Best Country Band/Performer 44.79% David Todoran & The Mobile Homewreckers* 23.93% John Curran & Renegade* 10.26% Blind Justice* 9.06% Southern Thunder* 8.89% High Noon* 0.34% Roughshod, Sierra Shame, Thunder Road Others with Votes: Ben Allfree, Bill's Five and Dime, Dark Horse, Forced Entry, Fred Rothert, Generations, Goat Love Stench (we're not sure about this one), Mean Eyed Cat, Misfit Toys (huh?), Savannah, Shilo, That Guy (see Misfit Toys 1999 Winner: John Curran & Renegade 1998 Winner: Renegade 1997 Winner: Roger Marshall * On the ballot

For David Todoran, the music is the message, and the message is the thing. He and the Mobile Homewreckers were nominated in two usually very different categories: Local Country Band and Local Rock Band/Originals. That it would have been logical for them to win in either (or both) categories is a testament to the band’s commitment to music as a universal language. Todoran and the Homewreckers generally prefer to call their music Americana - a mixture of modern folk music and roots rock (although their live act can include some of the most compelling , hard-rocking covers of Bob Dylan and Neil Young this side of Woodstock, New York and Farm Aid). "This was a tough one," Todoran said of winning the Local Country Band Whammy. "The kind of music we do is not going to give Tim McGraw a run for his money. The country we do is bare-bone, old-time honky-tonk country. The people who inpsire me to write and perform are John Prine, Dwight Yoakam and Steve Earle." After a period of time when The Mobile Homewreckers had a fluid lineup, the band has solidified to include Brad Kuhns, Kevin Jackson, Bob Craven and John Fecher. Todoran credits the stable lineup with the growing acceptance of the band and its music. "The guys we played with were all great players. But when (Bob) Craven became available on steel guitar, it made all the difference," Todoran said. Under My Skin is the most successful seller of Todoran’s four locally produced independent CDs (not counting three earlier releases with pal Kenny Taylor and the Red Belly Boys). With its introspective storytelling and Americana music tradition, it follows on the heels of Todoran’s previous CDs, Solstice and In the Dark. Available locally and on the internet, Under My Skin has gained considerable recognition in Europe, where, Todoran noted, fans seem to be less fragmented according to musical styles. It was chosen as a top 10 release of the year in a noted Italian arts magazine, for example. All this will lead to Todoran’s first European tour, beginning in May. He will perform as a solo act in Italy, and then go to northern Europe to open for acts signed by a label there that first showed interest in his music after the release of Solstice. For local fans who will miss Todoran and