By Charlene Arsenault and Pat Sargent

The Turtle Boy has spoken again. For our third annual Worcester Magazine Music Awards, more than 4,200 voted in slightly more than 30 categories, covering everything from rock to jazz to world music to the scariest bathroom in town.

Constructed by a panel of experts as well as Worcester Magazine staffers and confidants, the nominations were whittled down and announced in February, and the polls were open for a full month.

The process has gotten better, and we continue to improve on it, making it — we think — far superior to other methods. Instead of reducing the ballot to a popularity contest (what good are "nominations" if the nominations are a popularity contest, too?) we have a qualified group of panelists pore over the acts, and give us their strong recommendations. We honor them, but we also spend days in the upstairs conference room here, talking about each nominee and sharing our thoughts on  them, as well as combing MySpace pages and band pages making sure it is indeed an appropriate choice. It's not perfect, but it's credible — and constantly improving.

Generally, Worcester Magazine doesn't respond to message board posts, even though we read them diligently (it's excruciating not to respond sometimes). But we're listening, and appreciate the feedback. Our panelists (see sidebar, page 19), include a cross-section of musical authorities. We also dipped into consulting with a few anonymous experts who helped us to whittle down our list. It is important to note that panelists were not allowed to vote in categories they could potentially be nominated in. Worcester, let's remember, is a small town.

And join us May 1st when 20+ Turtle Boy winners rock the Canal District at nine walkable venues.

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That said, Worcester, here are your results:

Meet your panelists:

Matt Smith: A lifelong Worcester resident and musicphile, Smith knows the local scene inside and out and can typically be found lurking in our fine array of live venues. Smith is a staff writer for GASPetc.com and a musician himself, playing live under his pseudonym St. Hubbins.

Roger Lavallee: Front man/songwriter for The Curtain Society, as well as a recording engineer at Tremolo Lounge in West Boylston, where he's recorded just about everyone in this town. Lavallee also produced our first compilation CD to complement the Turtle Boy Music Awards.

Miya Hagberg: The Entertainment Director for Concerts4Charity Inc. for two years, Miya now holds the position of Board President.

Joseph Gonzalez-Dufresne: The owner of the recently disbanded booking & promotions agency, Grand Unified Presents, LLC

Aaron Ilovici: Aaron's been in bands for years and has also been a show promoter and booking agent for a year and a half. Visit www.myspace.com/fileoflifebooking

Mark and Gabrielle Blanchette: As founders of the Wormtown Trading Company (along with friend Leo Gauthier), Mark and Gabrielle have been promoting live shows and festivals for the last 12 years. Working out of Tammany Hall at first, Mark moved the operation to June Street, and also put on his first Wormtown Music Festival, before ultimately moving Wormtown Trading to Highland Street, where it stayed for eight years. They continue to run huge festivals, and it has developed into a production company that has "Worms" in California, Florida and New Jersey.

Erick Godin: You know him. You love him. He's the long-time owner of The Lucky Dog Music Hall and watches live bands seven nights a week, as well as handles a majority of the booking there.

Bob Bernier/DJ Bobo/Invisible Hypeman: One of Worcester's foremost hip-hop connoisseurs. He's the proprietor of invisiblehypeman.com, and the host of Invisible Hypeman Radio every Friday night from 10 p.m. to midnight on WCUW 91.3

Al Bombz: An impossible-to-label artist, working in video, graffiti art, hip-hop and more. His songs have appeared on dozens of albums, compilations and shows, including "Being Bobby Brown" and MTV Brazil.

Curtis Oak: The front of the house audio engineer for the past eight years at Tammany Hall, as well as a drummer in Oak Street (one of the founding members).

Linzy Martinelli: Involved in graphic design, promotions, booking and all sorts of other media, Martinelli has been working in the local music scene for five years. She's held positions as a bouncer and bartender at Tammany Hall, and joined arms with the Wormtown Trading Company, where she worked many festivals and fairs.

Brian Barlow: Executive Director of WICN 90.5 FM. He also is the Friday morning host of "A Tasteful Blend," heard at the station, where he has volunteered since 1985.

Dickie Cummings: Promoter and Booking agent for Ralph's Diner.

Don Northway: Host of "Friday Night Blues," heard on WCUW 91.3 FM. Best known as the long-time doorman at Gilrein's during the glory years, Northway brings that kind of first-hand experience to the show. Tune in weekly from 5-8 p.m.

Troy Tyree: Heads Word Of Mouth Productions (WOMP), and is the producer/host of "American ROOTS Radio" airing Wednesdays from 7 to 11 p.m. over WICN 90.5 FM. You may also know Tyree for booking entertainment at such places as the Coffee Kingdom, Tatnuck Bookseller and the Café Fantastique, located inside Rotmans.

