Dolls are the darlings of the BMAs
Perhaps the organizers of the Boston Music Awards should take it as a sign of local band camaraderie that the crowd at last night's 19th annual shindig at Avalon was more interested in chatting than paying close attention to the show.
But woven into the drinking, rocking, and schmoozing, awards were handed out in 27 categories in an efficient two-hour and 15- minute show featuring 11 performances that spanned the alt-country noir of Frank Smith to the exuberant guitar rock of best song winners Damone to teen blues-pop phenom Sonya Kitchell.
Punk-cabaret duo the Dresden Dolls were the night's only multiple winners, scoring three trophies, including act of the year.
Several of the show's performers went home with gold. Rockers the Slip and veteran singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick, who, along with Kitchell played a version of the Pixies' ``Wave of Mutilation," won best live act and best female singer-songwriter . Rising star Antje Duvekot copped best folk act and beloved post-punkers Mission of Burma won album of the year for ``The Obliterati."
Total room captivation was hard to come by but a few people managed it.
ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons -- recently recovered from a brain aneurysm -- was given a hearty ovation when he won best blues artist for his album with the Hot-Stove All-Stars.
Former J. Geils frontman Peter Wolf -- a longtime hold-out who is not a fan of awards shows -- literally sang the praises of the unsung hero award winner, sideman Duke Levine. He called the guitarist -- who's worked with Wolf, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dennis Brennan, and a slew of others -- ``one of our crown jewels" and set his name to the tune of ``Duke of Earl" when accepting on Levine's behalf. (Levine is on tour with former Bostonian Aimee Mann.)
Hall of Fame inductees Gang Green bashed through a handful of their hardcore faves with good-natured energy and seemed truly grateful for the recognition.
At the end of the evening it was revealed that the bear who had been running around in the crowd was none other than Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione, who doffed his costume's head when his band was awarded the act of the year trophy. Dolls singer Amanda Palmer thanked fans, name-checked other bands, and triumphantly proclaimed ``We love this (expletive) town!"
Testosterockers Bang Camaro closed the night with their manly mammoth metal.
The winners
A partial list of winners at last night's Boston Music Awards:
Best new local act Humanwine
Local debut album of the year The Campaign for Real Time
Local male vocalist Jake Brennan
Local female vocalistSarah Borges
Hip-hop act of the year Mr. Lif
Best punk actDropkick Murphys
Album of the year Mission of Burma, ``The Obliterati"
Act of the year Dresden Dolls 