2009 RFT Music Awards Nominees: The List

• Northwoods rock, one of the best acts in this scene right now.

• It's awesome to see the St. Louis scene is alive and energized!

• The Northwoods are a really great folk duo and i have met the guys and they're really cool and extremely nice

• i wanted spark1duh? to be a nominee for solo rap artist

• I would like to thank Jimmy for that bag of dicks he sent over. They were great! I went ahead and dropped them off at your Mom's like you asked. Thanks again for the dicks! Looking forward to June 7th! http://www.myspace.com/lucabrasirocks Vote LUCABRASI for best rock band!

• We need more Fattback in this........

• Best DJ's... ROB LEMON, GARY MAC and VINNY TROIA. Quite possibly in the Midwest entirely. :)

• I forgot to ask, did you notice how when I was referring to the phrase "you are" I used an apostrophe (you're), while when I was referring to "you" I did not (your)? Your is the second person possessive adjective, used to describe something as belonging to you. Your is nearly always followed by a noun. You're is the contraction of "you are" and is often followed by the present participle (verb form ending in -ing). Next week, we'll discuss when to use a comma and when to use a period. Don't do drugs, stay in school!

• Sorry, little guy, I've got a girlfriend, so you're on your own. But if you're lonely, and you probably are, maybe the Mhurs wouldn't mind if you worked on their dicks a little more. Now go post another 50 "vote for the Mhurs" comments on here and leave the grown ups alone. hugs and kisses, BFF, have a kick ass summer!

• We have no feuds, do not know Ms. Zaleski and aren't for or against the Mhurs. We are just happy to be nominated. Many thanks to the RFT for the nod. Actually, we like everyone in our category (except for Jimmy, of course), so....here's our pitch: We are a band. We do rock. Do we rock the best? You decide. http://www.myspace.com/lucabrasirocks Vote LUCABRASI for best rock band.

• i don't agree with all the choices, but it amuses me to no end to hear all the whining and the self-congratulating that happens every year like clockwork. to those who didn't get nominated, work harder, grind like a mutha. to those who did, congrats, enjoy. see how easy that is?

• ""mhurred out" is a faggot" should look into getting some basic lessons in grammar & syntax. C'mon, people! This is the internet! We have standards to uphold!

• when does the voting begin??????

• vote the mhurs! stop hating on any band nominated.

• "mhurred out" your an uptight douche. who needs to get his dick worked on.

• wow..people really taking this serious Trackstar and John I co sign every single thing you two said, and for the record this is my first year being nominated as a solo artist and I appreciate the love prior to this I was always in some form of a group,alot of people on here are doing alot of dissing and thats cool because I believe as a artist you've gotta take the good with the bad,I don't have a problem with supporters of the music voicing their opinions but I refuse to let another musician disrespect me but thats another story within itself..anyways man on some real I'm happy to be young and nominated I mean Lebron has to get a chance sometime, it can't be the Michael Jordan era forever ..thats how I look at it, but thats not a disrespectful comment towards anyone in particular..I'm just saying I'm young and very active in the scene and I'm really not trying to wait any much longer for my recognition..I fuck's with M.W.A. I'm on their new album and I worked for John's mother..needless to say I know them outside of music..fuck it too much typing..jus saying I'm happy to be nominated..

• hey jimmy, i found your greasepaint and red rubber nose at my house. lemme know when i can drop it off for you.

• Jimmy from the Incurables was my first guitar teacher, when he was maybe 18 & I was maybe 14. Therefore Jimmy is directly responsible for the existence of Bunnygrunt. How could you possibly in good conscience vote for somebody who did that to St Louis?

• P.S. If you wanna call us out for a beatdown. You can find us at The Library on Friday May 8th.

• You can buy Annie Z all the drinks you want. Her real friends know what really makes her engine crank. That is a steady diet of percoset, meth, and lots of clown-porn; the kind where one of the clowns dies. If you can score enough of that, brother...you might just win this thing. Thanks for the nod RFT and we would love to play the party. Secondly, I'm upset that none of the Rock bands are fighting. So here goes. Logos- We played a show together and I think the oldest guy is like 16. Because of them we got no beer backstage, and we played sad. I will beat you to death in the street with a bag of your moms cold dicks...or somthing... Goldtooth-I used do do alot of drugs too (mostly with members of Goldtooth) but you don't see me writing a bunch of songs about it. Same thing...beat down..mom..bag of dicks. Shame Club-no riffs...beat you up...Luca Brasi- hair band...streetfight...suckerdickpunch...The Feed-Musical hacks that couldn't play their way out of a wet paper bag on fire. With that said. Vote The Incurables.

• After reading these comments, and the high volume of postings that are in no way interesting, funny or informative, by an obviously desperate band, I know this much, at least: I am NOT voting for the mhurs. For every new post I read about the mhurs on this blog entry, I shall email five friends in campaign against the mhurs. I, in turn, will ask them to email five of their friends. Then we rinse and repeat. Where's the back and forth-ing from the hip-hoppers? That was way more fun to read.

