2008 Woodie Awards
Locals shine at the Orange County Music Awards
Adam Lowe
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Entertainment
Amid the glitz and glamour of Orange County are many bands that deserve some recognition. This year at the Orange County Music Awards, there were a few surprises but also some expected wins.
A few of the bands that I have seen on a regular basis here in Orange County were up for some of the awards at this show. Of the many nominations, among the sea of names were some that I recognized easily. Of these known names, I actually was quite hoping the best for a few of them. Hollowell, for example, was up for Best Live Electric Band. Though they did not win, they still get to enjoy their time overseas with the troops in Iraq, starting on April 3, 2008.Last year's winner of the Best Alternative Band, Sleepless Me, had to step down as the title-holder of that award this year. This year, the Best Alternative Band award went to a band called Bayadera (http://bayadera.ning.com/). Personally, I've never heard of them, but they won the award so they must have something good to offer. Give them a listen. Perhaps they actually are as good as their award would suggest.
Sleepless Me is not the only former winner to have to step down. Deccatree, last years Best Indie Band, no longer holds that title because of this year's winner, Chris Paul Overall (www.myspace.com/chrispauloverall), snagging the title. Overall is one of the most talented musicians in the Orange County area with a 5-octave vocal ability. If you want to hear true talent, you need to check out this guy.
As for the last honorable mention from me, we have the winner of the Best Live Acoustic Male: AJ DeGrasse (www.myspace.com/ajdegrasse). AJ plays every Tuesday at the Gypsy Lounge (www.thegypsylounge.com) in Lake Forest, CA with Chris Paul Overall, as well as many other great Orange County artists. The only real way to explain AJ's voice is - it is big. His voice really takes the whole stage.
If you are interested in any of the other information regarding who was nominated and who won some of the other awards, check out www.orangecountymusicawards.com and you will get every bit of information you could ever want - including pictures from the event that was held at The Grove of Anaheim. I think I'd say that all who won - won big!
A few of the bands that I have seen on a regular basis here in Orange County were up for some of the awards at this show. Of the many nominations, among the sea of names were some that I recognized easily. Of these known names, I actually was quite hoping the best for a few of them. Hollowell, for example, was up for Best Live Electric Band. Though they did not win, they still get to enjoy their time overseas with the troops in Iraq, starting on April 3, 2008.Last year's winner of the Best Alternative Band, Sleepless Me, had to step down as the title-holder of that award this year. This year, the Best Alternative Band award went to a band called Bayadera (http://bayadera.ning.com/). Personally, I've never heard of them, but they won the award so they must have something good to offer. Give them a listen. Perhaps they actually are as good as their award would suggest.
Sleepless Me is not the only former winner to have to step down. Deccatree, last years Best Indie Band, no longer holds that title because of this year's winner, Chris Paul Overall (www.myspace.com/chrispauloverall), snagging the title. Overall is one of the most talented musicians in the Orange County area with a 5-octave vocal ability. If you want to hear true talent, you need to check out this guy.
As for the last honorable mention from me, we have the winner of the Best Live Acoustic Male: AJ DeGrasse (www.myspace.com/ajdegrasse). AJ plays every Tuesday at the Gypsy Lounge (www.thegypsylounge.com) in Lake Forest, CA with Chris Paul Overall, as well as many other great Orange County artists. The only real way to explain AJ's voice is - it is big. His voice really takes the whole stage.
If you are interested in any of the other information regarding who was nominated and who won some of the other awards, check out www.orangecountymusicawards.com and you will get every bit of information you could ever want - including pictures from the event that was held at The Grove of Anaheim. I think I'd say that all who won - won big!
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