27th Annual Review Music Awards Winners & Nominees

The 27th Annual Review Music Awards was held on Sunday, April 21st at BARTS in Bay City.  Below you can find the total number of nominees in each division, the top five nominees, and the winner in each division.  Results were determined through a two-tiered nomination and final voting round that ran from January through March, 2013, and was ascertained by over 7,000 registered voters. Nominees & Winners are either based out of the Great Lakes Bay area or perform regularly within the area.

The Critic's Choice Awards were determined by a panel of 12 music journalists, club owners, and those knowledgeable with the music scene in the Great Lakes Bay area.   Look for complete coverage on the 27th Review Music Awards, interviews with top artists, photos from the evening's celebration and much more in our Music Awards Special Edition, which will be out on May 8th.

Critic’s Choice Awards

Artist of the Year • Andy Reed

Best Rock Band • SPROUT

Best Country Band • Steve Armstrong & the 25 Cent Beer Band

Best Blues and/or Jazz Band • The Robert Lee Revue

Best Songwriter • Brett Mitchell

Best CD Release • The Banana Convention – ‘Soume Points Inbetween’

Miscellaneous

Best New Artist of the Year
(Total Nominees: 35)
Andrew Kitzman
Lemon Frog
SAYJE
“We’re Just Visiting” - Brody & The Busch Rd. Trio
Rope
Yung DayOne
Spur of the Moment
Franken Barbie

WINNER: Lemon Frog

Best Band Website
(Total Nominees: 20)
Steve Armstrong & 25 Cent Beer Band
TenHandsTall.net
Mandi Layne & The Lost Highway
www.lemonfrogmusic.com
www.scottbakermusic.com
www.FunTBC.com
AndrewKitzman.com

WINNER: Mandi Layne & the Lost Highway

Best Duo
(Total Nominees: 24)
Dani Vitany & Barry Forster
Melissa May & Josh Jekel
Tyler Short / Earl Squerl
Scott Baker & Eric Janetsky
Maybe Twice

Winner: Melissa May & Josh Jekel

Best Solo Artist
(Total Nominees: 48)
Brett Mitchell
Aaron Johnson
Andrew Kitzman
Joey Atchinson
Matt deHeus
Carrie Westbay
Tay Ray

WINNER: Brett Mitchell

Best Music Video
(Total Nominees: 9)
Steve Armstrong & 25 Cent Beer Band
An American Underdog “Beautiful Dreamer”
Yung DayOne MCOT
The Banana Convention - Safe and Sound
Society Kills - “The Ballad of Frasier Dean”
Badsville @ the New Way by INDIE SPoT
HEAL - Timothy Hyde Project
Tay Ray

Winner:

Best Variety Band
(Total Nominees: 47)
The Screaming Casanovas
Vengeance
The Juice Roosters
Burnaround
Spur of the Moment
Brett Mitchell & the giant GHOST
The Hipakritz
The Thunder Chickens

Winner: Vengeance

Best Original Band
(Total Nominees: 53)
Steve Armstrong & 25 Cent Beer Band
Brett Mitchell & the Giant Ghost
Mandi Layne & The Lost Highway
The Matt Ryan Band
The Banana Convention
Lemon Frog
Brody and the Busch Rd. Trio

Winner: Steve Armstrong & the 25 Cent Beer Band

Best Metal Band
(Total Nominees: 19)
Burnaround
Spur of the Moment
Whaler
Spork
Society Kills
Four Minute Death Ride

Winner: Burnaround

Best Folk Band or Duo
(Total Nominees: 20)
Thunderchickens Acoustic
Scott Baker & Eric Janetsky
Rope
Doo Dads
Common Ground
Angela & Alexandria Dodge

Winner: Thunderchickens Acoustic

Best Alternative Band
(Total Nominees: 24)
Burnaround
Brett Mitchell
The Banana Convention
Brody and the Busch Rd. Trio
Big Brother Smokes
Slumlord Radio
Spur of the Moment
Suxxer Punch

