Well, here are the Nominations for the “Best Of The H.M.D.” for 2006! Whew! Once again I've outdone myself and added to the madness. 1 new category is 'Best DVD / Digital Media'. This year was quite interesting due to the major influence of modern country and Southern 'Fried' / Country Rock or whatever you might classify it. Thanks to a co-worker of mine he really gave me some killer country music to check out. THANX JOE!! Thus that's how I discovered Trent Tomlinson. This guy really has talent! I look forward to seeing him live this summer in Fort Loramie, OH.

On another note, WINGER returned with a new album and tour. Once again this great band of musicians really come together nicely. Not to mention they got 'Best Album Cover..'. Great artwork! I miss the old days of the '80's that really took the time to make a great cover! And as a last note about WINGER, many bands should take note on how they spend time with their fans after the show. I first met them in 93 on their PULL tour at McGuffy's in Dayton. This year was no different. To this day, Kip is still one of the best rockers I've ever met! Courtious and willing to autograph your collectibles. The rest of the band were no different. I was quite impressed. Only Bret Michaels, LORDS OF ACID, and Christopher Hall (Stabbing Westward) have been on my top list of 'celeb encounters' that were worth talking about. And would have as many miles of driving time it takes to see them again.

There's also an huge influx of artists I've come across MySpace. The best networking tool since mp3.com. I've added or have been contacted by many a great artist/band that really have some talent. However, the trend is to still swipe music instead of buying it. So a lot of these artists cannot afford to quit their day jobs and book a tour. As a promoter, unless it's a national act with an established name, I can't even think about booking a show here in the Dayton area. No money in it and that really sucks due to the fact that our demographic area is ripe for music. Always has been. But due to the contracts these days a lot of bands skip us if they play Cincinnati or Columbus, Oh. Can't play within a certain mileage of a given town. I can understand why a bit, but come on!! Book us later on in your tours if possible. With a great rock following and 2 major universities and a few other state and community colleges you're passing up on a lot of $$$$$. Not to mention a lot of local acts would give up an arm to open for you!!

This year has also been wonderful for DVD's and digital media. Thanks to MySpace again as well as YouTube, there's a whole new market. Some great TV shows are out on DVD now as well as some killer documentaries for all sorts of subject matters.

Though I cannot fit as many as I like to in certain categories, I try to keep it fairly level. Again, I thank everyone who have made a contribution to the society of music. ROCK ON!!!





“Best Of The H.M.D.” 2006 Nominations
(no location designates a commercial artist)

Note:
“**” next to the category indicates a new category added for 2006.
“*” next to the first listing indicates the winner of said category.

Album Of The Year

1. TRENT TOMLINSON – COUNTRY IS MY ROCK *
2. PAUL STANLEY – LIVE TO WIN
3. LENNON – DAMAGED GOODS
4. THE CORRS – HOME
5. JAKE OWENS – S/T
6. LINDSAY LOHAN – SPEAK
7. ERIC GALES – CRYSTAL VISION
8. LOREENA McKENNITT – AN ANCIENT MUSE


Best Demo / EP Release

1. EDGAR DURBY – LES DROITS DE L’HOMME – Springboro, OH *
2. Shannon Curfman – TAKE IT LIKE A MAN


Best Recorded / Mixed Album

1. Trent Tomlinson – COUNTRY IS MY ROCK
2. WINGER – WINGER IV
3. COLLIDE – LIVE AT THE EL REY – N. Hollywood, CA
4. LENNON – DAMAGED GOODS
5. LOREENA McKENNITT – AN ANCIENT MUSE
6. EDGAR DURBY – LES DROITS DE L’HOMME – Springboro, OH


Best LIVE Album or Track

1. COLLIDE – LIVE AT THE EL REY – N. Hollywood, CA *
2. NIGHTWISH – “High Hopes”


Best New Artist / Band

1. Trent Tomlinson *
2. Tonya Watts - L.A., Cal
3. Sarah Reeve - Austraila
4. EDGAR DURBY – Springboro, OH
5. SKY BLUE 72


