Music Award Winners
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Music Award Winners Rock Breakthrough Act: Benji’s Our 2019 Breakthrough Act’s first EP came out four years ago, but the RI community is finally starting to take notice. Much like religious minorities seeking liberty, founders Maryssa Morse Philip Geronimo came to PVD in 2014 from LA. Their music reminds me of surfy Pixies mixed with early 2000s Franz Ferdinand. Catch the Benji’s on April 16 at the News Cafe. – JB Rock Live Act: The Silks What else is there to say about these local heavyweights and previous winners? They’re probably known best for the guitar pyrotechnics of Tyler-James Kelley, but this band hasn’t gotten where they are by dragging dead weight. Uncle Sam Jodrey on drums, Jonas Parmelee on bass and Johnny Trama on rhythm and lead guitar bring it all together beautifully. Folks in the Boston area have now seen the lSilks’ Swampy, bluesy rock ‘n’ roll that takes no prisoners. – JB Rock — Favorite Female Vocalist: Tai Awolaju (Boo City) Tai Awolaju is the backbone of Boo City along with guitarist Andrew Moon Bain. Her show-stealing voice keeps the band’s diverse mix of soul, rock and reggae moving in the right direction. Throw in a dynamic and commanding stage presence, and this Motif award comes as no surprise to those already hip to Boo City. – JB Favorite Punk Act: The McGunks Previous winners of the award back in 2012, The McGunks have been tearing through New England since 2003 with their brand of rollicking singalongs about barrooms and beers in the vein of Social D and Dropkick Murphys. Check out their music live at the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain on May 4. – JB Favorite Pop Punk Act: The Callouts Pop punk is not a lost art, and The Callouts prove it in convincing fashion. Their second album, give up, just out in January, shows no signs of a sophomore slump, with hook machines like “Amelia” and “Reverse Clooney.” Catch The Callouts at Rob Duguay’s birthday bash April 19 at the News Cafe. – JB Favorite Cover Band: Sybil Disobedience It’s just another year in the life of Sybil Disobedience. I hope they have commissioned a trophy case for all these awards, because this is Sybil’s fourth Motif trophy in a row, an impressive achievement. Sybil is the go-to cover band that goes from top 40 to classic rock, and keeps the party going all over RI. – JB Favorite Post Punk Act: Hope Anchor It’s the second win in a row in this category for Hope Anchor, who played a killer set at last year’s Motif Music awards. The crew made up of Paul Everett, Terry Linehan, Ray Memery, Robbie Shaggs and Paul Myers was described by Marc Clarkin as “indie rock that reminds me of some descendant of Echo & the Bunnymen and Wire.” And with maybe the hardest-reppin’ RI band name out there, what’s not to like? – JB Favorite Female Singer / Songwriter: Amanda Salemi Amanda Salemi’s words and music are the secret sauce that gives Consuelo’s Revenge its signature eclectic folk gypsy punk vibe. Listen to the beautiful “Teri’s Song” or the barnstorming “The Palatine Light” to see what I mean. While CR has another album on the way, Salemi is reportedly working on her first solo album, which likely means more Motif awards to come. You can see Salemi in the flesh at one of Rob Duguay’s turnt up Birthday Benefit Bashes, April 19 at the News Café. motifri.com/amanda- salemi-profile/ – JB Favorite House Band: Nick-A-Nee’s House Band Props to the house band at everyone’s favorite dive bar! The band includes keyboardist John Juxo, Hawk Rocco, Jim Morgan and Jim Kelley, and they take the stage every Monday night at Nick-a-Nee’s on South Street in the Jewelry District. – JB Favorite Reggae Act: Hope Road Hope Road are a tribute to Bob Marley and The Wailers, and they play a vital role in breathing new life into those songs. I’m not sure why they got cast in reggae vs. tribute, but since they do both, it isn’t really a big deal. You can catch Hope Road when they bring the rasta jams to the Ocean Mist on April 20. 