New York City has always been a Mecca for great music. We've had Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, the Velvet Underground and Sonic Youth. No matter how many great bands are being produced in Montreal, Atlanta, Chicago or any other second-rate burg, NYC has always produced a higher quantity of quality bands with a huge range of styles. In recent years we've seen a variety of great bands come up and shake the music world; From The Strokes to LCD Soundsystem to TV on the Radio, New York is still producing great music in the 21st century. Many of our best bands become insanely popular, and at times it’s been easy to forget that there's still a slew of untapped talent playing bars and backrooms all over town. No one knows this better than the bands, which is why we asked dozens of them 10 questions each about the local music scene. We’re surprised and thrilled by the volume and variety of the answers, and we hope you are, too.—Jonny Leather
Best Local Venue
From United Palace Theater in Washington Heights to the bars below Delancey, for every band in town there’s a venue somewhere that will book them. Here’s the breakdown of what New York’s rock ‘n’ roll tastemakers think the best stage in town is.
Album of the Year
We’ve heard the Mp3s, the singles, the mixed CDs and the rooftop party playlists, but these are actual albums—you know, the things you had to buy at a store until downloading came along.
Best Unknown Band
These days, all it takes is one show for any act to become the next big thing. There are groups, however, that toil away, playing opening slots anywhere they can, hoping to make it big. Here’s where our experts sound off on the best of the lot.
Band You Wish Would Reunite
Some folks long to see The Ramones in their prime, Dylan at a Bleecker Street coffee shop or Yum-Yum Tree at ABC No Rio, and each of them has a good reason. NYC has produced thousands of bands that somebody out there loves.
Best Record Store
You know, the place you go to buy the music that you don’t download, or to flirt with the smart record nerds. Either/or.
Best Live Band
Depending on how excited or drunk she was, every showgoer in town thinks they’ve seen the best band around. Was it Sonic Youth at McCarren Park Pool or Hercules and Love Affair at Studio B? Opinions are like assholes—everyone’s stood behind one in line for beer.
Most Uncomfortable Music Venue
Most shows aren’t comfortable. There’s always the tall dude in front blocking your view, the canoodling couple making everyone uncomfortable or the dreaded fan boy jumping up and down to no one’s amusement. And if you’re playing the show, well, let’s just say things aren’t always better on stage.
Best Local Music Blog
If you want to stay in the know about local music, going out every night isn’t enough. You’ve got to spend your days trolling the music blogs to find out who, what, when, where and why. Whether you’re grabbing tracks from the hottest bands or checking out photos from a sold-out show, everyone has a favorite website site for the latest in rock gossip.
Best Local Record Label
In a world where more and more bands are self-releasing, we’re lucky to live in a town with plenty of independent record labels devoted to the vision of a more rocking and rollicking New York. When anyone can slap together a CD, though, who’s doing the best job of keeping vital music on the record store shelves?
The Hardest Part of Working in the Music Industry
Nobody—er, most people—aren’t getting rich making music. They’re doing it because they love to. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a total pain in the ass. Our experts sound off on the worst parts of living the dream.
Jonny Leather, New York Press/jonnyleather.com
1. Best Local Venue - Union Hall
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - You & Me by The Walkmen
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Sound Fix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Motel Motel
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite – Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Gogol Bordello
7. Best Local Record Label - French Kiss
8. Best Local Music Blog - Stereogum
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Studio B
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Hearing loss
Justin Russo, Silent League
1. Best Local Venue - Union Hall
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Love is the best con in town by Grand Mal
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Kims
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Grand Mal
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Rollerskate Skinny
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Hopewell
7. Best Local Record Label - Friendly Fire
8. Best Local Music Blog - I hate blogs
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Southpaw
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Nothing and everything
Ian Bullett, The King Left
1. Best Local Venue - Bowery Ballroom
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Blood Moon by Apes & Androids
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Generation Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - The Kiss Off
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Wu-Tang Clan
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Apes & Androids
7. Best Local Record Label - Achord Recordings
8. Best Local Music Blog - BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - The Charleston
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Paying our managers
Mike Barron, Tropic of Nelson
1. Best Local Venue - Mercury Lounge (Manhattan), Death by Audio (Brooklyn)
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Motel Motel's New Denver
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Etherea for new shit, Academy for old shit
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Cutter
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Gospel
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Les Savy Fav
7. Best Local Record Label - Temporary Residence
8. Best Local Music Blog – BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Webster Hall
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - New York snobs
Clark Westfield, The Gay Blades
1. Best Local Venue - Mercury Lounge
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Sikamor Rooney’s Self Titled
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - that little shop on 5th and A [Etherea –Ed.]
