Years ago, it was simply the Music Issue. Somewhere along the way, it became the Music & Performing Arts Issue. Now, it’s the SLAMMy (“Salt Lake Area Music & More”) Issue. Whatever the name, it remains simply an opportunity for Salt Lake City Weekly to give specialized ink to even more local musicians and performers than usual—and, of course, throw a big SLAMMy party and run up a bar tab on the paper’s dime (at Xscape on Friday, Sept. 20, in case you hadn’t heard).
As always, we’re kicking it off with the results of our annual readers’ poll, where you (some of you more than once or twice—naughty!) voted for the local stuff that makes life in Zion so much better. Cover rockers Starmy took Best Local CD for their cool Dead Ready disc (we couldn’t agree more); City Weekly won Best Supporter of Local Music (thank ya very much); and, well, read on—what are you waiting for?
Band of the Year: Hudson River School
2. Nova Paradiso
3. Starmy
Best Local CD: Starmy, Dead Ready
2. Hudson River School, Scenes From a Vinyl Recliner
3. Misty Murphy, Circles
Best New Band: Redd Tape
2. Starmy
3. Cosm
Best Rock Band: Erosion
2. Hudson River School
3. SuperSoFar
Best Hip-Hop Band: The Numbs
2. Expression
3. Motivational Speakers
Best Jazz Band: Quadraphonic
2. John Flanders & Double Helix
3. Deluxe Fidelity
Best Blues Band: Cruisaliner Ventilators
2. Blues On First
3. Zach Parrish Blues Band
Best R&B/Funk Band: Optimus Prime
2. Desmo
3. Lisa Marie & The Codependents
Best Bluegrass Band: Purdymouth WV
2. Ryan Shupe & The RubberBand
3. Gift Horse
Best Country Band: Dirty Birds
2. Trigger Locks
3. True Grit
Best Folk/Acoustic Artist: Stacey Board
2. Debi Graham
3. Justin Utley
Best Punk/Metal Band: Thunderfist
2. The Street
3. Form of Rocket
Best Jam Band: Grooveberry Jam
2. Purdymouth WV
3. Tanglewood
Best Party Band: Royal Bliss
2. Purdymouth WV
3. Disco Drippers
Best Female Vocalist: Misty Murphy
2. Melanie Van Orden (Desmo)
3. Wendy Jernigan (Cosm)
Best Male Vocalist: James Woods (SuperSoFar)
2. Mike Sartain (Starmy)
3. Justin Utley (Found)
Best DJ/Turntablist: DJ Birdman
2. Jesse Walker
3. DJ Radar
Best Live Music Venue: Zephyr Club
2. Dead Goat Saloon
3. Liquid Joe’s
Best Club for Local Music: Liquid Joe’s
2. Urban Lounge
3. Kilby Court
Best Local Music Supporter: Salt Lake City Weekly
2. KRCL 90.9 FM
3. TheRockSalt.com
THEATER
Best Acting Company: Plan B Theater Co.
2. Salt Lake Acting Co.
3. Off Broadway Theater Co.
Best Community Acting Company: StageRight Theater Co.
2. Tooth & Nail Theater Co.
3. Utah Theater & Art Co.
Best Local Production: My Left Breast (Plan B Theater Co.)
2. The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Trolley Square Live)
3. Saturday’s Voyeur (Salt Lake Acting Co.)
Best Original Play: Saturday’s Voyeur (Salt Lake Acting Co.)
2. My Left Breast (Plan B Theater Co.)
3. Arabian Nights (Tooth & Nail Theater Co.)
Best Actor: Jon Hamilton (The Eight: Reindeer Monologues)
2. Keith Stubbs (Tony & Tina’s Wedding)
3. Todd Parmley (Arabian Nights)
Best Actress: Betsy West, My Left Breast
2. Anne Decker (Seeing the Elephant)
3. Erin Anderson (The Eight: Reindeer Monologues)
Best Director: Jerry Rapier, My Left Breast
2. Roger Benington (Arabian Nights)
3. Joe Rogan (The Eight: Reindeer Monologues)
Best Playwright: Susan Miller, My Left Breast
2. Joe Rogan (The Eight: Reindeer Monologues)
3. Roger Benington (Arabian Nights)
DANCE
Best Dance Company: Ballet West
2. Ririe-Woodbury
3. SB Dance
Best Production: Flagrante Delicto
2. Swan Lake
3. Tony & Tina’s Wedding
Best Lead Dancer-Male: Brandin Scott Steffensen
2. Tong Wang
3. Jeffry Rogers
Best Lead Dancer-Female: Maggie Wright
2. Stephanie Slade
3. Anne Marie Polignano
COMEDY
Best Comedy Club: Wiseguys
2. Trolley Square Live
3. Johnny B’s
Best Stand-Up Comic: Keith Stubbs
2. Troy Taylor
3. Cameron Stewart
Best Improv Troupe: Knock Your Socks Off
2. Quick Wits
3. Laughing Stock
POETRY
Best Poetry Slam: Closet Poets
2. A Cup of Joe
3. Blue Kats Coffee
Best Poet: Chris Freckleton
2. Jessica Froggley
3. Joel Long