Dave Gutter, Rustic Overtones/Paranoid Social Club 2-1
Micah Blue Smaldone 15-1
Spencer Albee 4-1
Pete Kilpatrick 1-2
See above. I don't see any way Kilpatrick loses this category, despite the enduring popularity of Dave Gutter and Spencer Albee, who've both won this category in the past. Kilpatrick is just the best marketer of the bunch and has the widest appeal.
Best Female Vocalist
Darien Brahms 4-1
Anna Lombard, Gypsy Tailwind 5-1
Aly Spaltro, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper 8-1
Aren Sprinkle, the Plains 12-1
Sara Hallie Richardson 8-1
dilly dilly 3-1
Another wide-open category, if you ask me, since most of these singers haven't been nominated before and are relatively new to many casual fans. Brahms has the legacy, with a number of wins under her belt, but she's kept a low profile in recent years. Lombard has radio play, but how many people know her name and not just the name of the band? Spaltro's band have been hot, but they're pretty indie and not on mainstream radars. Sara Hallie kind of moved away just when her momentum was building. I'll say dilly's the frontrunner here. She's got a WPB Award in the trophy case, has been on the scene forever, and this seems to be her breakout year.
