Looking at the cover of March 5, 1982, it doesn't seem that long ago that 28 musicians gathered on the steps of the Capitol in honor of winning. There was no awards ceremony that year, just the hour or so that it took to wait for a few stragglers, make Keith Ferguson hide the beer in his coat pocket (you can see his left hand covering it), announce that Stevie and Double Trouble's van broke down and they wouldn't make it in, and get the jazzbos to talk to the punks who were intimidated by the blues players who only really knew the songwriters. I remember watching them all, thinking it was the perfect mix of old and new.
The number of musicians who would win the polls and appear on the covers throughout the Eighties was amazing; 50 or 60 musicians were being gathered annually, another couple dozen on the road and unable to attend. Some would go platinum and appear on MTV and in movies and win Grammys. With the Nineties came the Butthole Surfers, Shawn Colvin, Fastball, Jimmie Vaughan, Toni Price, Arc Angels, and Storyville, all names that gave that decade its own identity.
Each year of the poll has its own sound and look and this one is no different. It has a younger curve to it, with Slaid Cleaves, Vallejo, and Kissinger all stepping forward into top spots. Newcomers include the Riddlin' Kids, Blaze, Los Aztex, Human, La Tribu, Schrödinger's Cat, Correo Aereo, and the Tosca Strings. That's the future of Austin music and it's a beautiful noise.
There's a great comfort in seeing familiar names too, with Eric Johnson, Lisa Tingle, Austin City Limits, Bob Schneider, KGSR, Monte Montgomery, and Antone's. These names give that future its rich and colorful past. It's the perfect mix of old and new.
What was really different about The Austin Chronicle's 2000-2001 Music Poll? Look at the poll carefully. There are no ties.
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BAND OF THE YEAR
1. Vallejo
2. Lonelyland
3. George DeVore
4. Sister Seven
5. The Gourds
6. Reckless Kelly
7. The Scabs
8. Dexter Freebish
9. Lisa Tingle
10. Monte Montgomery
BEST ROCK BAND
1. Vallejo
2. George DeVore
3. Sister Seven
4. Kissinger
5. Pushmonkey
6. Goudie
7. Monte Montgomery
8. Alien Love Child
9. Riddlin' Kids
10. Sinis
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
SONG OF THE YEAR
1. "Broke Down" by Slaid Cleaves (Cleaves/Picott)
2. "Into the New" by Vallejo (Castleberry/Vallejo/Vallejo/Vallejo)
3. "Consider Bridgette" by Kissinger (Chopper)
4. "Wonderland" by George DeVore (DeVore)
5. "Metal and Steel" by Bob Schneider (Schneider)
6. "Only Thing That's Real" by Sister Seven (Sutton)
7. "High" by Ginger Mackenzie (Mackenzie/McGregor/Orell/Sanchez)
8. "Don't Edit" by Lisa Tingle (Tingle)
9. "Big Blue" by Bob Schneider (Schneider)
10. "El Paso" by the Gourds (Russell)
BEST SINGLE
1. "Broke Down" by Slaid Cleaves
2. "Into the New" by Vallejo
3. "Wonderland" by George DeVore
4. "Blind" by Riddlin' Kids
5. "High" by Ginger Mackenzie
6. "Don't Edit" by Lisa Tingle
7. "Consider Bridgette" by Kissinger
8. "Only Thing That's Real" by Sister Seven
9. "Love Ways" by Spoon
10. "El Paso" by the Gourds
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
