Time to meet your nominees for the Big Red’s: Band of the Year…

Lula Wiles – This trio of songstresses with the chops to match their gorgeous voices came to me pretty recently. I ended up late for a gig I had to get to because I had my ears glued to the speakers and my ass glued to my seat the first time I heard their 3 voices together. Swapping lead duties and instruments is typical for them during a live show and each of them leads with a strength and passion that is unmatched. Want killer, bootstomping fiddle and guitar runs fused in with heartfelt harmonies and songwriting…well, here you go folks.

Haunt the House – “Spooky, powerful, and affecting”…three words is all you need but are far from doing this band justice. The writing of Will Houlihan cuts deep, the arrangements and the music lay a foundation for those words to soar, and the end product is absolutely spellbinding and haunting. If you are a fan of having your heart broken and then gently having it pieced back together, then this is the bad for you. Each and every time true beauty pours forth from the stage.

Smith&Weeden – Plainly put “ Its just f*ckin’ fun and good music, man. Its loud, but not abrasive. It makes you want to dance, but it’s not “dance music”…at least in the industry defining way. It’s not too rock for country music or too country for rock music, its a beautiful and masterful blend of the two.” Infectious, 4 part vocal harmonies that will cave your mind and chest in, the kind of music that you never tire of and will listen to again, and again, and again.

Spotted Tiger– When not one, but two great songwriters decide to start a band together…both of who also are accomplished sidemen on viola and guitar…well, that’s a recipe for something great. A little bit funk, reggae, rock, folk, blues, and more, Spotted Tiger blends it all into a mash up that results in something brilliant. Focused on incredible musicianship, infectious melodies, and a good time these are some hard working folks who are making a name for themselves by hitting stages and venues hard night after night.

The Silks – Rock n’ roll incarnate. Music with a bit of grit on it, bluesy grunginess that taps into music that influences it and makes it shine a bit brighter. There is an energy engrained in this music that is balls to the wall and alive. American music from an American band. Timeless and ageless, could have fit in 40 years ago and still kill it today.  F*ck man, these guys can rock.

The Meadows Brothers – Are we allowed to refer to the voices of two men as “angelic”? Well, I am going to, angelic and warm and the feeling when you find a puzzle piece you thought was missing but perfectly completes the whole picture. The simplicity of two guitars and two voices around one mic or an electric guitar and a stripped down drum kit…both work for these fellas and show the versatility of their music. In the end, its those damn harmonies though. Two voices blended perfectly to make one, complete and wonderful sound.

The Blue Ribbons – The Blue Ribbons are the favorite band of everyone’s favorite Boston band. Slightly more accomplished than you on your instrument, more fun to see live that you can hope to be, but some of the most down to earth and great folks you could ask for. A staple on the tiny stage at Toad for who knows how long, and the band to catch on  a Tuesday night that makes that hangover/sleep deprivation you are nursing Wednesday morning just a little bit easier.

Session Americana– A table, some instruments, and a bottle of whiskey. Session Americana could happen anywhere, but not everyone could make it happen like the fellas in this band do. Intimate but raucous, rock n’ roll but folk, everything and subtle all at once. If you haven’t seen a Session show, then shame on and go see one immediately, if you have then you know there aren’t many words to properly describe it. It is just something to behold and a band that you feel a part of as the audience. That is something special.