4/20 and all. – MC Favorite Ska Band: The Copacetics The dynasty continues as once again The Copacetics take home the honors for “Favorite Ska Act” for lord only knows how many years in a row. I’m guessing at least six years, but even that could be selling them short. They dominate this category as if they were the Beatles of local ska. The Copaceptics are next in action at Askew on May 17. – MC Favorite Jam Band: The Cosmic Factory I caught The Cosmic Factory recently and it was a haze of funk-fueled mind-bending rock. The Cosmic Factory have a couple of upcoming gigs, including one at The Oasis Pub in New London, Conn, on April 5 and in PVD at AS220’s Psychic Readings on April 18. – MC Favorite Garage Band: Eric and the Nothing This has been a huge year for Eric and the Nothing as they released their debut self-titled debut, which sounds great — highly recommend that you pick it up in vinyl. Eric and the Nothing are more or a throwback to ’50’ Buddy Holly style rock ‘n’ roll than traditional garage rock but hey, I’m good with whatever you kids want to vote for. These guys deserve it. Eric and the Nothing are next in action at AS220 as part of a killer bill on April 24. – MC Favorite Dance Night: Soul Power Speaking of dynasties, Soul Power is working on its own by taking top honors for at least the fifth year in a row. DJs John O’Leary and the dance commander himself, Ty Jesso, bring the party to Dusk twice a month on the second and last Fridays of the month. I’ve been going to Soul Power for the last 15 years and will keep going for another 15 as long as it and I’m still around. Soul Power bring the best of mostly ’60s soul, go-go, mod, garage, funk and a truckload of fun! – MC Favorite Harcore/Metal Act: Rhode Kill Rhode Kill has been cranking out loud blasts of metal and punk since 2005 and are showing no signs of slowing down. These guys have paid their dues and then some. Rhode Kill recently posted that they have some heavy new jams in the works, which I look forward to hearing. – MC Favorite Noise Band: Dropdead Dropdead has been pounding a mix of political hardcore and thrash since 1991. They have released albums and traveled the world and really mean too much to so many people around the world to be a local band. I didn’t think Dropdead really needed a nomination, but sometimes people don’t listen to me. I was excited to see Dropdead recently post photos with the caption stating they had 20-something plus new jams that they are working on. Can’t wait to hear them; singer Bob Otis is a needed voice in these Trumpian times. – MC Favorite Tribute Act: Dirty Deeds Speaking of dynasties, how about Dirty Deeds who are another band that has to be close to at least five consecutive wins? Next year I’m going to suggest adding a new category called Favorite Non-AC/DC Tribute act just to give another band a chance. Dirty Deeds are an interesting story; they have been cranking out those classic AC/DC riffs so long that the band has two generations of family members. Dirty Deeds are at The Whiskey Republic in Providence on May 4. – MC Favorite Rock Festival: PVD Fest I can’t name one act that played last year’s PVD Fest and a year from now I probably won’t be able to name an act from this coming year’s fest. That really isn’t what PVD Fest is about. PVD Fest is a celebration of arts and culture in the city. It is just fun to walk through and stop by the different stages and experience all the different genres of music melded together. This year’s PVD Fest will take place June 6 – 9 all over downtown PVD. – MC Favorite Rock Album and Favorite Male Rock Vocalist: Blackoute Deluxe by Ravi Shavi – Rafay Rashid On Blackout Deluxe, Ravi Shavi expanded their palette to include psychedelic and funk sonic waves while retaining plenty of the high-energy alterna-punk that has long been their calling card. Singer/Guitarist Rafay Rashid, who took the honors for “Favorite Male Vocalist,” has a solo show coming up at the Columbus Theatre on April 4 as part of the WHEM 2 Year Anniversary show, opening for The Horse-Eyed Men. – MC Favorite Rock Act: Tall Teenagers Despite being neither tall nor teenagers, Tall Teenagers come as advertised if it’s dingy post-punk/ alternative rock with harmonies that is on the label. Tall Teenagers have two releases out of low-fi unsettling pop that reminds me of Pod-era Breeders meets Ty Segall at the Rock & Bowl on Saturday night. Next up for these giants is rocking out at the one year anniversary of Askew in Providence on April 20 with The Low Cards and Barn Burning. – MC Favorite Sound Person: Kris Hansen It’s one of those jobs that you don’t notice if it’s done well, but you definitely notice when it’s not.