1. Bob Schneider
2. Monte Montgomery
3. George DeVore
4. Slaid Cleaves
5. Eric Johnson
6. Sara Hickman
7. Lisa Tingle
8. Ginger Mackenzie
9. Terri Hendrix
10. Ian Moore
11. Adam Carroll
12. Guy Forsyth
13. Patrice Pike
14. Jimmy LaFave
15. Willie Nelson
16. Britt Daniel
17. Eddy Shaver
18. Graham Reynolds
19. Kelly Willis
20. MC Overlord
BEST MALE VOCALIST
1. Bob Schneider
2. Malford Milligan
3. A.J. Vallejo
4. Slaid Cleaves
5. George DeVore
6. Chopper
7. Monte Montgomery
8. Guy Forsyth
9. Jimmy LaFave
10. Ian Moore
11. Davíd Garza
12. Kerry Mosser
13. Tony Park
14. Dale Watson
15. Willie Nelson
16. Johnny Goudie
17. Adam Carroll
18. Jeff Klein
19. Joe West
20. Spencer Gibb
BEST SINGER-SONGWRITER
1. Bob Schneider
2. Slaid Cleaves
3. Sara Hickman
4. Terri Hendrix
5. Adam Carroll
6. Lisa Tingle
7. Ginger Mackenzie
8. Monte Montgomery
9. Carter Pagel
10. Jeff Klein
11. Blu Sanders
12. Bruce Robison
13. Jimmy LaFave
14. Shelley King
15. Pat Green
BEST SONGWRITER
1. Bob Schneider
2. Sara Hickman
3. Slaid Cleaves
4. Lisa Tingle
5. Monte Montgomery
6. Terri Hendrix
7. Adam Carroll
8. Ginger Mackenzie
9. Patrice Pike
10. Jimmy LaFave
11. Carter Pagel
12. Shelley King
13. Bruce Robison
14. Davíd Garza
15. Johnny Goudie
BEST COVER ART
1. Lonelyland, Bob Schneider; Artist: Bob Schneider
2. Steak, Guy Forsyth
3. Spiritual Appliances, Sara Hickman
4. Before They Were Rock Stars, Blind Luck
5. You'll Never Get to Heaven if You Break My Heart, Jeff Klein
6. Bolsa de Agua, the Gourds
7. Into the New, Vallejo
8. Kings of the Catnap, LeRoi Brothers
9. KVRX Local Live Vol. 5: Aural Fixation, KVRX
10. Reefer Madness, the Asylum Street Spankers
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
1. Lonelyland, Bob Schneider (Shockorama)
2. Into the New, Vallejo (Crescent Moon/Sony 550)
3. Broke Down, Slaid Cleaves (Philo)
4. Wrestling Over Tiny Matters, Sister Seven (Arista)
5. Live and Beyond, Alien Love Child (Favored Nations)
6. Milk Cow Blues, Willie Nelson (Island)
7. Bolsa de Agua, the Gourds (Sugarhill)
8. Wonderland, George DeVore (Hypertension)
9. Paradise, Lisa Tingle (Tingle Entertainment)
10. Charm, Kissinger (WCI)
11. Spiritual Appliances, Sara Hickman (Shanachie)
12. Places in Between, Terri Hendrix (Wilory Records)
13. All Too Human, Ginger Mackenzie (Earthnoise)
14. Vera Takes the Cake, Ginger & Sarah (Whistle Foot)
15. KVRX Local Live Vol. 5: Aural Fixation (KVRX)
16. Jamie Was a Boozer, Joe West & the Sinners (Rehab Records)
17. Peep Show, Goudie (The Music Co./Elektra)
18. The Day, Reckless Kelly (Reckless Records)
19. Live @ Antone's, Joe Ely (Rounder)
20. The Return of Wayne Douglas, Doug Sahm (Texas Tornado)
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST NEW BAND
1. Kissinger
2. Shorty Long
3. Harris and Ryden
4. Back Porch Mary
5. Fast and Far
6. Cruiserweight
7. Karen Poston and Her Crystal Pistols
8. Dames Violet
9. 28MPH
10. The Gardeners
BEST POP BAND
1. Kissinger
2. Blind Luck
3. George DeVore
4. Ginger Mackenzie
5. Cruiserweight
6. Dexter Freebish
7. Sara Hickman
8. Fastball
9. Riddlin' Kids
10. Mingo Fishtrap
BEST METAL/ INDUSTRIAL BAND
1. Human
2. Pushmonkey
