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The Whalie Awards

The Whalie Awards, though extremely tongue-in-cheek from an outside standpoint, have become more than just a night where musicians and fans get together, walk down a red carpet, drink (heavily) and enjoy an event that is unique to New London. They have become a gauge of sorts - a telling look at what our area's music scene has accomplished and where it's going for the next year.

Just look at the number of nominees throughout the first three years. In 2010, there were roughly 65 nominees. There were about 75-80 nominees in 2011, and this year, we blew that away, with over 100 nominated bands and artists!

Every corner of the music scene is represented. Hip hop makes a dominant showing, with so many nominees this year, the categories had to be split into the Grammy-style "Best Hip Hop" and "Best Urban Alternative" - a funny term that insinuates the edgier, less-traditional side of hip hop. The term "Americana" is nearly phased out this year, as there are so many outstanding artists that we had to pigeonhole them into two categories - "Best Blues / Country Rock" and "Best Folk / Bluegrass."  These types of categories don't necessarily reflect the variety that some bands bring to the table, but as our scene grows bigger each year, we'll find that categorizing will become easier (more specific) and somehow tedious (more categories to fill) at the same time.

The Whalies are also a great barometer of an individual artist or band's accomplishments throughout the past year. Look at the top nominees for instance. New London-bred rappers Camacho & Poe Swayzie have garnered 9 nominations a piece - the most nominations ever in the short history of the awards. Together, they are The Fly Ones, who are up for Album of the Year and Hiphop Album of the Year. Individually, they have each made hit songs and collectively represent 3 of the best music videos this year, all of them DIY - done through their self-started production team, Flawless Visuals.  The work they have put into their music and marketing is second to none and now they have branched out, offering to make upscale videos for local artists.

Speaking of workhorses, the second highest nominated act this year is Daphne Lee Martin & Raise The Rent. Daphne has spent tireless hours practicing, gigging, networking and even tweeting. She has shown an intense dedication to this project and shows no signs of stopping, getting nods for Album of the Year from CT.com and Motif Magazine. Daphne even employed the talents of Skobie Won and Erik Lamb (also up for 7 awards this year!) to put a spin on her track "Nostradamus," a remix that is up for the brand new Best Collaboration category.

One of the most telling truths of this year's Whalie Awards though, are the incredible rock records that came out of New London in the last 12 months. Two bands hiked it out-of-state to work with famous producers and the product of each was remarkable. Ferocious Fucking Teeth drove out to Chicago to record with Steve Albini (yes, THAT Steve Albini, the one that recorded Nirvana!). The result is FFT's controlled chaos wrapped up in a self-titled, beautifully-packaged 12" record. It's a brilliant piece of work that is already grabbing this band national press on its debut outing.

Another astounding record that was released this year may also double as the centerpiece of the most interesting story at the Whalie Awards. After 10 years of being a band, The Suicide Dolls finally released a proper full-length, and it was epic. Recorded by Justin Pizzoferrato (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) in Boston at the studio where the Pixies and Dropkick Murphys have recorded, Prayers In Parking Lots is the product of the band's 10-year journey to find a signature sound, a fan base and a music scene to call home. They come to the Whalies this year with 5 nominations, including Album, Rock Album and Song of the Year for "Smash."

The single most noticeable difference between last year's Whalies and this year's is quality. It seems as if everyone stepped up their game this year - the music videos are better, the albums are better produced, the singles are catchier. In turn, we hope to make the Whalies better produced, more eyebrow-raising and more of an event for you. If the Whalie Awards truly are a gauge of this music scene, I, for one, cannot wait to see where it's headed.

-Sean Murray
Founder / producer of the Whalie Awards

 

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You are here:
www.wailingcity.com/thewhalieawards

People's Choice voting:
www.wailingcity.com/vote
(Polls open until May 25, vote now!)

Also visit:
https://www.facebook.com/thewhalieawards

 

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3rd Annual Whalie Awards will be held:

Saturday May 26
@ The Hygienic Art Park
(79-83 Bank Street)

6pm red carpet
7pm show
All Ages
$10 suggested donation
Facebook Event Page

 

Performances by:

The Suicide Dolls
Camacho & Poe
Pocket Vinyl
Erik Lamb & Skobie
The Weird Beards
Raise The Rent

& MORE!!

