Winter Madness 2025 Judges
Tony (ie Anthony Alfaro)
Tony is the lead singer of NYC glam rock party band TONY & THE KIKI. A native New Yorker hailing from Queens ,Tony fronts The Kiki with epic vocals, sex, and sass- yassifying the all too cis het dude genre of rock’n’roll with every high note, hip shake,and pelvic thrust.
Rachel Cleary
Rachel Cleary is a veteran of the downtown performance art scene. Shortly after graduating college, she found herself immersed in this thriving community, where she honed her talents as a spoken word artist and stage performer. Rachel has made many appearances in independent films (Love, Ludlow; Werewolf Bitches From Outer Space”; “Skate Joan ((of the Park))” ). Her interest in how these films and plays got made led to her working in a production capacity and ultimately in the field of live event production. Rachel is a founding member of Radio Free Brooklyn, she produced and hosted the long running Hear and Now with Rachel C., wherein she hosted everyone from local emerging artists to Grammy, Emmy, Oscar, and NAACP Imager award recipients. She currently serves as the station’s Music Director.
Rachel is a Brooklyn native and lifelong resident of the five boroughs. She is a proud CUNY graduate, is passionate about connecting people and loves live music. She is also an avid distance runner who still races and loves coaching the next generation of athletes.
Varghese Chacko
Varghese Chacko helped create Nightlife United, a non-profit coalition that has fundraised $200,000 for worker grants and launched a Workforce Development program for under-recognized cultural professionals. He is proud to serve as an Advisor to the National Independent Venue Association's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee. Varghese loves going to see live music.
Ethan First
Ethan First is an artist relations manager and musician currently working at Rebel Creator Services. As a musician, Ethan has played in a number of bands and projects, and has opened for acts like the Sun Ra Arkestra and Esperanza Spalding. Before working at Rebel, Ethan was on the artist relations team at TuneCore where he helped promote and develop independent artists. Having worked as a music journalist, music instructor, producer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and industry professional, he has a wealth of experience on and off the stage.
Alexa Godoy
Alexa "The Hella Sketchy" is a Brooklyn-based photographer, show booker, band manager, and record label owner deeply embedded in the underground music scene. Specializing in high-energy, raw, and expressive live performance photography, she captures the chaotic beauty of alternative and indie shows. Beyond the lens, she curates lineups, manages artists, and helps shape the DIY scene with a sharp eye for talent and authenticity. Passionate about keeping independent music alive, Alexa’s work brings the energy of the stage to life, preserving moments that define a movement. Whether behind the camera or booking the next big gig, she’s always where the music is.
Sebastian Gonzalez
Sebastián González, Colombian singer, Guitar Player and composer is a multi Latin-Grammy award nominee and a voting member on the academy.
At an early age, he started a successful musical career signing for the multinational record company EMI, recording 3 albums leaving several radio hits in Colombia, latin America and latin communities around the world. After touring for over 21 countries, Sebastian went to Oceania, playing several shows all over the Australian coast and New Zealand.
Currently, Sebastian is leading the musical collective Eclectic Charango Beats, a band that is actively touring the tri-state area, having made more than 80 shows in different venues, festivals and events.
Sebastian has published a wide music catalog of over than 30 songs as an interpreter, arranger and composer.
Tim Heuisler
Born in raised in Philadelphia but now based in Brooklyn, Tim travels the world to share his knowledge with bartenders, influencers, and whiskey enthusiasts. Whiskey education may be his focus but connecting with the people who bring brands like Jim Beam to life is his passion.
Back for the fourth time as a judge, Tim and the local Jim Beam team have been active supporters of OWL and Winter Madness since year 1.
Lisa Levy
Lisa Levy is a conceptual artist, performer and (self-proclaimed) psychotherapist. Her art has been exhibited at art fairs, galleries and museums such ad The New Museum, The Bronx Museum, SPRING/BREAK Art Fair, The Pulse Art Fair and The Brooklyn Academy of Music. Levy’s work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, The London Times, Artnet and Hyperallergic.
She hosts a weekly radio show: “Dr. Lisa Gives a Sh!t” on Radio Free Brooklyn where she conducts funny, emotionally revealing “psychotherapy sessions” with creative guests. ArtVoices Books released a monograph of her “The Thoughts in My Head” text paintings this year in January.
Kristen London
Kristen London is the Head of Publishing at TuneCore, where she leads the company's global initiatives to help songwriters collect their royalties. Outside of work, Kristen is wildly passionate about NYC's live music scene, attending multiple shows per week. A dedicated DJ herself, she gravitates toward all forms of dance music, from House to Techno, but has a deep love for jazz and New York's vibrant jazz scene. Finally, she is the co-founder of Dancing in Socks, a bi-monthly party series and online community that fosters connection and self-expression through dance and electronic music.
Connor McInerney
Connor Beckett McInerney is a writer, show promoter, producer, and DJ based in Bushwick. The former Managing Editor of stalwart local blog The Deli and creator of NYC music discovery project LOCAL BOPS, he spends his professional time as a freelance media creative at large, booking shows, and helming social and newsletter initiatives at Condé Nast. His journalistic work has appeared in Pitchfork, BrooklynVegan, AdHoc, Impose, and Bedford + Bowery. These days he spends most of his time DJing big tunes and cracking big brews.
Brian Miller
As Chief Revenue Officer, Brian Miller is responsible for defining and leading revenue growth strategies on behalf of TuneCore, securing high-level strategic partnerships to bolster the company’s market presence, and developing innovative tactics for expanding and retaining TuneCore’s talented roster of self-releasing artists. He also oversees TuneCore’s Marketing, International, Publishing Administration, and Artist & Partner Relations teams, acting as a visionary leader to drive the growth strategy of each department and cultivate a creative & inspiring culture across teams.
