Today is the Just Plain Folks awards. As it turns it out it is the largest music awards in the world. Yes, larger than the Grammy’s, the CMA’s, the AMA’s, et al. Seeing as how it’s mostly non-signed artists you’ve likely never heard of them. This year over 25,000 CD’s were submitted. That added up to somewhere over 350,000 songs. That’s a hell of a lot of music. In fact, it’s gotten so large that it took two years from start to finish. They used to be yearly, but with the sheer size it’s become too large.
I’m a bit excited because I’ve got 5 nominations for the awards which occur later today. What makes this even cooler is that because of the growing JPF population and the popularity of CD Baby with known artists looking to continue without the help of a label, there are now names you’d recognize that are participating in the Just Plain Folks awards. Stars as big as Sheryl Crow to fleeting stars like Vertical Horizon. Oooh, I may actually get Ed Toth to sit in tonight when I do a performance at the awards. He’s offered to sit in with anyone that requests it.
Last night I was out to dinner with my mom, my sister, Erin, my mom’s sister Elaine, and my sister’s friend Lorretta. We went to Tokyo Delve’s, a sushi restaurant in North Hollywood with a very unique atmosphere. It’s where I had my first taste of sushi a few years back. Jeff Soto and I used to go there all the time. We don’t do that so much anymore due to schedules, but because we were so regular a large part of the staff always recognize us when we/I go. Last night we were celebrating the 5 nominations and the upcoming birthday for my sister. Mario, the main host requested a signed CD. That was very cool. I know in the past they’ve played Jeff’s music and my music there. You see they play loud rock and dance music while you eat. Plus there’s skits that the waiters do. Very fun stuff.
In a few hours, actually at the end of the evening the big event will be over. I’ll know if I get any awards in the 5 categories I’ve been nominated in. I’ve got my fingers crossed. At 12:00 a.m. It’s Over. Now I realize that Korben’s song has nothing to do with awards. Like lots of music it’s about relationships/love/etc… Shoot us, we’re artists.
I like the raw quality they have. It would be interesting to take a swing at producing them and hearing what they’d sound like if I polished them up a bit. I don’t know if they’re a brother and sister team or if they’re married, but they work well together. There’s something about Erin Gerber’s voice that I like. I can’t place my finger on it yet. I think this is a strong effort. The smart thing they’ve done is to put it on iTunes. With stronger production values I believe they’d have a very good commercial chance. The full release has 11 songs, so I recommend you poke around at CD Baby and give it a listen.
Buy it! Support it! Show ’em some love.