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - The Press
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Television (ha)
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Apes and Androids
7. Best Local Record Label - Ernest Jennings
8. Best Local Music Blog - Not obvious answer - The Music Slut. Real answer - BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Knitting Factory and Tap Bar
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Monetizing cool
Scott McCloud, Paramount Styles
1. Best Local Venue - Bowery Ballroom, still
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Dear Science by TV on the Radio. It's meant to be really good.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Obits
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Talking Heads?
6. Best Live Band in NYC - TV on the Radio
7. Best Local Record Label - Matador, still?
8. Best Local Music Blog – BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Moving subway cars
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Keeping track of reality
Alex Tween, The Forms
1. Best Local Venue - Since it's comparing apples and oranges, I’ll call a tie between Music Hall of Williamsburg and Union Hall (Park Slope MICHELE ADDED PARK SLOPE (?)).
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Marnie Stern's This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is it and It Is It and That Is That
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Sound Fix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Extra Life
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Talking Heads
6. Best Live Band in NYC - The National
7. Best Local Record Label - Dead Oceans
8. Best Local Music Blog – BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Silent Barn, but that's kind of the point.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Working in other industries simultaneously
Pete D'Angelo, Earnest Jenning Records
1. Best Local Venue - The Bell House (Brooklyn), Mercury Lounge (Manhattan)
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Stay Positive by The Hold Steady (Do they count as a local band?)
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - La Strada
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Occasion
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Les Savy Fav
7. Best Local Record Label - You want my honest answer here...?
8. Best Local Music Blog - BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Webster Hall
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Telling your friends that their bands aren't good enough for you to work with
Jack McFadden, Bell House/Union Hall
1. Best Local Venue - The Bell House
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Takka Takka, Migration
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - NONE! Princeton Record Exchange is the closest!
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Arms
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Sea Ray
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Sam Champion
7. Best Local Record Label - Definitive Jux
8. Best Local Music Blog - Sound Bites
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Pianos
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Fame before fortune
Mickey, Motel Motel
1. Best Local Venue - Zebulon. It's a tiny place, but it's probably the coolest environment to see an intimate show. Some really great improvisers come through there.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Motel Motel's New Denver, of course
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music, because ART is SMART...
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Bananamananimal!
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Velvet Underground
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Battles
7. Best Local Record Label - The Rebel Group
8. Best Local Music Blog - Oh my god, Oh My Rockness!
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Rehab
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - The drugs run out. Just kidding. Actually, it's probably the fact that writing to blogzzz takes up so much time that you can't even play music.
Sohrab and Rick Obits
1. Best Local Venue - Cake Shop or Union Hall
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Orphan's Aborted by Birth or Paramount Styles' Failure American Style
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Rockit Scientist
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - All Nines
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Testors or Reverb Motherfuckers
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Endless Boogie and Lycaon Pictus
7. Best Local Record Label - Stint
8. Best Local Music Blog -
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Windows on the World
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Running out of Viagra
NYC Taper, nyctaper.com
1. Best Local Venue - Maxwell's
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Preteen Weaponry by Oneida
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Sharon Van Etten
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Moldy Peaches
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Oneida
7. Best Local Record Label - Bar/None
8. Best Local Music Blog - NYCTaper (!)
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Webster Hall
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Backstabbing
Vivian Girls
1. Best Local Venue - Death By Audio
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - At Rear House by Woods
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Academy
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - German Measles
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Ramones
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Japanther
7. Best Local Record Label - Woodsist
8. Best Local Music Blog – Blank Dogs
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Lit Lounge
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Paying rent
Lucian, Fiasco
1. Best Local Venue - Death By Audio, Silent Barn or Market Hotel
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Sexual Reproduction by Old Table and Shareholders Report Vol. 1 by Lionshare
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - the Internet
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - No One and the Somebodies
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite -
6. Best Live Band in NYC - No One and the Somebodies
7. Best Local Record Label - Impose!
8. Best Local Music Blog – The Michael Jordan Diaspora Blog
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – nightclub, 21 show
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - All the temptations....
Julian, Fiasco
1. Best Local Venue - Death By Audio, Silent Barn or Market Hotel
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - High Places by Marnie Stern
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - I don't like record stores.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - No One and the Somebodies
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Baby Battleship
6. Best Live Band in NYC - No One and the Somebodies
7. Best Local Record Label - Impose!
8. Best Local Music Blog - BrooklynVegan?
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - any place that's 21
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Nothing! It's really fun.
