Minnesota Music Awards: 2001

The source of the nominees for the 2001 Minnesota Music Awards listed below – oh dear – must have come from the City Pages, although I did not write this down.  In any case, they were published on April 27, 2001.  The Winners came from an article written by Jon Bream in the Star Tribune, dated May 15, 2001.

I apologize for any misspellings of anyone’s name; it could be from the source, or it could be from my typing.  Please contact me if you need to have something corrected.  Thanks!

For other years, see MINNESOTA MUSIC AWARDS.

 

DATE:  May 14, 2001

PLACE:   First Avenue

HOST:  Amelia Santaniello, WCCO-TV news anchor.

NOTES:

All but the Special Awards were selected by 165 members of the Minnesota Music Association.

Eleven acts performed during the program, with seven bands in the 7th Street Entry and 10 DJs spinning records in the VIP Room.  Two of the most memorable performances reported by Bream were by Rhyme Sayers Collective and Sons of Almighty.

 

***The Winners are listed at the top of each list below, in Bold.  Beneath them are the nominees, in the order listed on the ballot.***

MAJOR AWARDS

 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: 

  • Dillinger Four
  • Atmosphere
  • The Cynic Project
  • Dean Granros
  • Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble
  • Peter Ostroushko
  • Sean Tillmann

ALBUM OF THE YEAR – MAJOR LABEL: 

  • “Smile,” The Jayhawks
  • “Separation Anxiety,” 12Rods
  • “Welcome II Nextasy,” Next
  • “Black Gold,” Soul Asylum

ALBUM OF THE YEAR – SELF-RELEASED/INDIE:

  • “Birds Flying Away,” Mason Jennings Band
  • “Written in Rope,” Accident Clearinghouse
  • “Fly me Back,” Brenda Weiler
  • “Versus God,” Dillinger Four
  • “How I Lost My Life and Lived to Tell About It,” Mark Hallman
  • “Sacred Heart,” Peter Ostroushko

SONG OF THE YEAR: 

  • “I Gonna Make You Love Me,” The Jayhawks
  • “What Has Happened?,” 12Rods
  • “The Woman With the Tattooed Hands,” Atmosphere
  • “Ballad for my One True Love,” Mason Jennings
  • “The Princess & the Pony,” Sean Na Na

BEST NEW BAND:  (New Artist on the Ballot)

  • Alva Star
  • The Crush
  • Faux Jean
  • Kid Dakota
  • Silen Iris
  • Sunset Black
  • Tin Porter

SONGWRITER: 

  • Mason Jennings
  • Brenda Wetler
  • Bruce McCabe
  • Dan Israel
  • John Hermanson
  • Kevin Bowe
  • Stuart Davis

COMPOSER: 

  • Steve Heitzig
  • Christopher Gable
  • Edie Hill
  • Mark Warhol
  • Mike Croswell

 

 

MUSICIANS’ AWARDS

GUITAR: 

  • Dean Magraw
  • Billy Franze
  • Cory White
  • Jonny Lang
  • Dan Neale
  • Paul Diethlm

 

  • BASS: 
  • Doug Nelson (Posthumous write-in)
  • Jim Anton
  • Anthony Cox
  • Billy Franze

 

  • DRUMS:
  • Michael Bland
  • Dave King
  • Noah Levy
  • Christopher MacGuire
  • Dave Russ
  • Marc Anderson

 

  • KEYBOARDS: (Listed on Bream’s list of winners as Hammond B3 Organist)
  • Jack McDuff
  • Bruce McCabe
  • Mark Mallman
  • Steve Cherowin
  • Tommy Barbarella

 

  • HORNS: 
  • Steve Clarke
  • Brian Gallagher
  • Dave Eiland
  • Doug Little
  • Rick O’Dell

 

  • OTHER INSTRUMENTALIST: 
  • Peter Ostroushko (fiddle, mandolin)
  • Andy Dee
  • Jessy Greene
  • Jim Price
  • Pat Hayes
  • Ric Lee

 

  • FEMALE VOCALIST: 
  • Debbie Duncan
  • Brenda Weiler
  • Margaret Cox
  • Murlee MacLeod

 

  • MALE VOCALIST: 
  • Jonny Lang
  • Billy Johnson
  • John Hermanson
  • Julius Collins

 

 

AWARDS BY GENRE

ACOUSTIC GROUP/ARTIST:

  • Brenda Weiler
  • Dan Israel
  • Eller Lynch
  • Stuart Davis
  • Tea & Sympathy

