by Guest Writer Nico Martini
Published: 6/4/09

Every year the Dallas Observer gives local DFW artists an incredible platform. Even though Dallas is incredibly rich in music history and talent, the community has always seemed to approach the music scene with slight trepidation. That's what makes the Dallas Observer Music Awards even more vital.

This is a chance for incredible exposure to bands that you may not even think about any other time of year, but are more talented than you can possibly imagine. This year is no different. From old school standbys (Like Pops Carter) to some of the funkiest, grooviest, rockingest stuff you've ever heard (Like Record Hop, Backside Pick) it's year of legality (year 21 of the awards) we should all raise a glass to toast the Observer for continuing the tradition of making local music matter just a little bit more.

One of the most striking things that jumps out while perusing this year's nominees is the "resurgence" of the North Texas music capital, Denton. While Dentonites will happily argue until they are blue in the face that the town hasn't "gone anywhere," this year is particularly big for Denton. Since the heyday of the Denton scene, (you remember, back when Polyphonic Spree and Frank Black were headlining Fry Street Fair, and Fry Street wasn't leveled yet) Denton has maintained its indie music sensibilities, and certainly kept cranking out the talent.

Last November, PASTE Magazine declared Denton the best music scene in the country, with good reason. The success of this scene comes down to 2 things . . . talent and advocacy. "DIY is not just a hackneyed acronym in Denton - it's an ethos of community and hard work that's been sustained for over two decades," said Dave Sims of PASTE. This community thriving with a sense of pride about their scene, and its scope is obviously far reaching.

While Denton is easily the highlight of the nominees this year, all of DFW is represented, by artists such as, Best Group nominee - Telegraph Canyon and Best New Group nominee - The Orbans, both hailing from Fort Worth and from Arlington, Best Hard Rock nominee - The House Harkonnen. This year's 21st Dallas Observer Music Awards give us all a reason to cheers!

Please check the official post on the Dallas Observer's DC9 Blog.

Below is the list of nominees with those wacky Denton kids in italics.

Best Group
Dove Hunter
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights
The King Bucks
The O's
Record Hop
RTB2
Telegraph Canyon

Best Solo Act
Doug Burr
Glen Farris
Daniel Folmer
Robert Gomez
Chris Holt
Sarah Jaffe
Salim Nourallah

New Act
The Boom Boom Box
Fergus and Geronimo
Fight Bite
Giggle Party
The O's
The Orbans
True Widow

Best Blues Act
Austin Brown Sounds
Pops Carter and The Funkmonsters
Jim Suhler
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights
The Josh Weathers Band
RTB2

Best Hard Rock Act
THe BAcksliders
Fair to Midland
The House Harkonnen
Record Hop
True Widow
Toadies

Best Country/Roots Act
Eleven Hundred Springs
The King Bucks
The O's
Somebody's Darling
Telegraph Canyon
Whiskey Folk Ramblers

Best Electronica/Dance Act
Binary Sunrise
Darktown Strutters
Florene
Roy G and The Biv
Sydney Confirm
VEGA

Best Experimental/Avant-Garde Act
Chameleon Chamber Group
Nervous Curtains
New Science Projects
Shiny Around The Edges
Sleep Whale
Zanzibar Snails

Best Punk Act
Bad Sports
Drink to Victory
The Lash Outs
Spector 45
Teenage Cool Kids
Wax Museums

Best Indie Rock Act
The Boom Boom Box
Centro-matic
Dove Hunter
The Crash That Took Me
Matthew and The Arrogant Sea
The Paper Chase

Best Metal Act
Akkolyte
Blood Of The Sun
Four Days to Burn
Jacknife
Kill The Client
Within Chaosv

Best Folk Act
Bosque Brown
Doug Burr
Dust Congress
Sarah Jaffe
The Theater Fire
The O's

Best Funk/R&B Act
Backside Pick
Cas Haley
John Lewis Band
The Kül
Odis
The Gritz

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Act
AwkQuarius
Big Tuck
Damaged Good$
Dem Southernfolkz
The GS Boyz
Play-N-Skillz

Best Jazz Act
One O'Clock Lab Band
Shibboleth
Snarky Puppy
Tom Braxton
Yells at Eels

Best DJ
Nature
Prince William
Redsean
Select
Sober
Yeahdef

Best Latin/Tejano Act
The Tejas Brothers
Mi Son Mi Son Mi Son
Mariachi Quetzal