Winner: The Banana Convention

Best Tejano Band
(Total Nominees: 2)
Grupo Estilo
The Conjunto Champs

Winner: Grupo Estilo

Best CD Release
(Total Nominees: 30)
Steve Armstrong & The 25 Cent Beer Band @ Stables
Jeff Schrems - oh ... now i get it
Lemon Frog’s “BATTLEFIELD”
“We’re Just Visiting” - Brody & The Busch Rd. Trio
Tay Ray “The Anti”
The Matt Ryan Band - I’m Here
INDIE SPoT – Paul

Winner: Steve Armstrong & the 25 Cent Beer Band @ ‘The Stables’

Best Concert/Album or Project
(Total Nominees: 19)
FreeMusic Fest
Brody and the Busch Rd. Trio - “We’re Just Visiting” Album
The Banana Convention - Some Points In Between Live Album and DVD
HEAL - Timothy Hyde Project
Brush Street with Brass & Strings – Christmas Concert

Winner: The Banana Convention – ‘Some Points in Between Live Album & CD’

Most Innovative Artist
(Total Nominees: 29)
Aaron Johnson
The Banana Convention
SKE3M4Prez
Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions
Andrew Kitzman
Society Kills
Melva Jane

Winner: Aaron Johnson

Best Soundman
(Total Nominees: 16)
Art Bissonnette
Carey Limberg
Brian Phillips
Robyn Bailey
Pat Manke
Chris Lorey
INDIE SPoT – Charles

Winner: Art Bissonnette

Best Waitress
(Total Nominees: 24)
Kari Jean- Stables
Tara Behme - BeMo’s
Amanda Heilig  - Big D’s
Leah - Winstons Pub
Amanda - Coty’s  Landing

Winner: Leah – Winston’s Pub

Best Bartender
(Total Nominees: 32)
Lindsay @ The Stables
Katie Koski - White’s Bar
Cassandra Johnson
Amanda Heilig - Big D’s
Leah Miller - Winston’s Pub
Sara “pinto” Martinez -  Whites Bar
O.J. Reno - Castaways
Erica Zupancic

Winner: Lindsay – The Stables

Best Radio Station
(Total Nominees: 26)
94.5 the moose (Jim  & Jody)
Last Choice Country
102.5 WIOG
INDIE SPoT Radio
Q09.1 - WUCX
w989Radio

Winner: Last Choice Country

Best Music Festival
(Total Nominees: 9)
FreeMusic Fest
City Fest
Bay City Folk and Acoustic Music Fest
Crispy Fest
Parkapalooza
Whites Bar Back To School Punk Fest

Winner: Free Music Fest

Best Live Event of the Year
(Total Nominees: 8)
FreeMusic Fest
City Fest
Scott Baker & UE Halloween Welcome To My Neighboorhood Cooper/Wagner Tribute
Hell’s Half Mile
Dirtfest
Hangover Fest

Winner: DirtFest

Best Videographer
(Total Nominees: 7)
Tom Myers
INDIE SPoT - Paul
Tyler Moncrief
Todd Shelbrock
Ian Pfister

Winner: Paul Vought – The Indie Spot

JAZZ

Best Big Band
(Total Nominees: 5)
Saginaw Area Youth Jazz Ensemble
The Baytones
Evelyn’s Rising
Saginaw Elite Big Band
Brush Street with Strings & Brass

Winner: Saginaw Area Youth Jazz Ensemble

Best Small Combo
(Total Nominees: 4)
Robert Lee Revue
Three Worlds
Brush Street
23 North

Winner: Three Worlds

Female Jazz Vocalist
(Total Nominees: 2)
Julie Mulady
Honesty Elliot

Winner: Honesty Elliot

Jazz Songwriter
(Total Nominees: 3)
Bryan Rombalski
Mike Brush
Bobby Balderama

Winner: Mike Brush

Best Jazz Musician
(Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Horns, Guitarist)
(Total Nominees: 19)
Darin Scott.
Bryan Rombalski
Jack Nash
Mike Brush
Ryan Fitzgerald

