By Jeff Maisey
Local bands in Hampton Roads had another prolific trip around the sun last year, and as you’ll see the list of nominees for the Veer Music Awards is rather lengthy.
As always I called upon a diverse array of people to participate in our nominating panel. While not everyone devotes time to the process, we did have 24 people participate. Not only does it take a real effort to go through the categories, I also have the following strict requirements so that the nominees are reflective of what bands/musicians accomplished in the previous year (2018). Panelists had to verify a nominee accomplished at least one of the following:
a) Released an album in 2018
b) Released an EP (under 25 minutes) in 2018
c) Released/posted a song in 2018
d) Released a music video in 2018
e) Opened for a national act or played an important gig (ie headlined The NorVa) in 2018
f) Received favorable media coverage (radio/TV/print) in 2018
Our 2019 Veer Music Awards nominating panel included these good folks:
Kyle Bloom (producer, Hampton Roads Show)
DJ Bee (owner, Fresh Radio; on-air DJ @ WOWI-103 JAMZ)
Paul Shugrue (host, “Out of the Box,” WHRV-FM)
Jae Sinnett (host, “Sinnett in Session/R&B Chronicles, WHRV-FM; jazz composer, musician and recording artist)
Janelle Burchfield (director, Enjoy)
Jay Lang (manager, Hampton University’s WHOV-FM; president, Blue Pyramid Productions)
Mike Holtzclaw (pop culture journalist, Daily Press)
Annette Clark (gospel artist management, Smile Productions)
Jerome Langston (pop culture journalist, Veer Magazine)
Joshua Coplon (concert promoter, LAVA Presents)
Elena Montello (director, Stockley Gardens Arts Festival)
Jim Morrison (music journalist, Veer Magazine; promoter North Shore Point House Concerts) K’bana Blaq (musician/composer, The Fuzz Band)
Lauren Moore (general manager, DoG Street Pub)
Jeff Hewitt (concert photographer; publisher Antonym Press)
Wendy Podmenik Darugar (concert photographer)
Duane Smith (musician/composer, The Fuzz Band)
Jon Dorner, (booking agent/co-owner, Shaka’s Live)
Sherry Boylan Hackney (concert photographer)
Andrew Briggs (promoter, TBA Productions; musician Reptile Tile)
Hunter Hughes (host, “Hunter at Sunrise,” WHRO-Digital)
Beth Austin (concert photographer)
Tom Wilder (owner/booking agent, Young Veterans Brewing Co; musician, Wilde Owl)
Dee Larion (director of marketing, Live Nation Mid-Atlantic region)
It’s important to note that not every band on a panelist’s list made the final cut. Several panelists nominated bands like Last Bison and Mae, whose members mostly live elsewhere these days. So as to include them I brought back the Nationally Touring category.
The 2019 Veer Music Awards will be presented Tuesday, February 12 at Granby Theater in Norfolk. Showtime will be 7 PM sharp. Doors open an hour prior. Admission will be free. The performing bands and mashups will each play one song under the theme “Songs of Protest.” The awards show is presented by Caiseal and sponsored by Festevents, Southern Bank, Norfolk Department of Economic Development and Granby Theater. Hope House Foundation will be on-site, so please give a few bucks to a great non-profit organization.
Voting will be live January 17 through February 1st at veermag.com. Multiple votes from the same IP address will be flagged.
Veer Magazine will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Combine (see story on page 54), the Industry Award to Deborah Persons for her work on the museum-like Hardcore Norfolk exhibit at Slover Library. Drummer Steve Archer will receive the Musician’s Musician Award this year for his years of helping students and other musicians. Archer also hit the road this summer in Sandra Bernhard’s back-up band.
And now, here are the 2019 Veer Music Awards nominees. Good luck to all.