 

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2012 WHALIE AWARDS

OFFICIAL LIST OF NOMINATIONS

 

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

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(Cast your vote now at: www.wailingcity.com/vote)

 

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Burnouts From Outer Space

Fatal Film

Missing Cat

Suicide Dolls

Herff Jones

Straight To VHS

Pocket Vinyl

 

BEST FOLK / BLUEGRASS

Daphne Lee Martin & Raise The Rent

 Dogbite

The MacLeans

Ohio-Freer Collective

Maggie's Guitar

Village Jammers

Folk Y’all

The Dirty Stayouts

 

BEST BLUES / COUNTRY ROCK

The Hoolios

John Fries & The Heat

Sue Menhart Band

Franklin Brothers

The Rivergods

Ken Atkins & The Honky Tonk Kind

Uncle Flatty

Chris McKay & The Toneshifters

 

BEST DJ

DJ Seaneho

Sir Round Sound

DJ Frank Lo

ChumZilla

Bad Manners

DeafDisco

DJae Melee

DeeJay Gains Bond

 

BEST HARDCORE / METAL

Art Of Kanly

Consequences

End All Suffering

Fall From Below

 

BEST URBAN ALTERNATIVE

Artie Bro

Erik Lamb

Flowers & Kain

N.M.E. The Illest

Skobie Won

 

BEST HIP HOP / R&B

Camacho

Detour

Gramz

Just cuz

Poe Swayzie

 

BEST INDIE / EXPERIMENTAL

Estrogen & Tonic

Ferocious Fucking Teeth

Instant Family

Joe Frawley

Minks

 

BEST PUNK

Chasing Trinity

Flesh Hammer

Sadplant

Stand Tall

Stressbomb

The Wailing Ultimates

Wrist Like This

 

BEST REGGAE / SKA

Fish House

Gounod Leeflang

Llama Tsunami

The Hempsteadys

 

BEST ROCK

A Honey Wagon

Anderson Family Picnic

Bedroom Rehab Corporation

Catfish Phillips

Fifties Slang

Fox Run

Gone For Good

Matzah Cigar

Recur Occurrence

 

BEST SOLO SINGER / SONGWRITER

Anne Castellano

Jake Carpenter

Marco Frucht

Mark Leonard

Nancy Parent

Pat Daddona

Sandy Allen

Steve Elci

Vince Thompson

 

BEST MUSIC SERIES

Bassment Thursday @ Oasis

Blue Collar Happy Hour @ Side Pocket Cafe

Concert Series @ Parade Plaza

DeafDisco @ Oasis

Light Switch @ El-N-Gee

Sinners Circle @ Bean & Leaf

Summer Nights Concert Series @ Hygienic Art Park

 

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Camacho ft. Gregg Self “Flames”

Camacho, Poe Swayzie & Jaszmine Viciousz “Duke Westlake Cypher”

Daphne Lee Martin & Raise The Rent “Let’s Stay In Bed All Day”

Gramz “I Have Arrived”

Jefferey Hart “One Perfect Kiss”

Poe Swayzie ft. Young Gunna “Are You High”

The Great Gabba Ghoul “Sweat Pants”

Pocket Vinyl “A Little Joke”

 

 

 

TOP CRITICS AWARDS

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ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Daphne Lee Marin & Raise The Rent Dig & Be Dug

Erik Lamb Blow Up Dolls

Ferocious Fucking Teeth Ferocious Fucking Teeth

The Fly Ones Sheet Music

Franklin Brothers Lifeboat To Nowhere

Gone For Good Lightening Behind The Grace

The Rivergods Signs

The Suicide Dolls Prayers In Parking Lots

 

POP / ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A Honey Wagon How Come Every Time...

Estrogen and Tonic Project Involvement

Ferocious Fucking Teeth Ferocious Fucking Teeth

Gone For Good Lightening Behind The Grace

Pocket Monsters Talking

The Suicide Dolls Prayers In Parking Lots

 

DJ/ DANCE MIX OF THE YEAR

Bad Manners NYE 2011-2012

Chumzilla Agoraphobia: Beat Shot Fest 2011

DeafDisco PurpleHaze Volume 1

DJA1C Club Demo Rendition

DJae Melee Mixtapeus Maximus

DJ Seaneho The Blast Off

ITSBANK5 4 TH3 LADI35

The Swagger Jackers The Life Aquatic

 

HIP HOP ALBUM/MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR

Artie Bro Rhyme Tasting

Detour Book Of The Dead Vol. 1

Erik Lamb Blow Up Dolls

The Fly Ones Sheet Music

Gramz I Have Arrived

Great Gabba Ghoul Night Of The Living Meatheads

Skobie Won Bedlam & Squalor

Various Artists Best In The Booth: The New Beginning

 

AMERICANA ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Daphne Lee Martin & Raise The Rent Dig & Be Dug

The Franklin Brothers Lifeboat to Nowhere

The Rivergods Signs

Various Artists The Good Sponge Sampler Volume 1

 

INDIE ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Brian Skidmore Brian Skidmore Is A Weird Weird Beard

Estrogen & Tonic Project Involvement

Ferocious Fucking Teeth Ferocious Fucking Teeth

Natural Fathers A Little Harder

Pocket Vinyl Monsters Talking

 

RECORD OF THE YEAR

Angry Bears Stay Gold

Fifties Slang Something Nice

Llama Tsunami We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat

Minks Nightmare Tapes Vol. II

Sue Menhart Forever

The Weird Beards Arreaka

 

SONG OF THE YEAR

Alumni "I Am Me"

Camacho ft. Gregg Self "Flames"

Daphne Lee Martin & Raise The Rent "Pull My Daisy

Erik Lamb "Sky Masterson"

