The following article appears in the Dec. '97 - Feb. '98 issue of FolkNotes.

The Sammy's Scene

By Suni Edson

My typical response when someone asks me how an event went that did not go precisely the way that I had wanted is "I looked great." That could be my response for the Sammy's ceremony on November 21. "I looked great."

I did look great, but it really was a fabulous evening. The crowd couldn't have been happier. Everyone was mellow and dressed to the nines. The lady in the turquoise spangled dress and the elbow-length black gloves was particularly striking. I don't think that I have ever seen that much black and big hair in all my life. It is nice to know that those of us who are typically seen in torn jeans really do have something else in our closets.

Enough about clothes. Joe Piscopo hosted this star-studded event that featured stellar performances by Rocco Barbato, C-Jack Run Review, and The Kennedys. Despite random heckling from a rather loud lady in the front, Mr. Piscopo handled himself well and did a truly funny bit as "Garth Piscopo." My personal favorite of the performances was the Flashcubes reunion. It never fails to amaze me that such a mellow guy like Gary Frenay can rock as hard as he does when playing with the Flashcubes.

The presenters themselves were an interesting mix of folks. Mickey and Mark (of the Bebop Shop) were a scream with their presentations for the Best Blues Awards, as Mickey got the audience to clap along as he 'sang' a blues riff before each of the nominees was announced. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the Two Italian Guys, Sonny and Gino, purportedly of a cable TV show. Their slapstick routine along with slightly muddy sound left most of us either puzzled or bemused.

On to the winners. I won't list all of them here, but I would like to offer congratulations to all of those nominated and all of those who won. The list is long and the honors well deserved. Karen Savoca sideman Peter Heitzman took home the Best Rock Instrumentalist award, while Jessica Rudy of Guardrail took the Best Rock Vocalist. I was very surprised when Jeff Jones & The Ghost Monkeys won for Best Modern Rock Group. Best Songwriter went to Joe Whiting.

The presentation for the Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist was very touching. I had only just moved here when Mr. Bourke died, but I remember the reports, and his story was enough to bring tears to my eyes as well as those of the presenter, Mark Bialzak. Ashley Cox took home this award.

Joanne Shenandoah was very gracious in her acceptance of both of her awards, Best Acoustic Act and Best Recording on a National Label.

My favorite award of the evening went to Happy Endings and John and Shelby Crowley for Best Live Music Club (Small). Shelby was so excited that she cried (as all of you who saw the front page of the next day's Post-Standard saw). No one deserves that award more. The Sammy itself is now proudly displayed at the front counter of Happy Endings.

As the evening wore on, the theatre proper slowly emptied. By the finale, much of the crowd had dispersed to the lobby for pictures, drinks, and an overall good time. Los Blancos rocked the crowd on the Landmark mezzanine until midnight. Many Sammy's goers wandered from there to other spots in the downtown area until the wee hours when closing doors and cold weather drove them home or to private parties elsewhere. Most of us weren't willing to let the excitement of the Sammy's go gently into the sweet night. After all, how often do we get to spend time with our friends and look great?

Here's to all the winners, nominees, presenters and players. See you next year.

This page maintained by Dana Cooke. E-mail me at djcooke@aiusa.com.