(Roberta Lea’s “Sweet Baby Ray” was selected Song of the Year)
By Jeff Maisey
Pandemic be damned. Local musicians once again found inspiration and released singles, EPs, albums, and music videos last year. Most performed live by late spring when a semi-normal atmosphere was met with glee and residents turned out to hear music in venues big and small.
On February 8, the Veer Music Awards were presented by the City of Hampton at The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery. Additional sponsorship was provided by the Downtown Hampton Partnership, Live Nation/Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater @ Virginia Beach, FESTEVENTS, Southern Bank, Spacemakers, and The Vanguard.
Where Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos scored wins in the Best Rock and Best Live categories, Magg Dylan on Best Metal and Music Video of the Year honors.
Following is a category-by-category list of the winners and honorable mentions.
Song of the Year
Roberta Lea, “Sweet Baby Ray”
Honorable Mentions:
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos, “The Chain”
Wilke$, “Should I”
Court Street Company, “Modern Age”
Album of the Year
Court Street Company, “Crooked Dreams”
Honorable Mentions:
Runnin’ Shine, “Nowhere to Go”
Wilke$, “12:34”
Jae Sinnett Trio, “Altered Egos”
EP of the Year
Rachel & The JellyCats, “Rachel & The JellyCats”
Honorable Mentions:
Roberta Lea, “Just a Taste”
Mr. Fang & The Dark Tones, “Rock-n-Roll Monsters”
Berries, “Outgrowth”
Music Video of the Year
Magg Dylan, “Pawns”
Honorable Mentions:
Kristi K, “Separate Ways”
Roberta Lea feat. Octavia The Great, “Moonlight”
Tina Micula, “Wishing You Here This Christmas”
Best Holiday Themed
Celeste Kellogg
Honorable Mentions:
Kristi K.
Berries
Tina Micula
Best Jazz
Jae Sinnett Trio
Honorable Mentions:
Quicksilver Night featuring Jason Cale
John Toomey Trio
Duane Squire Smith Quartet
Best R&B/Soul
Wilke$
Honorable Mentions:
The Fuzz Band
Akeylah Walters
Myra Smith
Best Hip Hop
Darius Ford
Honorable Mentions:
Ghetto Chris
Lex Lucent
Childz 3
Best Gospel/Spiritual
Brothers of Unity of VA
Honorable Mentions:
Voices of Fire
Jonah’s Run
Dion Langley
Best World Music
Rhythm Project Steel Drums
Honorable Mentions:
Mosquito Cabaret
Jon Quan
Best IndiePop
The Lifehacks
Honorable Mentions:
Berries
Red Weather
Longsleeves
Best Pop
Kristi K
Honorable Mentions:
Sunny Moonshine
Roberta Lea
Every King & Commoner
Best Metal
Magg Dylan
Honorable Mentions:
710 Oil
Dead Friends
The New Mutiny
Best Rock
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos
Honorable Mentions:
Bennett Wales & The Relief
The Righteous Few
Faithful Kate
Best Retro
Lucky 757
Honorable Mentions:
Rachel & the JellyCats
Mr. Fang & The Dark Tones
Best Garage/Punk
Demons
Honorable Mentions:
J. Flax & The Heart Attacks
Crime Line
The Dual Gravitons
Best Psychedelic
Bended Light
Honorable Mentions:
Freedom Hawk
Reptile Tile
Bantustans
Best Electronic/Ambient
Crash Mosaic
Honorable Mentions:
From Overseas
Hindu Pez
Lyra Pollux
Best Americana/Bluegrass/Old-Time
Ramblin’ Jake
Honorable Mentions:
Brackish Water Jamboree
Saint Juliens Creek Revival
Best Country
Runnin’ Shine
Honorable Mentions:
Celeste Kellogg
Buckshot
The Augustine Reunion
Best Acoustic/Folk
Jim Newsom & The Cloudless Sky
Honorable Mentions:
Cody Christian
Dan Pellegrino
Ann Gray
Best Blues
The Oliver Gable Project
Honorable Mentions:
Bobby Black Hat Walters
Jackie Merritt
Hanks Martin
Best Cover Band
Wonderland
Honorable Mentions:
The Detonators
JD Silvia Band
Childz Play
Best Tribute/Theme Band
The Deloreans
Honorable Mentions
Deja
Grateful Jed
Last Fair Deal
Best Live Band
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos
Honorable Mentions:
Magg Dylan
Bennett Wales & The Relief
Dead Friends
Best Live Cover Solo/Duo
Jason Cale Duo
Honorable Mentions:
Nate Sacks
BJ Griffin & Jason Brown
Red Stapler Duo
Best Open Mic
Open Jam at Stuft
Honorable Mentions:
Froggie’s w/Fred Karam
Winston’s Cafe w/Joey Wood
South Beach Grill w/Dahna Rowe
Best Live Music Venue (Club)
Scandal’s Live
Honorable Mentions:
The Vanguard
Froggie’s
Taphouse Grill
Best Live Music Series
YNOT Wednesdays
Honorable Mentions:
LAVA Summer of Fun
Sunsets on the River (Hermitage Museum)
Beach Event’s Summer Music Series
Industry Awards
Hunter Hughes
Jay Lang
Josh Coplon
Musician’s Musician Awards
Karl Werne
Duane Smith
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Jackie Scott
The Candy Snatchers
