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California or Bust? The California Music Awards ceremony beefs up for 2001 By Sarah Quelland I HAVE TO ADMIT I thought the California Music Awards were a bust last year, and I don't think I was alone in that assessment. Since Bam folded and the Bammies have been taken over by Tower Records and renamed the encompassing California Music Awards, the ceremony seems to have lost its focus. Last year, musicians like the Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea, Metallica's drummer Lars Ulrich, Rage Against the Machine's guitarist Tom Morello and singers like Fiona Apple and Smash Mouth's Steve Harwell won awards. It appears that Tower was trying to compete with the Grammys and MTV, but few seemed to be taking the award seriously. Last year, most of the nominees, including Santana, didn't even show up. Though this year's crop features some major-label stars, including Limp Bizkit, Marilyn Manson, Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots, No Doubt and A Perfect Circle, other nominated bands like Creeper Lagoon, the Mr. T Experience, Imperial Teen, Grandaddy, Aisler's Set and Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers seem to give the award a little more street credibility. (I was disappointed to see that (hed)pe, Flogging Molly and Strait Up, the tribute to Snot's Lynn Strait, were overlooked.) The CMAs also partnered with LIVE 105 for a contest with the prize being a slot at the awards ceremony. Three regional bands (San Jose's Brickhead, San Francisco's Downtemper and Oakland's Dork.com) were chosen from some 40 entrants to perform last Saturday (April 21) at Jack London Square in Oakland. Our own Brickhead was named the winner and will perform at the CMAs. This year's ceremony will be held this Saturday (April 28) at the Henry J. Kaiser Arena in Oakland. Huey Lewis will host the event, and scheduled performers include Blackalicious, Brad Davis (of Fu Manchu), Chuck Prophet, Count Dante, members of the Doobie Brothers, Lewis, Jackpot, Little Feat, Noelle Hampton, Orixa, Sammy Hagar, Victoria Williams and others. Artists scheduled to appear include Aisler's Set, 100 Watt Smile, Boney James, Dave Koz, Green Day, Lavay Smith, Lynn Perko (of Imperial Teen), the Santana Band, Tom Morello and Tracy Chapman. Tickers ($25-$135) are available at Ticketmaster outlets. Visit www.californiamusicawards.com for more information. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will also be held this Saturday (April 28) in Indio, Calif. Those scheduled to perform include Jane's Addiction, Weezer, Paul Oakenfold, the Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Iggy Pop, the Dandy Warhols, Ozomatli, the Roots, the Orb and many more. Tickets are $65 and available through Ticketmaster. On Sunday (April 29), Ultravibe.com and the Cactus Club present a 16+ show that promises good, clean dance entertainment. The event features rare appearances by Bobby Leal, Rosalinda, Sickheadz and Dream. The concert runs 5-8:30pm, and tickets are $5 at the door. P.O.D. will take part in the Spring Celebration May 18-19 at Paramount's Great America. The band will perform on May 18 with Project 86 (May 19 features Third Day, Jennifer Knapp, Point of Grace, FFH and Zoe Girl). The L.A. Symphony will perform on both dates. Tickets are $14.99-$54.99. ... Although rarely out of the spotlight, Madonna hasn't really toured since 1993's Girlie Show Tour. But lucky for Bay Area residents, her Drowned World Tour will come to the Oakland Arena on Sept. 5. ... Fans of Papa Roach will be disappointed. According to announcements sent out by P-Roach's publicist, drummer Dave Buckner is suffering from a wrist problem, and the band has canceled the remaining dates of its Raid the Nation Tour. Apparently P-Roach anticipates that Buckner will be recovered in time for OzzFest (Shoreline Amphitheatre on June 29). ... Ribsy's Nickel was the grand-prize winner at Vamp Magazine and KMBY's Battle of the Bands held April 20-21 at Palookaville in Santa Cruz. PLAN AHEAD: Slow Gherkin, MU330 and Big D and the Kids Table, April 26 at the Cactus; Sick of It All, April 26 at Palookaville; Deathray, Vegas DeMilo, Slow Poisoners and others, April 26 at the Paradise Lounge in San Francisco; Cannibal Corpse, April 26 at Slim's in San Francisco; Stunt Monkey, the Timeouts, Prop 808, Jack's Wasted Life and Disquiet, April 27 at the Santa Clara Basement in Santa Clara University's Benson Center; the Orb, April 27 at Maritime Hall in San Francisco; Prince, April 28 at the Oakland Arena; Sift, Ground, Oddman and Local ODdity, April 28 at the Cactus; Corrosive Eight, 78 RPMS, the Adjustments and Under 21, April 28 at the Fishbowl in Sunnyvale; Iggy Pop, April 29 at the Fillmore in San Francisco. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]