Three Ocean Beach bands are giving residents and music fans a big “thank you” concert for their recent San Diego Music Awards nominations. The Grams, The High Rolling Loners and Cape May will play at Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 9 p.m.
The three bands nominated have well established roots in Ocean Beach and have all been nominated for awards in their respective genres: The Grams for Best Americana, The High Rolling Loners for Best Country and Cape May for Best Rock. The High Rolling Loners’ self-titled album also received a Best Americana nomination.
Another local band, Alfred Howard and the K 23 Orchestra, was recognized for Best Hip Hop album, though they can’t make the show, said Beach Music Mafia promoter Chuck Schiele.
Schiele is not only a promoter of the Ocean Beach music scene, but a member of The Grams. He helped put the show together and has played a crucial role in contributing to the influx of fresh live music into the area. This is the second consecutive nomination for The Grams in the Best Americana category, and Schiele’s third nomination. He received his first nomination three years ago with a different band.
Schiele hooked up with the Ocean Beach music scene three years ago and has been booking shows and playing venues like the Farmer’s Market ever since. He and his wife, Joanna, operate Beach Music Mafia, a promotion company built on their cumulative experience in marketing and music.
“You know, OB loves its music, so they’re very supportive. And since [the bands] are all good bands, we’ll all be good to them,” Schiele said. “We’re going skip the door, make it free and let the neighbors come down and just have a party with the bands that got nominated.”
Schiele and Beach Music Mafia have carved a niche for themselves by giving back to the community. Over the past years, Beach Music Mafia has helped with the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association’s Christmas Food and Toy Drive, organizing three events around Christmas last year, Schiele said. He added that reading about Benjamin Franklin inspired his dedication to the community.
“It’s about the music but it’s also about the community,” Schiele said.
Schiele doesn’t get paid for some of his work but said he makes sure the musicians and bands he books are compensated.
This latest event celebrates the best of Ocean Beach music and recognizes the first SDMA nominations for The High Rolling Loners and Cape May.
The Loners have played at Winstons, the OB Chili Cook Off and Street Fair, and have toured as far north as Seattle, said vocalist/guitarist John Verruto. The band members, who have been together about a year, hail from San Diego, Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Verruto said the mix of middle-America roots influence their special brand of country rock.
“[The nomination] is pretty cool because this is my first band,” Verruto said. “It’s a pretty big development in our first year.”
Members of Cape May, nominated for Best Rock, could not be reached for comment.
The 16th annual San Diego Music Awards at Viejas Concerts in the Park takes place on Monday, Sept. 18. Fans can participate by voting for their favorite bands at www.sandiegomusicawards.com.