Sexy Ester had a big night at the MAMAs, with eight awards.
Saturday night in Overture Center's Capitol Theater, Madison musicians and fans feted the local scene with the ninth annual Madison Area Music Awards. The show was a happy and lively affair, complete with slick production, live music performances, funny jokes, passionate acceptance speeches and stylish dressers, perhaps none more stylish than the guy wearing a Roman centurion costume.
The evening's biggest winner was the New Wave-inflected rock band Sexy Ester, which pulled down eight MAMAs, twice the number of any other act. Sexy Ester got the nod for Artist of the Year, Alternative Song, Pop/R&B Song, Interpretive Song, and Video of the Year, and there were individual recognitions for singer Lyndsay Evans, drummer Paul Kennedy and keytarist Roscoe Evans.
Other artists earning multiple MAMAs included Corey Hart, the Jimmys, Lords of the Trident, Man Mantis, Natty Nation, Phat Phunktion, Star Persons, Sunspot, and Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo.
I'm delighted to report that Isthmus received a MAMA for Local Music Publication/Blog, and it was my honor to present a special MAMA to Rich Albertoni, who last year stepped down after a long, illustrious run writing about music for Isthmus.
Here are the winners of the 2012 Madison Area Music Awards.
Genre Awards
Alternative Album: The Type - Sirens and Storms
Alternative Performer: Tiny Riots
Alternative Song: Sexy Ester - "Glitter Baby"
Blues Album: The Jimmys - Gimme The Jimmys
Blues Performer: Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo
Blues Song: The Jimmys - "HaDaya HaDaYa"
Classical Album: The Kat Trio - What Wondrous Love Is This
Country/Bluegrass Album: Louka Patenaude - The Very Best of the Fingers
Country/Bluegrass Performer: Katie Powderly
Country/Bluegrass Song: Beth Kille - "I've Been Accused"
Electronic Album: Man Mantis - Cities Without Houses
Electronic Performer: Man Mantis
Electronic Song: Man Mantis - "Gonna Die Here"
Folk/Americana Album: Corey Hart - Winter Bones
Folk/Americana Performer: Whitney Mann
Folk/Americana Song: The Whiskey Farm - "If I Were You"
Hard Rock/Punk Album: Lords of the Trident - Chains on Fire
Hard Rock/Punk Performer: Lords of the Trident
Hard Rock/Punk Song: Lords of the Trident - "Chains on Fire" (2011)
Hip-Hop Album: Star Persons - Weirdos From Another Planet
Hip-Hop Performer: Star Persons
Hip-Hop Song: Star Persons "Wordplay"
Jazz Performer: The Madison Jazz Orchestra
Jazz Song: The Big Payback - "Overture"
Pop/R&B Album: Phat Phunktion - Real Life .:. High Fidelity
Pop/R&B Performer: Phat Phunktion
Pop/R&B Song: Sexy Ester - "All I Can See"
Rock Album: Sunspot - The Slingshot Effect
Rock Performer: John Masino Band
Rock Song: Sunspot - "The Slingshot Effect"
Unique Album: Art Paul Schlosser - If I Was Governor
Unique Performer: Fowrad! Marching Band
Unique Song: The Jimmys - "The Tree"
World Album: Roots Collective - These Days
World Performer: Natty Nation
World Song: Natty Nation - "Negus Negast"
Interpretive Song: Sexy Ester - "Girl U Want"
Non-genre awards
Artist of the Year: Sexy Ester
New Artist Performer: Brandon Beebe
Compilation Album: M.A.XMAS - M.A.XMAS Vol. 2
Cover Band: The Gomers
DJ: Man Mantis
Video of the Year: Sexy Ester - "Glitter Baby"
VocalistFemale: Lyndsay Evans
VocalistMale: Corey Hart
VocalsEnsemble: Natty Nation
Special Recognition Award: Rich Albertoni
Meritorious Award: Michael Kerwin & Matt Douglas
Instrumentalists
Woodwinds: Pete Ross
Bassist: Jeff Weiss
Brass: Charley Wagner
Drummer/Percussionist: Paul Kennedy
Guitarist: Aaron Williams
Keyboardist: Jimmy Voegeli
Specialty Instrument: Roscoe Evans (Keytar)
Strings: Chris Wagoner
People's Choice Awards
Fan of the Year: Sarah Warmke
Live Music Venue: High Noon Saloon
Live Sound Engineer: Lonya Nenashev
Local Music Publication/Blog: Isthmus
Local Radio Personality: Gabby Parsons
Local Radio Station: WORT 89.9 FM
Local Record Music Store: B-Side Records and Discs
Recording Studio: Smart Studios
Studio Sound Engineer: Mike Zirkel