Jonathan, Fiasco
1. Best Local Venue - In addition to the others, I'd say Bodega or Less Artists More Condos.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - I strongly agree with the others listed.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Any of the Williamsburg ones, like Earwax or Sound Fix. Or 4megaupload.com. Haha.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Snuffleupagus
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Vibration
6. Best Live Band in NYC - No One And The Somebodies
7. Best Local Record Label - Impose or Lovepump
8. Best Local Music Blog - BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - 16 , 18 , 21
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Trying to get booked when you're just starting out as a band
Kathryn Yu, photographer for Pitchfork et al
1. Best Local Venue - Bowery Ballroom will always be my favorite. The staff is the sweetest
in the world. The booking is great, too. Nice room, good sightlines, good sound. When it's full it feels both large and intimate at the same time.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Oh gosh ... Pass! Haven't been keeping up. Listening to too many UK folk.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - I rarely buy physical music any more. Sound Fix, I guess. Anybody who flies in the Mountain Goats for their store opening is all right in my book.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Apes and Androids!
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Wrens! Just kidding.
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Right now Apes and Androids, although the Hold Steady recently redeemed themselves in my book.
7. Best Local Record Label - This question is just unfair.
8. Best Local Music Blog - My favorite writers don't live in NYC. BrooklynVegan is most useful.
In terms of great taste in indie rock, Bill Pearis of Sound Bites always steers me right.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Knitting Factory when it's sold out and sweltering. Webster Hall, too—dank and musty! And I'm always afraid I'll fall down the stairs. Haven't been back since the redo (?) though.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Having others think you must know what's new and hot right now.
The Music Slut, blogger
1. Best Local Venue – Bowery Ballroom
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Country Doctor Museum by The Lisps
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Marxwall
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Moldy Peaches
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Pwrfl Power
7. Best Local Record Label – Bada Bing
8. Best Local Music Blog - The Music Slut -) (Haha, other than me, Brooklyn Vegan.)
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - any place that's 21
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Nothing! It's really fun.
John Pugh, Free Blood
1. Best Local Venue - The Pinochle
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Hasn’t come out yet
3. Favorite NYC Record Store – The Thing
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Coconuts
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite – Tie between The Bachelors, Even and Dr. Buzzard’s Savannah Band
6. Best Live Band in NYC - IUD
7. Best Local Record Label - T-Neck Records
8. Best Local Music Blog – Sorry I Missed Your Party
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – our practice space
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry – Drama
Grand Mal
1. Best Local Venue - I hate rock clubs -- they could more aptly be described as the graveyards of rock and roll.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - You should be so lucky by Grand Mal
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Academy Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Clandestine Songs
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Vietnam
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Emergency Party
7. Best Local Record Label - They are all bourgeois capitalist pigs and they all hate my band so what do I care?
8. Best Local Music Blog – Fallen Astronaut’s Tattered Diary Restored
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - They all suck.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - I haven’t the faintest idea...
Doug DeFalco, JellyNYC
1. Best Local Venue – Southpaw (Brooklyn), Bowery Ballroom (Manhattan) tie for vibe and sound
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Travel in Herds by Hymns, Neptune City by Nicole Atkins
3. Favorite NYC Record Store – Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band-
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite – Beat the Devil
6. Best Live Band in NYC – Sharone Jones & The Dap Kings
7. Best Local Record Label - Daptone or Gigantic
8. Best Local Music Blog – Ear Farm
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Spots that sacrifice sound quality and comfort so they can promote themselves and their space with pictures of sweaty kids in a hole.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry – Dealing with all the enormous, fragile egos. We all have them in this business, and we all really think we know it all and that we are always right. Luckily, though, I have been lucky to meet just the right amount of people in the biz that can laugh at this reality and that know the difference and necessity of separating work and life. If it weren’t for them, it would be tougher than it is.
Sarah, Parts & Labor
1. Best Local Venue - Market Hotel
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Ghost Town by Dan Friel
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Hospital Productions
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - The Paranoid Critical Revolution
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite -
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Krallice
7. Best Local Record Label - No Fun Productions
8. Best Local Music Blog - BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Knitting Factory
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Making a living
Jack Rabid, Springhouse
1. Best Local Venue - Southpaw
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – From Now to OK by Springhouse
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Sound Fix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Anthem In
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Mad
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Nada Surf
7. Best Local Record Label - Matador
8. Best Local Music Blog - BrooklynVegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Pianos
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - The hours (endless!)