ACOUSTIC/FOLK RECORDING

  • “Sacred Heart,” Peter Ostroushko
  • “Fly Me Back,” Brenda Weiler
  • “Dan Who?,” Dan Israel
  • “Plain Brown Suit,” The Deadly Nightshade Family Singers
  • “Well May the World Go,” Larry Long

AMERICANA GROUP/ARTIST: 

  • The Front Porch Swingin’ Liquor Pigs
  • Accident Clearinghouse
  • Bellwether
  • Kevin Bowe and the Okemah Prophets
  • Marlee MacLeod
  • Urban Hillbilly Quartet

AMERICANA RECORDING: 

  • “Forget Your Truffles and Dance,” The Front Porch Swingin’ Liquor Pigs
  • “Written In Rope,” Accident Clearinghouse
  • “Bellwether,” Bellwether
  • “There We Are,” Marlee MacLeod
  • “Lanky But Macho,” Urban Hillbilly Quartet

BLUES GROUP/ARTIST: 

  • Jonny Lang
  • Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchants
  • Joe Juliano
  • Keller Brothers
  • Lamont Cranston
  • Shannon Curfman

BLUES RECORDING:

  • “Across the Water,” Bernard Allison
  • “Rocking Daddy,” Blues & Tall
  • “Longshot,” Joe T. Cook

BLUEGRASS/OLD-TIME ARTIST: (tie)

  • Becky Schlegel
  • Urban Renewal Bluegrass
  • The Middle Spunk Creek Boys
  • The Platte Valley Boys

CHILDREN’S GROUP: 

  • Teddy Bear Band
  • Jim Price and the Blinkenhoppers
  • Kit and Kaboodle
  • Krissy & Norton
  • Mr. Jim

CLASSICAL/NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLES: 

  • Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble
  • Ensemble Warhol
  • Plymouth Music Series
  • Rose Ensemble

COVER BAND: 

  • Soul Tight Committee
  • 2 Tickets 2 Paradise
  • Boogie Wonderland
  • Controversy
  • Saved by Zero
  • Taboot

ECLECTIC ARTIST:

  • Billy McLaughlin
  • The Big Wu
  • Machinery Hill
  • Mean Larry & Friends
  • Tulip Sweet & Her Trail of Tears
  • Umbrella Bed
  • Zaftig

ECLECTIC RECORDING:

  • “The Commandos Commit Suicide Dance Concert,” Suicide Commandos
  • “Folk Tales,” The Big Wu
  • “Death of a Dream,” Steve Hentzeg
  • “The Halloween Polka,” Tubby Esquire
  • “Open Mike:  A Tribute to the Songs of Mike Merz,” Various Artists

ELECTRONICA ARTIST: 

  • Astronaut Wife
  • Autonomous
  • The Busy Signals
  • The Cynic Project
  • Jake Mandell
  • Mr. Projectile

ELECTRONICA RECORDING:

  • “Now That 1999 is Gone,” Astronaut Wife
  • “Baby’s First Beats,” The Busy Signals

FOLK GROUP/ARTIST: 

  • Koerner, Ray & Glover
  • Larry Long
  • Peter Mayer
  • Peter Ostrousko
  • Sarah Bishop
  • Tim Sparks

HIP-HOP GROUP/ARTIST: 

  • Atmosphere
  • CMI/Oddjobs
  • Eyedea & Abilities
  • ieruspecs
  • Raw Villa
  • The Unknown Prophets

HIP-HOP RECORDING: 

  • “Ford,” Atmosphere
  • “Obelisk Movements,” Micranots
  • “Actin’ Rich,” Musah
  • “World Premiere,” The Unknown Prophets
  • “No Secrets No Lies,” Sandman
  • “Major,” Lil Buddy

JAZZ GROUP: 

  • Happy Apple
  • Bill Banfield & His B Magic Orchestra
  • The Doug Little Quartet
  • JazzMN Big Band
  • Triplicate

JAZZ MUSICIAN: 

  • Maurice Jacox
  • Carei Thomas
  • Dave Karr
  • Dean Granros
  • Laura Caviani
  • Peter Schmike

JAZZ RECORDING:

  • “Body Popping, Moon Walking, Top Rocking,” Happy Apple
  • “Bear’s Delight,” Brad Bellows & Dean Granros
  • “Some Cats Know,” Connie Evingson
  • “Subtle Differences,” The Doug Little Quartet
  • “Triplicate,” Triplicate
  • “Dream Truths,” The Willie August Project