Album of the Year
Buddha Council, “True Love”
Jae Sinnett, “The Americana Groove Project”
The Purge, “The Bad Ideas We Build Worlds”
Sunny & Gabe, “Peace of Cake”
Brian Grilli, “Deep South Symphony”
Pain in the Yeahs, “Dopamine Noir”
Turncoat Syndicate, “The Life You Wanted”
The Lazy Dangers, “Kill the Past”
Freedom Hawk, “Beast Remains”
The Chong Band, “Part 2”
Bobby Black Hat Walters, “Put on Your Red Shoes”
In Layman Terms, “Strong Roots”
Myra Smith, “Sunday Kind of Love”
Blue Ribbon, “Sloth”
Norfolk Nightmares, “Norfolk Nightmares”
Mark Dunn, “Licks, Lyrics & Lovers”
Mike Aiken, “Wayward Troubadour”
Jim Newsom, “New Set of Dreams”
EP of the Year
Roebuck, “Sweet Gnarly”
Koren Grace, “The I.D. & The Ego”
Mark Rogers, “Qualifiers”
Starcoast, “Glow”
Moaning Lisas, “Extra Cheese”
Reptile Tile, “Human Man”
Carlos Armon, “Free”
Runnin’ Shine, “The D”
Logan Vath, “Lost on Leaving”
K’Bana Blaq, “Love Over Hate”
You’re Jovian, “The Sound Of Who We Are”
Snake Mountain Revival, “Snake Mountain Revival”
Demons, “Made in the USA”
The Lifehacks, “Glad”
Berries, “Good Things”
Song of the Year
“Heaven on the Rocks,” Ladada
“Fun,” Koren Grace
“Runnin’ Shine,” Runnin’ Shine
“Log on Fire,” Buddha Council
“Relax, This Won’t Hurt,” Turncoat Syndicate
“Free,” Carlos Armon
“White Rabbit,” Travelers
“All Packed Up for the Trip,” Roy Ira Moats & The Moats Dogs
“Love Again,” You’re Jovian
“The Aliens,” Annie Johnson Band
“Little Miss Sunshine,” Court Street Company
“Lever,” Demons
“Old Souls,” The Chong Band
“Higher Calling,” Jae Sinnett
“The Seeker,” Blue Ribbon
“Enough Good,” Logan Vath
“Anyone But You,” Pain in the Yeahs
“The War,” Bennett Wales & The Relief
“Shelf Life Baby,” Moaning Lisas
“Glad,” The Lifehacks
“Gas Station,” Super Doppler
“Imagining,” Mark Rogers
“Floating,” Starcoast
“Love Over Hate,” K’bana Blaq
“I Still Believe,” Shelly Vonne
“Tropics,” Sunny & Gabe
“Send Me,” Every King & Commoner
Music Video of the Year (Watch each on veermag.com)
It’s Tha Koncept, “I Got Soul”
Brian Grilli, “My Hometown”
Light, “Heroes Rising”
Moaning Lisas, “Shelf Life Baby”
Sunny & Gabe, “Hadouken”
Buddha Council, “Log on the Fire”
K’Bana Blaq, “Let Them Go”
Ladada, “Heaven on the Rocks”
Annie Johnson Band, “The Aliens”
Pain in the Yeahs, “Anyone but You”
Court Street Company, “Fall Away”
The Lonely Teardrops, “Vampire Cowboy”
Jonah’s Run, “U Saved Me”
Teezy So Dope, “Happy 2 B Here”
Starcoast, “Piece of Mind”
Olivia Dyer, “Time & Age”
National Touring
Last Bison
Mae
Broke Royals
Masego
The Hunts
Producer of the Year
Todd Washburn
Jacki Paolella
Jordan Greenough
Joe Talley
Rob Ulsh
Rich Mossman
IndiePop
Pain in the Yeahs
Travelers
Ladada
Starcoast
You’re Jovian
Broken Beaches
Court Street Company
Caleb Folks
Christian James
Berries
Metal/Industrial
Freedom Hawk
At War
Magg Dylan
Fall Out of Fear
The Cemetery Boys
Nur Black
Ancient Torture Techniques
RVNT
Serpentshrine
Crucial Rip
Vomit Stain
Rock
Turncoat Syndicate
Blue Ribbon
Demons
Moaning Lisas
The Chong Band
Bennett Wales & The Relief
Just Standing
Seven Ten Oil
The Lifehacks
Super Doppler
Annie Johnson Band
Garage/Punk
Boxford
J. Flax & the Heart Attacks
The G-Bombs
Norfolk Nightmares
Lonely Teardrops
Aether
The Nerve Scheme
Lucky 757
Glennrose
Paper Trail
Accident Prone
Do-Nothings
Psychedelic
Snake Mountain Revival
Bad Weather Birds
Galaxy Dynamite
The Snicklefritz Scheme
Delirious George
Rio
Jazz
John Toomey
Sam Rucker
Jennifer Gammill
Koren Grace
Rajazz
R&B
Carlos Armon
Koren Grace
K’Bana Blaq
Ashley Felder
Karla Crump
The Fuzz Band
