A special thanks goes out to all the people who have supported us and given us the conviction to keep doing what we knew we should be doing all along. You Rock!!!