Joe Zupan: Host of "Jazz Matinee," heard from 2-6 p.m., Monday through Friday on WICN 90.5 FM. In addition to playing the best in mainstream jazz, Brazilian and swing music on the air, Zupan is a drummer who performs with a variety of local bands.

Bill McCarthy: Originally from Cape Cod, McCarthy has been in Worcester for 24 years. He's fronted such rock bands as The Zones and RefleXion, but for the past 12 years has concentrated on acoustic duo and solo gigs. He's hosted some of the most successful open mics this area has ever seen, as well, since 1997.

Rich "Amazing Dick" Leufstedt: He was born and raised in Worcester, and this confessed ukaholic plays and promotes the ukulele at local shows and festivals. He's a major force down at the Hotel Vernon.

David Ritchie: Ritchie has some of the most respected ears on the local music scene. Catch him Thursdays nights from 6-9 a.m. as the host of "Crosstracks," where he presents "primarily an Americana and roots music program, but that's kind of a limiting description. If it's genuine, and it's being ignored by the rest of the dial, you'll probably hear it here." o

SCHEDULE

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Dan Burke

WM:You've won the best singer/songwriter award. What keeps you motivated?

Love keeps me motivated a lot. The urge to create and competitiveness, sometimes. Also, money.

WM: Would you say that working out twice a day and eating healthy is beneficial for a musician?

WM: You're pretty well-read. Does literature at all affect your song-writing style?

That depends on what the two people are wearing. I'm usually creepy and romantic. That's what sexy is all about.

WM: What are you afraid of the most: forgetting words to your own songs, or forgetting songs to your own words?

More than those, I'm afraid of forgetting to wear my tight pants when I play a show. By the way, I forget words to my songs all the time when performing. I don't have fear of it, it just sucks.

Linzy Martinelli

WM:: How honored are you to be the winner of this award?

I am incredibly honored. I had no idea that I truly had a chance to win this contest. It's awesome, thank you so much.

WM: If you were to play one venue in Massachusetts where would it be? And what do you think the likelihood of that will be?

It would sure be nice to pack an arena. However, I would be just as psyched to play on the main stage during prime time at a Wormtown Music Festival. I believe that if you really put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

WM: You do both solo work and sing for the band Holmes. Have you ever considered combining the two?

Of course I have. I've been very lucky to be able to play with those guys. They are all extremely talented musicians. It would be amazing to play my music with them. Who knows what will happen in the future?

WM: Your Web site is called Electric Linzyland. If this land was real, who would inhabit it and what would be its finest export?

First of all, let me just say that Electric Linzyland is a real place, inside my head. I travel there quite often for inspiration. E.L. is full of color, static and everything Linzy. My Bobble-Heads will probably sell out before my CDs — or maybe I'll get lucky.

WM: What are your thoughts on the current presidential election? Who do you think would be a better musical performer, Barack or Hillary?

I think that it takes strength, discipline and a whole lot of integrity to run this country. May the best "man" win. As for Hil, I'd like to see her pick up the ol' saxophone.

Flock of Assholes

Rocking it out '80s-style every Thursday night at The Lucky Dog Music Hall, Flock of Assholes covers tunes by Flock of Seagulls, The Clash, The Cars, Huey Lewis, Corey Hart and Prince. Together now for two years, the Flock is led by front man Erick Godin, who fields these questions.

WM: Who has influenced your role as a front man the most in your life?

Sheesh, that's like asking, "Simon, which poster on your wall is your favorite?" Is it Olivia Newton John, Freddy Mercury, Annie Lennox, Michael Hutchence or Morris Day? I don't know if I could pick one — could you?

WM: If you would compare yourself to one person that isn't in the music business, who would it be?

I would have to say Lech Walesa, Pope John Paul Part 2 and the Pied Piper.

WM: Where did you and your band come up with the name Flock of Assholes? And how easy was it to put that kind of tag on yourself?

We won the name in a "pink slips" card game in the basement of a London pub called The Whip It Inn. Quite honestly, if you've seen one of our shows and you don't think the name is appropriate, then my friend, you are the asshole.

WM: Your band plays a lot of '80s music. How do you feel about going back in time every Thursday night and how is it you get there?

I don't get it; who's going back? We need to live here and now. They say the world could possibly catch fire and blow up by the year 1999. Choose your paths wisely. Choose Flock. Live your life. We want to live here, cuddling with all of our fans smack dab in the middle of these fantastic '80s! To answer the latter part of your question, we all get here in a LeCar.

WM: If your band wanted you to become a back man and sing behind the drummer, what would your initial response be and do you think you would be a unanimous winner of the 2009 Turtle Boy Award for best back man?

Pueblo Nuevo

This Latin music trio out of Worcester has played at the Worcester Art Museum, Bocado Tapas Restaurant, Quinsigamond Community College, and many more. The band has only been together for roughly six months now and along with their Latin roots, they also mix in "rumba and cambia rhythms from Colombia, bossa novas and sambas from Brazil, Argentinean tangos and Cuban son, not to mention boleros, salsas, merengues or any other rhythm that you can name emanating from the Afro-Caribbean experience."

