2011 RFT Music Awards Winners: Best Americana (Rock): Pretty Little Empire

Sounds Like: Driving Americana with a sentimental streak

Steve Truesdell

Pretty Little Empire.

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• Justin Johnson
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Recommended If You Like: Tom Petty, Gaslight Anthem, Gin Blossoms

Instrumentation: Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums and sweet four-part harmonies

Crowd Response: Those in the large crowd who came to party were casually dancing and singing along, beers in hand. The curious and the passers-by were won over by the infectious energy of the room.

Year formed: 2008

Influences: "All four of us have very different influences," says singer/guitarist Justin Johnson. "But we can all agree on Buddy Holly, Uncle Tupelo and the Pixies."

If there were a Pretty Little Empire film, who would you want as director? "I would say Werner Herzog because he's totally crazy," says Johnson. "I wouldn't know if he's going to make a 3D concert film or just make us do pushups in the middle of the desert. Or maybe Scorsese, if we could get young Scorsese. He wouldn't even have to make a movie about us; it'd just be cool to meet him."

Next show: June 25 at the Firebird

Click here to return to the complete list of 2011 RFT Music Awards winners.