3. Godzilla Motor Company
4. Sinis
5. Lucid Dream
6. Drawn Under
7. Stonekracker
8. 28MPH
9. Anger Management
10. Powderburn
BEST TEXAS VIDEO
1. "Rock & Roll Asshole" by Kissinger, directed by Chris Roldan
2. "Leaving Town" by Dexter Freebish
3. "Boys-N-the Hood" by Dynamite Hack
4. "My Hometown" by Charlie Robison
5. "What I Deserve" by Kelly Willis
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST DJ
1. Roger Wilson
2. DJ Trey Lopez
3. Govinda
4. The Buddy System
5. CNTRL
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST ALTERNATIVE ROCK/PUNK BAND
1. Riddlin' Kids
2. Pushmonkey
3. The Scabs
4. Kissinger
5. Vallejo
6. Goudie
7. Spoon
8. Sister Seven
9. Sexy Finger Champs
10. Stretford
BEST FUNK BAND
1. The Scabs
2. Mingo Fishtrap
3. Funky London
4. Dysfunkshun Junkshun
5. Dahebegebees
BEST CONCERT POSTER
1. The Scabs, Antone's by Bob Schneider
2. Pocket FishRmen
3. Carnaval
4. Sister Seven
5. Vallejo
photo by John Carrico
BEST BASSIST
1. Yoggie Musgrove
2. Chris Maresh
3. Darrell Phillips
4. Tommy Shannon
5. Omar Vallejo
6. Lucky
7. Bruce Hughes
8. Roscoe Beck
9. Roland Perez
10. Lynda Millard
photo by John Carrico
BEST KEYBOARD PLAYER
1. David Boyle
2. Bukka Allen
3. Ginger Doss
4. Floyd Domino
5. Earl Poole Ball
6. Phillip Edwards
7. Carl Thiel
8. Graham Reynolds
9. Riley Osborn
10. Ian McLagan
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST DRUMMER
1. Brannen Temple
2. J.J. Johnson
3. Chris Layton
4. Paul Pearcy
5. Alex Vallejo
6. Bill Maddox
7. Frosty
8. o3
9. Sean Phillips
10. Jason Stolley
11. Jason White
12. Darwin Keys
13. Dave Dirty
14. Jason McKenzie
15. Mambo John Treanor
photo by John Carrico
BEST HORN PLAYERS
1. Grooveline Horns, the Scabs
2. Ephraim Owens, Blaze
3. Dan Beckett
4. Tony Park
5. La Tribu
6. Cynthia Sadler
7. David Lobel, the Blue Noise Band
8. Jon Blondell
9. Vallejo Horns
10. Brown Whörnet
photo by John Carrico
BEST STRINGS PLAYERS
1. Tosca Strings
2. Erik Hokkanen
3. Champ Hood
4. Brian Standifer
5. Amy Farris
6. Will Taylor
7. Mo Jamal
8. Danny Levin
9. Robert Riggio
10. Govinda
BEST CONCERT BY A TOURING BAND
1. Yo La Tengo, La Zona Rosa
2. Bruce Springsteen, Erwin Center
3. Fuel, the Metro
4. Ween, Stubb's
5. Tina Turner, Erwin Center
6. Patti Smith, Waterloo Park
7. Brian Wilson, Backyard
8. 311, Austin Music Hall
9. KISS, Erwin Center
10. Ben Harper, Backyard
photo by John Carrico
BEST PRODUCER
1. Lloyd Maines
2. Carl Thiel, Paradise by Lisa Tingle
3. Merle Brigante, Before They Were Rock Stars by Blind Luck
4. Lars Gorensson, Trouble With Being Nice by Household Names
5. Mitch Watkins, Wonderland by George DeVore
6. Gurf Morlix, Broke Down by Slaid Cleaves
7. Sara Hickman, Spiritual Appliances
8. Greg Atkins, The Gospel According to Austin
9. Eastside Flash, Chickenboxer by Shorty Long
10. Jody Denberg, KGSR Broadcasts, Vol. 8
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST ACOUSTIC GUITARIST
1. Monte Montgomery
2. Carter Pagel
3. Sara Hickman
4. Stephen Bruton
5. Casper Rawls
6. Jeff Klein
7. Terri Hendrix
8. Guy Forsyth
9. Slim Richey
10. George DeVore
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST TRADITIONAL MEXICAN/LATINO ACT
