A hailstorm of harmonies descended on the ubiquitous SLO Brew on Aug. 28 when the New Times Music Awards began. The annual music awards ceremony was at once a celebration and epic competition, showcasing the collected musical talents of artist from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Before the bands battled, the winners of the Best Songwriter categories performed their songs. Singer-songwriters included Dulcie Taylor for her song “Cherokee,” Reese Galido for “Sing You to Me,” and The Simple Parade with their song “Confetti.”
The crowd packed in close around tables and the bar, enjoying drinks and cheering on the respective performers. Each competing group enjoyed 20 to 30 minutes of stage time during which to perform, all the while carefully watched and listened to by the New Times judges.
The battle began with The Famous Deuce and Roach Clip in an explosive performance of improvised rap, shared verses, green and purple fog effects, as well as a shout out to the New Times and all the other performers. They closed their set with “Ginsu (P.S. I Don’t Miss You),” which won the group first place in the NTMA’s Hip-Hop category. Britches, with their song “Fake Prints,” earned second place, and K & Whereabouts took third with “What I Found.”
Up next was Odonovan, whose brand of hard redneck rock took first place in the Rock/Alternative category. The track that brought them the glory was “Country Krunk,” which they tore through with gusto. Odonovan shared the Rock/Alternative category awards with We Were Superheroes for their song “Pub Love,” and The Monroe with “Cut The Corners.”
The next band on the bill was Shadowlands, a folk quartet that blends a unique, ethereal sound. Their song “Restless Mind” won them first place in the Open category, followed by Ohara with “Even When We’re Ghosts,” and Tiana Star with “I Am My Own.”
Stephen Styles was next, and rocked with a twang and a soulful country rock croon. His song “Think of Home” won first place in the Country/Folk/Americana category, followed by Loren Radis with the folkie ballad “A Young Man’s Song,” and Occasional Mustache with their Californicana-style song “Walk of Shame.”
Closing the show was Próxima Parada, the smooth jamming winner of first and second place in the Blues/R&B category. Though every ensemble was at the top of its game, Próxima Parada’s soulful, funky style proved to be the taste that tickled the judges’ collective fancy, and the group took home Best Live Performance.
Jody Mulgrew and The Skeleton Crew won the Best Album award with the album Let Them Talk, followed by Dulcie Taylor and Friends for the new album Only Worn One Time, and The Turkey Buzzards with Hobos Don’t Call it Camping. The New Times Music Awards’ annual Readers Choice award went to the first competing group, Famous Deuce and Roach Clip.
The evening included more fun and music than should be allowed on a Thursday night, but it kept rocking after the sun went down. All artists who are green with envy should remember to enter into next year’s competition when enrollment comes around in the summer of 2015.
You can learn more about the New Times Music Awards at newtimesslo.com.
Keeping it smooth
The Chumash Casino Resort offers a live concert featuring R&B favorite Jeffrey Osborne live on Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. Latin legend Ramon Ayala performs on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. More information is available at 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Spinning yarns
Tales from the Tavern presents Beth Orton and her band in concert on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More information is available at 686-4785 or talesfromthetavern.com.
Always open
Lucia’s Wine Co. offers an open mic event for musicians and poets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the tasting room, 126 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. More information is available at 332-3080 or lucias-wine-co.com.
Get down at Shaw’s
Shaw’s Steakhouse hosts live music on Saturdays with DJs on Thursdays and Fridays in the evening, 714 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More information is available at 925-5862.
Scratching and singing
Rooney’s Irish Pub offers This Bangs! with DJs Mr. Butter, DJ Flashback, DJ Sol, and Hurricane Worldwide on Fridays at 10 p.m. DJs and bands perform on Saturday nights. Karaoke night is Thursdays at Rooney’s Irish Pub, 241 S. Broadway St., Orcutt. More information is available at 934-3777 or rooneysirishpub.net.
In the flow
The Creative Juices Lounge features regular live music on the weekends, including Mark and Larry performing Sept. 6. The AJM Band performs Sept. 12 at the lounge, 874 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. No cover. More information is available at 219-0518 or creativejuiceslounge.com.
Incite the tease
O’Sullivan’s Pub features live music weekly, including The Booker Tease and The Inciters performing on Sept. 12 at 9 p.m. at the pub, 633 E. Main St., Santa Maria. More information is available at 925-0658 or osullivanspub.net.
Pasta, pizza, and music
Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar presents live music on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from from 2 to 5 p.m. at the café and wine bar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria. More info: 937-6400, dcp@grevino.com, and grevino.com.
Maverick country
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend including a performance by the Hollywood Hillbillies on Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Travis Mersola is Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. Morganfield Burnett performs on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 4-11, 2014.
