Austin Music Awards: 1997-1998

If the phrase "Girl Power" hadn't been rendered silly by the Spice Girls, it would make a great theme for the 1997-98 Austin Music Awards. Over the years, the many trends emerging from this wellspring of musical vitality have been reflected in The Austin Chronicle's annual music poll -- post-punk, New Sincerity, blues, singer-songwriters, and country have all had their day in the sun. To state that these have been primarily male-dominated wins is neither an exaggeration of status nor a dismissal of hard work done. This year, the wave of women performers that seemingly began around punk's do-it-yourself ethic color just about every aspect of Austin Music Awards, bringing fresh blood in many cases and empowering veterans in others. For a 16-year-old poll that can count its female wins in major categories on two hands, this year is astonishing in its scope. To be able to rattle off names like Abra Moore, Ana Egge, and Shawn Colvin -- all first time winners in the poll -- alongside repeat winners like Storyville, Ian Moore, and MC Overlord is exhilarating.

The celebration isn't just about gender, though, it's about accomplishment and merit -- who's done what over the last year and how we remember them. More than 60 winners created the music that Austin chooses to remember in 1997; any one of whom are notable, but en masse are unstoppable. Some of the bands and performers are receiving their first career recognition, some have been honored nurmerous times. For all the men and women who make this music, we the audience offer our gratitude for making our lives a little more musical.

Aw, what the hel... GIRL POWER! -- Margaret Moser

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Band of the Year

1. Storyville

2. Reckless Kelly
3. Derailers
4. Pushmonkey
5. 8 1/2 Souvenirs
6. Asylum Street Spankers
7. Gourds
8. Sister 7
9. Silver Scooter
10. Vallejo

Musician of the Year

1. Abra Moore

2. Shawn Colvin
3. Ian Moore
4. Guy Forsyth
5. MC Overlord
6. Trish Murphy
7. Jon Dee Graham
8. Junior Brown
9. Malford Milligan
10. Scrappy Jud Newcomb
11. Don Walser
12. Ana Egge
13. David Grissom
14. Kacy Crowley
15. Toni Price

Song of the Year

1. "Four Leaf Clover" by Abra Moore

2. “Sunny Came Home” Shawn Colvin
4. “Hand to Mouthville” by Kacy Crowley
5. “Cats and Dogs” Toni Price
6. “Good Day for the Blues, Storyville
7. “Souvonica,” 8 1/2 Souvenirs
8. “This the Trip,” Sister 7
9. “Scorpio Tequila,” Trish Murphy
10. “$100 Bill,” Jon Dee Graham
11. “Caroline,” Soak
12. “Don’t Feel Like Cryin’,” Abra Moore
13. “Hey Say Mae,” Reckless Kelly
14. “Know What You Mean,” Sister 7
15. “Girl You Left Behind,” Janet Lynn

New Band

1. Reckless Kelly

2. Ursa Major
3. The Damnations
4. The Mollies
5. Scrappy Jud Newcomb & Southbound Monarchs
6. Morningwood
7. Soak
8. Millenium Swing
9. Polk, Barton, Towhead
10. Shades of Pearl

Single

1. “Sunny Came Home” by Shawn Colvin

2. “Four Leaf Clover” Abra Moore
3. “Paul Newman”
4. “This the Trip,” Sister 7
5. “Hand to Mouthville” by Kacy Crowley

EP

1. Soft Effects, Spoon (Matador)

2. Eight-Track Manifesto, David Garza (Wide Open)
3. Nasty Novelties, Asylum Street Spankers (Freedom)

LP

1. Strangest Places, Abra Moore (Arista)

2. Sol Power, Toni Price (Discovery/Antone’s)
3. Millican, Reckless Kelly (Cold Springs)
4. Escape from Monster Island, Jon Dee Graham (Freedom)
5. The Other Palm Springs, Silver Scooter (Peek-A-Boo)
6. This Is The Trip, Sister 7 (Arista)
7. Crooked Mile, Trish Murphy (Rhythmic)
8. KVRX Local Live Vol 2 (KVRX)
9. Anchorless, Kacy Crowley (Atlantic)
10. River Under the Road, Ana Egge (Lazy SOB)

Rock

1. Storyville

2. Vallejo
3. Pushmonkey
4. Breedlove
5. Sister 7
6. Ugly Americans
7. Sixteen Deluxe
8. The Sexton Sextet
9. George DeVore and the Roam
10. Julieann Banks

Pop

1. Abra Moore

2. Silver Scooter
3. Quatropaw
4. Ugly Americans
5. Millenium Swing
6. Trish Murphy
7. Cotton Mather
8. Fastball
9. Javelin Boot
10. Sixteen Deluxe

Alternative

1. El Flaco

El Flaco

2. Sixteen Deluxe
3. Soak
4. Scabs
5. Ursa Major
6. Silver Scooter
7. Primadonnas
8. Flock uh Hillbillies
9. Spoon
10. Dot

Jazz

1. 81/2 Souvenirs

2. Hot Buttered Rhythm
3. Jazz Pharoahs
4. Elias Haslanger
5. Millenium Swing
6. Lucky Strikes
7. Jon Blondell
8. Tony Campise
9. Merchants of Venus
10. Los Jazz Vatos