Music Award Winners

Favorite Jazz Act: Take it to the Bridge/Greg Abate

Take it to the Bridge won Motif‘s music award for Favorite Jazz Act, but they declined the award since they don’t fit the genre and so the second place winner, Greg Abate, took home the trophy. Those keeping an eye on the local scene have undoubtedly felt the presence of the saxophonist who, between stints touring around the world, has called RI home and remains a constant fixture in the area, leading the charge of bebop excellence around the state. Dig his latest release Road To Forever and learn more at gregabate.com. – BS

Favorite R&B Act: Steve Smith and the Nakeds

The sound of a full band playing truly American rock ‘n’ roll is harder and harder to find, but not if Steve Smith and his crew have anything to do with it. Sporting a full, robust sound, Steve Smith and the Nakeds do it right. Tight horn hits punctuate jangling piano, rollicking guitar and Smith’s hollering, joyous vocals. A mix of originals and well-advised covers blare out with unapologetic intensity at every turn. – DS

Favorite Math Rock / Prog Rock: David Tessier

It’s rare that an album name sells a mood so well as David Tessier’s Dreams in Hyperspace. Crunchy synths, metal-inspired guitar riffing and rapid-fire drumming give way in turn to gentle, swelling, thoughtful ballads like “Hey Mary.” Tessier’s harmonized vocals traverse the sometimes-unruly, sometimes-majestic backing music. Somewhere between Queen and King Crimson, deep into hyperspace you’ll find the sound that Tessier has managed to lock down so well. – DS

Favorite Bluegrass Band: Hollow Turtle

Hollow Turtle bucks the trends of folk rock moving into the world of saccharine, overly commercial pop ballads. Old-school style brings new-world grief to light in their careening, tightly wound vocal harmonies. Relentless strumming and plucking from the string section lifts the harrowed singing to great heights. Even the most steadfast bluegrass disparager will find their foot tapping when Hollow Turtle gets to it. – DS

Favorite World Music: Gnomes

Gnomes’ mythic name it seems is no accident. The band’s music channels old-world, fantastical folk. Penny whistle? Plenty of it. Plunking, thick bass lines? But of course. Accordion? Applied liberally. That’s not to say Gnomes’ catalog is all dusted-off, ancient tunes — somewhere in the studio and on the stage, a modern liveliness finds its way into the music. Whether any given song is Hassidic, Celtic, Slavic, African or even of some vague sea shanty origin, each brings something new and distinct to the table. – DS

Americana — Favorite Female Vocalist: Allysen Callery

The mood of much of Allysen Callery’s music is pleasantly dark. Her dappling, vamping chords provide fertile soil for her winding, explorative lyrics. Not all music needs to be cheerful and someone certainly let Callery in on that fact — her tunes are best suited for deep pondering, rainy days, cups of coffee gone cold and remembrances of days long past. And that’s a good thing. Her songs tell the kinds of stories that make you think, make you feel and make your eyes a little misty. – DS

Favorite Locally Based National Act: Roomful of Blues

There aren’t a lot of bands who manage to be contemporary now and when my parents were kiddos long ago. Roomful of Blues manages to hold that down and has done so for decades. Having played in virtually every venue across the state and boasting a staggering array of talent, this band is dear to fans of the blues in a way that few others ever have been. They touch every corner of the the genre with a no-fuss, big band sound that has earned them the status of legends. – DS

Favorite Male Singer/Songwriter: Nate Cozzolino

There’s comfort in Nate Cozzolino’s raspy singing. Even as his subject matter is often dark, a warmth permeates his music, thanks in no small part to his supremely talented backing band, The Lost Arts. There’s quiet triumph in here, told in the form of subtle bass runs and drum fills, all moving in perfect unison to Cozzolino’s cozy chord progressions. With a sound of important news from far away told in the form of a song, Cozzolino has found his niche. – DS

Favorite Open Mic: Tuesday at the Parlour

Favorite Karaoke Night: Friday at The Parlour

The Parlour has great music just about every night, so it’s no surprise that their Tuesday open mic is no different. A revolving cast of familiar and new faces plays to an enthusiastic crowd each week. Great sound production and drink prices are sure to please (nothing goes with cheap drinks like a no cover event). If you like what you see on Tuesdays, come back any other night of the week for a different theme and a different vibe, all in the same place. – DS

