Nom nom nom: 2010 Boston Music Awards nominations announced

After last night’s sprawling Billy Ruane memorial party in Central Square, the 23rd annual Boston Music Awards bash has a tough act to follow. But if the fiery trail of Facebook reposts, Twitter shout-outs and chest-thumping "fuck yeahs!" that followed this morning's nomination announcement were any indication, the camaraderie and love for our city’s thriving music scene should be just as palpable when the BMAs hit the Liberty Hotel on Dec. 5. Of course, in true Boston shitshow fashion, the band leading the BMAs charge isn't even from Boston -- they're from South Hadley and represent Worcester.

After blowing up on a national scale throughout 2010, whatever-pop/everything-wave/post-stuff dudes DOM justifiably highlight the nominations with four tips of the BMA bottle, including Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. I'm already giddy over the prospect of photographer Mick Murray snapping candids of DOM singing "it's so sexy to be living in America" while sipping Andre champagne in the Liberty's VIP room while balancing up to four BMAs atop his flowing red mane of hair. For what it's worth, Artist of the Year nominees also include Amanda Palmer, Josh Ritter, Passion Pit and Peter Wolf.

Beyond DOM’s Sun Bronzed Greek Gods EP, the Album of the Year category also includes 1212 by 7L & Esoteric, Come and Get It by Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves, Midnight Souvenirs by Peter Wolf, and an odd choice, the two-song 7-inch by Mean Creek, The Comedian.Hey, when the shit is good, the shit is good.

In the New Artist of the Year slot, DOM is up against Banditas, Girlfriends, Kingsley Flood and The Organ Beats. Good luck predicting a winner here -- it's a rock-solid category that could have housed a dozen candidates. 

Going up against DOM’s very-worthy “Living In America” battlecry in Song of the Year are Eli “Paperboy Reed’s “Come And Get It,” “Tragedy” by Peter Wolf and Shelby Lynne, “Winterthru” by Ad Frank And The Fast Easy Women and “The Comedian” by Mean Creek. If Mean Creek wins this category, they are already half-way home to Album of the Year... but that also means that if they win Song of the Year and not Album of the Year, then man, that other song on the 7-inch must suuuuuuuuuuuck. (Just kidding, of course, but, uh ...right?)

Check out the rest of the categories, including newbies like Best Music Blog and Best Boston Artist That Doesn’t Live In Boston (sans John Mayer, thankfully) and cast your vote early and often.

Online voting for all 30 categories runs until 5pm on Nov. 29, and those tallies represent a third of the decision process, with the Academy accounting for the remaining two-thirds. The Academy, who did a pretty bang-up job with the nominations is comprised of a collection of venue owners, booking agents, managers, writers, bloggers, DJs, program directors, music business owners, distributors, retailers, producers, publicists, and others.

More of a rolling party than traditional awards show, the BMAs are spread out over several rooms and multiple floors of the Liberty, the site of the Fashionably Late dance party and runway show. Festivities and live performances are sprinkled throughout the hotel, with the awards taking place on the fifth floor rotunda. Last year more than 1,000 people rolled up, not counting Bang Camaro, who were likely banned.

Among the scheduled performers at this year's BMAs are DOM, Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents, Mystery Roar, M-Dot, Kingsley Flood, Kon, Gozu, Moe Pope, Lenny Lashley's Gang Of One, Leah V, Sodafrog, Knife, Peter Parcek 3 with Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers, Dwight & Nicole with Johnny A, Varsity Girls, The Jazz Tellers Trio, Frank White, and Sea Monsters. Hall of Fame inductee Barry & The Remains will also perform live at the multi-room mega party.

Tickets are available to the public for $20, and a $99 VIP tickets gets you access to drink brews with DOM during a special cocktail hour. Not a bad deal.