• exercise? really? they shouldn't be in the 'new' band category. losing a member and keeping the same sound doesn't constitute a new band. it just makes you sound worse, that's all. BERLIN WHALE IS DONE. GET OVER IT. DO SOMETHING NEW. like the mhurs. they have a lovely sound. and enjoyable band members who aren't predictable as all hell. oh, and one of which is a black dude. yeah. MHURS/talent ONWARD!

• y'all need to stop getting butt-hurt over the riverfront times. i mean, really? just because rft doesn't recognize you...that doesn't mean bull! and if you do get nominated, well, good for you, but it's nothing to brag about. it's a journal in a small city. and, honestly, she can't write up the whole goddamn music scene, even if she and everyone else genuinely likes you. you can't please all the people all the time, so boo-f'ing-hoo if you got the short end of the stick. recognize a pattern, people. somebody always makes an uproar year after year because so-and-so doesn't get their shit up there. swallow your bull and get over it! even some of the actual bands, not fans, that are not getting nominated don't give half a f*ck! learn to get over it! the real way to support bands is to GO TO THEIR SHOWS. stop bitching on the internet and go out and support them, get your friends to support them, or any goddamn band then, next year, when you helped create ALL hype for them, they'll be up there. and quite possibly, might win. maybe then you'll stop whining...or you'll finally realize that there are better things to do. bitching at some stupid contest is not how to support the scene...fans can generate just as much press by word of mouth than a win from an RFT...and they can do it year-round. do that, and get outta here! and honestly fighting over comments online? duke it out! and invite me, i'd like to watch a sissy fight or two.

• golly, mhurs...do you want to win? I hear you'll win a big fat recording contract, as well as a mansion and a yacht... But I also heard the losers would be sacrificed to a giant gold statue of Beetle Bob... That's what I heard....

• Less Mhurs, more shit talk. I mean, come on.

• NORTHWOODS will definitely take best new band... saw those guys at Loyal Earth Festival... SO SICK!

• please please please vote for the mhurs as best new band.

• The Mhurs are all i been listening to in prison. definately vote for them as best new band!

• i just found out about these cats, vote the mhurs as best new band!

• vote for The Mhurs as best new band!

• The Mhurs have my vote for best new band!

• if i never wouldve blown my head off, i think i would of loved the mhurs. vote for The Mhurs as best new band!

• fuck this life. vote for the mhurs as best new band!

• Vote 4 the mhurs as best new band!

• THE MHURS ARE THE KINGS OF THE CARROT FLOWERS! VOTE THE MHURS!

• VOTE THE MHURS!

• "Which makes Nite Owl and Midwest Avengers the luckiest performers in town." ...or perhaps the very orchestrators and curators of the whole vampiric debacle! Congrat-u-ma-lations to all you lovely nominees and non-nominees and everyone else who loves to party big, wail hard, and be excellent. RFT Awards MMIX, baby!

• Touche...

• "Rev says: but what if we think you should have been nominated in the traditional country category? Just posing the question." In that case, I think you are right. Any more brainbusters?

• but what if we think you should have been nominated in the traditional country category? Just posing the question.

• Annie you have a horrible, horrible, unenviable job. I'm sorry. Respect to all the artists nominated and not...its cool and fun and helpful to be nominated/win but its not that big of a deal at the end of the day if your goals are national/global/forever. And especially respect to John Harrington--that dude truly cares about St Louis and the hip hop scene. Whether you like his music or not, you must respect that. If not, you are a gaping asshole. PS. Whether you think I should or should not have been nominated, I think you're right.