For more than 15 years, Miller has been instrumental in the growth of multiple companies, launching new revenue opportunities and helping them grow into successful, sustainable businesses. Miller brings a wealth of experience to TuneCore, having most recently served as Chief Growth Officer at Angi, where he led multiple teams across accounts, business development, digital marketing, strategy, operations and partner success, grew the company’s P&L by helping to develop and launch strategic partnerships, new business lines and expand its footprint internationally.
His first CD purchases were Run DMC’s Raising Hell and the Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill. While he listens to all genres of music at home, one thing he can’t do is sing aloud—his daughter banned him for life after an off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday” when she was little.
Carlo Minchillo
Carlo Minchillo is the founder and owner of the instrument repair store, Brooklyn Drum Collective and the host of the BDC Open Jam every Tuesday at Our Wicked Lady. He is also a professional drummer and is associated with the New York psychedelic soul band, Ghost Funk Orchestra.
Ben Oastler
Ben Oastler is a music industry professional with a foundation in performance and a passion for innovation. Before moving to Brooklyn in 2018, he was an active musician in Melbourne, Australia, working as a session guitarist, songwriter, and touring artist. His journey through the music world led him to the business side of the industry, where he now serves as the Director of Data Analytics and Insights at TuneCore, helping artists thrive in the evolving landscape of digital music.
With a deep appreciation for heavy rock, jazz fusion, and sharp, well-crafted songwriting, Ben brings both creative and analytical expertise to the industry. His career bridges the worlds of artistry and technology, ensuring that musicians have the tools and insights needed to succeed.
Ozzie
Born and raised in the heart of NYC, Ozzie has been attending, organizing, and performing in events for as long as he could buy a metro card. As a touring and local musician, Ozzie has performed as a drummer for artists such as InCircles, Choked Up, Shred Flintstone, Dead Tooth, Pons, Miranda and the Beat, and more. In recent years, Ozzie has founded Show Brain, a non-profit organization that organizes free concerts in historic NYC parks such as Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick, Tompkins Square Park in the Lower East Side, and Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, and others, helping foster and energize the music scene by making music accessible to people from all walks of life.
@ShowBrain_
Robert Prichard
Rob Prichard co-founded and ran the alternative performance space Surf Reality from 1993-2003. Many great music acts performed there including King Missile, The Holy Modal Rounders, Moldy Peaches, Duufus, Jefferey Lewis. In 2015 Rob co-founded Radio Free Brooklyn. RFB features 80 different shows both talk and music and it airs original and nationally syndicated programming 24/7. RFB will celebrate its 10 year anniversary in May. Rob produces and hosts the psychedelic music show "Bushwick Garage: every Thursday from 12-2 am.
Adam Reich
Adam is the founder of the legendary DIY space Shea Stadium, plays guitar in The So So Glos and is a former member of Titus Andronicus. He currently owns and operates secondBase, a recording studio in Sunset Park BK.
Claudio Tarchi
Claudio Tarchi is a music industry professional with over 10 years experience working in various facets of the business. Currently at The Orchard working as a Label Manager specializing in helping independent labels/artists grow and access the tools they need to succeed. He's based in Bushwick, where he loves to continue to support and elevate emerging talent.
AJ Tobey
If you’ve been accustomed to attending shows in NYC for the past decade or so, chances are you been in the room with AJ Tobey. As head of A&R for Rough Trade Publishing, Bank Robber Music, and Academy Fight Songs, and the founder of Brooklyn based label and management company Trash Casual, AJ has been busy curating the best new sounds to join an already impressive publishing roster that includes artists like The Magnetic Fields, Alvvays and Chelsea Wolfe, and labels such as Merge, Drag City and Mute Records, and Trash Casual artists Drop Nineteens, Dead Tooth, VOSH, and Thunderpussy. Before diving head-first into the world of publishing and licensing, AJ spent 8 years managing emerging indie rock bands, consulting for record labels, and heading up operations for Flea Marketing, a company that served as the liaison between labels (including Warner Bros, Dangerbird and Barsuk Records) and top independent record stores.
Mark Turrigiano
Mark Turrigiano is an award-winning music producer, songwriter, sound designer & mixer, working in the fields of music, podcasts, radio, television & film. He’s been producing music in Brooklyn for over 20 years, with hundreds of credits to his name, including work with John Legend, Fred Schnider (B52’s), Rachel Platten, Ingrid Michaelson, Lissy Trullie and more.
More recently, he has been supervising sound editor for projects with A24, Magnolia Productions, Showtime, Netflix & Comedy Central, and has been senior sound engineer at Harbor Picture Company since 2017. Most importantly, he has been a judge for Winter Madness since its inception.
Rich Weiss
Rich Weiss founded Bloodless Management in 2019 to cultivate meaningful connections between artists, venues, and audiences. With over a decade of experience in the music industry at SPIN Magazine, Warner Music Group, and Magnum PR, Rich has worked with acclaimed artists such as And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and Surfer Blood. A dedicated advocate for the music community, he is passionate about curating events that showcase exciting and innovative talent.
Adam Wieczner
Adam spent 4 years working for SXSW as a stage manager advancing bands, ultimately running the largest outdoor stage at Auditorium shores and advancing national touring acts like the Deftones, Wolfmother, Coheed & Cambria, Ludacris, Ryan Bingham and more. He later went on to produce his own music showcase at the festival. Adam currently runs the Jim Beam music program for Beam Suntory New York, and manages all their music and sports partnerships across the state. In his free time you can find Adam at Webster Hall, OWL, Brooklyn Steel, Avant Gardner or one of the other many great music venues across the city.
