This Noise poll focuses on the Boston music scene from December 2002 to December 2003. The poll combines the results of two polls conducted at the end of 2003. The first poll consisting of 25 hand-picked ardent local music followers to determining the nominees, and the second, a public poll held here on our wesite, thenoise-boston.com.
JJ Rassler’s acceptance speech at The Maxie Award Ceremony pretty much defined this poll. He said, “Thanks to the Dresden Dolls for not having a guitarist.” This is an all-time record in The Noise poll. The Dresden Dolls take the honors in eight of the eleven categories they were nominated in.
Live Band: Dresden Dolls
The second place band, Waltham, was far behind the winner. Last year, Damn Personals won best live band.
New Band: Apollo Sunshine
Jesse Gallagher’s dad, R.G. Gallagher, still an active Boston musician, accepted the award for Apollo Sunshine at The Maxies. Guess who won best new band last year? Dresden Dolls. The Information, Read Yellow, and The Hidden all tied for second in the web poll.
CD: Dresden Dolls
At The Maxies, the Martin brothers (Dresden Dolls website designers) were accepting all the awards. They got into doing a little dance and other performance activities in their eight trips to the stage. In the poll, Bleu and Paula Kelley placed a close second and third. Last year, The Brett Rosenberg Problem delivered the top CD.
Song: Dresden Dolls – “Coin Operated Boy”
In a majority of these categories the Dresden Dolls wins are decisive, with more than a 10% point lead. Reverse’s “Helicopter” placed second. Last year, Red Chord’s “Taxi” won Best Song.
Vocalist (m): Aaron Perrino (Dear Leader/The Sheila Divine)
Luckily Dresden Dolls’ drummer Brian Viglione doesn’t do much singing. Bleu came in a close second. Last year, Ad Frank won this category.
Vocalist (f): Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls)
Andrea Gillis (Red Chord) and Jen Rassler (The Downbeat 5) followed. Last year Andrea Gillis wore the Best Female Vocalist crown. At the Maxie Awards Robbie Road Steamer did the presenting and totally hijacked the show. Tina, the owner of Johnny D’s, was so offended by Robbie’s presence that she insisted he stay off the stage for the rest of the event. He didn’t.
Guitarist: JJ Rassler (The Downbeat 5)
Dave Pino (Waltham) tied JJ Rassler in the web poll, but JJ was the highest voted nominee, breaking the tie. Last year, the lovely and talented Irina Yalkowsky was the best guit slinger.
Bassist: Ed Valauskas (The Gentlemen)
There was a big difference between the two polls in this category. Ed grabbed first in one poll and second in the other, securing him the top slot. Last year Mission of Burma’s Clint Conley took the honors.
Drummer: Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls)
A whole two categories pass with no Dolls in sight, but Brian decisively won over Mike Piehl (Reverse) who hands over the crown from last year.
Keyboardist: Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls)
Rick Berlin (Shelley Winters Project) placed second. He and Amanda shared first place last year.
Other Instrument: Kier Byrnes – banjo (Three Day Threshold)
At The Maxies, Kier brought his entourage up on the stage which included a beautiful female specimen who had graced the pages of Hustler. In the poll, Meredith Cooper – violin (Shelley Winters Project) placed second. Kier has won this category three of the last four years.
Stage Presence: (tie) Kier Byrnes (Three Day Threshold) and Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls)
We couldn’t break the tie between two polls. Each winner won one poll and the percentages of their wins were exactly even. This is the only new category added to The Noise poll this year.
Radio Station: WFNX
WZBC was the top nominated station, but WFNX ran away with the popular vote. Last year, WZBC won with ‘FNX nowhere in sight.
DJ: Anngelle Wood (WFNX)
Last year, Shred (WBCN) took the honors. Carmelita (WAAF) and Bob Dubrow (WMBR) also did well this year.
Critic: Joe Coughlin (The Noise)
Joe nosed out Mike Baldino (The Noise). Sleazegrinder was on top last year. At the Maxies, Joe’s old Incoming Mail rival-Bob Dubrow, accepted his award.
Photographer: Liz Linder
Liz’s percentage margin of winning the top nomination outweighed the percentage that Lindsey Walker had in the popular vote. Kim Genereux clicked the best shots last year.
CD Cover Art: Dresden Dolls
The Dolls gathered twice as many votes as second place Ad Frank received. 27 won last year with the art on Animal Life.
Website: rockschool.com
The two polls differed in this category. The Rock School website had a better percentage win over the Dresden Dolls website. Last year, thenoise-boston.com took the honors, but this year, their nomination was voided because the site was taking the poll. Since it seems unfair to selectively void the website’s nomination when everyone else at The Noise can be nominated, next year thenoise-boston.com will be eligible for nomination in this category.
Local Record Label: Kimchee
Kimchee has won two years in a row. Traktor 7 took a strong second place. There was also a good showing from Fenway Recordings, Q Division, and, now defunct, Pig Pile Records.
Producer: David Minehan
David, six time winner and also last year’s winner, made a rare appearance at The Maxies this year. The highest voted nominee was John Dragonetti. Ducky Carlisle placed second in the popular vote.
Club: Abbey Lounge
In a percentage count between the two polls, The Abbey Lounge edged out 11-time winner The Middle East, who took the honors last year.
Personality (m): Joe Coughlin (The Noise)
This category had major differences in the two polls. Kier Byrnes placed a close second in a percentage point battle. Gene Dante (Hedwig/ Project Eno) walked away with last year’s Male Personality crown.
Personality (f): Lexi Kahn (The Noise/ Low Budget Superhero)
At the Maxies, Lexi was in shock. She thought she had no chance against the multi-winning Amanda Palmer. Again, a difference in the two polls led to a percentage battle that Lexi won. Lexi’s been wearing the Female Personality tiara for the past year.
Highlight of The Year: The Smoking Ban
I’m glad to see that even with the big backlash from smokers that the Smoking Ban is acceptable among the majority. Last year’s Highlight was Mission of Burma’s reunion.
Disappointment of the Year: Mikey Dee passing away
Mikey Dee (WMFO/ Planetary Group/ The Noise) had such an effect on so many local musicians, the lack of his presence hurts the entire music scene. Last year, the loss of 608 (Lilli’s) won this sad category.
Hall of Fame
Only The Noise Editors vote on the members of the Noise’s Hall of Fame. Already in The Noise Hall of Fame are:
Willie Alexander, Roger Miller, Jeff Conolly, Rich Gilbert, Albert O, David Minehan, Mark Sandman, Tristram Lozaw, Thalia Zedek, Aimee Mann, Oedipus, Billy Ruane, Kenne Highland, Dickie Barrett, Mikey Dee, Richie Parsons, and Alvan Long.
The newest inductee to The Noise Hall of Fame is…Asa Brebner (Family Jewels)
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to vote, and everyone who came to the Maxie Award Ceremony. I’m interested in any feedback you may have on the poll. And, as usual, there’s already been a lot said about the poll and the Maxie Awards Ceremony on The Noise Board. So, until next year… but maybe it won’t be that long. We may run a shorter poll half way through the year-The Summer Survey.
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