• By now everyone has seen the photos taken from a reasonably-priced suite several floors up in The Moonrise Hotel by paparazzi armed with telephoto lenses who recently caught Bob Reuter, Kim Massie, Pokey LaFarge, Erin Bode, and DJ Needles with their pants down during a champagne-fueled orgy at Annie Zaleski's rooftop pool above her penthouse in The Riverfront Times fortress. The city finally knew for sure just who you've got to slam to get a Slammy. However, details are slowly emerging regarding a darker side to this "Sweatin' To The Oldies" themed party (yes, that AtoZ's a freaky one!) Once assured their anonymity, the photographers insisted that there were several others at the soiree, but that somehow no trace of them appeared on the film. When asked how that could be, there was only one conclusion they could offer, though they all hesitated with apparent disbelief and fear: vampirism. Sources say that those exhibiting the most uncivilized behaviors were the ones who did not appear in the photos, including Fred Friction, Thumpasaurus, The Rumdrum Ramblers, Celia, Raglani, and Gumbohead. It seems that there are forces beyond simple favoritism and drink-buying at work here; more sinister forces that are manipulating the St. Louis music scene to achieve a goal more diabolical than that of Mardi Gras Inc. While carefully tailing a scootering Fred Friction, one investigator noticed a sheet of paper fall from Mr. Friction's duffle. He retrieved it and ultimately returned to his studio apartment. After careful examining the small and seemingly blank page, he discovered that there was an invisible writing on the page that could only be seen when the paper was held up to the moonlight. Though the writing was in a language unfamiliar to him, an afternoon spent at Star Clipper rewarded him with the finding of a young man (or eleventh-level warlock to some of you in the role-playing community) who could translate. The blank page was actually an invitation, for vampire only, to the secret Slammy celebration. The underground event is to include a variety of blood-soaked entertainment where the losers become snacks: Gold Tooth and Glass Teeth battle in a cage to determine which is a worse dental affliction, DJ Mahf; Alvin Jett & the PhaT NoiZ Blues Band; Scripts 'N Screwz; .e; and Vandalyzm will compete in a Spelling Bee, Say Panther; Murder City Players; and Rough Shop will play that whisper-in-your-neighbor's-ear Telephone game, and Bunnygrunt will simply be told everyone they've ever loved is moving away until they die of sorrow. When night finally comes the vampires will emerge and feast on the attendees of the contrived 2009 Riverfront Times Music Awards presentation. Contracts between the vampires, City of St. Louis shadow governments, and Joe Edwards has guaranteed no mortal will get out alive... Which makes Nite Owl and Midwest Avengers the luckiest performers in town.

• The Mhurs are bringing something new to the table. Best New band? I think so!

• Letter!!!

• I second that motion. Word to everyone nominated we will see you there!!!

• Mhurs arent a new band... they've been playing for over 3 years in the st louis area. the only thing they are new to is playing at the bluebird/firebird.

• Congrats to everyone that was nominated this year!!! I am not speaking on behalf of no one but myself wehn i say I'm looking forward to the RFT awards this year. also check out our new video 'Brick': http://www.vimeo.com/4109330

• @ The Observer.... Shut the fuck up. Let people say what they want to say. It doesnt sound like they are whining or complaining. They sound like they are explaining the situation...Go and observe these nuts!

• Whoa mama. An observation: I'll take the relative silence from all nominees and not-nom's in the *other* categories (i.e. non-Hip-Hop) to mean that just don't *care* as much about this stuff? I mean, maybe it's great that St. Louis' hip-hop scene is so passionate about their craft... But hey, maybe it's time that these "scene juggernauts" that have obviously been snubbed (and slighted, apparently) by not being nominated, set their sights a little higher (and geographically farther...?) than the local alt-weekly's music awards - especially if they've already won one (or five). I mean, is winning Prom King really that great for a sixth-year senior? Also, another observation: [Not being nominated] IS TO [Complaining about not being nominated] AS [Being nominated] IS TO [Trying to persuade all of your friends, family, fans, and total strangers to vote for you, whether they like your music, or have even heard it] Final thought: Let your music speak for itself, and learn some composure, poise, and tact. Then *maybe* St. Louis music will gain some respect, rather than be viewed as a bunch of below-the-curve, behind-the-trend, half-talent bitchers and moaners - a view that is currently more than warranted. *tO*

• thank bejeezus...it means so much...ore than words, even... I kind of burned some bridges when I quit the taco bell last month...my manager was such a jerk.

• Gary - I'm still here for you, and you know I always will be. I can't believe we let such petty things get in the way of our bromance. There's a hole in my heart that can only be filled by you.

• I'll tell you who pisses me off...Kip Winger...motherlover better check himself... unless, of course, nuno likes him...then he's aces in my books.

• Jeez, all this flaming against Annie is taking me back to the old Rene Spencer-Saller days (if you'll remember, she was ALSO somehow unable to please every single musician and band in St. Louis- weird, no?)! I guess some things never change.

• check out Nathan Blake Lynn. www.nathanblakelynn.com myspace.com/nathanblakelynn

• can't we all just get along? (don't leave me, nuno)

• Ok Greg, you evidently missed the point of the last message I posted. If you are so tough, cool, hard or whatever you are, put your whole name on here. Be a man and Back your words up! It�s pretty clear that you�re an untalented hater with nothing better to do (critics criticize but have no talent themselves that�s why they sit on the sidelines and watch). The cold dicks comment had nothing to do with lyrics, just yo mama (by the way tell her I got another king size serta mattress she can use when it�s time to change her tampon). Who even says �yo yo yo�, �bust a big mac on that ass�, and �Word holmes� anymore? Seems like you�re trying to be something your not. Or are you trying to make fun of hip hop culture by using outdated slang to cover up the fact that you can�t rhyme? You are definitely not an emcee, and you probably work some dead end job that you hate. Just because your boss molests you on a daily basis doesn�t mean you have to take it out on me. And just so you know Midwest Avengers pays my bills. I�m a musician; I play shows and sell music for a living. It bought me a house and paid off my car. So I could care less of what you think about my crew. You really don�t want to see me! But if you can muster up the courage, I will be @ Cicero�s this Thursday from 6pm until midnight, ask for me @ the door. Better yet I�ll put you on the list. Looking forward to �talking� to you.

