Took us long enough, right? It’s been so long since we’ve had the Houston Press Music Awards, which were last handed out the evening of August 11, 2010, that we almost forgot we were having them.
Not really. How could we? If our numbers are correct, in the two weeks this year’s nomination ballot was online, there were more than 9,000 votes spread out across this year’s 43 categories. Furthermore, since there’s been an extra-long time between the awards – and because there are simply a ton of local musicians out there – we expanded the number of nominees in most of the categories. Our eyes hurt.
Like we say every year (or it seems like it), what you’re about to read is the most tangible testament to the diversity, breadth and sheer amount of musical talent among the Houston area’s some 5 million people you can find anywhere. You may not agree on all the choices, but you can’t deny our city is bursting at the seams with just about any kind of music you could care to listen to.
Rocks Off has spent most of the past two days combing through each of the categories, and consulting with our High Council to determine the final nominees – all 262 of them. Yes, we counted. We feel like we just carved a six-foot ice sculpture with a safety pin. The ballot will go online tomorrow (we’ll let you know when it’s up) and appear in the October 27 print edition. Let’s get to it.
8:35 a.m., October 19: Updated with link to 2011 online ballot.
Best LP/CD/EP
Robert Ellis, Photographs Trae tha Truth, Street King Sideshow Tramps, Revelator Otenki, Kinetic Los Skarnales, Dale Shine Delo, Hood Politics Vol. 2 Something Fierce, Don’t Be So Cruel Literary Greats, Black Blizzard Various Artists, Honky Tonk Blood soundtrack
Best Mixtape
Preemo, The Magic Bullet UZOY, The [Def]inition Killa Kyleon, Candy Paint & Texas Plates 2 Doughbeezy, Reggie Bush & Kool-Aid Roderickvonn, I’m Almost Done Getting Ready Mr. Wired Up (Oh Boy), Inside My Mind
Best Song
“Westbound Train,” Robert Ellis
“Band to Save Me,” thelastplaceyoulook
“John the Revelator,” Sideshow Tramps
“Drank In My Cup,” Kirko Bangz
“Devil Box,” Ryan Scroggins & the Trenchtown Texans
“Nigga You Ain’t Fat,” Fat Tony
“Pack It Up,” UZOY
“Ghosts,” Otenki
“Paint the Stars,” Castle Lights
“Sunshine,” Clory Martin
“Future Punks,” Something Fierce
Local Musician of the Year
Trae tha Truth
Kirko Bangz
Robert Ellis
Killa Kyleon
Slim Thug
Josh Wolf
Best New Act
Rivers
Bang Bangz
Finnegan
Square & Compass
Le$
Doughbeezy
The Beans
UZOY
The Handshake
Best Male Vocals
Lee-Lonn
Steve Steele
Jack Freeman
Nava, thelastplaceyoulook
Keith Sparks, Floorbound
German Hernandez, Otenki
Best Female Vocals
Yelba Heaton, Yelba
Monica Matocha
Clory Martin
Kristine Mills
Asli Omar, Tontons
Kam Franklin
Sara Van Buskirk
Best Songwriter
Robert Ellis
Hollywood Floss
Clory Martin
Kevin Kendrick
Nava, thelastplaceyoulook
UZOY
Best Rock
Otenki
thelastplaceyoulook
Bayou City Outlaw Band
Floorbound
Roky Moon & BOLT!
Steve Steele
Castle Lights
The Abyss
Best Indie/Alternative
Gatlin Elms
Wild Moccasins
Screwtape
The Fox Derby
The Tontons
The Manichean
Best Punk/Garage
The Ballistics
Skeleton Dick
The Hates
Something Fierce
Commie Hilfiger
Vivian Pikkles & the Sweethearts Uber Alles
Best Metal
Hindsight
Venomous Maximus
Decimation Theory
Melovine
Legion
Omotai
Best Experimental/Noise
A Dream Asleep
Good Job Underground
B L A C K I E
ERASETHEVIRUS
Letters to Voltron
Female Demand
Best Electronic Act
//TENSE//
LIMB
Glasnost
Provision
Heidi Massin
Best Solo Rapper
Trae tha Truth
UZOY
HasHBrown
Fat Tony
J-Dawg
Delo
Kirko Bangz
Propain
Bun B
Z-Ro
Best Rap Group
The Niceguys
Lower Life Form
H.I.S.D.
