BEST BAND, Winner
The Throwdowns
Website: http://thethrowdowns.com
They’re the sizzle of Pop Rocks poured over sherbet, sweet and sour firecrackers on a musical mission for world domination. With songs like “Kihei Town” and “Stolen Car,” they’ve saturated the airwaves from here to Honolulu (and beyond), lighting up DJs’ phone lines with request after request. In just one year’s time, they’ve conquered the Battle of the Bands, opened for The Fray, Matisyahu, Bad Brains, Panic at the Disco, 311, NOFX, the English Beat (and loads of others), self-released a CD—produced and mastered by guitarist Ola Shaw, for his We Are More Productions—and then re-released it nationally with ADA/Warner Music Group. A Na Hoku Hanohano nomination for “Rock Album of the Year” (shockingly stiffed for the win, though the nod is sure to be the first of many), gigged across oceans and icebergs and, in the summer subsequent to their last CD release, are recording yet another one (full-length... stay tuned). Talent aside, the best thing about Erin Smith, Ian Hollingsworth, Kimo Clark and Shaw is their cheery candor. What you see is what you get, and what you get is good.