• @ Greg, since you want to talk shit, back your shit up son! Come find us at Cicero's thurday night! We'll even call you out to see if your there! as far as the other bullshit, John said it all. If you dont like our response, fuck it. It's not our fault that our fans stick up for us and say what they feel. We dont like what they are saying, but who are we to stop them? We have no problems with Annie or the RFT. Since people express how they feel, we will too! And if I remember correctly coming from the artists who did get to play last year. Because of the flood in The Elvis Room, The RFT tried to shut down the rest of the show. Because of the rappers banding together and Needles giving up his time slot at 609 to help out, not the RFT. Also they recharged everyone to get in....which is whack! They always said the Hip Hop groups play in the Elvis room when all other styles get to play outside or other places. Vandelyzm was the first one who got to play outside which is great for him...no one else has. Thats why we said that last year at the awards show. No diss at all thats how we felt. Especially hearing that from the other nominees in the hip hop catagory. It was sad.

• Yo Yo Yo Harrington you little biatch \"we suck like yo mama on a case of cold dicks\" is the kind of bullshit lyrics and \'rhymes\' you guys write that is why no RFT nomination for your punk asss. when you want to have a conversation let me know and i will stop by the McDonalds where you work you day job at and bust a big mac on that ass! Word holmes!

• Yeah Greg, we suck like yo mama on a case of cold dicks, now what? say something.....& put your whole real name on here like a man! so when i c u on the street we can have a nice "conversation". P.S. The life I got is way better than yours & you read every word of that book didn't you?

• @JP: actually, last year 609 stepped up and let the orphaned hip-hop artists perform there. it was a nice gesture, and people really pulled together -- from musicians to the clubs and stage managers -- to make that happen. as for the space: funny that what you describe often makes people nostalgic -- at least when they're talking about the old cicero's, which from what i gather had similar problems and a similar layout.

• Harrington wrote a book, but I'll say this: The elvis room is like a punishment for any band of any genre. Years ago I played in a pixies-meets-wilco type band and the elvis room felt like punishment THEN. The room flooded with sewer water during the performance! (How do you think that affects the fans?) Other of the hip hop artists last year didn't get perform AT ALL... and where is hip hop going to be this year with ALL the clubs available? THE ELVIS ROOM. I still say that if people took all this energy they spend backbiting and talking shit to one another and put it into building and supporting a scene that nobody would care about getting signed. Labels are dying in the same way that print media is. Evolve. If you don't like the scene you're in, come with us and make a new one. Thank you for your support. -JP

• Whoa, whoa, whoa...what feud? I never argued with Mr. Bettencourt...I mean, sure voices were raised, names were called...sure, it hurt...you know what they say, there's no plastic surgery for mental scars...so I cried myself to sleep for a while, but the shock therapy helped...I don't have health insurance, so I had to do it the old fashioned way, but you know...what doesn't kill us... I guess what I really mean is, please don't leave me again, nuno... hugs and kisses.

• What the f*ck?? who is this JKL?? patna...patna...patna, you need to chill on the whole dissin Nite Owl thing lil dude. I don't know what the hell you been watching but Nite Owl is one of the nicest cats in the MIC in st. louis...his age got nothing to do with it. I could care less how old he is...if you ever been to a Teamn N.I.T.R.O. show, then you would know he aint even in that typa scene. Dude has accomplished waaaay more than you or any of your fam ever will. You's a punk ass dude. Nitro sumn like an OG in this underground scene...from what I geuss, you prolly a cat thats all about soulja boy or bow wow...pissed off cuz Nitro (with the nice flow) came thru Koch madness and beat one of your wack ass homies...got all dressed up, rappin in the mirror before hand, givin each other head in the car on the way over and end up gettin ripped by an underground legend in St. Louis...hahahahahahahahahahahaha...if you woulda brought paper, instead of boyfriends, to take notes...ya prolly woulda learned sumn from him. DO YOU NITRO...F*CK THESE PUNKS!!! YLD...Track and Mahf are both my straight homies...Dont ever speak their names in your mouth ever again. Dont worry about why needles got nominated twice...that just means he's twice as dope, fool. Track is killin the mixtape game, he dont need a weekly!...Needles and Crucial can do whatever they want...they're fuckin legends. The Beat Street Crew...have you seen the lineup? STL's best DJ's are in that crew...you might need to go do some research bitch. You can catch me every Thurs at atomic and at H2 cafe at cusumanos every monday punk...you got some more to say, then we can handle there. make sure you bring ur moms so i can get some head too... DJ Spec

• Congrats to LOGOS!!! Glad to see the music community giving you the props you deserve.

• yeah we all know this shit is rigged. hey zaleski we know you are biased but as a \'journalist\' you should have the decency to ensure that all concert that you guys are notified of go in the calendar. Also, as a \'professional\' it would be nice if you could return emails from local artists and promotions people..yeah i know you are so important and busy. midwest avengers suck and RFT got it right leaving those losers off the ballot. any tool that writes a god damn book on this thing has to get a life.

