The results of the WEPUSHBUTTONS AWARDS came in just a tad too late to get them in the last paper, so here's a quick recap of who took home what last Saturday at SPACE Gallery. DILLY DILLY certainly had a nice night. She grabbed the Best Artist award and teamed with SONTIAGO to take the Best Live Act category. But does she actually push any buttons making her music? SPOSE is more of a traditional underground hip-hopper, and his night wasn't too bad either. He scored Best New Artist, Best Hip-Hop Act, and his debut album, Preposterously Dank, was elected Best Album of the year. He was so popular, he took second in the Live Act category as a write-in. No one else took home more than one award, but other notable winners include BRZOWSKI as Best MC, and the WHITE HEART as best venue, though that's not altogether surprising, considering WePushButtons hosts a night or two there each month.
Be on the lookout for the first release from ISOBELL, Map Room Sessions. Recorded with RON HARRITY (who played some drums, too), it's a down-tempo indie affair, fronted by HANNAH TARKINSON, with BEKAH HAYES on keys and backing vocals and CHRIS MCKNEALLY on guitar. It's kind of a cross between Letters to Cleo and Low. The album is due sometime in early December. No release show scheduled yet.
SUMNER MCKANE, part of DON CAMPBELL's band and a notable singer/songwriter in his own right, has released his second full-length disc, What a Great Place to Be, an ode to Maine in song. It has already been the Pick of the Month for October on NPR's Echoes program, and the Sumner McKane Group (JOSH ROBBINS on bass, the ROCKET on drums) recorded a performance as part of the "Echoes Living Room Concert Series." The first set, recorded at McKane's studio on Wiscasset, will be broadcast on NPR December 24, the second set will run July 4, 2009. Are those good slots, because they're high-profile, or lousy because who listens to NPR on Christmas Eve and the Fourth of July? We're not sure.
While it may not be a good thing that we're already hearing McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time" on the radio, it's definitely time to hear new holiday music from the SEA CAPTAINS, a project featuring ADAM FLAHERTY and long-time drummer TOM ASH, fronted by TIM COLLINS, with MARTY MORRISSEY on bass and ZACHARY WHITE on lead guitar. Their EP, Crust and Slush!, should be ready for Thanksgiving and contains three original holiday tunes. Pick one up at the Brick House in Dover on November 28, or wait for the WCYY "Home For the Holidays" show at the Big Easy, December 19.
We missed the show, but heard ANDI FAWCETT, formerly of RELISHGRUV and 5 ABOVE, and a former Best Female Vocalist BiMPy winner, made her return to the local scene after a three-year break, this past Saturday night at the Big Easy. Fronting DOUBTING GRAVITY, Fawcett was joined by brother and bassist CHRIS FAWCETT and SLY CHI drummer DAVE HENAULT. Our source says Fawcett was on a Fender Strat rather than her traditional Alvarez acoustic, so we guess she's feeling more of a rock vibe.
