Best of Chicago 2014 Poll – FINAL RESULTS! 1. Zaramela, 2. The Way Down Wanderers, 3. Gramps the Vamp

Deli Nation,

Our Year End Poll for Emerging Chicago Artists was – as usual – a painstaking (and somewhat excruciating) process, but we pulled it off with remarkable flair!

Kudos to funk collective Zaramela (pictured and streaming) for winning the poll and – with it – a blurb with picture in The Deli’s upcoming SXSW issue, they’ll actually be going to Austin to play!

Thumbs up to wicked old timey quintet The Way Down Wanderers, who earned second place thanks to their win in the Readers’ Poll, and avant-funk group Gramps the Vamp, winners of the Open Submissions. Lots of funk in this year’s Chicago’s top 3!

Here is how it all went down: first, we let the local bands submit their music (for free), and got our Deli editors to pick the nominees. Then we polled a list of Chicago scene expert (our jury) and asked them to nominate 3 more bands of their choice each. Then we polled our writers, then we polled our readers. We tried to keep things open for each single genre, from Indie Rock to Roots Music to Hip Hop.

If you are a geek interested in all the subtelties related to how this poll works, you can read its rules here (happy reading!). But if all you care about is the awesome new music Chicago produced in the year 2013, this list is all you need. Enjoy!

BEST OF 2014 POLL FOR EMERGING CHICAGO ARTISTS ****** FINAL RESULTS ******

ARTIST   J OS R TOT   1 Zaramela   4.5   0.063 4.563 2 The Way Down Wanderers   2   2 4 3 Gramps the Vamp     3 0.5 3.5 4 Bailiff   3   0.078 3.078 5 Gia Margaret   3   0.025 3.025 6 Bleach Party   3   0.009 3.009 7 Marrow   3   0.008 3.008 8 PM Buys   3   0.006 3.006 9 Sarah Marie Young   3   0.004 3.004 10 The Kickback   3   0.004 3.004 11 Daniel Knox   3   0.003 3.003 12 Hollows   3   0.003 3.003 13 Evasive Backflip   3   0.002 3.002 14 Last False Hope   3   0.001 3.001 15 J Fernandez   3   0 3 16 Twin Peaks   3   0 3 17 Secret Colours     2 0.5 2.5 18 Werewolves At Hour 30   1   1.5 2.5 19 Hand Practices   2   0.085 2.085 20 Joyeux   2   0.042 2.042 21 Danna Devore   2   0.041 2.041 22 Tijuana Hercules   2   0.018 2.018 23 The Orwells   2   0.006 2.006 24 Al Scorch   2   0.004 2.004 25 Sidewalk Chalk   2   0.004 2.004 26 Kellen & Me   2   0.003 2.003 27 Angela James   2   0.002 2.002 28 Exit Ghost   2   0.002 2.002 29 Forgotten Species   2   0.002 2.002 30 Lou Shields   2   0.002 2.002 31 Nick Astro   2   0.002 2.002 32 Matchess   2   0.001 2.001 33 Ne-Hi   2   0.001 2.001 34 Burnside & Hooker   1   1 2 35 Flesh Panthers   2   0 2 36 Hide   2   0 2 37 Ryley Walker   2   0 2 38 Sunjacket     1.5 0.003 1.503 39 American Wolf   1   0.067 1.067 40 LWKY     1 0.048 1.048 41 Smoker     1 0.039 1.039 42 Dylan Wright   1   0.018 1.018 43 Velociopter   1   0.011 1.011 44 Z   1   0.009 1.009 45 Dial In   1   0.003 1.003 46 JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound   1   0.003 1.003 47 Rock Falls   1   0.003 1.003 48 Saba   1   0.002 1.002 49 Today’s hits   1   0.001 1.001 50 Purrple     1 0 1 Legend: J = Jurors, W = Deli Writers, R = Deli Readers, OS = Open Submissions

Jurors List: Swizzle Steve (Swizzle Steve Presents), Jim Kopeny (Chicagoist), Eric Muhlberger (Sofar Sounds Chicago), Brendan Losch (Music Blogger), Bill Valenta (djbv.net), Brandon Wetherbee (youmethemeverybody.com), Mike (Rooftop Sessions), Michael Johnston (Audiotree), Alyssa Welch (Midwest Action), Elle Quintana (Reggies Rock), Eric Schelkopf (The Total Scene), Casey Meehan (Chicago Mixtape), Mark Tanno (Culture junkie. Music addict), Coleman Brice (Cole’s Chicago), Christen Thomas (Empty Bottle).

The Deli’s Staff