Post by Sugarmama on Apr 26, 2008 7:38:43 GMT -5
Kid Rock wins big, Jill Jack bows out and Muggs win Rock Detroit Music Award
Liz Hill / Special to The Detroit News
"Detroit musicians are some of the most talented people in the world."
The sentiment was uttered by house DJ Mike "Agent X" Clark, but it was an echod at last night's Detroit Music Awards at the Fillmore. The 17th annual schmooze fest was equal parts Motor City love fest and schizophrenic live music blowout.
With performances from groups as varied as industrial rockers Crud to funked out soul man Nadir to the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra and Oscar-winning producer Luis Resto, the night proved that this city's music scene cannot be pigeonholed into any one category.
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The night's big winners included perennial favorites the Hard Lessons, who won for Outstanding Live Performance and The Go, who's latest album, "Howl On the Haunted Beat You Ride" won for Outstanding Rock/Pop Recording.
One surprising moment came near the end of the night, when the Muggs were honored as the year's best rock band. The band, who began playing together eight years ago, has had its share of ups and downs. Bassist Tony Denardo suffered a stroke in 2001, which left him partially paralyzed, but after a lot of physical therapy and a switch to keyboards, he and his band made it back to the stage, and even onto Fox's reality competition show "The Next Great American Band."
As is customary, the night saw plenty of repeat winners. Jill Jack, who, with three wins at the DMAs, has now won 25 of the music note-shaped statues, said she wants to take herself permanently out of contention. "I don't think I should win anymore," said the flame-haired singer songwriter. "You know they even instituted a rule [in which artists who win the same category three-years running must sit out a year] because of me. They call it the Jill Jack rule!"
Now subject to that rule, Jesse Palter won the award for jazz vocals for the third year in a row. At just 22 years old, the charming brunette chanteuse was humbled by the experience. "It's always a huge honor," she said. "But I still have a lot of work to do. I'm going to keep growing and evolving, and maybe in 10 years, I'll have a few more of these."
Although the awards are a way to honor local acts, most of whom never make it to the national stage, the final award of the night honored the artists who represent Detroitto the world.
Kid Rock's "Rock and Roll Jesus" won, against stiff competition from Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, The Stooges and The White Stripes, for Outstanding National Major Label Recording.
The four and a half hour long awards show stayed lively, thanks to standout performances and a stellar hosting turn from local hip hop artist-turned-VH1 reality show star MC Serch, who cracked up the industry-heavy crowd with a running joke about naming his next child Compuware for all the sponsorship money they ponied up.
American Mars, an Americana-drenched quartet, was happy to expose a diverse crowd to their music.
"If we can win over 10 people who've never heard us before, that's a victory for us," said pedal steel player and local producer Dave Feeny.
The group got one new fan in Robyn Healy of Clawson, who came out to the event instead of going with her friends to the Detroit Tigers game.
"It's good to hear local music," said Healey. "A lot of the bars I normally hang out at don't play stuff like this. I really liked American Mars. They sounded familiar in a way, like something you've heard before, but you haven't."
One surprising moment came near the end of the night, when the Muggs were honored as the year's best rock band. The band, who began playing together eight years ago, has had its share of ups and downs. Bassist Tony Denardo suffered a stroke in 2001, which left him partially paralyzed, but after a whole lot of physical therapy and a switch to keyboards, he and his band made it back to the stage, and even onto Fox's reality competition show The Next Great American Band.
As country-soul blend Doop & The Inside Outlaws, featuring the unforgettable Ty Stone, closed out the Detroit music industry's biggest night, Jay Scott, of music licensing firm Ringside Creative, summed up why so many musicians and their fans come back year after year.
Liz Hill / Special to The Detroit News
"Detroit musicians are some of the most talented people in the world."
The sentiment was uttered by house DJ Mike "Agent X" Clark, but it was an echod at last night's Detroit Music Awards at the Fillmore. The 17th annual schmooze fest was equal parts Motor City love fest and schizophrenic live music blowout.
With performances from groups as varied as industrial rockers Crud to funked out soul man Nadir to the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra and Oscar-winning producer Luis Resto, the night proved that this city's music scene cannot be pigeonholed into any one category.
Advertisement
The night's big winners included perennial favorites the Hard Lessons, who won for Outstanding Live Performance and The Go, who's latest album, "Howl On the Haunted Beat You Ride" won for Outstanding Rock/Pop Recording.
One surprising moment came near the end of the night, when the Muggs were honored as the year's best rock band. The band, who began playing together eight years ago, has had its share of ups and downs. Bassist Tony Denardo suffered a stroke in 2001, which left him partially paralyzed, but after a lot of physical therapy and a switch to keyboards, he and his band made it back to the stage, and even onto Fox's reality competition show "The Next Great American Band."
As is customary, the night saw plenty of repeat winners. Jill Jack, who, with three wins at the DMAs, has now won 25 of the music note-shaped statues, said she wants to take herself permanently out of contention. "I don't think I should win anymore," said the flame-haired singer songwriter. "You know they even instituted a rule [in which artists who win the same category three-years running must sit out a year] because of me. They call it the Jill Jack rule!"
Now subject to that rule, Jesse Palter won the award for jazz vocals for the third year in a row. At just 22 years old, the charming brunette chanteuse was humbled by the experience. "It's always a huge honor," she said. "But I still have a lot of work to do. I'm going to keep growing and evolving, and maybe in 10 years, I'll have a few more of these."
Although the awards are a way to honor local acts, most of whom never make it to the national stage, the final award of the night honored the artists who represent Detroitto the world.
Kid Rock's "Rock and Roll Jesus" won, against stiff competition from Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, The Stooges and The White Stripes, for Outstanding National Major Label Recording.
The four and a half hour long awards show stayed lively, thanks to standout performances and a stellar hosting turn from local hip hop artist-turned-VH1 reality show star MC Serch, who cracked up the industry-heavy crowd with a running joke about naming his next child Compuware for all the sponsorship money they ponied up.
American Mars, an Americana-drenched quartet, was happy to expose a diverse crowd to their music.
"If we can win over 10 people who've never heard us before, that's a victory for us," said pedal steel player and local producer Dave Feeny.
The group got one new fan in Robyn Healy of Clawson, who came out to the event instead of going with her friends to the Detroit Tigers game.
"It's good to hear local music," said Healey. "A lot of the bars I normally hang out at don't play stuff like this. I really liked American Mars. They sounded familiar in a way, like something you've heard before, but you haven't."
One surprising moment came near the end of the night, when the Muggs were honored as the year's best rock band. The band, who began playing together eight years ago, has had its share of ups and downs. Bassist Tony Denardo suffered a stroke in 2001, which left him partially paralyzed, but after a whole lot of physical therapy and a switch to keyboards, he and his band made it back to the stage, and even onto Fox's reality competition show The Next Great American Band.
As country-soul blend Doop & The Inside Outlaws, featuring the unforgettable Ty Stone, closed out the Detroit music industry's biggest night, Jay Scott, of music licensing firm Ringside Creative, summed up why so many musicians and their fans come back year after year.
