Ongoing pandemic aside, last year saw music venues finally come back to life and local musicians once again played stages big and small throughout the 757 region.
Below are this year’s nominees for the 2022 Veer Music Awards. We considered the following when selecting the potential nominees: (1) Did the band/musician release an album, EP, single or music video? (2) Did the band/musician open for a national act or something else of note?
We expanded the list of nominees in the cover band category and added categories for solo/duo cover acts and theme-based cover bands. In our region, cover bands and solo acts seem to outnumber original music groups, and they dominate the live music offerings week after week.
As for original music, once again local musicians impressed with songs that received radio airplay and garnered rave reviews in Veer Magazine. The music videos listed below can all be viewed by searching each on Youtube. Songs, albums, and EPs were released by local bands on a range of platforms including Bandcamp (our favorite), Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora.
Stay tuned for an announcement on when voting by the public will go live. Each category will include a blank space for write-in votes as it is inevitable a band or two may have been overlooked or simply didn’t send us info on new release music.
The Music Awards will be presented Tuesday, February 8 at The Vanguard Distillery & Brewpub in Hampton. Showtime is 7 PM sharp.
Album of the Year
Demons, “Privation”
Jae Sinnett Trio, “Altered Egos”
Sunny Moonshine, “Listen to Me, Lightning”
Wilke$, “12:34”
Every King & Commoner, “Pioneers! Oh, Pioneers!”
Court Street Company, “Crooked Dreams”
The Lifehacks, “Oh No!”
Mark Rogers, “Rhythm of the Roads”
Runnin’ Shine, “Nowhere to Go”
Red Weather, “Wish You Well”
Faithful Kate, “Classic”
Jim Bulleit, “Catastrophe & Hope”
Various Artists, “Sunrise Sessions Vol. Two: The Pandemic Recordings”
Adam Scott Clifford, “Homage to Liszt”
hERETICS iN tHE lAB, “A Dead Horse” (remixes)
EP of the Year
Mr. Fang & The Dark Tones, “Rock-n-Roll Monsters”
Berries, “Outgrowth”
Shaolin, “Blackstone”
J Fax & The Heart Attacks, “Quadruple Bypass”
Roberta Lea, “Just a Taste”
The New Mutiny, “The New Mutiny”
Rachel & The JellyCats, “Rachel & The Jellycats”
The Dual Gravitons, “It’s a Riddle”
TA Gatling, “Respect The Shadows”
Longsleeves, “Joy Ride”
Song of the Year
The Lifehacks, “Freaks”
Roberta Lea, “Sweet Baby Ray”
Mark Rogers, “Every Once in a While”
Court Street Company, “Modern Age”
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos, “The Chain”
J. Flax & the Heart Attacks, “Letter By Wire”
Dion Langley (feat. Roberta Lea), “Beat It Like a Drum”
Big Al Staggs, “Welcome to Island Time”
Akeyla Simone, “Black is Beautiful”
Rachel & the Jellycats, “Friday Night”
Wilke$, “Should I”
The Righteous Few, “Hellfire”
Every King & Commoner, “Money”
710 Oil, “Hard Hurt”
Michael Goldberg, “Navy Blue”
Jonah’s Run, “He Loves Us”
Bill Gaunce, “Tripwire”
Jackie Merritt, “Crack Cocaine is My Life”
Sunny Moonshine, “Annalise”
Finney Finn, “New Normal”
Magg Dylan, “Pawns”
Jim Bulleit, “Flash of Lightning”
Red Weather, “Nothing At All”
Berries, “Word on the Street”
Annie Johnson, “Like Alice”
Music Video of the Year
Shaolin, “Heavy Heart”
Dead Friends, “Ultrabysmal”
Terell Online, “You and Me”
Roberta Lea feat. Octavia The Great, “Moonlight”
Kristi K, “Separate Ways”
Magg Dylan, “Pawns”
Jonah’s Run, “He Loves Us”
The Dual Graitons, “It’s a Riddle”
Bill Gaunce, “Tripwire”
Hindu Pez, “Wild Turkey, Sweat and Madness”
Foreign Colour, “Adorn”
Rob Oliver, “On the Same Page”
Annie Johnson, “Like Alice”
Michael Goldberg, “A Little Love Will Always Fix a Broken Heart”
Big Al Staggs, “Welcome to Island Time”
The Cazz, “Drive!”
