{{{http://www.startribune.co...25700.html Chris Riemenschneider: Best vote for MMAs -- shut up and go
Published Sep 13, 2002

As if the Minnesota Music Awards aren't normally confusing enough, along comes the 22nd annual incarnation.

Never mind the mess with the Rolling River Fest this year (see update below), which did not affect the Minnies ceremony too much. And forget the location change from a well-known rock club, First Avenue, to one of those vaguely named St. Paul convention center thingies, Touchstone Energy Place. At least music fans can't miss the directions "next to the Xcel Center" now that Target Center has seemingly lost its concert license.

What's really confusing about the Minnies is the nominations. This year's list comes a year and a half after the last awards show. So is it really accurate calling Iffy and Fog new artists? And how about "song of the year?" What year?!

The ballots were printed in City Pages last week and immediately mulled over for signs of rigging. Organizers with the Minnesota Music Academy claim they're being more careful about the integrity of the awards and seem to have at least done a better if not perfect job.

At the risk of sounding like your old tee-ball coach, who wins is less important than the overall effort. It's going to be a fun night, and a much needed boost to the music "community." Tickets are $15 at Ticketmaster or $18 at door.

That said, here's who I say deserves to win in the major categories:

RECORDING OF THE YEAR:

Entries: Front Porch Swingin' Liquor Pigs' "Half Cocked and Fully Loaded"; Paul Westerberg's "Stereo/Mono"; Barb Ryman's "Falling Down to Heaven"; Brenda Weiler's "Live"; Iffy's "Biota Bondo"; American Head Charge, "The War of Art"; Low's "Things We Lost in the Fire," and R.L.'s "RL:Ements."

Should win: "Biota Bondo" probably would have taken it if the awards were held in spring, but "Stereo/Mono" has the edge now. It's a testament to Minnesota's indie spirit and a lot better than some other Westerberg records that have been honored.

Ignored: Aside from Westerberg, Atmosphere's "God Loves Ugly" has sold better and gotten more press than the rest.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

Entries: Ed Ackerson; American Head Charge; Atmosphere; Dillinger Four; Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble; Alan Sparhawk; SpyMob, and Matthew St.-Germain.

Should win: Assuming the category is to honor the overall package, then Ackerson gets my vote. He wrote, produced, sang and played a lot of the music on his band Polara's exceptional CD, "Jetpack Blues," and his Susstones label became the city's most promising label/artists' co-op. But then again, Sparhawk has done all this for years.

Ignored: I didn't realize everybody was that sick of Prince.}}}

SONG OF THE YEAR:

Entries: Iffy's "Double Dutch"; Atmosphere's "Modern Man's Hustle"; Polara's "Is This It?"; Barb Ryman's "Paradise"; Bill Isle and Becky Schlegel's "I Can't Yake You Home," and the Camdens' "Invitation."

Should win: Even with so many folky songwriters on the ballot, Slug's "Hustle" is the most personal and heartfelt.

Ignored: Ol' Yeller's "Out There"; Mason Jennings' "Sorry Signs on Cash Machines"; Marlee MacLeod's "Regretfully."

NEW ARTIST:

Entries: Fog; Iffy; Flavor; Kangaroo; Sweet J.A.P.; Soviettes.

Should win: Sweet J.A.P. still seems new enough, and the awards show could use more of an international flavor.

Ignored: Exercise, Basement Apartment and a half-dozen hip-hop acts.

COVER TO GLOVER

For someone who makes a living by moving his lips, Tony Glover sure shows great talent with his writing hand, too. The veteran blues harpist and occasional music journalist is the first of three authors listed on the cover of "Blues With a Feeling: The Little Walter Story," the first biography of the Chicago blues legend, published this month by Routledge Press.

The book is the result of five years of research. It started when Glover set out to compile a simple discography on Little Walter, who virtually invented modern blues harmonica before his mysterious death at age 37 in 1968.

"We were all waiting for someone to write the book on Walter, but nobody did," Glover said. He came across two other avid fans, a Chicago musicologist and Washington, D.C., documentary maker. The three pooled their resources and, voila. Well, not exactly.

"With all the time we spent on it, we now figure we could've made more working at McDonald's," said Glover, who will be reading from the book at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ruminator Books in St. Paul. "So it's a total labor of love, and hopefully that shows."

ALL HOPE IS LOST

Mark Baumgarten has a decidedly diplomatic way of explaining his new (and free) monthly black-and-white magazine Lost Cause, which focuses on Minnesota music. Said the freelance writer-turned-editor, "Even with all the attention that the dailies and weeklies give to local music, there's still a lot that's not getting covered."

Baumgarten probably wanted to say, "We're going to put you guys to shame with our coverage," and so far his crew has put up a good fight. Issue No. 2 is out now with the Crush on the cover plus inside features on Syst, the Minnesota Slam Team and Jim Walsh's list of the best songs about masturbation (the Pioneer Press presumably passed on running it).

Look for Lost Cause in record stores and other hipster shops, or get it at launch parties tonight through Sunday at the Dinkytowner, with acts including the Beatifics, Vicious Vicious, Hockey Night and the Crush.

RANDOM MIX

Fresh from another recording stint in L.A. with producer Matt Sorum, Likehell is hoping to appease fans dying to hear some of the new stuff tonight at the Fine Line. The first 150 people through the door will get a five-song limited edition EP, including tracks recorded with ex-Pixie Joey Santiago and Stone Age Queen Josh Homme.

As you read this, they're probably still mopping up the sweat at Famous Dave's from Willie Walker's CD release party on Thursday night. A singer on Memphis' legendary Goldwax label in the '60s and the original singer of Willie & the Bees, Walker will return to Dave's Sept. 26, again backed by the Butanes. . . . A younger R&B singer, Adage (Derek Gilbert), will perform Saturday at the Java Joint in Minneapolis to promote his new CD "No Apologies," which was recorded this time last year in New York City and reflects on the terrorist attacks.

When pianist Bobby Peterson died in July, he left a pile of medical bills. So the Artists' Quarter is holding a benefit next Thursday featuring Peterson's brother Tom, a former "Tonight Show" saxman. With luck, they'll also have CDs of Peterson's last trio date at the AQ. . . . More on the "Twin Town High" compilation: The Electric Fetus is giving it away when you buy a CD by any of the acts on it, or you can get it at a release party tonight at the Turf Club with Lateduster, Viovoom and more.

And finally, here's the latest on the Rolling River Fest: As expected, it's going to be little more than an all-local music showcase in a handful of St. Paul clubs next Thursday through Saturday. There will be an all-day event Sept. 21 on Raspberry Island (next to Harriet Island) featuring all your favorite Bunker's bands followed by a free classic movie at dusk. Passes are still being sold at http://www.ticketweb.com,or a minimal cover will be charged at the door. Check our listings for lineups. Hey, it's still something out of the ordinary: When was the last time you did any club-hopping in downtown St. Paul?

© Copyright 2002 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. Related content

is the brotha obligated 2 get an mma each year?

Paul Westerberg should win this... he is the BEST!

Hey, where's MY nominee? I guess me and Prince will have to drown our sorrows down at the local karoke bar.

Zum said:

can i have a copy of the bootlegg 4 that? j/k but yeah, u should be a nominee...

True, they shouldn't feel obligated to recognize him every year, but he could've been nominated for Rainbow Children

Minnesota Music Awards and it's judges.
IMOHO

ugh eye feel sick!