BEST DECADE TO MAKE NEW AGAIN

'90s nostalgia

The major musical trend of the last two years may very well be '90s nostalgia, but for various reasons this may have served the Olympia music community quite well. This past year saw Bangs return, briefly, to live performance. One of the great Olympia bands of the late '90s, Bangs' return was a welcomed event. With the recent announcement of Behead the Prophet NLSL's return in 2013, as well as The Need, suddenly the '90s are strikingly relevant to the contemporary music set.

What is a breath of fresh air, compared to other '90s throwbacks, is the fact that Olympia's recent brush with histrionics isn't so much a rewriting of the past, or one cast with rose-colored glasses, but contextualizing the past in regards to what it means in the present. One such case and point is the widely heralded reissue of Bikini Kill's first EP.

The band did an amazing job through many media outlets of depicting the beginning of the band's career, and in doing so introduced the band in a new light to a generation of fans who came to the band through the myth factory, and now leave as fans understanding the context in which Bikini Kill existed.

Similarly, Unwound ushered in a live document of their final tour in 2001. With bands who profoundly impacted the '90s music culture in Olympia returning in 2012, they again profoundly impacted the music culture of 2012, but in a very different way. - Timothy Grisham

BEST REBIRTH

Northern returns

Having run its course in its initial location, the Olympia All Ages Project's venue Northern was in search of new digs. Sadly, with Cherry Street Loft closed a lot of viable all-ages real estate had dried up. But with a successful Kickstarter campaign, multiple benefits and some amazing shows hosted in collaboration with the Midnight Sun the Olympia All Ages Project was able to wade through the muck and mire until they secured a new location midway through 2012. The Legion Way location, which use to house a machine shop, has a great industrial feel that comfortably invites its inhabitants to create. From art shows, to concerts and even rummage sales, Northern has become a community hub for the all-ages community. Despite the massive setback of having all of its music gear stolen in a brazen act of theft, the venue continues as the community's only dedicated all-ages venue - moving into 2013 with new-found momentum and long-standing enthusiasm. - TG

BEST MUSIC VIDEO PRODUCER

Newspin Photography

Red Williamson and Newspin Photography changed the hip-hop game in Olympia this past year by opening up shop for local hip-hop artists to step their YouTube game up.  Most hip-hop artists nowadays know that having a quality music video or two can really help you build a music career.  Sure, not everyone is going to blow up off one clean-looking music video but it usually won't hurt at all. 

There have been some poor attempts at videos from Olympia artists in the past but now with Newspin open for business, Oly hip-hoppers have an opportunity to make a quality music video as clean as the rest of them.  This was a major step for the Olympia hip-hop scene toward becoming a city that's hip-hop artists can be taken seriously on a professional level.  Williamson and Newspin won't create the storyline for your video but if you've got some ideas bouncing around in your head they're certainly the people to go to that will make those ideas come to life. - Nic Leonard

BEST NEXT BIG THING

Xperience

The surging career of The Evergreen State College graduate Macklemore has been a major success story for the entire Northwest this past year.  He has taken things to a level that no other rapper from this area has been able to take it. On top of the Billboard Charts and having a platinum single under his belt has made him one of the most successful musicians to ever come from Washington state, and lucky enough for Olympia rapper Xperience, its apparent that Macklemore wants him to have the same success.  For the second time in two years Macklemore has invited Xperience on his sold-out nationwide tour.  On this past journey, XP probably performed in front of more people then every other Olympia rapper has combined in their lifetime. Xperience is being prepped for success and although he's personally the biggest beneficiary of it, it's a major boost for the entire Olympia hip-hop scene, as this will obviously draw more attention to other artists from the area. - NL

BEST YEAR FOR A BAND

Hysterics Conquer the U.S.

Olympia's Hysterics had a huge year in 2012. The band released a VERY well received 7-inch on M'Lady Records, were featured in the Believer Magazine 2012 music compilation Love Songs for Lamps curated by Calvin Johnson, toured the West Coast and later the entire U.S. and racked up the respect of throngs of fans. Among their vocal admirers have been several Maximum RocknRoll staffers, Kathleen Hanna and nearly every major outlet that covers punk and hardcore music. The band's year simply has been impressive. The Hysterics conquest doesn't seem to be slowing anytime soon. The band has a flexi disc planned for 2013 being released by Perennial Records, two dates booked with the recently announced Behead the Prophet NLSL "reunion" concerts and more potential for the new year than most bands will ever see. - TG

FULL MOON RADIO: Photo credit Winter Teems

SEXIEST BAND

Full Moon Radio

While this trio of rocker chicks deserve recognition in readers picks' categories, we can't help but honor their sex appeal, too. The ladies have such good rock 'n' roll that you can tell they're hotties just by listening to them, but when you see their stylish clothes, accessories and sweet smiles, Full Moon Radio takes the cake. - NM

