Every week on Wednesday morning, I call into 106.7 KWSS' The Morning Infidelity program, and gab about local and national music with the TMI crew: Beef Vegan, Shorty, and Buddha. It's been quite a year for the station -- winning cash from their friendly competitors at X103.9, briefly going off the air, and acquiring shows from not one, but two legendary Phoenix jocks.
The show is capping off a big year with a big project. On Friday, December 30, Beef Vegan will announce the winners of the 2011 Rock Local Awards, culling winners from a secret ballot sent out to writers, DJs, musicians, listeners, and promoters around town.
Well -- kind of secret. Beef and co. made the whole thing viewable on their site, so that fans can bring awareness to the nominees and help determine odds as to what acts are likely to win.
From TMI's Facebook page:
What's real is our support and showcasing of local talents. What's real is our listeners getting turned onto bands they never heard of. What's real is that we expand fan- bases beyond the bubble of the Tempe scene. This is the "realest" awards show this city has ever had. I have sent out sheets to a select few within our community. Winners will be based on the quality of song and talents, NOT networking and Facebook votes. That page is set up to bring awareness to ALL bands nominated and to set up our odds for favorites. This is REAL. Winners should be proud to be selected and nominees should feel the same pride sharing categories with the other talented people who share the same passion for their craft. And we'll continue to support those who have passion even when they don't support us. Rock Local
You can sneak a peek at the nominees here, and listen on Friday for the winners to be announced. Pazz & Jop? The Grammys? My 15 Favorite Local Releases of 2011? Puh-shaw. Eat your heart out.
Who wants to bet that Mergence is going to win "Best Live Band?" Odds are looking good -- and if any band has illustrated KWSS' style, it's those guys.
