The sixth annual Madison Area Music Awards is history.
The Lucas Cates Band was the big winner. The pop singer-songwriter took in six MAMAs, including artist of the year. Natty Nation followed closely behind with five, which included a solo nod for lead singer JAH Boogie. But if you didn't attend Saturday night's festivities at the Barrymore Theatre, these are the sights and sounds you missed -- in addition to the Gomers, this being the first awards show sans the iconic Madison band.
Art Paul Schlosser serenades the ticket line
"I wish the line would move so I wouldn't have to keep talking to you people," said Madison's iconic street musician. Then he yelled across the street to diners at Monty's: "Come on over, I'll play one for ya!"
Kids sing Coldplay
The show began with a very cool clip of a kid choir practicing Coldplay's "When I Ruled the World." It was a vocal jam for the joy of it, and there was plenty of joy to be heard.
Odd combos
The MAMAs may be the only stage you'll ever find shared by Whore du Jour and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Libby Burmaster. Whore du Jour performed "Deep Sea Diver" near the end of the show. Burmaster saluted the MAMAs commitment to music education, saying "the best job I ever had was being a music teacher in a public school"
Urban flirts with Isthmus Forons
Master of Ceremonies John Urban said he wanted to be more like musicians who gig at night, sleep in their parents' basement and spend their days on TDPF. To show he was serious, he brought out a drum and prepared to play -- until Clyde Stubblefield came out to take it away and spare the crowd some sonic pain.
Performances that rocked Hands down, live performances were the highlight of the show. The handsome energy of Rising Gael, soaring rock of the Blueheels and brooding folk-rock of Jentri Colello, the MAMAs excelled as a variety show.
Time for Twitter
The MAMAs entered the Twitter era when Danielle Brittany took time for a status update via phone while accepting her award onstage.
Smooth voice gets disgusting
The recorded, feminine voice that announced nominees was full of beauty, grace and sex appeal, until she was required to acknowledge a nominee in the unique category: Butt Funnel.
The shadow of the sound engineers
All the winners wanted to thank their sound engineers, and these were the big three: Mike Zirkel at Smart, Jake Johnson at Paradyme and Mark Whitcomb at DNA. What would the scene be without 'em?
Regent raps
The West High concert choir was an audience favorite. Their performance began with socially critical and well-performed rap.
Nonagenarian meets mohawk kid
Retired UW Madison professor and founding conductor of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Marvin J. Rabin looked plenty spry in accepting his lifetime achievement award. He looked even more spry seated next to an early elementary little dude with a tinted green mohawk and knack for fiddling.
All in all, the MAMAs continues to shine as a variety show and inspire as a charity. It also continues to uncomfortably omit many of the most deserving Madison musicians from its awards process. In the meantime, happy MAMAs day!