BEST HARD ROCK FLYERS

Reuben Storey

This award goes to Reuben Storey who cranks out hesher edged illustrations of bands (and cats) using toilets and rocking out. Each design has a comedic appeal similar to MAD magazine and each highlights some of the best rockers around. Now available compiled in a neat little book, C Average, Christian Mistress (Storey was drummer in this too-short lived metal band) and Oldschool Pizzeria, have all been privy to Storey's talented depictions. - NM

JIMMI DAVIES: Photo credit Winter Teems

BEST BIONIC ROCKER

Jimmi Davies

Jimmi Davies, lead singer of Resident Kings and the Dirty Birds can't go through airport security without lights and sirens. After his recent knee surgery, his metal count is up to two plates and 21 screws - plus mesh from a hernia surgery and the recent knee sutures. Davies also earns a separate award for Most Scar Pics Shot In Bathrooms Then Posted To Facebook. "I kind of tried to give a visual progress report," Davies says. "I also enjoy grossing people out!" We have a hunch it was all the Vicodin-sprinkled donuts. - NM

BEST PLACE TO SEE BOOTS AND BOOBS

Big Whisky Saloon

Two words: boots and boobs. Oh, and one other word: hats. Big Whisky Saloon in downtown Olympia is a behemoth of Southern-fried awesomeness. Hosting giant holiday parties (Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve, etc.), and Thursday night line-dance lessons, this honkytonk puts its 12,000 square feet to some good-timing, line-dancing use. While most downtown Olympia nightlife spots are a revolving door of peeps, Big Whiskey partiers start the night and end the night on its dance floor. But, no matter the night, or the occasion, or the reason, one will always see boots and boobs. Don't believe us? Check out its Facebook. Thousands of photos of cleavage - big and small, handled and not handled. Oh, you'll see some boots too. 425 Franklin St. SE. - RS

BEST SPOTLIGHT YEAR

Calvin Johnson

Beginning in the early '80s with the seminal lo-fi, minimalist rock group Beat Happening, Calvin Johnson has been a trailblazer in the world of DIY rock. When he founded Olympia's K Records in 1982, Johnson cemented his status as the bearer of all that is new and peculiar in these parts and beyond. Last year, Sasquatch Books published Northwest writer Mark Baumgarten's touchstone piece of music journalism titled Love Rock Revolution - K Records and the Rise of Independent Music - a retelling of Johnson's life before his senior year of high school through the present. The book weaves through stories of Beat Happening, The International Pop Underground, Riot Grrrl, Built to Spill, DIY touring, Nirvana, K Records with Johnson emerging as a character in good company with those found in great literary works. On the musical side of 2012, The Hive Dwellers (Johnson, Gabriel Will and Evan Hashi and many others) released Hewn From The Wilderness, with Johnson's unaffected, unvarnished, deep vocals the most defining element of the album. - RS

BEST FUN TIME

Oly Music Awards

For the first time ever, Thurston County musicians were feted in some cases, cruelly disappointed in most others at the inaugural Oly Music Awards. Last spring organizer Jabi Shriki presented two nights of music and awards featuring Science!, Kendl Winter, Ethan Tucker, The Blackberry Bushes and Andras Jones' live Radio8Ball show with Sandman. An impressive 2,227 voter chimed in through the OMA website selecting performers for the two music showcases, as well as all of the nominees for all of the genres. We have no idea who won, or why the awards website is gone, but it sure was a lovely night of music and fun. - Weekly Volcano

BEST THURSDAY NIGHT DANCE SCENE WE ARE ALLOWED TO DISCUSS

OlyBlues

Remember that sudden swing dancing craze about 10 years ago? I was living in Hollywood at the time, and my roommates were regulars at the Brown Derby, so I enjoyed a crash course in the lush life. That craze left town before I did, but its timeless, elegant beauty lives on at OlySwing. You could visit the Beginning Swing lessons every Tuesday, or you could learn swing's Africanist cousin, blues dancing, on Thursdays at the Olympia Eagles Ballroom. Blues dancing derives from the so-called "Black vernacular" of Southern dance styles and includes such moves as the Lindy and the irresistibly named "Funky Butt." Worst case scenario: you have two left feet but get to listen to Nina Simone. - Christian Carvajal

BEST HEART

DJ Luvva J

Founded in 2002 by Olympia DJ and hip-hop activist Luvva J - real name Jose Gutierrez Jr. - in Vancouver, B.C., the non-profit organization Hip-Hop 4 the Homeless has now been spreading awareness of homelessness for 11 years. Once a year, Luvva J and friends host the two-day event that includes one day of live performances by various hip-hop artists and offers free admission with donations of clothes, blankets, tents, food or anything that could be useful to the homeless. Day two of the annual event offers open doors to the homeless community, providing those in need the opportunity to take whatever necessities are available from the previous night's donations. In 2006 Luvva J decided he wanted to move the organization to the states and since then Olympia has happily become its home. For this year's Hip-Hop 4 the Homeless, Luvva J brought in Afrok and The Movement, Xperience, Motamouth Jones, Free Ya Mind, 206-Zulu, Heretic and hosted the 25360 Awards as part of the festivities. - WV

LINK: Best of Olympia 2013

LINK: Best of Olympia 2012

LINK: Best of Olympia 2011