• Hey I'm just glad you could put aside your differences and come together...

• say what????

• sweet...feuds....this takes me back to great Bettencourt/Cherone feud of aught seven...

• JKL Said: "NITE OWL is old. tell his ass to go get a fuckin real life. he's 30 sumn and needs to clear the lane. yeah, he won all that and still sits at home in st. louis going no where in life...how the hell you win koch madness and still not go no where?? wow. move on bud. go get a real career, raise some kids, stop thinking you know everything and tell that white chick to take her nose out your ass and stay home with her husband...there's younger artists out there with a fresh new sound...get out the way." _____________________________________________ Okay JKL!! Yeah, I am 34 years of age with 2 college degree's & work part time for the Dept. of Mental Health as well as work full time at the High School I graduated from. My career is just fine. Not that I have to explain that. I'll tell you how I won Koch Madness wit yo dumb ass. PAY ATTENTION!! I was better than ANYBODY you know! By the way, I would love to raise kids someday to teach them not to be a coward like yo ignorant ass! Don't hate or be mad because YOU or YO BOY wanna be in my shoes! What I really wanna know is who says that much hateful shit about somebody they don't even know and then hide who they are? I'll tell you a F**king coward that's who............ If that ain't the biggest Bitch made move! You talk a lot of trash behind this computer. I'm easy to find, you hear me. EASY! Damn the wordplay, Damn the rap music I'll slap the s**t out of yo young ass! Period! Mr. Maclin AKA NITE OWL Friday May 8th I'll be at the Gramophone! 10pm Come see me!!!!

• Clearly there is a conspiracy here. I mean look at all the bands nominated for Best Indie Band. Seriously, just take a look, every single band nominated starts with either a T or an S. I wish RFT would stop with their pro- T & S agenda and give the rest of the alphabet its fair chance in the indie scene, seriously.

• And that next trainwreck will be Sat May 23rd. The Stag Nite All Stars performing the music of the Kinks all nite! This is the only place you'll hear about it on this site.

• I second that nomination... but you know, it don't come easy.

• I nominate Stag Nite for lifetime achievement as Best Trainwreck.

• P.S. We are putting together Bad KSHE Classics Stag Nite for Christmas time. The master list is here, http://rockclassics.tripod.com/albums1.html. Send your requests for songs you might wanna do to me at moynonet@gmail.com. Sorry to hijack your forum, but I figured this was the best way to reach a teeming masses of hipster douchebags.

• I can testify that I have been trying to bribe AZ for years to give even the slightest mention for projects that me and my cohorts have been doing for the last several years. In her defense, she has not caved in. How 'bout that for integrity? We couldn't even get a mention if God himself was showing up to sing some Aphrodite's Child. Here's to that impenetrable wall that AZ is! Oh what's this here? The original handwritten lyrics to "Girlfriend in a Coma"? How'd that get there? What can I do with this thing that I have no use for? James, will you pass me some drinks? And don't deep fry them! Where did my mango go?

• come on, folks...let's try to focus here...deep fried coffee....who's with me?

• Congrats to Tenement Ruth! Good luck friends.

