(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The 2006 Asbury Music Awards took place at the Stone Pony on a Saturday night for the first time and the difference between this year and previous years was plain to see. It was more of a party, more rocking, and there were many more people in the crowd.
Most years the Asbury Music Awards has one band run away with the show, but not this year. The big winners were Status Green, April Smith, Days Awake, Woodfish and Upstage Magazine who all had 3 awards or more.
There was a bit of E Street flavor to the two really big awards of the night that go to people who have been involved in the scene for a long time. The James McDonald Lifetime Achievement Award went to Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez (the original E Street drummer and current drummer in Steel Mill) and the Living Legend Award went to Max Weinberg (the current E Street drummer).
The Asbury Music Awards started out as the Golden T-Birds back in 1993. The first ceremony was held at the old T-Birds Cafe. When the Saint opened in 1994, the awards were renamed and the awards show began getting bigger and bigger. Next year’s show is supposed to take an even bigger leap to the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.
One of the best things about the awards show is seeing so many musicians taking the night off to hang out with other artists in the scene. Nights like this show that the Asbury Park music scene is truly a community. Congratulations to all of the winners and to all of the nominees and thanks to everyone who gave Upstage Magazine their vote, we really appreciate your support.
And the winners are...
Top Male Vocalist: Lou Montesano (Status Green)
Top Female Vocalist: April Smith (April Smith & The Great Picture Show) Top Acoustic Act: Rick Barry
Top Rock Band: Days Awake
Top Young Band: Karmicjuggernaut
Top Blues Band: Matt O’Ree Band
Top Indie Rock Band: The Chilling Details
Top Avante Garde Act: Zelda Pinwheel
Top Local Release: April Smith “Loveletterbombs”
Top News Publication In Support of Live Music: The Aquarian
Top Music Website In Support of Live Music: UpstageMagazine.com
Poet Laureate: Greg Schwartz
Best Thing To Happen In 2005/2006: The Wave Gathering Music Festival
Top Live Performance: Status Green
Top Radio Station: WBJB 90.5 The Night
Song Of The Year: April Smith “Bright White Jackets”
Top Internet Radio Station: UpstageRadio.com
Top Journalist In Support of Live Music: Gary Wien (Upstage Magazine)
Top Keyboard Player: Eric Safka (Days Awake)
Top Bassist: Steve Kalorin (Woodfish)
Top Guitarist: Matt O’Ree (Matt O’Ree & The Blues Hounds)
Top Roots Band: Maybe Pete
Top Drummer: Sarah Tomeck (Days Awake)
Top Jam Band: Woodfish
Top Punk Band: Hub City Stompers
Top Americana: Blue Highways
Top Pop Band: Status Green
Top Funk ‘N’ Groove Band: Woodfish
Top Heavy Rock Act: TWiNE
