2009 Best Original Rock Performer
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20.02% The B-Sharps*
Others with Votes (more than one):
* On the ballot |
When a good band steps on stage there's instantly an energy in the room that wasn't there before. The magic of music -- art -- and all that good stuff. When The B-Sharps fumble into a room -- any room, stage or not -- there's an energy. A tornado when they hit the stage.
When the forever young B-Sharps -- guitarist Mitch Fraizer, singer Keith "Keef" Owen, bassist Nick Allison, drummer Alex Allison and guitarist Timmy Oberley -- hit the Piere's stage on Whammy night, Hurricane Kahuna came, just as expected. Timmy bounced and Mitch thrusted, their guitars resonating reckless rock n' roll bliss. The stage, twice as big as what they're accustomed to, nearly buckled at their throwback version of rock n' roll hunger.
And speaking of hunger, the Sharps are currently working on a follow-up to their Whammy-nominated debut, 2009's Play Cherchez Kahuna.
"Elvis Costello," Nick, the Sharps' lead songwriter, said without hesitation when asked about his songwriting influences. "Some of his stuff is hit or miss, but when he's on top of his game, he's ..." Then he's interrupted by an excited Fraizer. "If you like the first album, you'll like this one, but ..."
"Yea, I ..." Nick says before Fraizer again snarks, "Yeah, he thinks he's improved."
Talk turns to sleeping five to a bed in hotels on past tours, recording on tape, turning 21. These guys are brothers. They're weird. Wild. They're somehow simultaneously unique and nostalgic.
"It's just an honor to be nominated," Nick says about his band's first ever Whammy award. "We definitely have to thank R. Mike, who picks it up when we slack. And Kenny Taylor."
"Yeah, Kenny has worked with us since we started and has always been a huge influence. And the fans. Fans and family," Fraizer calmly adds.
"We've been around forever, really," Nick says when asked about his thoughts on the Whammy Awards. "Maybe because we were young and we probably did suck back then, people didn't care. No one took us seriously, you know. ‘It's just rock n' roll,' or whatever. But it's ... cool that people care so much about real rock n' roll now."
"And big 'ol props to the Rail," Fraizer adds.
"Yeah, the Rail. And Left Lane," Nick says. "I think the Cruisers really opened a lot of people's eyes to original music in this city. They made Fort Wayne cooler."
They then talk about rock. Bands. Bar nights. All that stuff. Young and somehow so seasoned. As good as their history already is, Sharp fans know the loudest days are yet to come. Bigger storms, better songs. Stages beware. ( |
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