Comments on: The Best of Buffalo Winners

By: mike

mike — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:26:11 +0000

To clarify, we don’t have a drunk guitarist now, and didn’t have one earlier, contrary to Bob’s jest. In fact, I played for a decade with Bob and never saw him tipsy. But, where all the damn beer went? Call the X-Files for that answer…

By: Clem

Clem — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:20:05 +0000

In all fairness to Lana, (Lou), she plays a lot of shows and 2 on the same night
at times. Thats tough on the vocal chords. I seen her at Coyotes a couple of months ago and thought she sounded pretty damn good. I don’t know her personally but she works her tail off. It’s not like she’s singing 4 or 5 songs a night. I still don’t think it’s fair she wins every year. Please, don’t take that personal Lana you do deserve it. What ever happened to being inducted into the hall of fame after winning a three times in a row? They should bring that back, that would give other people a chance. And, it might give the band they play in a chance to build a following as well.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:52:43 +0000

I am offended…….drunk guitarist??? I am not in that band anymore!!! LOL
Thank you everyone for the nomination for the Best Writer catagory.

By: jamie moses

jamie moses — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:19:33 +0000

I would like to point out that the Artvoice Best of Buffalo Awards, unlike the Buffalo Music Awards, is not all music categories only. There are selections for restaurants, politicians, parks, clothing stores, hair salons etc. What this means simply is that the thousands of people who voted were not all from the “music community”, as is pretty much the case with BMA. So while a hair stylist may be busy hustling votes for his/her salon, they will also make selections in other categories, including music. Remember that ballots that were not sufficiently filled out were tossed, so people from all walks of life were a part of choosing winners in every category. The point is that it is probably unwise to assume that the same politics that are in play during the BMA carry into the Artvoice Awards. And the general public probably doesn’t rate this or that singer based on their vocal range or any other musical technicality. They may just like the singer’s personality, or more likely, they simply love the songs the band chooses to play. Ultimately, most if it comes down to the songs, people like your songs or they don’t.

By: Cara

Cara — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:44:01 +0000

AMEN Lana. You said it the best. I think it is ridicules that Black Widow and Hit N Run always are being bashed for winning. Both of the bands are great and provide good entertainment. Black Window and Hit N Run have the largest followings in the area so of course your fans are going to vote for you. I can not think of one person from Hit N Run or Black Widow that does not deserve an award. You all work very hard and you should be rewarded. I hope that you and Mark NEVER stop. Both of you (including your band mates, of course)are an asset to the WNY nightlife.

By: Lana

Lana — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:46:34 +0000

Lou, I really dont know how my name gets brought into this but anyway. I am sorry you feel that way but ever since I started singing I never had a high range and we would have to drop the keys in some songs but that doesnt mean that I am not as good as Dee or Carolynn or Kelly it just means that I have a different range.If you feel I have to struggle than that is also your opinion but obviously not others because they keep coming out and we are still being booked back at the same and new places, even being booked for 2009 now.I think that it would kill anyones spirit when you are told over and over again that you are not good enough or even when you do win awards that you dont deserve them so maybe thats what you are seeing but its NOT my voice deteriorating its the DRAMA!!! It just gets tiring with all the Drama day in and day out.That is why at the last BMA’S I told Rick Falkowski that I do not want to be nominated for 2008, its not worth the drama a month before and a month after the awards for 5 min of fame that NO ONE remembers a few month later.So like Carrie said to any one on this blog to beliitle people who have won or take there recognition away from them is unfair. If Hnr won then good for them if Mark and Kelly won good for them but it still doesn’t mean they are better than anyone else that was nominated, just means they
have a great following that supports them. I dont think I am better than anyone else or the other way around I just think that we all sing different and we all perform different and it would be bad if we all sounded the same we all had the same range and performed the same way, who would want to see anyone then. We are ALL UNIQUE in our own ways and thats how it should be. If we all would stop obsessing about this petty crap and really worried about important stuff going on in the world maybe it would get better. EVERYONE needs to grow up and stop making people feel bad because they won an award , local musicians should stick together.

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:17:40 +0000

To Carrie,
That just reiterates the point that I made about some of the best musicians being in bands that people don’t know about. That is why the people running the awards have to go out and see different bands at different clubs. Maybe Dee should have won the Artvoice award but if I remember correctly, Kelly wasn’t nominated for a BMA. I never said Lana wasn’t good now, I just said she was great 6 years ago. Her voice has lost some range that she used to have and now she has to struggle for some high notes or change the song around to avoid them. There are people now that are better.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:52:38 +0000

I want to say this also to Lou, not to take anything away from Kelly but did she just learn how to sing in your eyes because she has been around for a while so even if she wasnt in a high profile band she would have still been noticed. Lana didnt forget how to sing, she still plays out all the time with her band and acoustic band and original band so if 6 years ago she was good and she’s not now I dont think she would be doing so much. I dont want to start a fight with people it’s just that it is not fair to take either girls recognition away from them. If they have a different style of singing, then they do the songs different, But please dont take that away from them. Lou you mention Dee Adams,if she should have won the BMA’s why shouldn’t she have won the ARTVOICE awards?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:42:00 +0000

I agree with what you have said Lou, but sorry to say Lana is still an amazing singer, there are just jealous people out there that refuse to give her credit just like they hate to give Mark and Kelly the same credit.I really feel that it is unfair to ALL of them!

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:17:05 +0000

Kelly is a great singer. Mark is a great singer. Lana Was a great singer about 6 years ago. The problem with the local awards is that they need people to actually go out and see the bands. If you take nominations from club owners, of course only the ones that pack the house are going to get nominated. Last year at the BMA’s, The guy that won ” Best Bass Player” only plays bass on about 6 songs a nite. We all know the system needs to be reworked but until somebody actually does it, It’s going to be the same thig every year. I mean it’s funny that HnR and Black Widow are in different music categories when they both play almost the same music. That’s so they can both win. I think Dee Adams is great and should have won last year but she doesn’t pack clubs like Lana does.
Talent should be more of a part of the system. Unfortunately, some of the most talented musicians are in bands that many people don’t know exist. That’s why it’s so important to have the awards comittee go to different clubs all year round to see these bands and actually make accurate nominations.