Exploding Sun, “Better Day”
Tina Micula, “Wishing You Here This Christmas”
Best Holiday Themed
Kristi K. – Released a single and video of Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas”
Roy Ira Moats – Released the holiday tune “I’m a Kid”
The Muddy Gems – Released a video of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Berries – Released a cover version of Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”
Celeste Kellogg – Performed her new original “Save a Dance for Me This Christmas” on WAVY10
Msesippi’s Tornado Bait “Hampton for the Holidays” – Performed a virtual Christmas video show
Annie Johnson – Released an instrumental video of “Christmastime Is Here”
Tina Micula – Released an all-star cast holiday video and song “Wishing You Here This Christmas”
Best Jazz
Jae Sinnett Trio — Played the VA Arts Fest and released the national radio charting album “Altered Egos”
Duane Squire Smith Quartet — Brothers Norfolk jazz club’s house band backing national acts
Quicksilver Night fea. Jason Cale – Released “Mr.Wizard” as a jazz fusion EP
John Toomey Trio – Virginia Arts Festival’s band backing nationally touring featured jazz greats
Best R&B/Soul
Wilke$ – Released album “12:34”
Akeylah Walters – Released several singles including “Black is Beautiful”
The Fuzz Band – Worked with Carl Thomas, Raheem Devine Bigg, Danny Kane and Vivian Green
Myra Smith – Opened for Glenn Jones at Noir
Best Hip Hop
Darius Ford – Released the single “Nothin’ Like Sunday Morning”
Terell Online – Release multiple singles and videos including “Simple” and “You and Me”
Lex Lucent – Released the EPs “In Case You Forgot” and “Casual Flex”
Childz – Released the album “Just Visiting 3”
Ghetto Chris – Released the album “8 Track”
Best Gospel/Spiritual
Voices of Fire — Performed on BET Gospel Explosion and nominated for NAACP Image Award
Chang3 — Released “God Over All Things” album
Jonah’s Run – Released the video “He Loves Us”
Brothers of Unity of VA – Released the single “Changed”
Dion Langley – Released the single “Beat It Like A Drum” featuring Roberta Lea
Best World Music
Mosquito Cabaret – Released a video for “River King”
Jon Quan – Released several reggae singles including “I Am Trying” featuring Kelly Di Filippo
Rhythm Project Steel Drums – Featured during Junetenth in the Park
Best IndiePop
The Lifehacks – Released the album “Oh, No!”
Berries – Released the EP “Outgrowth”
Ladada – Released “re” album
Foreign Colour – Released the album “Weight of a Rose”
Longsleeves – Released the EP “Joyrider”
Red Weather – Released the album “Wishing You Well”
Bad Naps – Released the album “Pandemic”
ghostStar – Released the EP “Five Year Plan”
You’re Jovian – Re-issued a vinyl version of their 2012 debut “Stereochronic”
Sicman of Virginia – Release several singles including “Blow Your Nose” and “Yogurt”
Best Pop
Sunny Moonshine – Released the album “Listen to Me, Lightning”
Roberta Lea – Released the single and video for “Moonlight” featuring Octavia The Great
Every King & Commoner – Released the eclectic pop album “Pioneers! Oh, Pioneers!”
Shaolin – Released the EP “Blackstone” and a video for “Heavy Heart”
Kristi K – Release the music video “Separate Ways”
Best Metal
The New Mutiny – Released a self-titled EP
710 Oil – Released the single “Hard Hurt”
Dead Friends – Released “Taos Hum” video and single
Magg Dylan – Toured with Hed pe and released a music video for “Pawns”
Best Rock
The Righteous Few – Released the single “Hellfire”
Dave Johnson & The Truth – Released the EP “A Big Snow”
Faithful Kate – Released the album “Classic”
Mark Rogers – Released the album “Rhythm of the Roads”
Big Al Staggs – Released the single and video for “Welcome to Island Time”
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos – Released the single “The Chain” and opened for Styx in concert
Finney Finn – Released the album “Several Years in the Making”
Exploding Sun – Released the music video “Better Day”
Shane Graham – Released the album “Soul for Rent”
TA Gatling – Released the EP “Respect The Shadows”
Bennett Wales & The Relief – Opened for Blackberry Smoke at the Portsmouth amphitheater
Best Retro
Mr. Fang & The Dark Tones – Release the EP “Rock-n-Roll Monsters”
Rachel & the Jellycats – Released their debut self-titled EP
Lucky 757 – Released the singles “Common Ground” and “Dirty Rotten Shame”
Best Garage/Punk
Demons – Released the album “Privation”
J. Flax & The Heart Attacks – Released the EP “Quadruple Bypass”
Self-Inflict – Released a 4-song demo
Crime Line – Released two EPs: “Locked & Loaded” and “Violent Urges”
The Dual Gravitons – Released an EP and music video
The Cazz – Released the music video “Drive!”