Crystal Stilts
1. Best Local Venue - Cakeshop, any place that’s slightly courteous and has decent sound.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - caUSE-com-MOTION!'s It's Time
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Rocks in Your Head, Academy Annex
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Tanks Amigo
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Pudding Pops
6. Best Live Band in NYC - German Measles
7. Best Local Record Label - Whats Your Rupture?
8. Best Local Music Blog -
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - Glasslands
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - selling yourself
David Bason, Stay Gold Records, Manager: Semi Precious Records, Miss Derringer
1. Best Local Venue: Irving Plaza, love the staff.
2. Album of the Year (by local band)- Jesse Malin, On Your Sleeve; acoustic Bad Brains cover!
3. Favorite NYC Record Store Jammyland (r.i.p)
4. Best Unknown NYC Band: Hard Drugs
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite: Shanri-Las (the real ones)
6. Best Live Band in NYC: Semi Precious Weapons
7. Best Local Record Label: Whichever one Lou Reed is on.
8. Best Local Music Blog: I’m still a BV guy
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows: MSG
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry: Music industry math
My Teenage Stride
1. Best Local Venue - Union Hall or Cakeshop
2. Album of the Year (by local band)- Pains Of Being Pure At Heart or Dear Science (TV on the Radio)
3. Favorite NYC Record Store Academy Records or Etherea
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Airwaves
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite -- My Favorite
6. Best Live Band in NYC -- Crystal Stilts or Ladybug Transistor
7. Best Local Record Label – The one that signs MTS —ha ha
8. Best Local Music Blog Idolator
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows Pianos
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry Carrying heavy stuff
Boris Skalsky, Dead Heart Bloom
1. Best Local Venue - Music Hall of Williamsburg
2. Album of the Year (By A Local Band) - Looking forward to O Death 'Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin'
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Frances
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Original lineup of Secret Machines
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Grizzly Bear
7. Best Local Record Label - Kemado
8. Best Local Music Blog - Free Williamsburg
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - None.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Getting people to care.
Bear in Heaven
1. Best Local Venue - Glasslands
2. Album of the Year (by local band) -Sam Amidon - All is Well
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Kims
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - The Dicktips
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Unwound
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Growing
7. Best Local Record Label - Social Registry and Wierd
8. Best Local Music Blog - Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - The venue that draws less than 10 people and has a 150 person capacity.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Anything that involves not making music so you can make more music.
Neol Heroux, Hooray For Earth
1. Best Local Venue - Pianos (small), Bowery Ballroom (large)
2. Album of the Year (By A Local Band) - Department of Eagles In Ear Park
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Zambri
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - umm, Talking Heads?
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Zambri
7. Best Local Record Label - Downtown
8. Best Local Music Blog - Trash Menagerie, Stereogum
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows - I can't say
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - iTunes
Ted Chase, QRO Magazine
1. Best Local Venue - Music Hall in Williamsburg
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Rahim, Laughter
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - I can't say 'Princeton Record Exchange' in Princeton, NJ, can I? 'Cause it still rules. If not, Kim's Video, I guess.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Frankpollis (though this depends on what you mean by 'unknown')
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Talking Heads
6. Best Live Band in NYC - White Rabbits (I'm assuming this is supposed to be a local band)
7. Best Local Record Label – Matador
8. Best Local Music Blog – (assuming I can't vote for my own) Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – (le) Poisson Rouge
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - The hangovers...
Joan as Police Woman
1. Best Local Venue - bowery ballroom
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - to survive- joan as police woman
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - sound fix- bedford and 11th st. williamsburg
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - golden
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - blondie
6. Best Live Band in NYC - the netherlands
7. Best Local Record Label - red panda
8. Best Local Music Blog - never read blogs
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows -
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - what's hard about music? nothing. people love to complain but i can't complain. i am so thrilled that i get to perform and that people care enough to come out and listen.