Favorite Street Band: Big Nazo

The Big Nazo band is its own experience. Not often enough do you get to see people in beautifully crafted and slightly creepy costumes getting their groove on over a brash, big-band sound. This crew had been around in one form or another for years, taking their unique PVD vibe around the world and holding down classic PVD staples like PVD Fest and Foo Fest when they can. If you’re thinking of GWAR for the whole family, you’re not too far off. – DS

Favorite Choral Act: Providence Gay Men’s Chorus

Full of hope and wonder, the Providence Gay Men’s Chorus truly knows how to work as a group. The combined sound of so many voices is full and rich, often teetering toward tear-inducing. Representing a slice of our city’s many LGBTQI folk, each song is an anthem of hope and inclusivity, told in many voices. Catch this huge ensemble whenever you can to take in the lush vocals and snappy attire. – DS

Favorite Folk Act: The Quahogs

Sometimes you want to go out and barroom brawl your troubles and sorrows away. Sometimes you just want to hear about someone else doing it. Steve Delmonico and the Quahogs behind him can help you do either, or probably both. Rowdy and raunchy, the band blasts out good old crunchy rock music that is welcome home in anywhere from beautiful Olneyville warehouses to the stripmall bars of Warwick. – DS

Americana — Favorite Male Vocalist: Steve Delmonico 

Steve Delmonico has the rare gift of singing with passion while still sounding tired of it all. His world-weary swagger is the gleaming shine on top of the Quahog’s sound, inviting listeners to take in his tales of worry and woe. He varies between outright howling and more ponderous crooning, with an occasional big “woo” thrown in for good measure. Big woos are good for morale, both for the band and the listener alike. – DS

Favorite Americana Album and Favorite Blues Act: Neal & The Vipers 

There’s a solid comfort in blues-rock arranged in 12 bars. It goes where you want it to, does what you came for and puts a smile on your face the whole time. Songs of exhaustion, the man, romantic partners who just don’t understand — you’ll get it all from Neal & The Vipers on their album One Drunken Kiss. They rock, they roll, they take big, loud solos whenever possible. They do everything you want them to and they do it well. – DS

Favorite Americana Act: Cactus Attack

Cactus Attack is able to mix cheery music with sour subject matter. It’s a skill that’s essential for a good country band, and Cactus Attack has mastered the blend. They avoid any overstuffing, even with strings upon strings plucking and bowing out all together. A deep-rooted coordination rules over the music. Hairpin turns and changes reveal not a single misplaced note. A prime example of the music of our previous generations making its way seamlessly into the hearts and minds of that elusive millennial generation. – DS

Favorite Americana Breakthrough Act: My Mother

According to their own words, My Mother is too intense to be called folk but too graceful to be labeled grunge. I’d be willing to say that’s true. The guitar is thick and confident, never wavering in its purpose of propelling dynamic and often chilling vocal harmonies that careen through unexpected but welcome melodies. Now that they’ve broken through, we’re all excited to see where this duo goes, all while walking such a fine line of genres. – DS

Favorite Locally Produced Festival: Rhythm and Roots

If you would like to see what a REAL music festival is like then you should check out this year’s Motif Award winner for Best Locally Produced Festival, The Rhythm and Roots Festival. This one has all the ingredients of a perfect festival experience: multiple music stages, camping, food, after hours jamming, dancing and much, much more. This festival has been happening at Ninigret Park in Charlestown every Labor Day weekend for more than 20 years and has presented performers such as Steve Earle, Little Feat, Natalie McMaster, Bruse Hornsby, Roseanne Cash, The Mavericks, Keb Mo, Los Lobos, Lake Street Dive, Lucinda Williams and many, many others! For more,  zydego-go to rhythmandroots.com – JF

Pauly Dancer has been spinning music since 2002 when he had his first radio show as an undergrad at UVM, and he started playing in clubs in Burlington around 2006. His biggest inspirations include local DJs and radio personalities DJ A-Dog, Melo Grant, Nastee, Big Dog & Demus, DJ Cr-8, Fattie B and Selector Dubee. Follow him on Twitter @DJPaulyDanger to see where he’ll be performing. – CA-K 

Breakthrough Hip-Hop Act: $wifty

$wifty has a knack for fast-pace freestyling, and he’s continuously improved his craft since his high school days. From rapping in a close friend’s basement and Honda Oddysey (ask him about it, he’ll tell you) to better-equipped studios and time in Los Angeles, he’s never lose his unrelenting desire to progress upward on the mountain of success.

