The 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards Voting Party
The Whisky a Go-Go had 300 people mulling on the sidewalk filling out sheets with little pencils, and a few lookers, a few weirdoes and a few spectators. The majority of the audience were members of 123 local bands and singers envying the wealthier bands windmilling the shit out of their Stratocasters. In and out of the entrance, one stamp per hand, their musical equipment somewhat unceremoniously dumped in front of the ticket window, went many who hoped to ace this contest and win a grand prize of $50,000 of free tickets to the Red Carpet event at the Paramount Theater on November 18.
No one at losanjealous gives too much in the shit department. The overwhelming consensus is that LAMA is a SCAM-MA. Perhaps it’s because of how the Los Angeles Music Awards work. The voting contest is designed to vet by popular decision the 123 gifted local talents previously vetted from 11,000 entries. Once you pay the cover, you’re given a sheet with categories like Best Male Singer-Songwriter or Best Country Single. Then you scribble a bubble next to a person’s name in each category and hand it back at the end of the night. It’s not a perfect science. Kinko’s Copies made a printing mistake that cut a few people off the list. Efforts were made to ridicule Kinkos at every turn, and Promoter Al Bowman tried to get the folks written back in, but seriously, some nominees were nice and screwed.
Alright, so I’m watching a group of five people on stage. They sing a few bars to remind us how good they are. And this pretty girl keeps smiling at me. That never happens so I ask her if she’s being considered for a category and sure enough, the answer is yes. Now I see why the LAMA has the reputation it does. Without even hearing her performance, she and I begin to make deals. Vote for me for “Best Pop Act” and I’ll vote for you for “Best Jug Band Vocalist”. Done and done. Just like in Middle School. Ironically I end up voting for bands I don’t like, and I am gullible to think people have any sense of fidelity. They tell me they voted for Michael but scratch him out and vote for somebody else. Oh, the humanity.
I was there to show of solidarity for Michael Z. Cummings, a Lou Reed-styled tell-it-like-it-is nominee for Best Male Singer-Songwriter. Michael was totally confused by all this popularity contest vote-swapping crap. He didn’t want this but I told him the game had to be played: among these flowers the social butterfly is monarch. And if he wanted to win the prize, he needed the paperwork.
Well. You know. The bands were excited and took the voting in stride. Al Bowman runs this thing and has for twenty years. He’s an older handsome man, rugged, amiable, very much an emcee. And yet… he shows a little favoritism to good looking people in front of average looking people, loudly, over the public address system. He’s neither relished nor reviled by Google to any significant degree. Yet… tonight he offers a four song showcase to nominees who have the cheese to buy it from him, but the crowd is to vote as if everyone had the same opportunity.
Some could make it. Michael Z. Cummings stands on his own authority. I enjoyed then energy of The Lost Boys, kind of a younger wannabe brother band to Haim. And “Storeytime” a five person jazz group centered around Patrick Storey, an autistic young man with perfect pitch and the ability to sing back any melody he’s ever heard. They tackled “Synchronicity”, in Portuguese, in 6/4 time, just to show this off. Nashville veteran Justin Foutz, Juliette Goglia… that’s who I vote for. Whatever I marked down last night is moot.
Fantastic article. You have two press comps for our main event. Irony 101: Your picks all won!
Big Al
I see individual tickets are $350 for this thing. What is the rationale behind the pricing?
Thanks for the cool read…..I was a bit surprised when I first read the article yet it was Interesting ,entertaining and extremely well written.Without a doubt it was a fun evening for me.After really listening to many performers I realized that there was alot of super talented artists in one room who were unknown,covering many styles of music ……so it was a real treat and unique opportunity for me to sit back and listen to some of LAs best unknowns all in one short evening. Thanks again ! Michael Z Cummings
Too bad you as the writer of this article can write such opinionated nonsense and doesn’t have the balls to leave his name. If you actually took the time to research properly you would realize that this is the best thing going for independent musicians who have no credits to their name. It provides a valuable tool for those serious artists who are looking to make a career in the biz. But hey, if you have a better way of doing this perhaps you might want to speak up with your good ideas rather than write such nonsense…as far as I am concerned as a writer you are a hack…Don’t quit your day job!!!
Can you expand on how specifically this is “a valuable tool”? What exactly is the practical application of this award? I am genuinely curious.
As far as anyone can tell, the handful of LA bands that have broken out recently have no LAMA in their back pocket: Local Natives, Best Coast, Silversun Pickups, Henry Clay People, We Barbarians, etc. How would a LAMA have made any difference to them?
I have to say my overall experience of the evening was like that of Michael Cummings…I met and heard some amazingly talented artists from so many different style and genres.
I also have to say that it was an incredible experience and opportunity for my 2 artists. Being nominated alone, my artists have received a lot of press and notoriety that they would have never been given. They also were able to network with other writers/musicians/performers, which gave them even more inspiration.
I can see that the voting might feel a bit elementary but in reality it is like real life. Many main artists out there are where they are because of their crowd and fan appeal. Taylor Swift spent 17 hours signing autographs for fans, which made people love her even more than they did before. 5 people on stage with great talent makes it hard to vote until you actually talk and get to know them. I gave my vote several times to specific artists because I genuinely liked them and appreciated their ability to be personable and their drive to get out there and sell themselves. Coca Cola still passes out free drinks on the street corners…it’s all about giving people an experience, which makes them love it or hate it.
Yes, there are things that can always be improved in any organization like this BUT I truly appreciate LAMA for giving my artists, as well as many other independent artists, a great opportunity. Thanks!
The Lost Boys are a “younger wannabe brother band to Haim”? The Lost Boys were a much harder rock band than Haim; Haim really isn’t much of a rock band at all. I personally think the Lost Boys have much more potential than Haim.
That was such a fun event! chaotic and exciting. It felt like what a competition feels like. With only 30 seconds to blow us away, each performer had just enough time to make an impression. I have never seen so many performers in one night, way to go Mr. Bowman. Performers and their helpers were making deals and swapping votes, I got asked by at least 20 people if I needed a vote for someone in exchange for my vote for theirs. But I would do the same thing if I were in their position. I loved Juliette’s voice so powerful and accurate. Lost Boy’s version of Jump had the needed energy that got many of us jumping. And the most charming performer was Justin Foutz. But seriously, Haim rocks better than ANYBODY!
Excellent article… Atleast somebody has the guts not to kiss ass!
My 2009 award is on the wall, bought and paid for in blood, sweat and tears not to mention dollars.
It is a contest, and you gotta play the rules and the game to win, just like Survivor:Los Angeles.
Right Al?
Peace