Local up-and-coming musicians rub elbows with the veterans Oct 16

Por Logan Broyles | Reportero SDUN

North Park-based San Diego Music Foundation announced a one-week postponement for this year’s San Diego Music Awards due to potential rainstorms that threatened the comfort and safety of both performers and attendees, organizers said.

The 23rd annual Music Awards will now be held at Humphreys by the Bay, 2303 Shelter Island Dr. in Point Loma, on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Tickets from the original Oct. 9 date will be honored, and all proceeds fund the Foundation’s Guitars for Schools Program.

As always, there will be live performances by several of this year’s nominees. Sara Watkins, Tristan Prettyman, Sara Petite, The Palace Ballroom and Blackout Party have all confirmed the date change and will all be taking the stage. Originally scheduled, The Heavy Guilt will not be able to attend Oct. 16 due to a previously scheduled tour.

“I feel very fortunate to have grown up in San Diego, where the music community is so strong,” said Prettyman, a Song of the Year contender and Awards-night headliner.

“Anytime there is some sort of acknowledgement from the community, I always take it to heart. As an artist, all we want is someone to connect to our work, so winning this award would be an honor.”

The Silent Comedy leads the pack this year with five nominations – including a bid for Artist of the Year – followed by Wavves and The Heavy Guilt with four nominations each.

In addition to these three, other Artist of the Year nominees include Family Wagon, Gilbert Castellanos, Little Hurricane, Pinback and The Burning of Rome.

“It’s an honor to be acknowledged among a talented and eclectic group of musicians,” said Alfred Howard of The Heavy Guilt. “I’ve been a Pinback and Gilbert fan forever, and Little Hurricane, Silent Comedy and Family Wagon are all friends. However it turns out, we’re proud to be linked with fine artists in a great music town.”

There were 28 categories this year and most were open to public voting until Sept. 16. One new category is Best Live Band, with nominations going to Burning of Rome, Gilbert Castellanos, Little Hurricane, The Creepy Creeps, The Styletones, The Silent Comedy, Lady Dottie & the Diamonds and The Heavy Guilt.

“The most important recognition we got this year is the new Best Live Band category,” Howard said. “That one has a lot of meaning to us because we put our bodies on the line when we play. We feel like very deserving underdogs; we play a lot of shows, write constantly and everyone in the band has chops.”

Local pop-funk band Hills Like Elephants is up for Best Rock Album, while nationally acclaimed stars P.O.D. are up for Album of the Year and Song of the Year for their hit track “Beautiful,” which has been making daily rounds on all the local radio stations since its release.

The SDMAs serve as a wonderful vehicle for the local music industry, allowing San Diego to recognize its successful and influential bands while also giving newer arrivals, like The Palace Ballroom and Barbarian, a chance to take their seat at the table among some of the best local artists.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response our music has received over the past year,” said Timothy Joseph of The Palace Ballroom. The local five-piece band is up for Best Rock Album – their first SDMA nomination – for their release “This is the Plan …”

“To be recognized by our peers for our work is an honor. If the academy feels that we deserve an award for our debut record, it would give us a sense of validation,” Joseph said.

Best New Artist nominees are Barbarian, Chess Wars, Flaggs, Soda Pants, Teenage Burritos, The Filthy Violets, The Midnight Pine and The Phantoms.

“It’s always nice to get official recognition for being an artist. Most creative types aren’t exactly sure why we need to create, but we sacrifice a lot to put something of meaning out there,” said Tim Lowman of Low Volts, the one-man band up for Best Blues Album.

“I’m not the competitive type, but being nominated for an award alongside such great musicians really proves that people are being moved and long-lasting impressions are being made,” he said.

This year’s lifetime achievement award will be presented to Daniel Jackson, a staple of the San Diego jazz scene for over 60 years.

For complete information on the reschedule, tickets and a full list of the 2013 SDMA nominees visit sandiegomusicawards.com or call 619-381-8789.