[boston music awards] Dropkick Murphys steal the scene at the 2011 BMAs, Viva Viva, Mean Creek, Moufy also honored

Published Nov 21 2011, 01:58 PM by Michael Marotta

Viva Viva at last night's Boston Music Awards. Photo by Derek Kouyoumjian

Punk’s not dead — it just wears a scally cap and a Joe Thornton-era Bruins jersey. Dropkick Murphys, fresh off two sold-out gigs in the Fenway Park bleachers, a Billboard-charting record, and a non-stop tour reminding people that, yes, they are from Boston, took home Artist of the Year and Live Act of the Year at Sunday’s BOSTON MUSIC AWARDS.

The Liberty Hotel was once again a posh crock-pot of the city’s increasingly diverse music scene, allowing normally disconnected tribes to mix and mingle in a space in which they’d probably otherwise not be welcome. And the mish-mash was perhaps what was most noteworthy about this year’s BMAs: Razormaze watching Freezepop, Big Digits watching Stereo Telescope, Rain — and pretty much everyone — watching Viva Viva.

Fort Point Recordings’ bluesy and powerful garage-rock act took home a much-deserved Rock Act of the Year award and blasted through a gritty set at a packed the Liberty Ballroom. “Seriously man, I’m having so much fun,” deadpanned Viva vocalist Dave Cave mid-set. “So fun.”

A forced smile seemed to be the way of the night. Something was off about this year’s BMAs. The elevators were not a problem like last year, but the party vibe felt strained. Fortunately, good music did prevail.

Mean Creek won Album/EP of the Year for January’s Hemophiliac EP, but afterwards were much more interested in talking about their new record, which drops in April. “We put our hearts into it,” Mean Creek’s Chris Keene said as Cool Ranch spun the dance party in a side room. “To me, it feels like a make-or-break album. We haven’t made a great album yet.”

In other awards, the Middle East won Best Live Venue, this week’s Phoenix frat-rap feature subject Moufy took home Best New Artist, and Freezepop won Electronic Artist of the Year. Gentlemen Hall were best Pop Rock Act, a party-crashing Razormaze snagged Metal/Hardcore Artist of the Year, and the David Wax Museum’s “Born With a Broken Heart” was named Song of the Year. Allston Pudding was deemed Best Music Blog.

“We rolled up in an old Ford pick-up truck from Allston,” said Allston Pudding’s Perry Eaton, son of Cadillac Jack, of Duke & the Drivers. “We didn’t expect to win anything. It’s overwhelming.”

Here's the full list of 2011 BMA winners:

Gospel/Inspirational Artist Of The Year: Renese King

Best Live Ongoing Residency: Session Americana

Best DJ/Dance Night: Fresh Produce at Good Life

Best Live Music Venue: Middle East

Best Music Blog: Allston Pudding

Producer Of The Year Rock: Ed Valauskas

Producer Of The Year Hip Hop: Taj

Singer Songwriter Of The Year: Lady Lamb the Beekeeper

Rock Artist Of The Year: Viva Viva

Punk Artist Of The Year: Dead Cats Dead Rats

Pop Rock Artist Of The Year: Gentleman Hall