$wifty struck gold with his late 2017 single, “Cyclone.” which elevated his musical status and introduced him to a wider audience. The success continued as he fired off his next single, “Shame,” alongside labelmate Mags. At the top of 2018, $wifty dropped his debut project, Show & Tell a 10-song effort, which showed audiences his artistry, 10 years in the making. 

If you thought he had any plans of slowing down you are quite mistaken. Standing strong with rappers Mags & Young Sen with their newly established label, Problem Child Records, $wifty recently released a five-track EP titled Realest Out alongside producer guccydior. – WO

Favorite Hip-Hop Act: Toad and the Stooligans

Bands are a rarity in the hip-hop world, but Toad and the Stooligans are determined to lead the charge to break that norm. Repping my hometown of PVD, the five-member group is composed of frontman Mike Jencks, guitarist Dan Pomfret, bassist Alex Caimano, drummer Matt O’Brien and keyboardist Daniel Hill.

First coming together in early 2015, the five members joined to bend the general rules of hip-hop as much as possible. Funk and jazz are just a few of the genres that appear in their music and all these elements are all carefully placed paint strokes that create the landscape that is their sound.

The band launched their official start in the last quarter of 2017 with Very Handsome. Sporting 12 tracks, the album effectively introduced their unorthodox take on the genre. Since the release of Very Handsome, the group has stayed under the radar aside from their 2018 track, “Trap Song.” Hopefully, that just means they’re hard at work on a new project that we’ll see in the near future. – WO

Critic’s Choice: Chuck Wentworth
Chuck Wentworth received his critic’s choice award because of his long-time, behind-the-scenes, commitment to music in RI and beyond. His company, Lagniappe Productions, produces the annual Rhythm and Roots Festival in Charlestown, The Mardi Gras Ball at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet and more. He was also involved in other out-of-state festivals, such as the Grey Fox Bluegrass festival in upstate New York. In his earlier days, he also produced cajun and zydeco dances at community halls and festivals at Stepping Stone Ranch in Escohag. In addition to all of this, he was a DJ and the head of the Folk Radio at WRIU for more than 30 years. While he recently retired from WRIU he still works tirelessly to promote music through Lagniappe Productions. – JF

Critic’s Choice: Dan Lilley
Dan Lilley received his critic’s Choice Choice Award because of his 45 years of performing the RI music scene. Dan is a music warrior and stills plays just about every Friday and Saturday night, as a solo, in a duo or band somewhere in RI. Over the years his bands have included: Sane; Tyger, Tyger; The Flying Ditchdiggers, Lovetrain, Dan Lilley and the Keepers, Dan Lilley and Scatman, and Forever Young. He channels his soul into every performance whether it is for three people at the bar or a thousand at a theater. Lilley is also a songwriter and has recorded several albums of his own music. His song “Hey, Josephine” was the inspiration for the Rhode Island Songwriters Association to release an album of the Songwriters In The Round shows. Other songs he has written like “Jealous Heart” and Home Fires” should have been hits, but like the music of many local performers, it never received the right exposure. Nevertheless, he keeps playing and playing for you. In addition to his dedication to music, he has been an English teacher at Central High School in Providence for more than 30 years. – JF

Special Recognition Vocalist: Meaghan Casey

Meaghan Casey is a singer-songwriter who earned multiple nominations in this year’s awards. Casey was narrowly edged out coming in 2nd, but in all the categories she was nominated in, she got more votes than some of the winners. She is obviously a local favorite so we just wanted to recognize this very talented artist. You can catch Meaghan Casey at the Galactic Theatre in Warren on April 7 opening for Hollow Turtle. – MC

Critic’s Pick for Favorite Album: Jay Berndt & The Orphans Life, Love, & Loss  The long awaited debut album from Jay Berndt & The Orphans, Life, Love, & Loss, more than lived up to the hype the band’s electrifying live shows have generated. There is a heavy Springsteen influence running throughout the album between the mix of rockers and ballads with tasteful horns. My favorite jam on this one is “Sweet Marie” but Life, Love, & Loss is a rare album that I’ll tend to listen all the way through when I pop it on. Jay Berndt & The Orphans will be rocking out at the News Cafe in Pawtucket on April 19.  – MC

Special Recognition Rock: 123 Astronaut

123 Astronaut bolted on the scene with the release of their debut EP, The Friction. 123 Astronaut play guitar dominated alterna-indie rock that culls from across the decades and quite possibly the galaxies considering singer/guitarist Jeff Robbins taste for space wear.  123 Astronaut recently finished recording a follow-up EP, which is currently being mastered and should be out in a few months. – MC