Winner: Ryan Fitzgerald

Favorite Jazz Club
(Total Nominees: 3)
Espresso Milano
Spencer’s
White’s Bar

Winner: White’s Bar

BLUES

Best Funk Band
(Total Nominees: 9)
The Soul Xpress Band
Gutbucket
Phunk Shway
Robert Lee Revue
Three Worlds

Winner: The Soul Xpress Band

Best Blues Band
(Total Nominees: 12)
Scott Baker and the Universal Expressions
Gutbucket
Robert Lee Revue
Three Worlds
Jones’n

Winner: Scott Baker & the Universal Expressions

Female Blues Vocalist
(Total Nominees: 10)
Luann Ervin
Carrie Westbay
Tracey Whitehouse
Heather Jones
Helen Hendrick

Winner: Carrrie Westbay

Male Blues Vocalist
(Total Nominees: 16)
Dave Kellan
Donald Benjamin
Scott Baker
Lavel Jackson
Tom Dolson
Dan Thorp
Kyle Mayer

Winner: Donald Benjamin

Blues Songwriter
(Total Nominees: 16)
Dave Kellan
Scott Baker
Donald Benjamin
Eastside Mike
Bryan Rombalski

Winner: Donald Benjamin

Blues Instrumentalist
(Total Nominees: 22)
Duane Miller
Gabe Couch
Bryan Rombalski
Tim Taylor
Ryan Fitzgerald
Matt Burgie

Winner: Scott Baker • Eric Janetsky (tie)

Favorite Blues Club
(Total Nominees: 10)
Bemo’s
Espresso Milano
Flanagan’s Pub
White’s Bar
Big D’s

Winner: Bemo’s

COUNTRY

Best Country Video
(Total Nominees: 2)
Steve Armstrong - Redneck Side
The Matt Ryan Band - I’m Here

Winner: Steve Armstrong • Redneck Slide

Best Country Band
(Total Nominees: 24)
Steve Armstrong & The 25 Cent Beer Band
Dani Vitany & Ten Hands Tall
Mandi Layne & The Lost Highway
The Steel Wheels Band
The Matt Ryan Band

Winner: Mandi Layne & the Lost Highway

Country Songwriter
(Total Nominees: 24)
Steve Armstrong
Mandi Layne
Matt Ryan & Randy Badour (MRB)
Bob Hausler
Matt deHeus (Rope)
Josh Rickett (Wreckless)

Winner: Mandi Layne

Country Female Vocalist
(Total Nominees: 15)
Dani Vitany
Mandi Layne
Melissa May
Laurie Middlebrook
Amelia Jo
Brenda Loomis

Winner: Dani Vitany

Country Male Vocalist
(Total Nominees: 25)
Steve Armstrong
Barry Forster
Matt Ryan
Matt de Heus
Dale Michaels
Chad Brick
Greg Kevorkian

Winner: Steve Armstrong

Best Country Musician
(Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Horns, Guitarist)
(Total Nominees: 34)
Jerome Ratell
Barry Forster
Jason McCrory
Bruce Rupp
Steve Hornak

Winner: Barry Forster

Favorite Country Club
(Total Nominees: 4)
The Stables (BARTS)
Big D’s
Willew Lounge
The Tool Shed

Winner: The Stables (BARTS)

RAP / HIP HOP

Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year
(Total Nominees: 41)
Spitzer
YungDre tha H.o.P.e
Tay Ray
Melva Jane
Alphabetics
Rydermiller
Ray P
Rammesses

Winner: Spitzer

Best Promoter
(Total Nominees: 23)
M-20 Productions
Spitzer
SKE3M LivinTheSKE3MMMG
INDIE SPoT
nightlife venue

Winner: Spitzer

Best Performer
(Total Nominees: 35)
M-20
Spitzer
Melva Jane
Phe McWright
Tay Ray
Alphabetics

