kim taylor - the cincinnati entertainment awards "singer/songwriter of the year" / ralph stanley - the newest member of the CEA "hall of fame" / karin bergquist - presenter, past CEA "hall of fame" inductee and "2007's music ambassador to the city" (photo taken w/karin's i phone, i believe)
i was invited by karin bergquist and linford detweiler of over the rhine to attend the cincinnati entertainment awards last night at the emery theatre in over the rhine. the emery, much like the over the rhine neighborhood seems to be under perpetual renovation. but it was great to see the old place get some much needed love and attention. hopefully, someday soon it will be a fully functioning venue once again (with heat and running water).
the show was a blast, opened by a band assembled to honor the late james brown and king records and led by the legendary bass player, bootsy collins. that they were dead on, the singer had brown's vocals and stage presence nailed, and the 12 pc band with a full horn section and back up singers were amazing. a helluva way to kick off the show. the "headliner" and hall of fame inductee, closing out the evening was the legendary country/bluegrass singer, ralph stanley and the clinch mountain boys.
bootsy and company brought down the house with a stunning tribute to JB to kick the night off and stanley was the absolute personification of professionalism and dignity. at 81 years old and 42 years on the road and just out of the hospital the day before with vocal problems, he and his "clinch mountain boys" gave a courageous and classy performance to close the evening out. he struggled but gave it his best, which was more than good enough for everyone there. it was a honor to see this man perform.
karin and linford both presented and it was a pleasure to watch as karin got to present her friend, kim taylor (or kim-FUCKING!-taylor, as she announced it) the singer/songwriter of the year award. linford said while presenting the electronica/experimental music award to: "chick pimp, coke dealer at a bar" (which i think he just enjoyed saying), "you've got to love and be proud to be from a city that puts on a show that opens with a bootsy collins tribute to james brown and closes with ralph stanley..."
despite there being no heat in the theatre, no running water (ie:port a potties in the alley outside) and sound & technical problems galore...ther was a great vibe in the goint and it was a great night (even though you can't find a damn thing to eat in downtown cincinnati on a sunday night).
performers: Bootsy Collins, Ralph Stanley, Eclipse, The Seedy Seeds, and The Sundresses
the winners:
BEST LIVE ACT
Foxy Shazam
BEST MUSICAL AMBASSADOR
Bootsy Collins
BLUEGRASS
Rumpke Mountain Boys
BLUES
Sonny Moorman Group
COUNTRY
The Turkeys
EXPERIMENTAL/ELECTRONIC
Chick Pimp, Coke Dealer at a Bar
FOLK/AMERICANA
Jake Speed & the Freddies
HARD ROCK/METAL
Foxy Shazam
HIP HOP
Eclipse
INDIE/ALTERNATIVE
The Seedy Seeds
JAZZ
Faux Frenchmen
PUNK/POST PUNK/HARDCORE
Knife the Symphony
R&B/FUNK
Daughters and Sons
ROCK
500 Miles to Memphis
SINGER/SONGWRITER
Kim Taylor
WORLD MUSIC/REGGAE
Super-Massive
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Daniel Martin Moore
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Barkinghaus, The Sundresses
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Seabird
