The ballots for this year’s Plug Independent Music Awards are up and once again a number of Austin Bands are represented. The 2008 winners will be announced at the March 6 show in New York, and internet voting for fans lasts until February - so in the true democratic spirit, vote early and often.
This year’s local nominees include Spoon for best album with Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, which also gets a nod for best indie album alongside Okkervil River’s The Stage Names. Dallas’ St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) comes up with nominations for both New Artist and Female Artist of the Year, as well as Video of the Year for “Jesus Saves, I Spend,” while new Dripping Springs resident Sam Beam is up for Male Artist of the Year and Americana Album for Iron and Wine’s The Shepherd’s Dog.
In the “obsessive,” as opposed to “general” music category, Okkervil and Spoon are both contenders for Artist of the Year, and Spoon’s “The Underdog” up for Song of the Year. No local labels made the nominees, but Emo’s is once again in the running for best live music venue and Austin nabbed three festivals in the top slots - ACL, Fun Fun Fun, and SXSW. Waterloo Records also makes their perennial appearance among Record Stores.
To vote, go to www.plugawards.com
