Voting will continue right up until the day of the showcase, so spread the word! And as an added incentive: This year, the top three vote-getters overall are going to perform at our newly reinstated music awards presentation, which will take place on Tuesday, June 12, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Pageant. So start posting MySpace bulletins, tell all your friends, and make plans to log on and make your voice heard. (And remember — we can catch ballot-stuffers, so don't even try it!) All information, including a link to the MySpace page, can be found here: www.riverfronttimes.com/php/retail/stl/musicawards/2007/
In the meantime, to get you pumped up for the balloting and showcase, here's a handy primer to the ballot's Best New Artist candidates!
Daybreak Boys
www.myspace.com/thedaybreakboysband
Sounds like? Strummy, danceable nü-garage-rock that's sensitive without being anemic.
Cred: The trio was one of many St. Louis bands to perform at this year's SXSW festival in March.
Memorable moment: Wait a few weeks: The group is planning to release its first EP with a show at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room on Saturday, May 26.
Touchstones: The Strokes, the Killers, New Order
Heroes of the Kingdom
www.myspace.com/heroesofthekingdom
Sounds like? The dinosaur-size roars of Led Zeppelin crossed with Cheap Trick's sense of melody and the yowling, prog-inflected vocals of the Mars Volta.
Cred: The members of the quartet are veterans of many bands; for instance, drummer Micah Parker honed his skills in Ring, Cicada.
Memorable moment: At an all-covers show in April at the Ground Floor, the HotKays (as they're affectionately nicknamed) basically became Cheap Trick — complete with costumes and a bitching version of "Surrender."
Touchstones: Cheap Trick, Led Zeppelin, Mars Volta
Huey
www.myspace.com/hueyhitz
Sounds like? Wise-beyond-his-years hip-hopper who has the laid-back, street-heavy STL sound down.
Cred: His single, "Pop, Lock & Drop It" is climbing up the Billboard charts; at press time, it was up to No. 15 on the Hot 100 singles charts.
Memorable moment: Signing an impressive record deal with Jive before he can even legally drink.
Touchstones: Nelly, Bow Wow
The Humanoids
www.myspace.com/thehumanoidsruleearth
Sounds like? Old-school punk that RFT scribe Jason Toon describes better than I ever could, in his feature this week.
Cred: In its short lifespan, the band has opened for the Queers, the Draft and Agent Orange at the Creepy Crawl.
Memorable moment: When I heard the Humanoids' EP playing over the sound system at Vintage Vinyl for the first time, I wondered what old-school LA punk band was playing — it was that authentic.
Touchstones: Germs, Descendents
Stella Mora
www.myspace.com/stellamora
Sounds like? Every fabulously talented shoegazer band from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, but with the bonus of having ethereal dual-female vocals.
Cred: Its members have seriously good taste in music.
Memorable moment: Impressing a packed crowd at Cicero's at their very first gig — a show that didn't at all sound like it was their first gig.
Touchstones: My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Slowdive
Walkie Talkie U.S.A.
www.myspace.com/walkietalkieusa
Sounds like? Catchy power-pop wrapped up in a cozy blanket of raucous fuzz and indie-rock jingle-jangle.
Cred: Vocalist/guitarist Jason Hutto has been in, worked with or mentored approximately 650 local bands over the years — perhaps most famously the Phonocaptors and Sexicolor.
Memorable moment: During one particularly raucous Saturday-night gig at Mangia Italiano, the band faithfully covered the Soft Boys' proto-punk stomp "I Wanna Destroy You."
Touchstones: Guided by Voices, early R.E.M., Pixies