CB Kingz
220 Music
Undergravity
Best Rap DJ
DJ Mr. Rogers
iPod Ammo
OG Ron C
DJ Candlestick
DJ Ebonix
Best Club DJ/DJ Night
GRRRL Parts
Gritsy
Bizonee
DJ Bizz
Albert Fix
DJ Sun
Best Pop Artist
Monica Matocha
Melissa Savcic
Tim Qualls
DeAndre Wright
Chase Hamblin
Kathryn Hallberg
Best Latin
Yelba
Los Guerreros de la Musica
La Sien
Chango Man
Dat Boi T
Frankie G Da Mex
Best Jazz
Tianna Hall
Kristine Mills
Free Radicals
Jazz Marauders
Alicia Gianni
Henry Darragh
Best Blues
Little Joe Washington
Steve Krase & the In Crowd
Texas Johnny Brown
Paul Ramirez Band
Trudy Lynn
The Mighty Orq
Best Soul/Funk/R&B
Electric Attitude
Diunna Greenleaf
Ozeal
Lee-Lonn
The Journey Agents
Jack Freeman
Best Reggae/Ska/Dub
Los Skarnales
Ryan Scroggins & the Trenchtown Texans
Idiginis
D.R.U.M.
Footpie
Brains for Dinner
Best Zydeco
Zydeco Dots
Bayou Roux
Curtis Poullard & the Creole Zydeco Band
Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws
Lil’ Brian & the Travelers
Best Country
Robert Ellis & the Boys
Mike Stinson
Dewey Wayne
Brant Lee Croucher
Johnny Falstaff
Sean Reefer & the Resin Valley Boys
Best Folk
Libby Koch
Clory Martin
Harts of Oak
Ancient Cat Society
Hilary Sloan
Best Americana
Folk Family Revival
Literary Greats
The Octanes
Sideshow Tramps
Buxton
Best Cover/Tribute Act
Maximus
Beetle
The Fab 5
Gene’s Addiction
Bourbon Street
Danneurysm
Best Guitarist
Kelly Doyle, Robert Ellis & the Boys
Jeremiah Wood, Castle Lights
Fausto Padilla, Otenki
Ken Sarmiento
The Mighty Orq
Best Bassist
Cason Sicking, Floorbound
Josh Tenorio, Otenki
Aaron Eaves, Castle Lights
Daniel Taylor, The Beans
Nick Gaitan, Umbrella Man/Octanes
Best Drummer
Scott Sparks, Floorbound
Chris Kelly, Otenki
Brendan Hall, The Beans
Brian Shoppell, Umbrella Man/Paul Ramirez Trio
Mikey Garcia, thelastplaceyoulook
Best Keyboards
Colton Majors, Otenki
Jennifer Grassman
St. Clair, The Journey Agents
Paul Viers, Ozeal
Barry Seelen
Best Miscellaneous Instrument
Sean Torres, Los Guerreros de la Musica (timbales)
James Murphy, Electric Attitude (saxophone)
Isaac Munoz, Ozeal (saxophone)
Geoffrey Mueller, Sideshow Tramps (saw)
Jonathan Lin (fiddle)
Lucas Gorham, Grandfather Child (steel guitar)
Best Producer
Beans N’ Kornbread
Ken Sarmiento
Cy Fyre
Jay Snider
DJ Mr. Rogers
Dan Workman
Best Radio Personality
Rod Ryan, 94.5 The Buzz
Optimo Ram, Local Live Radio
Outlaw Dave, AM 950
A.D., 94.5 The Buzz
Raven Douglas, Local Live Radio
St. John Flynn, Houston Public Radio
Best Radio Station
KPFT (90.1 FM)
The Buzz (94.5 FM)
Local Live Radio (locallivehouston.com)
The Box (97.9 FM)
Hot 95.7 (95.7 FM)
Best Radio Program
The Rod Ryan Show, 94.5 The Buzz
Optimo Radio, Local Live Houston
The Front Row, KUHF
Turnin’ Headz Radio, Local Live Houston
Wide Open Spaces, KPFT
Lonestar Jukebox, KPFT
Best Local Label
Space City Records
ZenHill Records
I-10 Records
Blue Bamboo Music
Team Science
Best Live Music Venue
Warehouse Live
House of Blues
Fitzgerald’s
Scout Bar
Continental Club
Best Record Store
Cactus Music
Soundwaves
Vinyl Junkie
Sig’s Lagoon
Vinal Edge Records
Black Dog Records
Best Instrument/Equipment Store
Guitar Center
Rockin’ Robin
Fuller’s Vintage Guitar
Texas Music Emporium
Best Scenester
H-Kane
Pedro Salazar
Jessica Vickery
Clint Broussard
Pam Cantu
Roach
Cast your vote now at the 2011 HPMA poll page.
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This article appears in Oct 13-19, 2011.