1. Correo Aereo
2. Tish Hinojosa
3. Los Tres Vigilantes
4. Mariachi Estrella
5. Grupo Fantasmo
BEST WORLD MUSIC BAND
1. La Tribu
2. Poor Man's Fortune
3. Teye y Viva el Flamenco!
4. The Gypsies
5. Cadaques
6. Rajamani
7. Tamasha Africana
8. Correo Aereo
9. Tosca
10. Son Vocina
11. Two O'Clock Courage
12. Papa Mali
13. Rubinchik's Orkestyr
14. Sambaxe
15. Govinda
photo by John Anderson
BEST NONE OF THE ABOVE BAND
1. Schrödinger's Cat
2. Blind Luck
3. Off the Record
4. Asylum Street Spankers
5. Golden Arm Trio
6. Tosca
7. Joe West & the Sinners
8. The Gourds
9. 81/2 Souvenirs
10. Flipside Den
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST TEJANO/ CONJUNTO BAND
1. Los Aztex
2. Ruben Ramos
3. The Texana Dames
4. Flaco Jimenez
5. Valerio Longoria
6. Johnny Degollado
7. Mariachi Estrella
8. Little Joe y la Familia
9. Santiago Jimenez Jr.
10. Mingo Saldivar
photo by John Carrico
BEST ELECTRIC GUITARIST
1. Eric Johnson
2. Eddy Shaver
3. Wayne Sutton
4. Jimmie Vaughan
5. Ian Moore
6. Monte Montgomery
7. Steve Garvey
8. Scrappy Jud Newcomb
9. Chris Duarte
10. Stephen Bruton
11. Heath Clark
12. Slim Richey
13. Will Hoffman
14. Jason Frankhouser
15. Jimmy Messer
16. Kyle Judd
17. Derek O'Brien
18. Britt Daniel
19. Spencer Gibb
20. Roger Blevins
photo by John Anderson
BEST COVER BAND
1. The Eggmen
2. The Recliners
3. Taboo
4. Dysfunkshun Junkshun
5. The Atlantics
6. Glamourpuss
7. Diamond Smugglers
8. SSIK
9. Duck Soup
10. Schrödinger's Cat
photo by John Carrico
BEST FEMALE VOCALIST
1. Lisa Tingle
2. Kelly Willis
3. Patrice Pike
4. Ginger Mackenzie
5. Terri Hendrix
6. Toni Price
7. Christina Marrs
8. Patty Griffin
9. Maryann Price
10. Sarah Elizabeth Campbell
11. Stella Maxwell
12. Laura Scarborough
13. Beth Black
14. Alice Spencer
15. Barbara K
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST CRITIC
1. Andy Langer
2. Christopher Gray
3. Margaret Moser
4. Greg Beets
5. Chris Reimenschneider
6. Ken Lieck
7. Christopher Hess
8. John T. Davis
9. Raoul Hernandez
10. Michael Corcoran
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST RADIO PERSONALITY
1. Dale Dudley, KLBJ FM 93.7
2. Johnny Walker, KLBJ FM 93.7
3. John Aielli, KUT Radio FM 90.5
4. Jody Denberg, 107.1 FM KGSR
5. Kevin Connor, 107.1 FM KGSR
6. Ben Blaze, KROX-FM 101X
7. Tim Wise, KVRX 91.7
8. Bob Fonseca, KLBJ FM 93.7
9. Peggy Simmons, KLBJ FM 93.7
10. Toby, KROX-FM 101X
11. Andy Langer, KUT Radio FM 90.5, KROX-FM 101X
12. Paul Ray, KUT 90.5 FM
13. Jenn Garrison, 107.1 FM KGSR
14. J.B. Hager, Mix 94.7 FM
15. Teresa Ferguson, KUT Radio FM 90.5
16. Loris Lowe, KLBJ FM 93.7
17. Brian Beck, 107.1 FM KGSR
18. Charlie Hodge, KLBJ FM 93.7
19. Sandy Rivers, Mix 94.7 FM KAMX
20. Sammy Allred, KVET 98.1 FM
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST RADIO PROGRAM
1. Dudley & Bob, KLBJ FM 93.7
2. Eklektikos, John Aielli, KUT Radio FM 90.5
3. Kevin & Kevin, 107.1 FM KGSR
4. JB & Sandy, Mix 94.7 FM
5. Next Big Thing, Andy Langer, KROX-FM 101X
6. Folkways, Ed Miller, Dan Foster, Dave Obermann, KUT Radio FM 90.5
7. Hicksville 4, John Barker, KVRX 91.7 FM
8. Twine Time, Paul Ray, KUT 90.5 FM
9. Local Licks, Loris Lowe, KLBJ FM 93.7
10. Graveside Service, DJ Harris and David Spradling, KOOP Radio 91.7
11. Sammy & Bob, KVET 98.1 FM
12. Femme FM, Teresa Ferguson, KUT Radio FM 90.5
13. The Lounge Show, Jay Robillard, KOOP Radio 91.7
14. Stronger Than Dirt, Scott Gardner, KOOP Radio 91.7