Winner: Spitzer

Best Producer
(Total Nominees: 26)
M-20 Productions / Firecannon Beatz
Sneak Beatz
INDIE SPoT - Charles Conley
Michael Pruitt
Yung Stylez
Adam Santoya
Rydermiller
Erik Lytikainen
Poindexter
Jarod Dubz

Winner: Adam Santoya

Best Mixtape / Release
(Total Nominees: 28)
Tay Ray “The Anti”
Rydermiller -Beats from the Street
YungDre Tha H.o.P.e-Closer to my Dreams 2
Mr. Riddlin -Roll The Dice
FoCell - Better Late Than Never
Phe McWright “OPIUM”
$paid, A.K.A., Illustrate, and Yung Reese - State of Hate MT1
Jacinto & Artistik - Akeem The Dream
Bub Bizzle Bizzness Neva Personal
M-20 presents: Apollo’s Echo

Winner: Tay Ray – ‘The Anti’

Best DJ
(Total Nominees: 26)
DJ Snakes
DJ Juice
DJ Fade
Rydermiller
DJ PRINCE

Winner: DJ Snakes

Best Rap/Hip Hop Video
(Total Nominees:6)
Spitzer-”Whiteboy”
Yung DayOne - MCOT
Alphabetics “Boy meets World” video by:Jarod Dubz
PheMcWright Think for yourself by Tyler Moncrief
John Dough “Missing”
Bub Bizzle “Live your Life” by JDubz

Winner: Spitzer – ‘White Boy’

ROCK

Best Rock Band
(Total Nominees: 78)
Spur of the Moment
Vengeance
Jedi Mind trip
Lemon Frog
Hipakritz
Brody and the Busch Road Trio
Burnaround
Brett Mitchell & the Giant Ghost
Suxxer Punch

Winner: Vengeance

Best Rock Songwriter
(Total Nominees: 35)
Brett Mitchell
Donald Benjamin
Eric Braeutigan
Jared Kellum
Scott Baker
Sean Drysdale
Taylor Cantu
Bruce LaFrance
Chris Zehnder

Winner: Brett Mitchell

Rock Guitarist
(Total Nominees: 73)
Matt Hyatt
Jason Culhane
Mike Eudis
Eric Netkowski
Steven Obuch Jr.
Derek Burk
Jake Voisine
Travis Wardin

Winner: Matt Hyatt

Best Rock Video
(Total Nominees: 5)
The Banana Convention - Safe and Sound
An American Underdog--Beautiful Dreamer
Society Kills - “The Ballad of Frasier Dean”
Dave Kellan “Rounder Than The Sound”
Badsville @ the New Way by INDIE SPoT

Winner: The Banana Convention – ‘Safe & Sound’

Rock Keyboardist
(Total Nominees: 24)
Tommy K.
Noel Howland
Mark Shelly
Bob Hausler
Dave Banks
Ken Marotzke

Winner: Dave Banks

Rock Bassist
(Total Nominees: 63)
Bruce LaFrance
Matt Nyquist
Josh Rodammer
Dan Eudis
Mike McMann
Sean Drysdale

Winner: Bruce LaFrance

Rock Drummer
(Total Nominees: 58)
Randy Lazarov
Matt Johnston
Cody Little
Steve Obuch
Terry Poirier
Brett Mitchell                 

Winner: Matt Johnston

Male Vocalist
(Total Nominees: 51)
Brett Mitchell
Danny Ardouin
Donald Benjamin
Mike Abraham
Jeff Zimmerman

Winner: Brett Mitchell

Female Vocalist
(Total Nominees: 27)
Shar Molina
Melissa May
Colleen Babcock
Mariah “Izzy” Simone
Heather Beehler-Reetz
Carrie Westbay

Winner: Colleen Babcock

Favorite Rock Club
(Total Nominees: 22)
Bemo’s
Big D’s
White’s Bar
The Stables (BARTS)
The Machine Shop

Winner: The Machine Shop