First-time winners included L.A. transplant Mike Stinson (Best Song, "No One to Drink With"), Ira Perez (Best Female Vocals), Tim Qualls (Best New Act), Tax the Wolf (Best Progressive Rock), Jennifer Grassman (Best Keyboards) and — in perhaps one of the biggest awards upsets ever — Cypress trio Potbelly broke D.R.U.M's hold on Best Reggae/Dub, which began more than a decade ago when the category was still called Best World Music.
No strangers to the stage were Nick Gaitan, who scooped up Local Musician of the Year as well as repeating as Best Bassist; Kristine Mills, who slid over to Best Songwriter after winning Best Female Vocals last year; and Los Skarnales, who took the evening's first award in Best Latin Contemporary and later returned for a scorching performance of some trademark cumbia de la raza. (Skarnales releases its latest CD, Dale Shine, Friday at Fitzgerald's.)
Gaitan and his group The Umbrella Man began the evening's music with minor-key zydeco polka "Mind's in Misery," and Lee Alexander gave a haunting acoustic rendition of "Wheel," whose online sales he is donating to the Lightnin' Hopkins Historical Marker Fund.
Once they were finally located, Grandfather Child simmered through the title track to Best EP/7" winner "Waiting for You," before erupting into a vicious blues-metal stomp. After moving the crowd with Best Song nominee "Like Hell Yeah" and "Home" (featuring partner in rhyme Smash Bro), Fat Tony toasted his Best Underground Hip-Hop hat trick with "three times for Third Ward."
As usual, there were random outbreaks of silliness. Accepting Best Record Store for Cactus Music, Buxton's Chris Wise and Cody Swann of the Wild Moccasins (first-time Best Indie Rock winners) had the Twitter fingers flying when they smooched onstage. Best Hardcore/Noise champs A dream Asleep drew some laughs with their T-shirts strategically arranged to spell "TITS," and Best Punk first-timers Skeleton Dick came appropriately dressed in X-ray attire.
It wasn't all fun and games. Little Joe Washington is ailing again, said the 71-year-old bluesman's grandson while accepting yet another Best Blues award for the Houston icon. Get well soon, Joe.
Congratulations to all. Your 2010 Houston Press Music Award winners:
Best LP/CD
Devin the Dude, Suite 420
Best EP/7"
Grandfather Child, "Waiting for You"
Best Song
Mike Stinson, "No One to Drink With"
Local Musician of the Year
Nick Gaitan
Best New Act
Tim Qualls
Best Male Vocals
Lee Alexander
Best Female Vocals
Ira Perez
Best Songwriter
Kristine Mills
Best Rock
Lotus Effect
Best Punk
Skeleton Dick
Best Indie-Rock
Wild Moccasins
Best Progressive Rock
Tax the Wolf
Best Hardcore/Noise
A dream Asleep
Best Metal
Pinche Gringos
Best Instrument/Experimental
Two Star Symphony
Best Latin Traditional
Mango Punch
Best Latin Contemporary
Los Skarnales
Best Latin Hip-Hop
Chingo Bling
Best Mainstream Hip-Hip
Bun B
Best Underground Hip Hop
Fat Tony
Best Reggae/Dub
Potbelly
Best Jazz
Free Radicals
Best R&B/Funk/Soul
2 Dollar Sound
Best Blues
Little Joe Washington
Best Zydeco
Zydeco Dots
Best Country
Robert Ellis & the Boys
Best Folk
Flying Fish Sailors
Best Roots-Rock/Americana
Sideshow Tramps
Best Cover/Tribute Band
Beetle
Best Guitarist
The Mighty Orq
Best Bassist
Nick Gaitan (The Umbrella Man)
Best Drummer
Ash Hendley (World's Most Dangerous)
Best Keyboards
Jennifer Grassman
Best Miscellaneous Instrument
Geoffrey Muller
Best Club DJ
GRRRL Parts
Best Producer
DJ Red
Best Radio Personality
Rod Ryan (94.5 The Buzz)
Best Radio Station
KPFT (90.1 FM)
Best Radio Program
The Rod Ryan Show (KTBZ)
Best Record Store
Cactus Music
Best Local Label
Space City Records
Best Live Music Venue
Warehouse Live
Best Instrument/Equipment Store
Guitar Center
Best Local Twitter Personality
Slim Thug