Glenrose – Released the 5-song EP “Reconnect”
Best Psychedelic
Bantustans – Released the live album “At Another Place”
Reptile Tile – Released the EP “Drop The Lead”
Freedom Hawk – Released the trippy single “Liftoff”
Bended Light – Opened for Kendall Street Company at Elevation 27
Best Electronic/Ambient
Hindu Pez – Released the EP “We Deserve Extinction”
Jon Shuemaker – Released the EPs “Omipotence” and “Sleep Terrors”
Crash Mosaic – Released single “That’s That”
Lyra Pollux – Released the EP “Yeah, Okay”
From Overseas – Released several international collaboration recordings including “Anon 2” with Benoit Pioulard
Best Americana/Bluegrass/Old-Time
Ramblin’ Jake – Released the nationally charting “Old Prince” single
Saint Juliens Creek Revival – Opened for Thomas Gabriel at Elevation 27
Brackish Water Jamboree – Headlined Smartmouth’s Norfolk Folk Festival
Best Country
Runnin’ Shine – Released the album “Nowhere to Go”
The Augustine Reunion – Released the album “All Wires West”
Celeste Kellogg – Performed at on the main stage at Nash Fest in Town Point Park
Buckshot – Headlined at Elevation 27
Chase Payne – Released the song “6 Rusty Strings”
Best Acoustic/Folk
Jim Newsom & The Cloudless Sky – Released the album “Peace, Love, Happiness”
Cody Christian – Released a live recorded EP titled “Granby Theater Sessions”
Olivia Dyer – Released the piano ballad “It’s You I Like”
Dan Pellegrino – Released the EP “Better Days”
Ben Phelps – Released the solo unplugged album “Songwriter V. 1”
Ann Gray – Released the EP “Foolish”
Big Forest Fire – Release the song and video “The Long Way Home”
Jim Bulleit – Released the album “Catastrophe and Hope”
Don Comer – Released the album “Offhand”
Holly Kirsten – Released the album “Love Letter”
Best Blues
The Oliver Gable Project – Released a self-titled EP
Bobby Black Hat Walters – Released multiple singles including “Dog Whistle”
Jackie Merritt – Released the song “Crack Cocaine is My Life”
Hanks Martin – Released the album “Somewhere on a Beach”
Best Cover Band
JD Silvia Band
Nature’s Child
Free For All
Rocky 7
Wonderland
Cultivated Mind
Plastic Eddie
Snackbar Jones
Troy Breslow & The Company Band
The Detonators
Good Shot Judy
Rio
Krunch
Brasswind
Childz Play
SoPoz
Tailgate Down
Best Tribute/Theme Band
Deja
Grateful Jed
Woah!
Last Fair Deal
The Deloreans
On Fire: Van Halen Tribute
Best Live Band
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos — Opened for Styx, Blue Oyster Cult and others
Demons — Opened for The Offspring at The NorVa
Magg Dylan — Toured with (HED) pe
Bennett Wales & The Relief — Opened Blackberry Smoke at Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion
Dead Friends – Opened for Every Time I Die at Elevation 27
Best Live Cover Solo/Duo
Derek Smith
Fixity
Dustin Furlow & Matt Thomas
Jason Cale Duo
Nate Sacks
BJ Griffin & Jason Brown
Bennett Walker Wales
Rob Oliver
Big Forest Fire
Red Stapler Duo
Johnny Smallwood
Paper Aliens Duo
Doyle & Dunn
Paul Urban & Bill Ellington
Best Open Mic
Open Jam at Stuft
Fuzzy Wednesdays @ Noir
Sunset Grill
Winston’s Cafe w/Joey Wood
501 North
South Beach Grill w/Dahna Rowe
Capstan Bar Brewing w/Jack Burton Green
Stellar Wine Co w/Anthony Burgess
Froggie’s w/Fred Karam
Poppa’s Pub w/Triad Band
Best Live Music Venue (Club)
The Vanguard
Big Woody’s Great Bridge
Scandal’s Live
Brothers Norfolk
Froggie’s
Riffhouse Pub
Noir: A Simply Panache Lounge
Good Vibes
Taphouse Grill
Best Live Music Series
Thank Goodness We’re Open (Town Point Park)
Miller Jazz Series @ Sandler Center
TasteBreakers Concert Series at The Z
LAVA Summer of Fun
Sunsets on the River (Hermitage Museum)
Beach Event’s Summer Music Series
Summer Breeze Concert Series (Williamsburg)
Live at The Market on Monarch Way
TGIF @ Constant’s Wharf Park
Port Warwick Summer Concert Series
YNOT Wednesdays
