Arts Devo

NOW THAT WAS A PARTY This past weekend’s Chico Area Music Festival & Awards Show was the 14th edition of the event, and Arts DEVO has been there every single year for the CN&R’s annual celebration of the local music scene. This one was probably the best. With an incredible sound system, huge dance floor and great beer for days, the Sierra Nevada Big Room is an ideal venue for a music party. Plus, the performers—from my new favorite Chico band, electro-pop duo Astronaut Ice Cream, to tuneful indie-rockers Surrogate—all brought it.

This year’s event also was dedicated to musicians affected by the Camp Fire (and nearly $1,700 in donations raised for the Musicians Around the Camp Fire fund). The show opened with a screening of the video for John-Michael Sun’s song “Refugee,” featuring the artist singing his fragile, mournful tune among the ashes of his burned-out Paradise home, followed by a live duet performance by Sun and his partner, Susan Dobra.

The evening came to an end after a two-song performance by a 16-member supergroup featuring a handful of musicians whose homes were lost in the fire, including ringleader Mark McKinnon. The first tune was an emotional performance of a McKinnon original, “Just Breathe,” a song he wrote in response to the fire. And for the second—which had the group changing its name from Mark McKinnon and The Strolling Rogues to the Leonard Cohen Tribute Orchestra—the choir of singers was put to good work on an uplifting rendition of the late songwriter’s signature work, “Hallelujah.” A very fitting way to close a great night of music and community.

Oh, and we also gave out some CAMMIES awards:

Peoples’ Choice Award:

Best Local Act: Lo & Behold

Critics’ Choice Awards:

Best Female Vocalist: Jenise Coon (Chico High choral/music-theater director)

Best Keyboardist: Webster Moore (Lo & Behold)

Best Guitarist: Mike Justice (Sunny Acres)

Best Songwriter: Becky Brown (Susurrus)

Best New Band: Black Magnet

Best Male Vocalist: Pat Hull

Best Local Album: Pariah Days, by Severance Package

Best Bassist: Austin Farwell (Smokey the Groove)

Best Live Act: Pervert

Best Drummer: Sean Raeside (Pervert, Pat Hull)

Local Badasses: Sally & Bruce MacMillan (Music Connection)

Hogan/West/LaPado Lifetime Achievement Award: Joe Hammons

RETRO CHICO There wasn’t a CAMMIES in Chico in the 1980s, but if there had been, The Funnels very likely would’ve cleaned up. During the band’s 1980s-early 1990s heyday, the party crew was Chico’s favorite thing next to beer (the band was actually sponsored by Budweiser!).

Now, nearly 30 years since they last rocked a local stage with their dance-happy new-wave covers and originals, the band will return to one of its favorite haunts, La Salles, this Saturday (April 27) for the third and final show of a mini reunion tour. Tickets are $10 presale (lasalleschico.com) and $12 at the door.