Best Female Artist / Band

1. LENNON – Orlando, Fl
2. Tonya Watts - L.A., Cal
3. Maarja - Estonia
4. Sarah Reeve – Austraila
5. Loreena McKennitt


Best Blues / Rock, Jazz Artist / Band

1. Beth Garner – Austin, TX *
2. Eric Gales – Memphis, TN
3. Shannon Curfman – Minneapolis. Mn
4. Tonya Watts - L.A., Cal
5. Scotty Bratcher - Dayton, Oh


Best New Age / Celtic / Folk Artist / Band

1. HOMELAND – Dayton, Oh *
2. THE CORRS
3. Chris Dunnett – Cincinnati, Oh
4. Jim Buckner – Xenia, Oh
5. FIN TAN – Dayton, Oh


Best Dayton, OH Band

1. HOMELAND *
2. ANIMAL GRACE
3. BLISS
4. SACRED SOCIETY
5. EDGAR DURBY


Best Front Woman

1. Squeaky – GIRLUSH FIGURE – Baltimore, MD *
2. kaRIN – COLLIDE – N. Hollywood, CA
3. Lennon Murphy – LENNON – Orlando, FL


Best Front Man

1. Billy Carri – Cincinnati, Oh
2. Scott McGillivray – HOMELAND – Dayton, Oh
3. Robert West – RED EARTH – Dayton, OH
4. Randy Allen – SACRED SOCIETY – Dayton, Oh


Best Guitarist

1. Brad Wheeler – BLISS – New Carlisle, Oh
2. Darin Moore – SACRED SOCIETY - Dayton, Oh
3. Tony Powell – ANIMAL GRACE - Dayton, Oh
4. Beth Garner – Austin, TX


Best Rhythm Guitarist

1. Jade Lowery – BLISS – New Carlisle, Oh
2. Mark Palmer – ANIMAL GRACE – Dayton, Oh
3. Billy Carri – Cincinnati, Oh


Best Acoustic Guitarist

1. Chris Dunnett – Cincinnati, Oh
2. Danny Voris – Dayton, Oh
3. Pat Savelli – FIN TAN – Dayton, Oh
4. Scott McGillivray – HOMELAND – Dayton, Oh
5. Kip Winger - WINGER


Best Bassist

1. Patrick Palmer – SACRED SOCIETY (LEGACY) – Dayton, Oh
2. Rob Koogler – HOMELAND – Dayton, Oh
3. Ben Grillot – OCCAMS RAZOR – Troy, Oh
4. Jeff Long – RIF RAF – Springfield, Oh
5. L.A. Wayne – BLISS – Dayton, OH


Best Drummer

1. Trent Crace – BLISS – Dayton, Oh
2. Brian Ambergey – SACRED SOCIETY (LEGACY) – Dayton, Oh
3. Z – BILLY CARRI – Cincinnati, OH
4. Bryan Knapp – BROTHERS IN ARMS BAND – Dayton, Ohio
5. Adam Sylvester – RED EARTH – Dayton, Oh


Other Instrument Players

1. Ric Smith (Fiddle) – HOMELAND – Dayton, Oh *
2. Pat Savelli (Penny Whistle) – FIN TAN – Dayton, Oh
3. Elizabeth Blickenstaff (Fiddle) – VINEGAR HILL - Columbus, Oh
4. Layne Loxley (Keyboards) – SACRED SOCIETY – Dayton, Oh
5. Bryan Klopfenstein (Fiddle) – FIN TAN – Dayton, Oh



