Best Music

March 30, 2005

Best Musician: A Four-Way Tie

Alas, although there were many single votes for Best Musician in this year’s survey of Northern Express readers, no clear winner emerged in the category this year.
Instead, there was a four-way tie of three perennial winners and one newcomer: Rock & blues guitarist Brian Schram, jazz pianist Jeff Haas of NOD, mandolin band leader Don Julin of Neptune Quartet, and Antrim County performer Lee Malone.

Best Club DJ: Nick Kopacki -- DJ Shorty

Nick Kopacki, aka DJ Shorty, took top honors as Best Club DJ. Nick spins at Shimmers in the Holiday Inn and is a student at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids with a goal of studying medicine to become a physician. He has been dj’ing for approximately five years.
Other club DJs who rated high with Express readers included Nesta of the Loading Dock; Junior, Ivan and Zeb who spin at 310; Jeremiah Jackson at Shimmers; Shaun Peterson of Petoskey, Justin Owens, Larry Reichart, CDX Chris Remy and Ricky T.
The DJ scene has been coming on strong at local nightlife venues and house parties over the past year or so. Pictured at right are Jeremiah Jackson (aka DJ RIP) and Chris Remy (CDX) who spin at Shimmers in TC and around town. Chris will be dj’ing Thursdays at Loading Dock starting March 31, putting on a show of funky, jazzy Chicago house mixed & remixed live. “The show will feature music that spans two decades of underground house music from around the world, all very funky, laid back grooves with a very jazzy feel,” says Chris.


Best New Band: Alice Pearl Garden

The early ‘90s grunge sound lives again when Alice Pearl Garden takes the stage. The band arose out of a spur-of-the-moment collaboration between Jeff “Jabo” Bihlman of the Bihlman Brothers and members of Dose.
Playing to packed audiences at jet engine volume, the band performs hits from the long-gone Seattle grunge scene as well as obscure collector’s items from the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney and more.
How do they remember all of those tortured grunge lyrics, not to mention the chords and leads on dozens of songs? Good question. Whatever the case, members of APG always look like they’re having a great time on stage, generating a sense of infectious teen spirit.


Best Song: “Over and Over Again” by Tim McGraw

Maybe it’s all in his head, but country rocker Tim McGraw’s tormented tune landed him “best song” in the lonely hearts of at least a few Express readers. Sample lyric:

“Cause it’s all in my head
I think about it over and over again
And I can’t keep picturing you with him
And it hurts so bad
Cause it’s all in my head
I think about it over and over again
I replay it over and over again
And I can’t take it, I can’t shake it no...”

Poor Tim... You also gave the nod to “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dog, “Heaven” by Los Lonely Boys, “Where Is the Love” by the Blackeye Peas, and “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, among others.
Local songs which garnered votes included “Bossman Joe” by Song of the Lakes, “Facts of Life” by the Ghettobillies and “Never Be the Same” by Mojo and the Boogieman.


Best Poetry Open Mike: Horizon Books & Harmony Grounds

Horizon Books in Traverse City and Harmony Grounds in Petoskey were the winners for those in the mood to emote.
And get this: their open mic poetry readings are both held on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Talk about synchronistic energy; it makes us feel like a poem coming on...