15. 5:01 Blues, Jody Denberg, 107.1 FM KGSR
16. Johnny Walker, KLBJ FM 93.7
17. Buzz & Co., Buzz Corona, The Beat 104.3 FM
18. Coffeebreak Concert with Brian Beck, 107.1 FM KGSR
19. Jazz, Etc., Jay Trachtenberg, KUT Radio FM 90.5
20. Texas Radio, Larry Monroe, KUT Radio FM 90.5
BEST RADIO STATION
1. 107.1 FM KGSR
2. KLBJ FM 93.7
3. KROX-FM 101X
4. KUT Radio FM 90.5
5. KVRX 91.7
6. KOOP Radio 91.7
7. 97.1 Radio Free Austin
8. 93.3 Lonestar KLNC
9. Mix 94.7 FM KAMX
10. Magic 95.5 FM KKMJ
photo by John Carrico
BEST BLUES BAND
1. Guy Forsyth
2. Blue Monday Band
3. W.C. Clark
4. Toni Price
5. Chris Duarte
6. Jimmie Vaughan
7. Lou Ann Barton
8. Double Trouble
9. Alien Love Child
10. Lisa Tingle
BEST MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUMENT
1. Guy Forsyth, musical saw
2. Mambo John Treanor, washboard
3. Lynda Millard, flute
4. Paul Glasse, mandolin
5. Pops Bayless, ukelele
6. J.P. Allen, harmonica
7. Eastside Flash, dobro
8. Wammo, washboard
9. Diego Simmons, bongos
10. Joel Guzman, accordion
photo by John Carrico
BEST COUNTRY BAND
1. Dale Watson
2. Blind Luck
3. Reckless Kelly
4. Pat Green
5. Pete Benz
6. Don Walser
7. Kelly Willis
8. The Derailers
9. Willie Nelson
10. Shaver
11. The Shelley King Band
12. Harris and Ryden
13. Charlie Robison
14. Ted Roddy
15. Cory Morrow
photo by John Carrico
BEST HIP-HOP ACT
1. MC Overlord
2. Hip Hop Humpday
3. Tee Double
4. MC Truth
5. Buttahfly
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST FOLK ACT
1. Terri Hendrix
2. Slaid Cleaves
3. Sara Hickman
4. Adam Carroll
5. Shelley King
6. The Gourds
7. Danny Santos
8. Jeff Klein
9. Toni Price
10. Jimmy LaFave
BEST ROOTS ROCK BAND
1. Reckless Kelly
2. Blind Luck
3. The Gourds
4. The Shelley King Band
5. The LeRoi Brothers
6. Joe Ely
7. George DeVore
8. Monte Montgomery
9. Damnations TX
10. The Resentments
photo by John Anderson
BEST LOUNGE BAND
1. The Recliners
2. Mister Fabulous
3. 81/2 Souvenirs
4. Hot Club of Cowtown
5. The El Orbits
6. Natalie Zoe
7. Lucky Strikes
8. The Asylum Street Spankers
9. Seth Walker Band
10. The Scabs
photo by Kenny Braun
BEST JAZZ BAND
1. Blaze
2. Golden Arm Trio
3. The Jazz Pharoahs
4. The Blue Noise Band
5. Mingo Fishtrap
6. The Brew
7. The Asylum Street Spankers
8. Laura Scarborough
9. Ephraim Owens
10. 81/2 Souvenirs
BEST MUSIC EQUIPMENT STORE
1. Mars Music
2. Strait Music Company
3. South Austin Music
4. Ray & Shane Hennig's Heart of Texas Music Inc.
5. MusicMakers Austin
6. Tommy's Drum Shop
7. Guitar Center
8. Workhorse Guitars
9. One World Music
10. Guitar Resurrection
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST NEW CLUB
1. The Metro
2. Room 710
3. MoMo's
4. Empanada Parlour
5. The Red Fezz
photo by John Carrico
BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE
1. Antone's
2. Red Eyed Fly
3. Stubb's
4. Continental Club
5. Emo's
6. Lucy's
7. Cactus Cafe
8. MoMo's
9. La Zona Rosa
10. Mercury Lounge
photo by John Anderson
BEST RECORD STORE
1. Waterloo Records & Video
2. Cheapo Discs
3. Jupiter Records
4. Thirty Three Degrees
5. CD Warehouse
6. Tower Records-Video-Books
7. ABCD's (Austin's Best Compact Discs)
8. Sound Exchange
9. Antone's Record Store
10. Technophilia
photo by Todd V. Wolfson
BEST METAL/ INDUSTRIAL BAND
1. Human
2. Pushmonkey
3. Godzilla Motor Company
4. Sinis
5. Lucid Dream
6. Drawn Under
7. Stonekracker
8. 28MPH
9. Anger Management
10. Powderburn