Best Single Tracks

(no location designates a commercial artist)
1. MAARJA – “Could You” *
2. LENNON – “No One Knows” – Orlando, FL
3. Paul Stanley – “Live To Win”
4. Tonya Watts – “Alabama Crimson” - L.A., Cal
5. ANIMAL GRACE – “Joker (LIVE)” – Dayton, Oh
6. Lionel Richie – “I Call It Love”
7. Loreena McKennitt – “Kecharitomene”
8. WINGER – “M-16”
9. RED EARTH – “Still Life” – Dayton, OH
10. HOMELAND – “Lay” – Dayton, Oh
11. Beth Garner – “I Don’t Wanna” – Austin, TX
12. Billy Carri – “Hello To Goodbye” – Cincinnati, Oh
13. Lindsay Lohan – “First”
14. Bret Michaels – “Rock N My Country”
15. M!SS CRAZY – “Blue” – S.F., CA
16. Trent Tomlinson – “Country Is My Rock”
17. Jan Hammer - “The Ride”
18. Sarah Reeve – “You Know You Want To” - Australia
19. SKY BLUE 72 – “Way” -
20. Eric Gales – “Retribution”
21. COLLIDE – “Beneath The Skin (LIVE)” - N. Hollywood, Cal
22. MILKWEED – “Cincinnati Fatties” – Cincinnati, Oh
23. Katya – “Light Longing”
24. Hank Williams, Jr – “Stirrin’ It Up”
25. Jim Buckner – “Arrival/Dawnstar” – Xenia, Oh
26. BROTHERS IN ARMS BAND – “Fine Line” – Dayton, Oh
27. EDGAR DURBY – “A Confession” – Springboro, Oh
28. Deborah Gibson – “Your Secret”
29. NIGHTWISH – “I Wish I Had An Angel”
30. TRIUMPH – “Love Hurts”
31. Shannon Curfman – “Stone Cold Bitch” - Minnapolis, Minn
32. VIAL – “Media Whore” – NYC, NY
33. Nicola – “Your Walls” -
34. BRI – “I Thought” -
35. BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART – “Don’t Stop” -
36. NO BRAGGING RIGHTS – “A New Use For Roses” -
37. Gene Simmons – “Beautiful”
38. SEVEN – “About To Break” -
39. SHAMELESS – “Up” -
40. TRIAD – “Torque” – Cincinnati, OH
41. ZO2 – “Temptation”
42. DR. CHUNK – “Cut You Off” – San Diego, CA
43. THE DREAMING – “Beautiful” -
44. Alyssa Simmons – “Deal With It”
45. Courtney Jaye – “Can’t Behave”
46. CHILDREN OF TRAGEDY –“Prevail” – Manitoba, CAN
47. SIMPLY WAITING – “Casualty” – Dayton, Oh
48. Paul McCartney – “Friends To Go”
49. SACRED SOCIETY (LEGACY) – “Without You” – Dayton, Oh
50. MOB SCENE – “Crime Scene” – Akron, OH


Best Album Cover Art and Layout

(Cover Credit)
1. WINGER – “Winger IV” (Ethan Van Sciver / Moose Baumann / Pete Cotutsca)
2. EDGAR DURBY – LES DROITS DE L’HOMME (info pending)
3. LENNON – “Damaged Goods” (Craig Howell at Cheeba Prod.)
4. MOB SCENE – “Borgata” (Rory Fiorito at Orphan X Graphics)


Best Press Kit / EPK

No Kits this year


BEST DVD/DIGITAL MEDIA

** (category features movies, television shows – new or old, music videos and documentaries as well as other forms of digital video mediums)

1. Aaron Russo’s – “AMERICA – FREEDOM TO FASCISIM” Vol. 1 (Documentary)
2. ROME - Season 1 (TV on DVD)
3. COLLIDE – “Like The Hunted” (Music)
4. The Making Of BRET MICHAELS – A Fan’s Point Of View (Documentary)
5. LENNON – “My Crazy Life” (Music / Documentary)
6. HOMELAND – “Live In Scotland” (Music)
7. GLADIATOR – Extended Edition (Movie)
8. KISS – KISSOLOGY
9. MIAMI VICE – Season 2 (TV on DVD)
10. HOMELAND – “Visions Of HOMELAND” (Music)