ORGANIZERS OF THE EIGHTH annual Asbury Music Awards, held Wednesday night in Asbury Park, proved that sometimes the sum is greater than the parts.

BOB BIELK photo Chris Masi and Matt Lavon of the funk and groove band "Brown" play at the Asbury Music Awards at the Stone Pony.

Patrons got to enjoy a diverse array of acts in a single evening and didn't have to pay much by way of a cover charge to do so. A crowd of about 500 was treated to a variety of area bands and musicians that included acoustic singer-songwriter Virginia, the Terraplane Blues Band, Samhill, Blowup, Borialis and Last Perfect Thing.

And since the awards were held at the Stone Pony, with its spacious patio, patrons who didn't find the harder-edged sounds of bands like Backhand or Latshaw to be their cup of tea could always take a breather out back.

Highlights of the evening's music included a too-short set by the Terraplane Blues Band early in the night, the funk sounds of Brown, who used two saxophones, guitars, conga drums and a shekere to create innovative original funk music with depth and soul; Samhill, a roots rock band led by vocalist Peter Scherer, formerly of Mr. Reality, and a blazing four-song set by Borialis, a Neptune-based band that has been together for five years.

Borialis, a band that includes two guitarists, a bassist, drummer, DJ and vocalist, won the award for "Top Live Performance," and it showed. Not unlike the funk band Brown, the group delivered exquisite three- and four-part harmonies led by a confident front man, Richard "R-Styles" Dahrouge of Neptune. Borialis' wall-of-sound approach to showmanship will continue to earn new fans. The band recently was signed to Philadelphia-based Izzy Records. Borialis combined elements of rap, rock and funk to create their own totally original sound that included dueling, bluesy and funky guitar riffs, the scratching and spinning efforts of the DJ, who set up his turntables in back by the drummer, and frontman R-Styles' convincing raps on songs like "Giving You A Warning," ""Why Oh Why'' and ""White Trash.'' Borialis call their music "rap hip-rock," an apt description: The melody was there in the dueling guitars, the rap was there with the vocalist's efforts, and the rhythm was there with the bass, drums and DJ.

Top male and female vocalist awards went to Peter Scherer of Samhill and singer-songwriter Virginia, while Samhill also took home an award for Best Roots Band. Longtime Shore-area guitarist Billy Hector, who's originally from West Orange, received the Top Blues Band and Top Guitarist awards, but like a lot of hard working musicians, he couldn't be there to accept the laudation because he was out performing Wednesday night.

Also missing was Smithereens' lead vocalist and songwriter Pat DiNizio, who was supposed to present the award for "Best Thing To Happen to Asbury Park in 1999/2000." DiNizio has been refocusing his energies of late as he's running for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the retiring Frank Lautenberg.

Stone Pony owner Domenic Santana received "Best Thing To Happen" award for purchasing and reopening the Stone Pony. It was presented to him by Asbury Music Awards organizer Scott Stamper and concert promoter Tony Pallagrosi.

Throughout the evening, numerous bands and presenters thanked Santana for having the vision, dollars and guts required to reopen the legendary club. Improvements to the facility are evident: great photos of Asbury Park and local musicians on the walls, an improved sound system and cosmetic changes like lighted areas along the walls.

"I don't want this award," said a smiling Santana, ""because the last two people that took this award closed down." In a playful mood, Santana good-naturedly chided Pallagrosi on stage, urging him to book local bands when the national acts come to play at the Pony. Santana said he receives dozens of phone calls each week from local bands who want to open for various touring acts that play a similar genre of music. But on the other hand, many of the nationally touring rock acts these days have their own hand-picked opening acts, and there is little promoter Pallagrosi can do about that situation. Here's hoping the two men can work together successfully in the future so that live music supporters ultimately, the most important ingredient in the equation don't lose out.

One thing that could improve the awards next year would be the addition of Top Traditional Jazz and Top Contemporary Jazz categories. There are enough good jazz players around the shore and inland up to New Brunswick to present some of these acts and get them wider recognition.

Perhaps the most poignant comments of the evening came from the absentee Hector, delivered through Blackberry Blues Band bassist David Meyer. Meyer picked up the "Top Blues Band" award on Hector's behalf and said: "Billy's exact words for you all were: ""Just rent one video a month, and go see a different band every week."'

The Asbury Music Award winners are:

Top Male Vocalist: Peter Scherer, Samhill

Top Female Vocalist: Virginia

Top Female Solo Performer: Virginia

Top Male Solo Performer: Mike Ferrentino

Top Rock Act: Latshaw

Top Roots Rock Band: Samhill

Top Keyboardist: Eric Hemion

Top Bassist: Charlie Schafer, Barry & The Penetrators

Top Drummer: Jay Kulikowski, Borialis

Top Guitarist: Billy Hector

Top Live Performance: Borialis

Song of the Year: "Sorry" by Last Perfect Thing

Saint's Listener's Choice Award: Catch 22

Top Alternative Band: Chlorophyll

Top Punk and Ska Band: Inspecter 7

Top Funk 'n' Groove Band: Brown

Top Hard Act: Atomic Bitchwax

Top Young Band: Planet Janet

Top Avant Garde Act: Everlounge

Top Local Release: Blowup

Top Indie Band: Casanovacane

Best Thing to Happen in 1999/2000: The Stone Pony reopens

Top Blues Band: Billy Hector Band

Top Pop Band: Evelyn Forever

Published on August 19, 2000