Tuesday, September 18, 2007

San Diego Music Awards

I have to admit I was a little nervous to head to the 2007 Music Awards. Last year I had a great time and I didn't want to go into it thinking that it would be nearly as fun as it was last year. I was mistaken.

Matt picked me up close to 7 so we got there a little later than we'd planned, played some frisbee in the parking lot, and made our way into the venue somewhere around the time that the Americana awards were given out. Walking in to the venue is a little overwhelming... there's weird bright lights by the beer vendors, and everyone kinda congregates by the entrance. We eventually filtered through the crowd and I caught up with the Dynamite Walls guys.

This is them waiting to hear if they won:
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And when they found out they didn't win:
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Kidding aside, I didn't think there were any awards won or lost that really shocked anyone throughout the night and I think in general all the bands were happy to be there supporting one another. The crowd came to a heavy hush when Nick Reynolds accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award and his speech to the singers and the pickers were inspiring. After that, however, the crowd went right back on partying. At times, it felt like "what awards?" because it was just about the fiesta, but I think that was just fine with everyone.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket Microphone Mike

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Here's the final tally of the winners:
Best Blues -Lady Dottie & the Diamonds
Best Jazz Album - On the One, "Live at the Knotty Pine"
Best Cover or Tribute Band -Cash'd Out

Best Local Recording - Gregory Page, "Knife in My Chest"
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Best Rock - Dirty Sweet
Best New Artist -Kemistry
Best Americana or Country Album -The Coyote Problem, "California"
Best Americana or Country -The Grams

Best Alternative Album -The Bloody Hollies, "Who to Trust, Who to Kill, Who to Love"
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Best Hard Rock -Cattle Decapitation
Best Hip Hop Album - The Knee Highs, "Rise & Shine"
Best Acoustic -Molly Jenson
Best World - B-Side Players
Best Pop Album - Get Back Loretta, "Over the Wall"
Best Pop - Get Back Loretta
Best Hard Rock Album -Earthless Rhythms, "From a Cosmic Sky"
Best Hip Hop -MC Flow
Best Blues Album - Lady Dottie & the Diamonds, "Livin' It Up"
Best Jazz - Peter Sprague
Best Rock Album - Dirty Sweet, "Of Monarchs and Beggers"
Best Electronic - The Album Leaf

Best Club DJ - Gabe Vega
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Best Alternative -Grand Ole Party

Song of the Year - Greg Laswell, "Sing Teresa Says"

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Album of the Year - Switchfoot, "Oh! Gravity"
Artist of the Year - As I Lay Dying


After the awards came to a close, it was off to the casino for most of the revellers. There was an after party in the Dreamcatcher showroom. The room was hot, but I guess they finally got the a/c working and then the only problem became figuring out how to get a drink. A few more bartenders would've been nice, and I'm not talking about setting up draft beer sales on the side of the dance floor. Seems to always be a problem everywhere, I guess.

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MEX entertained the crowd with their tunes and the schmoozefest continued. After a couple hours in the Dreamcatcher, we decided to head into the casino. We found our friends at a blackjack table just as Scotty was getting 86'd for being without valid ID. That was actually really funny, considering you only have to be 18 to be there and they had a whole posse of security pull him aside as if he was gonna resist or something. My ride had left earlier in the evening due to an emergency, so Laura Jane had agreed to take me home when the time came, but I was game for whatever after party she wanted to catch.

Our shuttle driver was awesome and she allowed us to stop for some beer, and we continued to the hotel in Alpine where people had rooms and caught up with each other, since Dan has been living in Prague and was heading back today. I think the sun was coming up before everyone finally crashed out. Another great SDMA in the bag.

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1 comment:

jshufelt said...

Looks like fun, my Monday consisted of day old pizza and a cold beer while watching the Pads woop up on the Pirates. --Jonathan