Ohmyrockness
1. Best Local Venue - The Bell House
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - School of Seven Bells "Alpinisms"
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Insound
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Golden City
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Garden Variety
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Apes and Androids
7. Best Local Record Label - Frenchkiss
8. Best Local Music Blog - Oh My Rockness
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - any outdoor festival
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Maintaining a healthy liver
Tiny Masters of Today
1. Best Local Venue - Southpaw/Union Hall (tie), We also love doing Todd P shows
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - TV on the Radio Dear Science
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Sound FIx
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Calamus
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Talking Heads
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
7. Best Local Record Label - Vice
8. Best Local Music Blog - Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - CBGBS: the bathrooms were disgusting
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Juggling homework
Stars Like Fleas
1. Best Local Venue - Zebulon (Tianna Kennedy)
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Zs - “Arms” (Tianna)
3. Favorite NYC Record Store – Downtown Music Gallery (Matt Lavelle)
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Almovacy (Montgomery Knott)
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite – Live Skull, DNA (Shannon Fields), White People (Ryan Sawyer)
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Country Teasers (Montgomery)
7. Best Local Record Label -- Awesome Vistas (Ryan)
8. Best Local Music Blog "Alex Ross: The Rest is Noise" and "Heartonastick" (Shannon)
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - The Annex (Montgomery)
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry – It’s an industry and we are not good at being industrialists (Shannon); Fart jokes (Montgomery)
Liz Schroeter, Drillteam Marketing
1. Best Local Venue - Union Hall
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - kinda hate to admit it, but MGMT Oracular Spectacular
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Insound.com (which maybe doesn't count)
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Appomattox
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Bling Kong
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Yo La Tengo if living 2/3rds in NJ counts
7. Best Local Record Label - RCRD LBL
8. Best Local Music Blog - Prefix
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Pianos
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - the egos and not being able to easily draw a line between work and your personal life
Black Dice
1. Best Local Venue -Death By Audio
2. Album of the Year (by local band) -Alien In A Garbage Dump (Eric Copeland)
3. Favorite NYC Record Store-Eat Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band-Extreme Violence
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite-Missing Foundation
6. Best Live Band in NYC-Cause Co-Motion
7. Best Local Record Label-Fusetron
8. Best Local Music Blog-andybetablog
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows-Knitting Factory
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry-No money!
Cause Co-Motion!
1. Best Local Venue - CAKE SHOP
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - CRYSTAL STILTS "ALIGHT OF NIGHT"
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - GIMME GIMME RECORDS
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - BEACHNIKS
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - BENT OUTTA SHAPE
6. Best Live Band in NYC - LIQUOR STORE
7. Best Local Record Label - WOODSIST
8. Best Local Music Blog
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry
Dave Caplan, Bumpershine.com
1. Best Local Venue -The Bell House closely followed by Union Hall.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - TV on The Radio - Dear Science
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Academy Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Batillus
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Talking Heads
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Ra Ra Riot are a very hard working band, and they always deliver live. Their last show at the Bowery Ballroom was truly a special night. Sufjan Stevens always has great live shows too, he continues to top himself, which is impressive. I'm not sure he'll be able to top the BAM show though, but we'll see.
7. Best Local Record Label - Family Records
8. Best Local Music Blog - Pop Tarts Suck Toasted is the best local music blog out there.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - I haven't been in there in years, but the last time I was at Roseland it was awful. I'm also not a huge fan of Webster Hall.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Since I'm not really "working" in the music industry in the traditional sense, it's tough for me to say, but I'd imagine that the diminishing number of people who wish to pay for recorded music is hard on all musicians.
Abe Pollack, Little Bear & The Bad Touch/X-Ravens & Chimes
1. Union Hall because it has the best sound for a small club. Union Pool because when I play there people from Manhattan think I'm playing Union Hall.
2. TVOTR, Dear Science. I've been playing this album on repeat ever since I stole it from my friend.
3. Soundfix because of the great staff.
4. Ben Britten - He is actually from various small towns in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island but he records in New York. He sounds like Bonnie Prince Billie with a loop pedal. I also like Buke & Gass.
5. Mistakes
8. BKvegan and all of his hating anon commentators
9. Death by Audio. They really need to acoustically treat the room and put in some ventilation. I still see shows there on a weekly basis.
10. Being unemployed.
Todd, Harlem Shakes / Arms
1. Best Local Venue - Union Hall, though i'm getting very excited about (le) poisson rouge
2. Album of the Year (By Local Band) - Dept of Eagles "In Ear Park." this guy is so talented it hurts my brain.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - the internet
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Hospitality
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Beat the Devil
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Yeasayer blew my head off a while back.
7. Best Local Record Label - bless Audika records for putting out all of Arthur Russell's back catalogue.
8. Best Local Music Blog - wish i knew!
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See shows - Pianos. something about that door in the back makes me nervous when i'm onstage.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - being patient
Right On Dynamite
1. Best Local Venue - I miss NorthSix
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Dear Science
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Permanent Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Right on Dynamite
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Realistics
6. Best Live Band in NYC- The Giraffes
7. Best Local Record Label - Not The Social Registry
8. Best Local Music Blog - www.rightondynamite.com
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows -The Garden
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Too much lady action
Intermissions
1. Best Local Venue - Music Hall of Williamsburg
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - "You & Me" by the The Walkmen
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Academy Records (Williamsburg)
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Intermissions
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - none
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Sonic Youth
7. Best Local Record Label - The Cougar Label
8. Best Local Music Blog - any/all
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Nokia Theater in Times Square (this place sucks the big one)
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - subjectivity
Lexy, Harlem Shakes
1. Best Local Venue - Bowery Poetry Club, run by the great Bob Holman.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Tie between Superhuman Happiness and Sway Machinery. I have no idea what either of their records is called, but both are so good that they might as well be called Led Zeppelin 23 and Led Zeppelin 32, respectively.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - HMV on West 72nd street.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - tie between RIBS, Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers, Sway Machinery, Superhuman Happiness.
