Space and the City
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALMOST NO-ONE!
Weeeell, the results are in from the 2008 Houston Press Music Awards, and while there were some winners in the scene we all breathe and love, we have to say that our enthusiasm for the results is tempered. Be it voter apathy or competitive categories splitting the Hands_Up vote, it looks like that the sector of the city long regarded as being the most into that rock and roll music walked away with little more than its back beat and a post-showcase hangover. HIGHTLIGHTS:
Best New Act: The Tontons
Grand Opening, Grand Closing as the band is set to go for an extended period without doing much of anything while vocalist Asli Omar is out of town. Catch their smoky picnic table blues Friday at Fitz, Saturday at the Secret Show Festival, or next week at a few shows in Savannah Georgia.
Best Drummer: Shane Lauder (Sideshow Tramps/Born Liars)
Good to see the Liars getting some recognition (but it wouldn’t be going out on a limb to say that he won because of the words “sideshow” and “tramps.” Real talk, their recent release (among others) makes us think there should be a Best 7 Inch category next years. Actually scratch that, we are saving it for our annual awards.
Best Experimental: Studemont Project
Jandek snubbed again, and, as if UGK sweeping the Album, Song and Musicians of the year categories was not hint enough, we are all reminded that H-Town is a Rap Town, so notions of what constitutes “experimental music” varies widely.
Best Indie Rock: Spain Colored Orange
Ok dudes. Real talk. It’s time for the album to come out.
Best Keyboard Player: Gilbert Alfaro (Spain Colored Orange)
Hey dude. Real talk. It’s time for you to drop that album on us.
Best Tribute Band: Beetle
Beetle freaking rules and if you are thinking to yourself “gee, I really could use some wholesome fun on a Thursday early evening” then you clearly have not been to their FREE weekly Happy Hour gigs at the Continental. Epic. Yes, we were so shut out of the awards this year that we are digressing into the Tribute category.
Best Unclassifiable Band: Black Math Experiment
Hahah, pulled out of a nearly month-long retirement to both play a nominating showcase and then collect an award. For serious, though, BME’s fans have voted them at the top of every contest they have ever been up for (remember when they were elected to open for The Misfits?). ATTN OTHER BANDS – are the people who come to your shows that stoked about you?
Best Metal: Golden Axe
Agreed
Best New Club: Boondocks
We still haven’t quite figured out what all the hate is about this place. They have freaking free BBQ on Sundays, a photo booth and an upstairs. FREE BBQ SUNDAYS. Plus, $0 shows atleast once a week and a cheap as plastic Happy Hour. Oh, and the staff are all LORDS OF WHIPS. Although real talk, they got to do something about that late afternoon sun on the patio. Totally killing their scene.
Best Live Music Venue: Warehouse Live
Considering the number of defuncts (or nearly) to win and be nominated this year, we cannot believe that the Engine Room did not win.
Best Record Store: Cactus Records
Gotta say it, we never liked the old Cactus. Never did it for us, not really sure why. We like what the new one is doing in a big way. So even though Sound Exchange cannot be beat for the local selection, we dig heavy on this place now.
Best Equipment Store: Guitar Center
I hope the higher-ups at Guitar Center Corporate know that Levi Johnson has done more to ingratiate their brand to Houston musicians than all the radio spots and glossy direct mails they can produce combined. One aces as Mata dude with a love for music and musicians (and great taste in it too – now on our check-out list due to his recommendation: World’s Most Dangerous) did more for them than Evan’s Music City having an in-venue banner at every place where a vote was cast Sunday.
Best Radio Station: KPFT
Not even by a long shot. Although there are notable exceptions, the quality of programming at KPFT continues to spiral to new identity politics-driven lows. If you think nothing makes your blood boil more than the way Ed Mayberry pronounces “business”, spend a little time listening to this station.
Best Local Label: Mia Kat Empire
Buxton, Hollywood Black and others make up their roster. Serious props are due for beating out more nationally known outfits like Swisha House or Rap-A-Lot.
CONDOLENCES TO:
Fatal Flying Guilloteens and Indian Jewelry, who both lost in four categories each; Arthur Yoria and Buxton who walked away 0 for 3; Hearts of Animals, Sharks and Sailors and Scattered Pages who were likewise shut out of their two-each nominations; and Balaclavas, Bring Back the Guns, By The End of Tonight, Hell City Kings, Insect Warfare, Jana Hunter, The Literary Greats, The Mathletes, Penny Royal, Something Fierce, Two Star Symphony and Whorehound who each blew their one shot at fame. Better Luck Next Year.
