Local Talent Spotlighted at OC Music Awards |
| Written by Paul Lyons |
| Monday, 07 March 2011 02:27 |
 Who needs the Grammys? Down in the OC, we have our very own awards show, featuring exciting new talent that the folks from the Grammy committee probably never even heard of...which is a shame. The best of what the OC has to offer in folk music, blues, jazz, alternative, electronica, acoustic, metal, pop, hip hop, Latin, surf, rock, punk, and DJ spinning was on display Saturday evening for the 10th Anniversary, 2011 Orange County Music Awards held at The City National Grove of Anaheim. The 1,700 capacity venue played host to an exciting night filled with a wide variety of sights, sounds, and surprises...Our master of ceremonies for the evening was none other than world famous KROQ DJ, Stryker. The night began with a strong performance by OC Music Award nominee Stacy Clark, who later went on to win the award for Best Pop artist. Her latest album, Connect the Dots, was also nominated. After Clark left the stage...the awards began. Folk trio Yellow Red Sparks picked up the honor for Best Folk artist, while Parker Macy Blues won for Best Blues. Irvine hardcore quartet Thrice won big with Best Alternative band, but couldn’t accept the award in person because they were set to perform at Musink Festival down the street.  The second performance of the night was fantastic, wonderful and also in the category of “What the Hell Was That?” Straight out of Fullerton, Dahga Bloom hit the darkly lit stage and played a bizarre instrumental completely in silhouette...in front of a large screen that presented images of spinning shapes and colors. During their performance, I was at once enthralled, curious, and absolutely frightened. Perhaps out of fear, Dahga Bloom later on went on to win the award for Best Rock band. When the six members of the band came on stage to accept the award, the microphone at the podium broke down (or were they just silent?)...so nothing was heard. Dahga Bloom soon left the stage in silence. This created an awkward moment between band and audience that seemed to perfectly fit the enigmatic nature of their overall presence that evening. Also from Fullerton, was Best Jazz winner Evan Stone. In his speech, Stone made sure to thank Terrence Love, founder and owner of Fullerton’s beloved Steamers Jazz Club & Cafe. On the other end of the spectrum, Blok won the award for Best Electronic music. Blok singer Jesse St. John dedicated the award to his mother, Deborah, who was celebrating her birthday. The best moment of the 10th Anniversary, 2011 Orange County Music Awards came next...in the form of the winner for Best Live Acoustic Performance. After a short video highlighting acoustic players from the recently held OCMA showcase series, the curtain rose to reveal a lone man with a guitar...Micah Brown. Performing a slow and bluesy version of “Coming of Age”...one of the seven tracks from his debut CD, Down Like Hail...Micah Brown mesmerized the crowd with his virtuosic guitar playing, and sweet and soulful vocals. This Dana Point resident is a force to be reckoned with, and I reckon that you should do yourself a favor and check him out real soon... Huntington Beach breakout stars (and KROQ favorite) Avenged Sevenfold were the biggest winners of the night, taking home awards for Best Metal band, and later Best Album for their fifth release, Nightmare. Lead singer M Shadows accepted both awards on behalf of the group, yet only after first praising Micha Brown’s performance as being “fu#king awesome.” Shadows thanked the band's family, friends and fans for their support during the last year. The members of Avenged Sevenfold were still shaken by the loss of the band’s drummer, James “The Rev” Sullivan...who died in late 2009 due to a dangerous mix of drugs and alcohol. M Shadows also thanked Orange County, and mentioned that without OC bands like Death By Stereo and Social Distortion, Avenged Sevenfold “wouldn’t even be here.”  Costa Mesa resident Billy Kernkamp won the Best Country/Americana award, and was in a playful mood as he joked with his band and the audience. Not long after, a Lifetime Achievement award was given to legendary OC icon, and former Hee Haw star, Stan Freese. In case you did not know, Freese is a master of the tuba, as well as being a band leader, casting and booking director and 40-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company through its theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, and Tokyo. On stage to accept the Lifetime Achievement award, Freese was joined by a special guest...Mickey Mouse himself. Dressed in a white and blue band uniform, the beloved mouse seemed very happy to support all of the good work Sten Freese has done over the years. Freese was thrilled, yet admitted that the award reminded him about “being old.” He said “It’s the first time in my life that I am glad I am old.” He went on to discuss how fortunate he has been in his life, and that his favorite kind of music is music “that you believe in, and play from your heart.” Nancy Sanchez may have lost the Best Jazz award, yet she won for Best Latin...and later performed a song with Best Jazz winner Evan Stone. In her acceptance speech, Sanchez reminded the crowd that she was an Anaheim native, and even mentioned the blocks she grew up on. Huntington Beach reggae, rock, hip hop band The Dirty Heads won Best World music...yet unfortunately they were a no-show. I & I won Best Hip Hop, and later gave an excellent, energetic performance that proved beyond a doubt that they were indeed worthy of their Orange County Music Award. The Best Live Band award went to Fullerton natives The Steelwells, who came on stage and performed a rousing version of “Boxes”, from their 2010 release...Shallow on the Draft.  Best Youth went to Huntington Beach pop singer/songwriter Amanda Lamb, while The Growlers from Costa Mesa won Best Surf band. Their performance towards the end of the show was a sight to behold. Dressed in drag, and wearing masks...The Growlers played on a stage decorated with massive amounts of tinfoil, and a stuffed dog. Fullerton native DJ Thrifty Lips was excited by his win for Best DJ, and later came on stage for a special guest performance with a full band. Kiev won Best Indie artist, and with no surprise to anyone, OC legends Social Distortion took home the prize for Best Punk band. Social D was also awarded the Orange County Impact Award for their many achievements, as well as their influence on music over the last 28 years. Stryker professed his love for the band during his presentation of the award, and mentioned how great it is that the veteran rockers recently achieved their greatest ever commercial success this year with their latest release Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes...a Billboard top 4 album. Stryker also mentioned that he once lost badly to Mike Ness in a game of blackjack. Unfortunately Social Distortion was not present, yet they did accept the award in a video played on the screens near the stage. In his acceptance speech, Social D’s fearless leader Ness altered the famous quote from John F. Kennedy, and said something to the effect of “Ask not what music can do for you, ask what you can do for music.” Other winners Saturday night included alternative rock band Halos, who won Best Music Video for their song “Amalgam”, as well as teenage indie band Ugly Paint...who took home the People’s Choice Award honor. Ages 13-15, the six-member band were all smiles on stage to accept the award...and each boy made sure to thank their parents. Grunge/metal band Railroad to Alaska won Best New Artist, while Irvine alternative rockers Young the Giant won Best Song for their big hit, “My Body.” The 10th Anniversary, 2011 Orange County Music Awards was quite an evening indeed. The sights and sounds of the night provided an engaging and memorable experience that I doubt that anyone who was in attendance at The City National Grove of Anaheim will ever forget... |
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