Elizabeth Fellows
Lacree
Myra Smith
Rorri Jane
Sunny Moonshine
Hip Hop
Just Archie
Black Lion Insurgents
Billy Mercury
Teezy So Dope
The Defenders
It’s Tha Koncept
Corbin Reynolds
Q5
Americana
Roebuck
The Storyweavers
Brackish Water Jamboree
Fox & The Bear
Rosebird
The Lazy Dangers
Country
Chase Payne
Laura Rice
Hanks Martin
Runnin’ Shine
Brian Grilli
Mike Aiken
Celeste Kellog
Acoustic/Folk
Willie Byrn
Tret Fure
Mark Rogers
Wilde Owl
Roy Ira Moats & The Moatdogs
Logan Vath
Muddy Gems
Jim Newsom
Kate Stedelbauer
Fox & the Bear
Rick Bozart
Blues/Roots
Bobby “Black Hat” Walters
Jason Cale Band
Deathhouse Blues
Mark Dunn
Bad Weather Birds
Dave Johnson & The Truth
Josh Lief
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos
Paul Urban & Friends
Electronic
We Never Sleep
Crash Mosaic
Young Hierophant
Experimental
Reptile Tile
Wandcarver
Shormey
From Overseas
Tornado Bait
Cover Band
Fine Swiss Cheese
Red Stapler Duo
Rocky 7
Buckshot
The Deloreans
Wonderland
The Gypseas
Moer
Everybody Loves Tequila
Michael Clark Band
World Music
Mosquito Cabaret
So Poz Band
Buddha Council
Cultivated Mind
United Souls
Gospel/Spiritual
Light
Jonah’s Run
Dee Dee Gee
Pomnisa
The Chosen Few
Open Mic Night
Big Woody’s w/Karl Werne
Olde Town Jam @ Longboards
C.I.P.H.E.R Tuesdays @ Train Station w/Quinton Jennings-Sherman
Abbey Road w/Doyle & Dunn
Colley Cantina w/Zach Jones
Victorian Station w/Vaughn Deel
Fairgrounds w/Ronnie Talman
Winston’s Cafe w/Joey Wood
Tuesday Night Choir @ Stuft w/Don Butcher
Aroma’s Newport News
Live Performer (Original music)
Dave Johnson & The Truth
Demons
The Fuzz Band
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos
Bennet Wales & The Relief
K’Bana Blaq
The Chong Band
Bobby Black Hat Walters
Galaxy Dynamite
Super Doppler
DJ/MC
DJ Bee/Fresh Radio
DJ CanRock
DJ Sir Lord Thomas
DJ Ponfetti
Litt Keys
TMobyle
Media Promoting Local Music
Hampton Roads Show
103 Jamz Sunday Night Spotlight w/DJ Jack Of Spade
The Antonym
Out of the Box, WHRV-FM w/Paul Shugrue
Hunter at Sunrise
Daily Press/Mike Holtzclaw
Music Venue Small (Under 300)
BBQ by Froggies
Taphouse Grill Norfolk
Charlie’s American Cafe
Toast
Pourhouse
FM Backstage Cafe
Riffhouse
Doc Taylor’s Seaside Lounge
The Bunker
Music Venue Medium (300 to 1,000)
American Theatre
Boathouse Live!
The Vanguard
Elevation 27
Waterside District
Shaka’s Live
Zeider’s American Dream Theater
Music Venue Large (Non-arena, 1,000 or More)
The NorVa
Ferguson Center
Sandler Center
Chrysler Hall
Attucks Theatre
Local Music Indie Promoter
LAVA Presents
Mike Mahgerefteh
151 Productions
Jason Bruner
TBA Productions
Joe Castellanos
Rollie Ligart
Matt Reitz
Outdoor Festival (inclusion of local bands)
Harborfest
Shaggfest
American Music Festival
Winter Blues Jazz Festival
Starfire Festival
LAVA MiniFest
Music Series
Out of the Box @ Sandler Center
Sunsets on the River/Hermitage
YNOT Wednesdays
Summer Breeze Concert Series @ Merchants Square
Songwriters in the Round @ Victorian Station
First Fridays Downtown Norfolk
Music Instrument Retailer
AL&M
Music Go Round
Guitar Center
Russell’s Music World
Alpha Music
Moe’s Music
Photography Posed (view online at www.veermag.com)
“K’bana Blaq” by Glenn Woodell
“The Janks” by Tony Bijeaux
“Rob Oliver” by Wendy Podmenik Darugar
“Buddha Council” by Roger Richards
“Every King & Commoner” by Annette Holloway
Photography Live (view online at www.veermag.com)
“Waxing Poetics” by Beth Austin
“Bennett Wales” by Sean Chagnon
“DaRon Walton” by James Robinson
“Rio” by Jeff Hewitt
“Glenrose” by Wendy Podmenik Darugar
