Bobby Brown, performing at the Boston Music Award's at the Orpheum, was also inducted into the BMA's Hall of Fame.
(Boston Globe / Zara Tzanev)
Music Review
The biggest surprise at the Boston Music Awards Saturday night at the Orpheum Theatre wasn't who won - deserving metalheads Killswitch Engage copped Act of the Year - or the returns of Bobby Brown and Extreme - both were warmly received. It was the fact that most of the crowd seemed to be paying attention.
Following last year's underwhelming Avalon edition of the festivities - where revelers paused only briefly between drink orders and animated conversation to recognize the show taking place onstage - it was a wise decision by the organizers to move the ceremony back to the Orpheum Theatre for its 20th anniversary.
Folks who felt like schmoozing and boozing could do so in the lobby without interfering with those who wanted to enjoy the always shambling but oft-entertaining celebration of local and semi-local musicianship.
Saturday night's 2 1/2-hour affair had all the classic hallmarks, both positive and less so, of BMAs past as veteran acts rubbed elbows with upstarts, former bright lights shone once again, and a few new features that should become tradition were introduced.
Aerosmith drummer and honorary BMA chairman Joey Kramer played host and if his speech was a little flat his heart was in the right place. (The BMAs benefit local charities supporting music in schools.) Aerosmith bassist, and cancer survivor, Tom Hamilton on the other hand was loose and engaging accepting a special honor. He thanked fans and family and talked about the joy of playing in "my favorite local band." He also got off the night's best quip. Observing the theater where he reunited with his bandmates in the '80s he said "It feels like another room in my house, only smaller."
This year's blasts from the past partied like it was 1989.
Hard rockers Extreme, who recently announced their re-formation and intention to record and tour in 2008, played a three-song set, including "Decadence Dance," that threatened to overwhelm the sound system.
THE WINNERS ARE . . . For a complete list of winners of the 20th annual Boston Music Awards, go to boston.com\ae\music\blog
Brown watched the Berklee City Music All-Stars run through a medley of his hits - including "Don't Be Cruel" and "My Prerogative" - before joining the youngsters for the tender hip-hop soul of "Roni."
The former New Edition vocalist and tabloid fixture, looking fit in a loose-fitting tux, seemed genuinely touched by his local Hall of Fame induction. Accepting the award from three of his children he said, "I don't need Grammys. I don't need music awards. I need this, I need Boston."
Artists of a more recent vintage also took their turn with teen pop phenom JoJo winning over the crowd - and the National Female Vocalist trophy - with a jazzy reworking of her hit "Too Little, Too Late." Alt-country star Lori McKenna performed the sweet "Witness to Your Life" and walked away with Album of the Year honors. And WBCN Rumble winners Township romped through "Dirty Water" with help from the testosterockers of Bang Camaro, themselves double winners for Local Song and Outstanding Rock Band.
The night's other twofer winner, Killswitch Engage, who also nabbed Outstanding Metal/Hardcore sent their regards via video from a tour stop. And Brown's fellow Hall of Fame inductees alt-rockers Buffalo Tom offered up their thanks from London.
There were a few flubs, most notably the proclamation that Extreme was playing Boston for the "first time in 13 years." This was news to anyone who saw the band perform at the
But a series of well-edited video montages celebrating Boston music present and future, the heroes of Boston music past, and some heartfelt acceptance speeches - Lexington native Matt Nathanson endearingly called his Outstanding National Male Vocalist win "a nerd fantasy come true" - compensated for the shortcomings.
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