Now that we've shaken off the hangover of 2012, we've double checked our watches and realized that the first full week in January is time for one thing and one thing only: a new season of OC Music Awards madness. Today, the nominees for the 2013 Awards ceremony (hosted at the City National Grove of Anaheim on March 9) were announced. We have to say, despite the a few predictable returners on the roster and the a list of big-timers who may or may not actually show up for the ceremony (*cough* No Doubt, The Offspring, Social Distortion, Young the Giant, Avenged Sevenfold *cough*) there are a few key surprises in the nominee pool this year. We'll get into our analysis a little later, for now check out this list to review this cavalcade of artists making waves in our local music scene. If you don't know most of these names by now…you should.
This announcement includes 23 of the 27 total 2013 Awards category nominees including two new category additions of Best Tribute and Best Music Producer. Still to come are announcements for OC Impact and Lifetime Achievement honors on February 4, the Best Live Band Showcase Series finalists after the last Showcase on February 19, and The People's Choice Award nominees on March 4. Look for the list of nominees after the jump and be aware that the first installment of the seven-week concert series competition for Best Live Band starts tomorrow night at Detroit Bar at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) The show is 21 and over (btw, the first 100 people in the door get a free Wahoo's Fish taco. So yeah, get your ass out there, early birds!)
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Best Album – Must be released in 2012
Micah Brown – “The Isle of Her”
No Doubt – “Push and Shove”
Reel Big Fish – “Candy Coated Fury”
The Dirty Heads – “Cabin By the Sea”
The Ultimate Bearhug – “Just South of Los Angeles”
Best Song – Must be released in 2012
No Doubt – “Settle Down”
The Dirty Heads – “Dance All Night”
The Ultimate Bearhug – “Foolish Things”
The Offspring – “Days Go By”
Lit – “The Broken”
Best New Artist
Breach The Summit
Douglas and the Furs
Nilu
The Field Trip
Wheeland Brothers
Best Alternative
Ceasfire
City By Storm
Lit
Midnight Hour
The Offspring
Best Blues
Gospel Swamp Blues Band
Jeramiah Red
Mark Sells Band
Parker Macy Blues
Robert Jon and the Wreck
Best Club
DJ
Daniel Mihai aka DJ Thrifty Lips
DJ Aristotle
DJ Jeremiah Red
DJ Mike Soltani
Minaya & Vikus
Best Country/Americana
Alabaster Stones
Big Sandy & the Fly-Rite Boys
Billy Kernkamp and the Brides
Jeramiah Red
Moonsville Collective
Best Electronic
BLOK
Flinch
Free the Robots
Kalva Won
Speaker Junkies
Best Folk
Honeypie
Matt Costa
Micah Brown
The Ultimate Bearhug
Yellow Red Sparks
Best Hip Hop
C4mula
Jonwayne
Locally Grown Collective
Mr2theP
Speach Impediments
Best Indie
Flying Sparks
The Devious Means
The Field Trip
The Steelwells
Young the Giant
Best Jazz
Chris Williams
Evan Stone
Gina Saputo
Peter Siebert
Nancy Sanchez
Best Latin
¡Aparato!
Boogaloo Assassins
Nancy Sanchez
Signa
The Orquesta Cortez
Best Metal
Avenged Sevenfold
Beneath the Buried
Core 10
Railroad To Alaska
Tyranis
Best Pop
Christine Olivier
Honeypie
Nico Adams
Stacy Clark
Suedehead
Best Punk
Audacity
Death Hymn Number 9
Fiction Reform
Social Distortion
The Offspring
Best Rock
Jeramiah Red
Lit
RED9
Robert Jon and The Wreck
Sederra
Best Surf
Aloha Radio
Gantez Warrior
The Growlers
The Originalites
Tomorrow's Tulips
Best World
80 Proof
Badfish
Reel Big Fish
Seedless
The Dirty Heads
Best Tribute
Damage, Inc.
Flashback Heart Attack
Hard Days Night
Michael Michael
Sega Genocide
Best Music Producer
Anik Dang
Barrett Slagle
Dallas Kruse
Jon O'Brien
Lewis Richards
Best Music Video
80 Proof – “Runnin”
No Doubt – “Settle Down”
The Dirty Heads – “Dance All Night”
Well Hung Heart – “Devil”
Wheeland Brothers – “Sand In My Sheets”
Best Youth Artist
A+ Drop Outs
Gavyn Bailey
Sabrina Lentini
Un D Vided
Whiplash Kids Band
