Congratulations on Winning the Best…


Ego, sense of entitlement, expectations and any other kind of bullshit typically associated with stars and ceremonies never surfaced Saturday at the Grove of Anaheim, where a mix of emerging and certified luminaries repping myriad music styles gathered for the Ninth Annual OC Music Awards. 
I'm not a big fan of competition when it comes to the arts and it appeared all involved pretty much shared that sentiment. The “winners” offered humble–and brief (thank you!)–acceptance speeches with even the most recognizable faces in the room appearing genuinely moved to be part of the talent rich–but largely disparate and geographically challenged–Orange County scene. 

After the jump: Complete list of all the winner.  

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The OC Music Awards, with their numerous free live showcases leading up to Saturday's event, which featured local faves, burgeoning nationally-known acts and household names Sugar Ray and Lit, managed to make everyone feel as if they were taking part in a hometown celebration. Good times were the overall vibe, but a moment of genuine poignancy did sweep the packed theater when Lit, best known for party tunes, went acoustic with “Here's to Us,” in honor of drummer Allen Shellenberger, who died of a brain tumor in November. 

Best Album: Thrice

Best Alternative:
Stereofix

Best Country/Americana:
Dusty Rhodes & the River Band

Best Hip Hop:
Blok

Best Latin:
Boogaloo Assasins

Best Pop:
Stacy Clark

Best Surf:
The Growlers

Best Live Band:
Dusty Rhodes & the River Band

Best Song:
“El Capitan,” the Steelwells
Best Blues: Roman Alexander and The Robbery

Best Electronic
: Electric Valentine

Best Indie
: The New Limb

Best Metal
: Atreyu

Best Punk
: The Adolescents

Best World
: The Dirty Heads

Orange County Impact Award
: Sugar Ray

Best New Artis
t: The Steelwells

Best Club DJ
: Free The Robots

Best Folk
: Yellow Red Sparks

Best Jazz
: Translucent Ham Sandwich Band

People's Choice Award
: Duress

Best Rock
: Dusty Rhodes & the River Band

Best Live Acoustic
: Billy Kernkamp

Lifetime Achievement Award
: Jim Washburn

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