• Hi, my name is John Harrington and I'm in The Midwest Avengers. Our manager told me to check this blog out, and I'm disgusted! Our name has been thrown around on here like Antwan with a pocket full of ninja stars, and it�s got to stop! I appreciate all the "true" fans on here that support us and I want to thank you, but we can fight our own battles. And the people hiding behind our name using it to take shots @ the RFT and Annie Zalenski are cowards. Here's my opinion: Yeah it sucks to not get nominated when you know you meet the "criteria" of nomination. We have always pushed the limits of hip hop in STL, and busted our asses to see that hip hop gets the same fair treatment as every other genre of music, and will continue to until we die. That's what the name stands for, and we've been doing it since 1992. So yeah, it also sucks to not get nominated for Lifetime Achievement. Everyone knows we've won 7 of these awards since they started doing it, and we just won the last two years in a row. So again, yes it sucks to not get nominated this year. But life goes on, and this award doesn't determine who we are. Our hard work and our fans love for our music is what makes us great! Believe me, I have 7 of these things sitting on my mantle and we've never been interviewed by the RFT, so what does that tell you? The RFT is going to do what it wants, when it wants, and how it was wants. And there is nothing we can do about it. Speaking of which, what I said at last years awards was: We'd like to thank the RFT & the fans that voted for us, and it's an honor to accept this award, but our band is too big (as in size) to play in the Elvis room. The sound down there sucks and it backed up and flooded with raw sewage. Could you please put hip hop in a better room next time? If that got us banned from the awards, then so be it! Nobody's going to mistreat hip hop on my watch. PERIOD! Don't get me wrong I love all music and I'm friends with at least one person or band in almost every category, but I'll fight you over hip hop! There are so many reasons we probably didn't get nominated. Maybe the people who nominated Jason and the Beast or splitface and June 16th (who I like and it�s good to see them both get some recognition for what they do!)Never heard of us before. Or maybe because we don't play Blueberry Hill's Duckroom every other week, or in the loop more than two - three times a year for that matter. There's a whole world out there go and get some! Or maybe nobody that works there likes us and thinks we suck, who knows? But I'm not going to lose sleep over it. But the reason I hope we didn't get nominated is because we've won 7 times and they want other people to get a chance to win. That's not just ego talking either, you put name "Midwest Avengers" on the ballot we win every time! The only one we ever lost was to Nelly after he sold 10 million copies. That's because we've been in the trenches fighting racism, throwing keg parties, and stretching the boundaries of local underground hip hop for 17 years (can you say lifetime achievement?)with no end in sight! So we got the fans and the name recognition, not to mention fans in other cities across America who vote online, internet exposure, videos and radio play. 1+2=3 it's not brain surgery! Yet we didn't get nominated? I thought last years winner got nominated automatically? I must admit I was pissed when I didn't see our name, but I feel like the hip hop categories are right on (except for us not being in it). And I think whoever wins it is worthy and will be a great representative of STL hip hop, plus I'm friends with all of them so I will be there to applaud and congratulate them. Also I'd like to commend the RFT for breaking it up into solo & duo/group categories. Should have been done a long time ago! But I do agree that the categories with 5 nominees should have another one added to them to so they will be even with the other one's, that's only fair. Annie, can you make that happen? I'll get a petition going if you like. Speaking of friends, I consider Annie Zalenski my friend and a friend of Midwest Avengers, so I don't take attacks to her character lightly. I'm sure her job is hard enough without all of this bitching, whining, and accusations about the RFT conspiracy to screw bands out of nominations and her role in it. Who cares? it's not like we could stop it if we wanted to, and the only way we'd find out that it was true, would be if someone who works there were to expose it. And believe me that's not going to happen. I'm confused about the nut riding & drink buying thing. Yeah I've had drinks with Annie maybe once or twice, but as you can see that doesn't get you nominated. Not that that was the reason I was hanging out with her in the first place. Still, she took a chance to come see us play. Not knowing whether we sucked or not, (which we didn't) and it just so happened we had some friends in common. And the rest is history. I would hope as a friend she would have nominated us. If not then hey, maybe she only had so many votes? We don't blame her for what happened, so why should you? Leave her alone; she doesn't come to your job kicking dicks out of your mouth does she? No, so let here do her's. Fucking bloggers! I swear! If you got that much time go do some community service! One more thing before I go. This music award doesn't get you money; it doesn't get you a record deal. But it will get you exposure, shows, and some ammo for your press kit. Yeah, you get your picture in the paper and a little right up. "If" you win, you get bragging rights and get a sometimes plastic, glass, wood, or metal trophy to take home and put on your mantle. It's a good look, but outside of STL no one cares. Shit, ask any of the local bands that tour out of state. Those other cities all got their own news weekly's music awards to worry about so..... Or ask all of the local bands on the radio that get play on the point, the beat or what ever local radio station that supports good local music. They don't care about the RFT Music Awards; they got bigger fish to fry. So that's the official John Harrington/Midwest Avengers Response. I'm sure some people won't like it and have some thing smart to say about it. And like the cowards you are you won't say it to my face. But if you'd like to, I'll be at Cicero's Thursday April 30th with Illphonics! Come see the reigning "Best Hip Hop Group" play songs from our new cd called Headbanger Hip Hop"! Good luck to all of the nominees!

• @kate nfc: Clownvis wasn't nominated last year. nor did he win an award. he emcee'd the awards ceremony. here are 2008's nominees: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2008/04/2008_rft_music_awards_nominees.php and the winners: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2008/06/2008_rft_music_award_winners.php i would hope that the fact that there are two hip-hop artist categories would underscore the respect we have for the genre in town. i don't do the booking, but will pass along the complaints to those that are. and again, with the insinuation that the ass-kissing equals a nomination. like i said above in another comment, insincerity pisses me off. i can't stand fake people, so kissing my ass won't do you any good. sorry to burst everyone's bubble. and like i also said, it doesn't matter what i say, because nobody will believe me. with all the energy people are using to whine and pour out haterade, it could instead be directed toward practicing with your band and getting better. like james said: if you're tempted to buy me a drink, buy him one instead. he's thirsty and willing. i'll support that.