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Beat the Devil. Company Flow: EL-P once wrote, "even when I say nothing it's a beautiful use of negative space."
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Larkin Grimm. Jay-Z. The Wowz. LD Beghtol.
7. Best Local Record Label – Gigantic Music. Like Roc-A-Fella but with the Walkmen instead of those gaudy necklaces.
8. Best Local Music Blog – Nick Sylvester's Riffmarket. If there's nothing new, read the back posts.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – All of 'em.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Guitarists.
Project Jan
1. Best Local Venue - Union Pool
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Rocketship Park "Off and Away"
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Chairlift
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Run DMC
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Apes & Androids
7. Best Local Record Label - Beggars Group
8. Best Local Music Blog - Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Trash Bar
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Filing and Categorizing.
Erik Nyquist, The GoStation
1. Best Local Venue - United Palace
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts, Temporary People
3. Favorite NYC Record Store- Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - The GoStation
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite- The Fever
6. Best Live Band in NYC- The Flesh
7. Best Local Record Label- Matador
8. Best Local Music Blog- Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows- Fat Baby
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry- Information overload
Mary Pearson, High Places
1. Best Local Venue - Dead Herring House
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Marnie Stern's " This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That"
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Silk Flowers
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Velvet Underground
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Crystal Stilts
7. Best Local Record Label – Social Registry
8. Best Local Music Blog – http://citycenternyc.blogspot.com/
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Mercury Lounge
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Being on the road keeps me away from my cats!
Po' Jay, Golden Triangle
1. Best Local Venue - Glasslands
2. Album of the Year (By Local Band) - Awesome Color Electric Aborigines
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Academy Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Wellington Ladies Welfare League
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Mob Stereo
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Golden Triangle
7. Best Local Record Label - Sangre Libre
Asher Lack, Ravens & Chimes
1. Best Local Venue - Hands down Bowery Ballroom. it is intimate and yet can support massive crowd jumping all out moments as well.
2. Album of the Year (By Local Band) - Hmmm, I'm always late on this so check back in the next few months, but for now I like the Walkmen's new album.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - I guess Other Music. I like soundfix as well. Generation Records on Thompson St. is pretty cool too.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Is it fair to say Ravens and Chimes or is that tacky? I also like our friends The Secret Life of Sofia.
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - I wish all my buddies bands from high school would do one big NYC public school reunion show together. For anyone who remembers: Hybrid, The New Mexikans, Atomic Martini, Slave 1, and HBD. Also I wouldn't mind another Detachment Kit or Strokes album at some point.
6. Best Live Band in NYC - It was probably detachment Kit but they broke up. Last year I saw The Walkmen totally kill it at CMJ, they were so unpretentious and not trying to prove anything. When they were done playing they loaded their own Piano off the stage and into their van.
7. Best Local Record Label - Matador I guess. Although lately French Kiss has been making some good signatures (Passion Pit etc.).
8. Best Local Music Blog - Ummm .... Songs About Knives?
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See shows - I always have a tough time playing Union Pool because it's designed for bands who play louder than we do. That said I've seen some great shows there so I guess we just weren't bringing it the times we played there.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Separating hype vs. content can be a little daunting sometimes. Seeing how bands with massive corporate backing are put into the public under the guise of "indie" can feel alienating especially when no one realizes how much of what they read about and listen to is payed for with very large budgets.
Whenever I hear any music or art critic in general say that the internet has ended the era of the "undiscovered artist" I get a bit bummed out because that is simply not the case. It is impossible for a group of media outlets (no matter how big they are or how hard they work) to know about every single piece of art being made and what it's current and future cultural relevance will be. That said I am glad that there are people who are at least working to level the playing field by championing unknown acts.
Jason Russo, Hopewell
1. Best Local Venue - Glasslands
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Love is the Best Con in Town – Grand Mal
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Eat records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Tulipss – Land Of Tomorrow – Golden Triangle
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite -The Caulfield Sisters
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Gang Gang Dance
7. Best Local Record Label - Social Registry, Tee Pee,
8. Best Local Music Blog - New York Night Train.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Performing: Any of the west side of Manhattan velvet rope type deals. Seeing: The majority of them. Venue owners should really consider cots.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Having to play therapist to all of the label people after the inevitably lose their minds.