LATIN GROUP: 

  • Latin Sounds Orchestra
  • Baby Moses
  • Ester Godinez
  • Latin Explosion
  • Sabor Tropical

POLKA BAND: 

  • Tubby Esquire
  • Bill Koncar
  • Hank Thunander
  • Ruth Adams
  • Wally Pikal

POLKA RECORDING:

  • “It’s Happy Polka Time,” Bill Koncar
  • “Back Again,” John Filipezak
  • “Greatest Hits Vol. 2,” Marv Nissel Band

POP GROUP: 

  • The Honeydogs
  • Dazy Head Mazy
  • The Hillcats
  • The Jayhawks
  • Leep 27
  • Mason Jennings Band

POP RECORDING: 

  • “Smile,” The Jayhawks
  • “Shift,” Dazy Head Mazy
  • “Birds Flying Away,” Mason Jennings Band
  • “Rajah Pink, Wading Pool Blue,” Smattering
  • “Flame a Litter Brighter,” The Waves
  • “1000 Things,” The Wonsers

PUNK BAND: 

  • Dillinger Four
  • The Crush
  • Rivethead
  • Selby Tigers
  • Song of Zarathrustra

PUNK RECORDING: 

  • “Versus God,” Dillinger Four
  • “Repo’d,” Amp 176
  • “Let’s War,” The Plastic Constellations
  • “Charm City,” Selby Tigers
  • “The Birth of Tragedy,” Song of Zarathrustra
  • “Exploration in Micronesia,” VAZ

REGGAE GROUP/ARTIST: 

  • Dred I Dread
  • Innocent
  • Les Exodus
  • New Primitives

ROCK BAND: 

  • 12Rods
  • G.B. Leighton
  • The Hidden Chord
  • Lifter Puller
  • Mark Mallman

ROCK RECORDING

  • “Separation Anxieties,” 12Rods
  • “Ruin,” All the Pretty Horses
  • “Get a Hustle,” Grotto
  • “Fight Blue Eyes,” The Hidden Chord
  • “How I Lost My Life and Lived to Tell About It,” Mark Mallman

ROCKABILLY BAND: 

  • Vibro Champs
  • The Hillbilly Voodoo Dolls
  • Jack Knife and the Sharps
  • The Vees

HARD ROCK GROUP: 

  • Flipp
  • American Head Charge
  • Conditioned Response
  • Grunace
  • Janis Figure
  • Likehell

HARD ROCK RECORDING: 

  • “Blow it out Your Ass,” Flipp
  • “Damage Control,” Janis Figure
  • “On the Inside,” Likehell
  • “Fighting Fire With Gasoline,” Redoverlunar
  • “Breakdown Barrier,” Remover

R & B GROUP/ARTIST

  • Mick Sterling
  • Best Kept Secret
  • The Combo
  • Har Mar Superstar
  • TC Jammers

TEEN BAND:

  • Maniac Euphoria
  • 1-2-3
  • Associated Mess
  • Dark Matter
  • Smokey Joe

 

TECHNICAL

MINNESOTA-PRODUCED RADIO PROGRAM: 

  • Mary Lucia’s “Popular Creeps,” on defunct Zone 105
  • “It’s Polka Time”
  • “Homegrown,” KQRS
  • “Local Sound Department”
  • “Loud and Local”
  • “Off the Record”

MINNESOTA-PRODUCED TELEVISION PROGRAM:

  • “The Buzz,” KMSP
  • “News Night Minnesota”
  • “Video K”
  • “Dave’s Super Tasty Videos”

PRODUCER: 

  • Alex Oana
  • John Strawberry Fields
  • Mike Wish
  • Tom Herbers

SOUND ENGINEER: 

  • Dave Russ
  • Michael Nichols
  • Mike Ronkainen
  • Rob Rule
  • Ron Miller

CLUB DJ:

  • Mark Wheat
  • Alexander East
  • DJ Bionic
  • DJ Boogie
  • Greg Comstock

TURNTABLIST

  • DJ Abilities
  • DJ Andrew
  • DJ King IXL
  • So Supreme
  • Stage One

 

SPECIAL

CONNIE HECHTER AWARD:  Bob Protzman, longtime jazz critic and radio DJ who retired from the St. Paul Pioneer Press three years previously.  Protzman was moving to his native Pennsylvania the next week.

PERPETUALLY OUTSTANDING PERFORMER:  Mick Sterling