Ferocious Fucking Teeth "Hinkly"

John Fries & The Heat "U.S. 50"

Pocket Vinyl "Quiet Epiphany"

Poe Swayzie ft. Young Gunna "Are You High"

The Rivergods "Signs"

Suicide Dolls "Smash

 

BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Anne Castellano & Hugh Birdsall "Every Time You Cry"

Camacho, Poe Swayzie & Jaszmine Viciousz "Duke Westlake Cypher"

Daphne Lee Martin w/ Erik Lamb & Skobie Won "Nostradamus (remix)"

Jus Cuz ft. Camacho "She Knows"

Skobie Won ft. Erik Lamb "Rocky Coast Vandals"

 

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Artie Bro

Herff Jones

Jake Carpenter

Pocket Vinyl

Poe Swayzie

Wrist Like This

 

 

 

CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

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BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG

Anchors of 76 "Cadillac Arms"

Burnouts From Outer Space "Pair Of Dice"

Herff Jones "Well, Oh Well"

Natural Fathers "My Stead"

Pocket Vinyl "A Little Joke"

Suicide Dolls "Smash"

 

BEST  FOLK / BLUEGRASS  SONG

Daphne Lee Martin & Raise The Rent "Pull My Daisy"

Dirt Road Radio "The House"

The Dirty Stayouts "Strangehold"

Folk Y'All "To The Jungle"

Get Haunted "Dead Lights"

Maggie's Guitar "Anthem"

 

BEST BLUES / COUNTRY ROCK SONG

Dogbite "Nothin"

Chris Mackay & The Tone Shifters "Lena"

Franklin Brothers "Mike's Backyard"

John Fries & The Heat "U.S. 50"

Monkey 68 "Side By Side"

The Rivergods "Signs"

Sue Menhart Band "18 Again"

 

BEST HARDCORE / METAL SONG

Burning Beneath "Son Of The Apocalypse"

Forsake The Sun "Ashes To Ashes"

Go Die Quietly "Auto-Catastrophe"

Inablackout "Loud And Proud"

 

BEST HIPHOP / R&B SONG

Alumni "I Am Me"

Bobby Flow "Is This The Real Life"

Camacho ft. Gregg Self "Flames"

Jus Cuz ft. Camacho "She Knows"

King 40 ft. Tallent "Lighters Up"

Mike Reagan "Lights"

Poe Swayzie ft. Young Gunna "Are You High"

 

BEST URBAN ALTERNATIVE SONG

Artie Bro "Death By The Pistol"

Detour "Sumthin"

Erik Lamb "Sky Masterson"

The Great Gabba Ghoul "Intolerant"

Skobie Won "Bourbon For Breakfast"

The 17th "Push"

 

BEST DANCE / ELECTRONIC SONG

Chumzilla "F*ck The Pain Away (Chum's Horny Mix)"

DeafDisco "Zombie Swagger"

DJShecky "Frequency Modulation"

ITSBANK5 "Test Dead"

Mat Tarbox "Vertical"

The Swagger Jackers "Robot Rodeo"

 

BEST INDIE / EXPERIMENTAL SONG

Estrogen & Tonic "Gettin Away With It"

Ferocious Fucking Teeth "Hinkly"

Joe Frawley "Radius OA"

Minks "Side A III"

False Mermaid "Self-Inflicted Disrepair"

The Weird Beards "Creampuff Powder Man"

 

BEST PUNK / SKA SONG

Angry Bears "Straight Jacket Romance"

Chasing Trinity "Ask Me"

Dead City Riot "Break Down The Walls"

Llama Tsunami "Rock Hard Abs"

Stand Tall "Sick Day"

 

BEST ROCK SONG

A Honey Wagon "Sleepwalker"

Bedroom Rehab Corporation "S.S. Hangover"

Fifties Slang "Solid Wood Floors"

Gone For Good "Calm Down, You're Joking"

The Lenses "What Do I Care"

Matzah Cigar "Pequot Avenue"

Recur Occurrence "Eat Your Heart Out"

 

BEST SOLO SINGER / SONGWRITER SONG

Brian Skidmore "Butterfly"

Carl Franklin "Waiting For The Summer To Come"

Dayne Duranti "God In Disguise"

Jake Carpenter "Back Home"

Lauren Agnelli "Love Wears A Crown"

Luke Hunter "Darshana"

Nancy Parent "Memo"

Sue Menhart "You Can't Tame Me"

Marco Frucht "Frybread"

 

 

 

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WHALIE / WailingCity.com FUN FACTS

 

Site hits (first full day of voting):

2012: 1,037
2011: 797
2010: 533

 

Total amount of valid votes:

2012: .....
2011: 6399
2010: 4507

 

 

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Pics and winners from 2011:

List of 2011 Whalie Award Winners

Pictures from the 2011 Whalie Awards

Video from 2011 Whalie Awards

 

 

Pics and winners from 2010:

List of 2010 Whalie Award Winners

Pictures from the 2010 Whalie Awards