Hamilton Leitheuser, The Walkmen
1. Best Local Venue - The Continental
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - The Walkmen You & Me
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Norman "Rockwell" Cody
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Modern Lovers
6. Best Live Band in NYC - The Walkmen
7. Best Local Record Label - Troubleman Unlimited
8. Best Local Music Blog - I don't know any
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows -I don't know all that many...they're all pretty uncomfortable though...it's kind of an uncomfortable activity.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Making money.
Charles Burst
1. Best Local Venue - Market Hotel
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - King's Curse by Begushkin
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Academy Records in Brooklyn
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Soft Black
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Chrome Cranks
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Heavy Hands
7. Best Local Record Label - Ernest Jenning, of course
8. Best Local Music Blog - don't read them
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - I love Cake Shop but it's a squeeze.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - getting out of bed
Takka Takka
1. Best Local Venue - Bell House
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Mothertounge by Nico Muhly
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Soundfix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Inlets
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Lynnfield Pioneers
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Oxford Collapse
7. Best Local Record Label – Ernest Jenning and/or Matador
8. Best Local Music Blog – Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Glasslands
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - poverty & alcohol
Kayo Dot
1. Best Local Venue - The Stone
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Made Out of Babies
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Generation Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Chubby Behemoth
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Friendly Bears
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Claudia Quintet
7. Best Local Record Label – Tzadik
8. Best Local Music Blog – we don't know any!
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – too many
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - hahaha
Nick Thorburn, Islands / Human Highway
1. Best Local Venue - McCarren Pool (rip)
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Ratatat LP3
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - The New Beatles
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Simon & Garfunkel
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Juiced Elfers
7. Best Local Record Label – French Kiss
8. Best Local Music Blog – Overheard Music
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Carnegie Hall
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - All the surveys!
Dan Maxwell & His Band
1. Best Local Venue - The Knitting Factory
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Senor & The Queen by the Gaslight Anthem
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Generation Records
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Dan Maxwell & His Band
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Jawbreaker...do they count?
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Takka Takka
7. Best Local Record Label – French Kiss
8. Best Local Music Blog – Short and Sweet NYC
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – The National Underground
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Shameless self promotion...Re: #6.
A Storm of Light
1. Best Local Venue - Blender Theatre at Grammercy
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Tomb St. and/or PJ Harvey's White Chalk
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Psychic Paramount
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Swans
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Book of Knots
7. Best Local Record Label – Temporary Residence
8. Best Local Music Blog – Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Highline
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Rock stars
Justin Tranter, Semi Precious Weapons
1. Best Local Venue - Rebel - big stage, amazing lights, 18 .
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - The Fame: Lady GaGa - she is pop trash, but odd, smart and fabulous.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Permanent Records in Greenpoint
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Mod Rocket
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Heernt
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Semi Precious Weapons (yup, I'm pretty sure my show is the best)
7. Best Local Record Label - Razor and Tie. The biggest indie to actually stay indie.
8. Best Local Music Blog - Heart on a Stick. They openly hate the fact that they love us. Amazing.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Knitting Factory Tap Room
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - If you work really fucking hard people question your artsy cred, if you don't work hard no one knows who you are.
Heloise & The Savior Faire
1. Best Local Venue - Music Hall of Williamsburg/ Bowery Ballroom
2. Album of the Year (by local band) -"Blood Moon" - Apes & Androids
3. Favorite NYC Record Store- Other Music AND Soundfix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band- Haven't heard of them yet.
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite- Opti-Grab
6. Best Live Band in NYC- Kiss
7. Best Local Record Label- Dunno Records
8. Best Local Music Blog- What's a Blog?
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - The obvious choice would be Lit Lounge, but it's not that bad at all. It's just a small stage and it smells like mildew and incense. We'll play anywhere and probably love it.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry- The Music Industry
Greg Jamie, O'Death
1. Best Local Venue - Cake Shop has a good way of booking the bands before they go through the system. Bowery Ballroom is always quality. They do different things and serve a different function.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Phosphorescent's Pride. i have a soft spot for what he does even though he may not give a shit about us. I want to hear Begushkin's new album and Usaisamonster's new album. I love the bits I've heard of both so far. Woods released an amazing album recently called At Rear House. TK Webb and the Visions have an amazing album out now too. Stars Like Fleas new album is creepy and ok.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Soundfix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Begushkin. Honne Wells. Skeletonbreath.