• (laughing her ass off at the high school level drama this creates every year) I think it's soooooo funny how pissed off everyone gets at awards time. The readers get all pissed off and shit and accuse the music department of playing favorites and nominating their homies and shit. The writers deny it. Alls you have to do is look closely and it becomes really transparent. If they want you to win, you WILL win. Last year, they wanted that Clownvis dude to win something so badly they created a category just for him--A category that wasn't part of the awards in the past and isn't a part of them this year. If they have a lot of bands they like they'll nominate more bands, while they put less bands in categories they don't care about. Checkit: Hip-Hop, blues, country, funk, etc. each have 5 bands, while indie and pop have six. Know what I'm saying? So every year y'all complain and the writers get all defensive and shit. The more the writers assure us this is all legit, the more it sounds like it's not. But for real...bands don't kick any less booty if they aren't nominated. Bands like the Midwest Avengers are still gonna bring it every time. Really though, it's just the RFT. Who rilly cares? They'll probably go bankrupt like all the other papers anywayz.

• Whoever buys me drinks when they see me out will receive my full support in the RFT awards nomination process in return. I am a whore for free drinks. (note-- I am not in any way affiliated nor do I have any pull with the RFT Awards process) Thanks and here's my address! -James

• ::in response to Ms. Annie:: I never said your JOB was to run this blog. But it is what it is...you are "the Music Editor" so you have some say-so in all of this...I'm sure. You are right, people are going to have something to say, be displeased or what have you, that's why it's called having an opinion. You have stated yours and I have CLEARLY stated mine. I'm callin' it like I see it. Nuff said!

• why is needles nominated twice in the same category? he's in the beat street crew and he's nominated by himself. i mean i like dude, but thats not even fair. crucial hasnt even played a hiphop show in at least a year. his last real hip hop weekly got cancelled. trackstar hasn't even had a weekly all year. there are waaaaay more dj's out there making noise playin bigger shows, going on tour, contributing more to the scene. RFT is really out of touch with the streets. but, if its a popularity contest within RFT then whatever...

• I have never "had a drink" with Annie Zaleski, and I'm pretty sure no one in my band has either, but we were nominated for best new band. Hope that says something.. thanks for your support and sweet comments everyone! see you around.. love, exercise

• All I know is a lot of great bands get overlooked every year, that are doing more things than some of the groups up here and just because they dont gargle the RFT's balls. And I was at the awards ceremony last year and remember one of the guys from Midwest Avengers saying something about how hip hop nees to be treated better in here......I see groups of different types of music play outside during the showcase all the time....but they stick all the good groups in the Elvis Room??? Now Midwest Avengers which won awards many years is now not nominated.....hmmmm.....I love hip hop and I think there are way better groups out there who are not on the RFT radar cause they dont kiss ass! Same with the rock scenen too! So many groups out there that are way better than some of the fucking trash you put on these list.....Where's Nite Owl??? Where is Midwest Avengers??? Where is Seven Shot Screamers? Hell yeah you recognized Head on Collision! but where is groups like Illphonics? Scene of Irony and etc!

• Kentucky Knife Fight all the way baby!!! Yeah YEAH!!!

• NITE OWL is old. tell his ass to go get a fuckin real life. he's 30 sumn and needs to clear the lane. yeah, he won all that and still sits at home in st. louis going no where in life...how the hell you win koch madness and still not go no where?? wow. move on bud. go get a real career, raise some kids, stop thinking you know everything and tell that white chick to take her nose out your ass and stay home with her husband...there's younger artists out there with a fresh new sound...get out the way.

• So Annie, can you honestly say that u haven't had a drink with any of the members of any bands nominated in the last year? & u haven't gotten n free @ any shows? & you have no pull over who gets nominated? I mean being the "Music Editor" & all with ur own weekly column, u don't think some of these bands r trying to suck up 2 u? everyone knows the music awards r political and the only reason all these bands are mad they didn't get nominated is because they didn't kiss enough of the right ass! Looks like Earthworms kissed all the right ass with their A to Z European tour blog. Like i said b4 i'm not a fan of rap but i wonder........ What category would midwest avengers have fit n? Oh!!! the same category as ur friends Earthworms!!! I'm sure this will get erased b4 anyone gets to read it but Annie, stop acting like u didn't have anything 2 do with the bands that got picked. & if you didn't then the RFT is out of touch with the music scene when the "Music Editor" has no part in the choosing of bands 4 the music awards. & to the bands that didn't get nominated: play bigger & better shows, play out of town, & get radio play. U don't need the RFT music awards to prove how good u r. it's just a press kit stuffer, u don't get anything for it, just bragging rights until another band knocks u out or u don't get nominated the next year(ha ha)

• Buncha punk ass haters

• EXERCISE is awesome! Vote for them when the time comes. www.myspace.com/exerciseaudio

• Don't be a bunch of whiny pussies, guys. Unfortunately, there can only be 5 per category. And because of that, it is inevitable that many awesome artists are not going to be recognized. There is also a desire to balance new acts w/ older acts. This is not a bad thing, it just means that St. Louis has a deep, diverse, kick-ass music scene, so be happy that the RFT even does this in the first place.

