Help MAMA decide who gets the hugs this year

By Pat Clarkpclark@modbee.com

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Nobody loves Modesto-area music more than its MAMA.

And MAMA is going to give her babies some major love later this month. Just who gets the most love depends on, well, you.

The Modesto Area Music Association is calling on the region's music listeners to vote for their favorite bands, artists, events, promoters and venues.

Nominees are up now at www.modestoview.com/mama, and association and awards organizers Chris Murphy and Chris Ricci want you to log on and cast your ballots.

Winners will be announced Oct. 21 at a ceremony at the State Theatre, to be emceed again this year by "Good Day Sacramento" television reporter Alan Sanchez.

This is no typical MAMA awards year, either — it's the 10th anniversary of the program that honors and promotes locally born and bred music. The awards celebrate a diverse array of genres, from pop to indie, hard rock to blues. This year, the organizers have made a few 10th-anniversary changes.

There's a new comedian category, with 10 laughalicious nominees. The single DJ category has been split into two, with nods going to record spinners in both the house and urban genres. And there's a new Rawk & Jam category to recognize big and classic-style rock bands.

Winners in all categories will receive a 10th-anniversary edition of the MAMA trophy, being made by Beeler Industries.

While the ceremony is by invitation only, it likely will be streamed online at the site mentioned above.

We'll have more on the MAMA Awards in the Scene section Oct. 16. In the meantime, log on and vote for your favorite local music makers and providers.

Elsewhere around the Scene:

Rolling Stone named him an Artist to Watch in 2008 and Brett Dennen is doing his best to get out in the world and be seen.

The Oakdale native is going on tour beginning in November with Grace Potter & the Nocturnals after stints at the Austin City Limits Festival (on Sunday) and shows with Jason Mraz at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley

(Oct. 9) and The Hollywood Bowl (Oct. 10). The closest he'll get to home during his November tour will be stops in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Dennen's going to be rubbing elbows with some of music's heavy hitters at the famed Austin event. Sunday's festival headliner is Pearl Jam and other artists that day include Ben Harper and The B-52s.

You can enjoy a little Indian food, hear some local music and support the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center all at the same time on Oct. 10.

Guru Indian Cuisine & Lounge, at 950 Oakdale Road, will welcome a "Wild Out for Wildlife" night featuring local bands Lovejoy, Soul Simple and The Banned, along with rapper Recka, the Adamantine Tribal Belly Dancers and DJ Honey B. Entry is a $5 donation.

Reach Scene editor Pat Clark at pclark@modbee.com.