Real talk: Thats a long list of talent and a helluva good impression of our record collection. What was your biggest suprise or upset?
about 3 years ago
Yeah, I’m torn — it sucks that *so* many of the bands I voted for didn’t make the cut (although I contributed to the problem by writing in Piano Vines & Teenage Kicks for 3-4 things each), but it’s utterly BADASS that Mia Kat won. That’s cool as hell. One thing this city sorely lacks is a Saddle Creek/Dischord/Sub Pop-esque “city” label for outsiders to hook onto when thinking ’bout H-town…
about 3 years ago
My biggest shock was that people still haven’t figured out what a bore the ceremony is. When it’s all said and done it’s the hangover half of the HPMA showcase. The showcase is fun and grueling then theres this. You know it’s bad when they’re blogging about catering.
about 3 years ago
That was my first time attending the ceremony, and I was outta there in just over an hour. It was awful, and it somehow lacked all of the fun the showcase offered.
IE.
Free alcohol.
Also, were any of the bands from our little nook actually trying to win? I didn’t see one-thousand Myspace bulletins, flyers, online ads, and handbills from FFG or Sharks And Sailors asking their fans to “head over” to the Houston Press and drop them a vote. Thank god.
about 3 years ago
walking into the venue, i coulnd’t hear anything. whoever was onstage was loud & boring (notice no one clapped?) not to mention after an hour they were still playing! then when i went to eat they said we couldn’t touch the food because they were taking pictures of it. don’t you think after all these years they’d know how to throw a party?
about 3 years ago
No offense to those within the machine trying to right is sinking path, but, though i love to vote for my own favorite bands and give props to those i love i wrote off the Houston Press Awards since 1992. I’ve bitched and moaned my fair share around town to those who hadn’t already tuned me out. However, i suggest T.S.N. , S.C.R., and other E-Zines to band together (or do it seperately) and throw your own “Best of Showcase/Awards” Thing-a-ma-bob. The only way to keep the press honest is good old fashion competition. So you don’t like what the out come of Houston’ Press’s shin-dig rig-a-ma-roll then D.I.Y. baby. I believe the musicians/artists/promotors out on the perimeter prefer the accolades recieved from their peers much more than those garnered from a psuedo-schizophrenic outfit like H.P. (this opinion based solely on the luke warm perception i have on how others percieved the “best of” outcome. thats my two cents…A.D.R. i think you’re the man to spearhead this with the Hootenanny success and all…KUDOS!
about 3 years ago
Jeremy-
I don’t mean to knock MKE, but my impression is that they are a Christian label. Obviously they aren’t like other Christian labels, but all the same I think it weakens their potential as a “city label” if they stand for something that is probably not widely shared among the rest of us.
And just for the record, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with what they do, nor am I saying they should change it in order to be more suitable as a “city label.”
about 3 years ago
Maybe I’m just biased because a lot of my friends won(Los Skarnales,Sideshow Tramps,Free Rads,Fat Tony,Katy Stuckey and a bunch of other randoms that never get mentioned on here), but minus there not being free beer,I had a good time.I feel that everyone that won deserved to win because they put in the work,they have strong followings,and not to mention their shows are fun as hell,but be it that out of every blog I read following the showcases on Sunday it looks like everyone (skyline,free press,and space city) went to the same shows.I had to actually go to the Press site to read reviews about the other bands.That’s just my badly punctuated opinion though.
about 3 years ago
I love that we won the Best Unclassifiable category. It great to be too awesome to ignore OR categorize!
about 3 years ago
Whoops, dang ol html.
If you think nothing makes your blood boil more than the way Ed Mayberry pronounces “business”
Man, I thought I was the only one!
about 3 years ago
I had a good time. I’m not a big Orq fan, but other than that it was pretty cool. On the whole, I’m glad that the people who won did win. I freely admit that UGK’s album is better than mine.
about 3 years ago
NICE DISCUSSIONS. SOME COMMENT.
Moobs – Thank you for the kind words. Alot of work goes into the HPMA (the entire process) by the staff of the Press and, given that the paper’s editorial sweep is aimed towards a broader audience than this site, we think they actually do a bang up job. It’s certainly more than even the mighty and underworked employees of The Skyline Network International Corporation could throw together. We do our own awards, THE SAMMIES, at the end of the year.
Daniel – Reminder that acts like Buxton, The Western Civilization and Gretchen Schmaltz are also on that label. Not sure if you were taking that into account.
Kam – We deliberately took the night off from reporting. It’s the Press’ game, after-all. Don’t forget to include Houston Calling and Breakfast on Tour in your daily sweep of what’s happening (they both covered [took pictures] of acts not on Free Press or Space City Rock.