• @Shanghai: i've been in meetings all day. believe it or not, my job isn't just to run this blog. the facts are: *anyone who knows me knows that a sure-fire way to annoy me is to attempt to kiss my ass. insincerity is one of my pet peeves. so i can assure that anyone attempting to kiss my ass, it'll get 'em nowhere. *if anybody knows a local musician rich enough to be buying me drinks, i'm all ears. the occasional bartender gives me a free drink. not musicians. i can't remember the last time someone in a local band bought me a drink. and bands have nothing to do with whether or not i'm let into a show for free. if a venue can't or won't let me in for free, i pay. that's the truth. hell, i paid my way to SXSW this year, guys. i went back and looked at the ballot, and the only times i had a drink with a musician or a band, were perhaps times when we were having drinks together, purchased independently, or in a situation where it's non-work related. besides the point that, like i said above, i don't drink much if i go out, if at all. and buying me drinks and shit isn't going to curry favor. see above. it makes me uncomfortable when people do that, in fact. *plenty of bands have done tour diaries for me. they're the bands that play shows outside of st. louis. in short: johnny o and the jerks, riddle of steel, gentleman auction house, bunnygrunt, riddle of steel. am i forgetting anyone? if i hear a band is going on tour, i ask them to write. sometimes they say yes, sometimes they say no. it has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with who's going where. funny that nobody thinks i was favoring the monads when i asked them to do one a few months ago. i was under the mistaken impression that hearing about a local band touring Kosovo might be something interesting people hear wanted to read about. it's my job as a journalist to find interesting content involving st. louis and its music community. *finally, i didn't bother initially responding to these "facts" because i don't think anyone will believe what i say anyway. i'm not sure how much more transparent i can be about how the nominees were chosen; hell, i put up a blog post asking EVERYONE IN ST. LOUIS for their opinions, which really helped. where were all of you complainers then? i solicited opinions from trusted folks/musicians/venues in town, took these along with my observations and listening, and figured out a ballot. i really don't know what to tell people, because i'm an honest person, i don't lie or bullshit. i don't sit around dreaming up ways to screw people over, i don't sit around thinking of how to exclude bands, i don't chortle like Mr. Burns or some crap thinking of how i can be malicious. i have better things to do -- like trying to find good things going on in this city and asking people what's going on and what's up. i'm sorry if that's not good enough for some people, but i'm only one person trying to cover a very large, diverse (and sometimes splintered) music scene, with limited budget and resources. you can choose to believe that or not. but *this* is the truth.

• I see Annie Zaleski is still not commenting on "THE FACTS!" Damn Shame!

• I heard the Midwest Avengers are endorsing the homie Tef Poe,I agree they should've been nominated ..but since they're not Poe is getting my vote

• "The Whack is getting Whacker Good Talent Get Over Looked Even NiTRO Look At My Planner it's Over booked From the RFT to the Post I'm the one with the most When Ghostface came, they asked me to Host When the Roots came you know who Pat H. asked to open up (ME!!!) And when Little Brother came to Wash U with Talib Kweli I was W.I.L.D.ing out just becase they called me When Del came to the Pageant I damn near stole the show Thats why they don't put me on shows no moe These ain't rumors These are just the facts man I eat the comp up like a game a Pac Man" "My Style" ____________________________________________ I still love yall even though I didn't get into the party, maybe next year if I'm still rappin! -Nite Owl www.myspace.com/nitroowlious

• It is an honor to be on here alongside some of STL's DJ royalty. thanks RFT! Go Northwoods! But where's MESSY JIVERSON??? - THUMP

• Alvin Jett and the Phat noiZ are hosting their HONEYBOWL CD release party at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups - 700 South Broadway - St. Louis, Missouri 63102!! Come to the party!!

• Alvin Jett and the Phat noiZ HONEYBOWL CD release Party!!!! May 2nd Saturday!!! 3rd original self-released CD On Sale at party! Part of the proceeds go to KDHX 88.1! Alvin Jett and the Phat noiZ is on "Show Me St. Louis" Monday, April 27th at 3pm on channel 5 KSDK St. Louis. Alvin Jett and the Phat noiZ will be LIVE on KDHX's "The Rhythm Section" hosted by Andy Coco on KDHX at 88.1 FM or online at KDHX.org, April 28th 2 and 4 pm. Vote for them for BEST BLUES BAND!!

• I've only been paying attention to these RFT Awards for a few years now, but I still can't figure out how a Hip Hop Artist category exists year after year without Nite Owl's name in it. How do you open for The Roots, win Koch Madness, perform in Super Jam, and for that matter, perform more than ANY other Hip Hop artist or group in the entire city and not get nominated for a Hip Hop category? Nite Owl performs 40+ shows a year because he is one of the best in St. Louis. Period. No disrespect to those who were nominated, but these award nominations do not show respect or credit where they are due. For those who are nominated...the RFT Award Showcase should not be one of your only shows that you perform during 2009. There are those who build upon recognition and accomplishment and those who waste it...it's sad, but true.

• My vote goes to Kentucky Knife Fight- what an awesome sound and the album is killer!!!!!

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