Like everything else about this city, the size of the Houston music scene can sneak up on you. It always seems so far-flung and diffuse most of the year, because our performers and venues are spread out across some 700 square miles.
But then Music Awards time rolls around and suddenly a lot of them (more than 50) are playing practically right on top of each other at our Houston Press Music Awards showcase, which took place this past weekend at 11 downtown venues. Then you can get a somewhat clearer picture of the depth and diversity we really have here. Take just a moment to appreciate that.
What we have below is the list of 2012 Houston Press Music Award winners in 41 categories, as voted on by Houston Press readers and announced August 8 at our Warehouse Live ceremony. Take just a moment to appreciate them, too.
BEST LP/CD/EP: Free Radicals, The Freedom Fence
BEST MIXTAPE: One Hunnidt, #keepit100
BEST SONG: Free Radicals, “Ben Taub Blues”
BEST LOCAL MUSIC VIDEO: H.I.S.D., “Rockit Man”
LOCAL MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR: Robert Ellis
BEST NEW ACT: The Suffers
BEST MALE VOCALS: Chase Hamblin
BEST FEMALE VOCALS: Kam Franklin,
The Suffers
BEST SONGWRITER: Nathan Quick
BEST POP ARTIST: Chase Hamblin
BEST ROCK: The Trimms
BEST MODERN ROCK: Another Run
BEST GARAGE/PUNK/HARDCORE: Skeleton Dick
BEST METAL: Venomous Maximus
BEST EXPERIMENTAL/NOISE: B L A C K I E
BEST ELECTRONIC ACT: FLCON FCKER
BEST SOLO RAPPER: Onehunnidt
BEST RAP GROUP: The Niceguys
BEST RAP DJ: DJ Candlestick
BEST CLUB DJ/DJ NIGHT: Skeezer
BEST LATIN ARTIST: Los Skarnales
BEST JAZZ: Free Radicals
BEST BLUES: The Mighty Orq
BEST SOUL/FUNK/R&B: Electric Attitude
BEST REGGAE/SKA/DUB: The Suffers
BEST ZYDECO: Zydeco Dots
BEST COUNTRY: Justin Van Sant
BEST FOLK: Kevin Kendrick
BEST AMERICANA: Nathan Quick
BEST COVER/TRIBUTE ACT: The Fab 5
BEST GUITARIST: James Henry, Steve Krase & the In Crowd
BEST BASSIST: Spare Time Murray, Steve Krase & the In Crowd/H-Town Jukes
BEST DRUMMER: Gabe Bravo, the Trimms
BEST OTHER INSTRUMENT: Niki Sims, saxophone/clarinet
BEST PRODUCER: Josiah Gabriel
BEST RADIO STATION: Local Live Houston
BEST RADIO PROGRAM: The Rod Ryan Show, 94.5 The Buzz
BEST LOCAL LABEL: Space City Records
BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE: Fitzgerald’s
BEST RECORD STORE: Cactus Music
BEST INSTRUMENT/EQUIPMENT STORE: Rockin’ Robin
This article appears in Aug 9-15, 2012.