You raise a broader question, though – Los Skarnales, Fat Tony, Katy Suckey, etc – there are no doubt ‘scenes’ around these artists and their peers: where are the DIY blogs that cover them?
Jef – Congratz on the win, now please put your trophy to use in some manner of epic and signature tomfoolery.
Daniel (again) – During the brief era where they said “HPR, Houston Public Radio” We thought we were going to loose our minds. If we have learned anything in our travels across this MIGHTY NATION, it would have to be that our NPR station is one of the WORST out there. Seriously, they have better programming in Midland. MIDLAND.
What was anyone’s greatest surprise? Was there anyone you saw as a shoo-in that didn’t crack the coffin? Is this how the Fatal Flying Guilloteens end, not with a bang but a whimper?
-EDITORS
about 3 years ago
Is this how the Fatal Flying Guilloteens end, not with a bang but a whimper?
Cocaine
about 3 years ago
The MKE website says “Mia Kat Empire would like to thank all of our bands for making the cross country trip to Bushnell, Illinois to play this years Cornerstone music festival.” The Cornerstone festival is a Christian festival produced by Jesus People USA. I’m not sure what to make of that other than that the label itself has some kind of Christian mission.
about 3 years ago
The Tontons are actually going to be recording during this down time so watch out for some new tunes for these guys.
about 3 years ago
i don’t know what everyone is bitchin’ about. well i didn’t go, but i was pretty sure what to expect . what kind of “music showcase” is 21 up. most people who are passionate about music and more likely to be into new thinks are the wee ones. wasn’t it sponsored by a beer company and the W.B. woohoo thats cutting edge i tell you what. what would be funny is if all the bands nominated pulled out their own personal hootenannie and covered another band to show how serious these awards really are. nevermind, i am just bitter that the Airon Paul Dugas Experience didn’t make the cut. dammit.
about 3 years ago
I’m glad that I got to see Mia Gradney, totally wasn’t expecting her to be there!
about 3 years ago
Daniel, Thank you for taking enough notice to research the label so closely. You have found out that… 1 I am a Christian, 2 That the C-stone festival is put on by JPUSA and 3 some of the bands on our label have Christians in them. However I would like to say that for our part there is no “mission” other than to release quality music from some really great bands and to help foster and create a scene and community in this town the way Dischord did in D.C. or Sub-pop did in Seattle or K did in Olympia. We have no hidden agenda and as ADR pointed out, we are not strictly signing “Christian” bands. There is a lot of great work out there in Houston right now and all of it deserves to be heard. That would be our “mission”. The C-stone festival is attended annually by around 30.000 people. Only members of our roster who wanted to go went. I was thanking them for their hard work and gas money they gave in order to play and spread our name. It would be the same for any other festival, such as: SXSW, Northgate, Cochella, etc. (BTW Buxton and Hollywood Black are playing the Northgate Music Festival in College Station in the near future.) These all require planning and effort to attend and thanks is always deserved. I try as hard as I can to not draw distinction in between what is a ” religious” (Christian, Rastafarian, Buddhist, etc.) song and a “secular” song. All of these songs reflect the individual views of their creators. We should respect that and as art appreciators welcome the diversity. We thank everyone that did vote for us and would like to say that we are only one of many local labels. Please also check out Esotype and Team Science. These are some other great labels operating in Houston. Check ‘em out. Sorry to be so long winded, thanks for listening.
-Matt-MKE
about 3 years ago
ugh ed mayberry and his damn business news.
about 3 years ago
I understand Danny’s point about your label’s limitations. You may enjoy diversity, but to what extent? Although you appreciate our local bands, I am willing to bet that you wouldn’t put out records by bands that are overtly “secular.”
This is by no means against your label or how you feel about God. What I’m saying is, I think Danny was pointing out that you would probably never release bands that will harsh your Christian mellow. Like FFG, BBTG, The Monocles, Something Fierce, Insect Warfare, etc…That’s what he meant by saying it will “weaken” your potential.
Either way, you’re doing a great job. I say keep it up.
Respect,
SG
about 3 years ago
I digress as i munch on my cock-meat sammich.
about 3 years ago
Errrr,……..didn’t this label also release The Western Civilization? I am pretty sure these guys are atheists or something like that, and most, if not all, of their songs are pretty blatantly non-christian. I am not sure if SG or Daniel has ever actually had the opportunity to have a conversation with the guys who run this, but from some of your comments I am guessing not. Not to say I know them extremely well, personally, but from what I do know they would definitely not have a problem releasing most, if not all, of the bands you mentioned above. In fact, I would venture to say that of all of the bands signed to that label, maybe one of them are christians. I say KUDDO’S Mia Kat Empire! You deserve it!
about 3 years ago
Shannon- just because Rachel Western Civilization is HOTTER THAN MAGMA does not make her an atheist; just really really hot.
