And the winner is...

An appreciative cohort of air guitar supporters turned out last night for the Second Annual Syracuse Air Guitar competition. A few familiar faces were back in the artistically blended, fog-bedecked spotlights: Ken Keech, last year's second-place finisher as Satan's Closet, was our host for the evening, and Cornelius Airelius astounded the audience once again with a one-minute meditation on the meaning of power chords.

It was a dramatic, close, and hard-fought battle to the finish. But ultimately, it was one of the five newcomers to competitive air guitar that would triumph: Brianna Ruth, tied with Cornelius after the first round, vaulted to first place in the compulsories. She will go on to represent her adopted home of Syracuse in the US air guitar regional competition this summer.

But she needs your help, readers!! Who can come up with the best air name for our hairoine? Post your suggestions here!

Thanks again to our host and celebrity judges. Also to The Sound Garden and Wings Over Syracuse for the prizes and food, and to SU's Office of the Chancellor, Arts Adventure Learning Community, and Department of Art & Music Histories in the College of Arts & Sciences for sponsoring the event.

Final places and composite scores:

1. Brianna Ruth (34.7)
2. Cornelius Airelius (34.5)
3. C-Rap (34.0)
4. Tony Airommi (33.9)
5. Tallahassee Montana (33.7)
6. Jello B. Pudding (33.6)

Scores, please?

Ken and Brianna anxiously await the results that turned out to catapult the first-time air guitarist to Syracuse gold.

The judges appear to like it

I think the judges were pleased with the quality of the performers this year. Or maybe it was just that the Red House now serves beer.

Fugulele

All of Syracuse loves Fugazi hits played on ukelele. At least that's what members of the tribute band Fugulele tell me. In honor of the event, this night they played both air and there ukes.

C-Rap

Surprise last-minute contestant C-Rap amazed the follicularly challenged in the room with his scarily accurate Metallica interpretation.

Jello B. Pudding

Jello provided this year's only removal of clothing, without which no air guitar competition would be complete. And he came all the way from Albany to do it!

Brianna Ruth

Brianna Ruth ultimately prevailed through her (a) airness and (b) effective use of '80s hair band moves.

Tony Airommi

Tony Airommi delivered classic air guitar moves in both rounds.

Cornelius Airelius

Syracuse's most conceptual air guitarist impressed once again with a meta-performance.

Tallahassee Montana

Tallahassee Montana wows the crowd with his mustache. And his moves, but really, mostly his mustache.

Ken gets in the mood

Host Ken Keech sets the mood for the evening, with the help of John, the lighting guy.

FINAL final countdown: 1 day to go!

Only one day left to prepare yourself for the Second Annual Syracuse Air Guitar Competition!!
Are you still thinking about competing? You can still pre-register. Walk-ins will also be accepted if time permits.

** Prizes include fabulous CD box sets from The Sound Garden, valuable gift cards from Wings Over Syracuse, and support for your trip to the U.S. Air Guitar regionals this summer **

** All contestants win general acclaim, admiration, and the appreciation of the Syracuse for increasing the city's rock quotient and general level of airness **

What is airness?

Airness is a somewhat elusive concept, but it's been a part of competitive air guitar since the world championships began in Finland in 1996. The US Air Guitar organization defines it as “the extent to which a performance transcends the imitation of a real guitar and becomes an art form in and of itself”. Nat Hays adds, “The difference between… what you should see on stage and what everyone else does for fun is true airness” (interview, 2009).Airness, then, is what takes a performance beyond mere technique and preparation into the realm of greatness, a concept the AGWC founders used to get at the ineffables of performance. But what does airness look like? And how can you and I achieve it? Take a look at some great air performances to get an idea.

1. C-Diddy's famous performance, which won the championship for the U.S. for the first time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoAnMxlMh0I

2. Ochi "Dainoji" Yosuke, 2006 world champ from Japan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r10UbGC6RI&list=PL9C19A3728CCFC3C9&index=8&feature=plpp_video

3. Hot Lixx Hulahan, 2008 world champ from the U.S.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efNdI8uzWN8

4. William Ocean at the 2009 US regional competition in NYC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djiQK-3Tw8o&list=PL9C19A3728CCFC3C9&index=5&feature=plpp_video

5. 2011 winner, The Devil's Niece from Germany: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMIws86ZLyk

Incentive...

Fabulous prizes going to the first place winner will include the complete "Beatles in Mono" box set - 185 remastered songs valued at $200! (Courtesy The Sound Garden)

The Final Countdown!!

Only six days to the Second Annual Syracuse Air Guitar Competition! If you're thinking of competing, don't forget to PRE-REGISTER to reserve your spot.

If you've never been to an air guitar competition before, you may be wondering what to expect. Here's what happens:

• In the first round, the air guitarist performs a prepared piece or medley lasting exactly one minute.
• In the second, compulsory round, contestants must play along (improvise) to one minute of a mystery song.The order of contestants in the second round is based on first-round scores, from lowest to highest, giving those who did better the first time the advantage of hearing the song many times before having to perform.
• Scores are given as in figure skating, from 4.0 to 6.0, by an expert jury.
  

If you're competing, you probably also want to know what you'll be judged on! There are three main categories:

• Technique: does it look like you're playing a guitar? Do you forget you are holding a guitar and occasionally let it fall to the ground or drift away?
  
• Stage presence and choreography: how compelling are you as a performer? Do you have the moves? Is the audience convinced that you're a rock star?
  
• Airness. This is really the most important. I'll discuss it in a later countdown post, so be sure to check back regularly!
  

There aren't too many rules, but here they are:

• No instruments allowed
• A pick is OK, though.
  
• No back-up bands or group performances
• One air roadie is permitted

It's also good to show the judges that some thought and preparation went into your performance. Respect the art form and show us your airness!