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - wouldve loved to have seen DNA. I saw Arto Lindsay play once at Tonic when i was in high school and it left an impression.
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Dirty Projectors live show has been really impressive lately. also Langhorne Llim.
7. Best Local Record Label - Its a cop out but I have to say Kemado, seamlessly straddling folk metal and psych. thanks guys.
8. Best Local Music Blog - heart on a stick.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - maybe studio b. easier to talk bad about venues that don't exist anymore. We also threatened to pee on their floor one time an swore to never play there again at some security guard.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Figuring out how to afford to do it all the time.
BJ, Parts & Labor
1. Best Local Venue - Market Hotel
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - These Are Powers - Tarot Tarot
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Sound Fix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Guns Guns Guns
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - The Good Good
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Oneida
7. Best Local Record Label - The Social Registry
8. Best Local Music Blog - Brooklyn Vegan
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Lots of 'em
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Breaking even
Oneida
1. Best Local Venue - Steve 5's Loft
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Awesome Color - Electric Aborigines
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Sound Fix
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - The Library is On Fire
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Broke Revue
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Sightings
7. Best Local Record Label - Social Registry
8. Best Local Music Blog - Is Dusted a blog?
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Trash Bar
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Liberal Left Wing Media
Ford & Fitzroy
1. Best Local Venue - Bowery Ballroom. people from around the world and new york agree. there's nothing left to say about it.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - the titus andronicus one was great. the new harlem shakes one will be great.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - wherever zeb finds all those lost albums - i guess old people in bay ridge.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - I really like this album by gates of heaven. I don't know if its released or what, but i was really lucky to get my hands on it via china. weird vocal mash-ups, simple electronic beats, and nice progressions. usually i hate stuff like this, but these guys do it right.
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - remember the realistics? i saw them in like 2001, no, maybe spring of 2002 and they were great and got consistently worse after that. i saw them in london, boston, and new york. i would say them, circa 2001.
6. Best Live Band in NYC - anything mick barr does. ocrilim, anything.
7. Best Local Record Label - Matador continues to be amazing. i guess we have to say cougar label, they're great.
8. Best Local Music Blog - um, is brooklyn vegan a music blog? I don't really read it, but people seem to like it. oh, no. patrick and ohmyrockness. great guy, helpful service, good writing. ford & fitzroy votes for ohmyrockness.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - unfortunately have to say terminal 5. i love the bowery presents people and everything they do, but that venue makes good music bad. conventional wisdom says its only really worth seeing prince there.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - lifting my stupid amp into and out of cars. i'm not very strong.
Chris Owyoung, photographer
1. Best Local Venue - Blender Theater
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - We Love You by Semi Precious Weapons
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Other Music
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Arthur Lewis
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Semi Precious Weapons
8. Best Local Music Blog - Prefixmag.com
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/see shows - Terminal 5
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Getting paid a living wage.
Ryan Muir, photographer
1. Best Local Venue - McCarren Pool—whether its the free pool parties or paid shows, there was always plenty of space, great sound for an outdoor venue, delicious food and pretty impressive programming. Although on a technicality, I might have to say The Warsaw is my fav which is just down the street for also having food, a charming school auditorium vibe, and proximity to my apartment, That and its gonna stay open next year.
2. Album of the Year (by local band) – Ratatat LP3
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - Sound Fix - Love the in-stores in their lounge, friendly staff, good selection.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Jealous Girlfriends (do they count as unknown?) they're bound to break big soon.
5. Local Band You Wish Would Reunite - Talking Heads—having a tough time with this one, every band I like seems to be from not here, or has reunited in the last 5 years. I'll take this one on a technicality since I think they all live in New York now.
6. Best Live Band in NYC - Les Savy Fav - Hard to beat this band's live show and Tim Harrington's antics no matter what city you're in.
7. Best Local Record Label – Love Pump United
8. Best Local Music Blog – Brooklyn Vegan - best news and live coverage on NY scene, and most national major fests.
9. Most Uncomfortable Music Venue To Perform/See Shows – Cake shop - I love this place, but is small, hot, sight
lines are bad, light is low. Programming is great, place is really intimate if you are in the front.
10. Hardest Thing About Working in Music Industry - Staying up late, and waking up early. Doing it all over
again.
Tod Seelie, photographer
1. Best Local Venue - Market Hotel
2. Album of the Year (by local band) - Is the new Matt & Kim out yet? The new Parts & Labor then. Am I really not allowed to pick Black Mountain or Bon Iver? Damn.
3. Favorite NYC Record Store - From the bands at live shows.
4. Best Unknown NYC Band - Ninjasoni