-editors
about 3 years ago
LOL, your right, she is pretty damn hot!
about 3 years ago
SG,
I actually love all of the bands that you’ve just mentioned!!! Something fierce is awesome. Let’s not forget that it is only in our American culture that an assemblage of four letters into our “swear” words contain the meaning that they convey. I deeply respect all of their opinions and support what they are doing. I see no point in censorship whether the word is Jesus or fuck. It shouldn’t overshadow the emotion or the art. The bands that we’ve signed, up until this point, have signed with us through very organic relationships. I don’t care about what they stand for and believe in just so long as they are honest, approachable, that they don’t feel the sense of entitlement that is so prevalent nowadays in the “indie rock” scene. They (Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, Satanists, Jedi, etc.) are the people I want to work with. NO ROCK STARS! That is pretty much our only prerequisite. Thanks again for your time attention and kind words.
-Matt
about 3 years ago
Wow, I’m pretty stunned at the whole Christian discussion. Mia Kat puts out what they like and the only simple question anyone needs to as is whether or not the music good. No offense, but who gives a crap what religion you ascribe to.
Fuck that, you do your thing Matt. Yr. doing a swell job.
about 3 years ago
Oh, and if anyone is interested, we are doing an all day showcase at Cactus Music on Saturday, Sept.6th! Mark your calender, get your dancin’ shoes out, dust ‘em off and come on down! Fun is there to be had!!! Thanks again Daniel, ADR, Shannon, and SG. Oh, and MOOBS is there enough meat on a rooster for a whole sandwich?
-Matt
about 3 years ago
Matt.
Great attitude. I will now take back my preconceptions. As I said before, KEEP IT UP.
SG
about 3 years ago
Matt,
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comments. I hope you understand why I was confused, and I’m glad you cleared things up for me. I also hope you were not offended, as it was not my intention to make any value judgements about what you do, regardless of your motivations.
Ramon,
My comments were specifically directed towards Jeremy’s view of MKE as a “city label,” and if people are going to view them that way, then yes, I do give a crap, not what they believe personally, but what their mission is as a representative of the community. If Matt says that religion is not part of his mission, fine, now everybody knows that and the air is clear. It’s better for all of us that we have had this discussion so that people can come to some kind of understanding about each other- obviously everybody is not going to know everything about everyone else’s motivations in advance.
Steven,
I know Matt has already addressed this, but just for the sake of discussion- if you really think about it, how much do any of the bands you mentioned violate Christian values? The FFG could be seen that way in their behavior, but I’m not sure there’s anything particularly “offensive” about their lyrics other than standard-issue profanity. Something Fierce actually strikes me as a pretty positive band, although I haven’t listened to the lyrics that closely I admit. Most of BBTG’s lyrics don’t seem to be about anything at all. Even Insect Warfare, while they may use some extreme imagery, are relatively temperate people in real life. Listening to them is no different than watching a horror movie in terms of morality.
The modern Christian worldview doesn’t have any problem at all with rock and roll, and a lot of young Christians (Matt being an example) don’t even seem to have a problem with profanity or imagery that is, as my Catholic Democrat mother might say, “in poor taste.” Not that the Houston scene has much of a political element, but even liberal politics are beginning to dovetail with the beliefs of Christians on a lot of issues, with the exceptions of abortion rights and GLBT issues, which hardly anyone in indie rock writes songs about anyway (not that I’m saying that’s a good thing).
about 3 years ago
Hey Daniel,
Yeah, I hear ya. I just never see a label as as a “representative of the community” but instead just a reflection of the owner’s taste in music. Mia Kat represents Matt’s taste just as much as say Cuththroat represents Cassidy’s. Theat especially true in Houston where the community is a big amorphous blob that can run the gamut from Papermoon to Richard Ramirez, from Buxton to Golden Axe, from HOA to PLF… well the point is it’s too big of a mess of genres and taste for any one label or band to represent for the community.
about 3 years ago
points taken.
ohmykam.blogspot.com (mine)
houstonsoreal.blogspot.com (matt sonzalas)
bleedtheblog.blogspot.com (nosaprises new one)
about 3 years ago
Oh guys, BTW there will be free beer (and redbull) Sept.6th at the Cactus event. Maybe we could all lift a pint ‘eh?
about 3 years ago
can’t argue with a free show AND free beer!
about 3 years ago
I’ll quaff a pint with you bunch of civil fookdookers! Music is as music does, deekerbeans!
respect to ya’lls who’s civil!
dudebrick