Questions for Paulo Alzate, lead singer.

WM: What's the most rewarding part of playing your style of music?

It is played with heart, and our hands, too. Practicing our Latin roots and sharing it with the public has made us more proud.

WM: We've heard you guys teach music as well. Have you had any overwhelmingly frustrating experiences doing that?

When the student doesn't put the fingers and mouth where they are supposed to, it turns a little bit uncomfortable at times. Hee, hee. But seriously, in general, we enjoy sharing with each other what we know about music and our instruments. And frustration — it's part of the job.

WM: What's your favorite venue to play?

We played in many places, including private parties and the venue we have been more constant at is Bocado. The owner, the public and the staff have been very every pleased with what we play for the night.

WM: You played a couple of wedding expos in January. What's your overall view of marriage? And is it really as bad as it sounds?

I take it you are not married yet. Well, our wives and fiancées understand the passion we have for music and the flirting we receive from the crowd sometimes, so they always understand. It's a mutual commitment to the love between us, and also a commitment to the fun and frustrations that come along. It's not bad, after all. It's a continuous sharing and constantly planning.

WM: A lot of your music comes from Central and South America. What do you have against North American music?

Nothing against North American music. I can barely speak it. Now imagine me singing it. In fact, we have played three North American songs in our repertoire: "Happy Birthday," "Feliz Navidad" and "La Bamba." For the rest of our repertoire we opt to continue our Latin pop and play and sing what we are good at."

Silent Mind

Silent Mind came together in 2004. The group, comprised of brothers Paul and Shawn Stevens on lead and rhythm guitar, Ed O'Connor on bass, Rich "Psycho" Bates behind the set, and front man John "Caz" Caswell, consistently delivers heavy, high-energy sets comprised of the band's originals and well-executed covers. Their energetic performances and fresh songwriting have led them to perform on the same stage with legends such as The Misfits and to be included on projects such as the forthcoming compilation from Vemplore Studios. With a new record on the horizon, Silent Mind is driven to put Worcester metal on the map.

WM: What's the worst gig you've ever played?

Rich "Psycho" Bates: I drove 30 hours to Chicago from Florida to play for a record company that never showed up.

WM: Do you believe in God?

Caz: Which one?

WM:What really annoys you?

Paul Stevens: That I can't walk down the street smoking some weed.

WM: You've got five CDs in your collection for the rest of your life. What are they?

Shawn Stevens: Ride The Lightning by Metallica, Reign In Blood by Slayer, Vulgar Display Of Power by Pantera, Dirt by Alice In Chains and Diary Of A Madman by Ozzy Osbourne.

WM: Who's going to be the next president and are you happy with that?

The Bee's Knees

Talking with Michael Thibodeau, front man

WM: You're on the cusp of releasing a new album. How has that progressed, and what can your fans expect?

I have no idea. Those crazy Brits and their turns of phrase.

WM: How will the band be celebrating their third win in a row of best Root/Folk/Americana band? And could it get much better?

With beer and gin, which is how we handle every day.

WM: Do bees even have knees?

Good question.

WM: If you guys win next year, I imagine the elation will be surreal. Is the Turtle Boy Award what motivates you the most?

No.

Uncle Billy's Smoke-house

A few words with Jody Ryan, keyboardist

WM: Where did the name of the band come from?

I think the greatest award ever would be the "Greatest Award Ever" category, which you guys seemed to have missed this year. Oh well, maybe next year.

WM: How does UBS deal with problems that arise?

Oh, we get along just fine. If there are ever any problems we just write ‘em down and put ‘em in a problem bowl. They sit in there for a while and eventually we forget what we were ever pissed about in the first place. Then we make Janky wear a dress and play the spoons. Brad thinks it's hilarious.

What's the best thing about the Internet?

The best thing about YouTube is that you don't even have to go anywhere to play shows anymore! Isn't that fantastic!? Actually computers are so great, you don't even have to go anywhere or do anything at all to be able to experience the wonders of the world.

WM: What's next for UBS?

We do hope the momentum keeps up. We just came off a great show at The Palladium with Badfish and we do plan to keep the ball rolling. We are working with Roger Lavallee and will have some more new music for all y'all soon. And yes there will be a chain of Uncle Billy's Smokehouses which will probably lead us into a lawsuit and then we'll have to change our name to something else.

The Curtain Society

As answered by front man Roger Lavallee

WM: You have a new CD out called Every Corner of the Room. How would you describe the album?

The culmination of years of sweat, toil, heartbreak, frustration, love, hate and indigestion, all rolled into one 4-inch disc, and in stereo. Seriously, it runs a gamut from pretty straight-forward acoustic guitar, bass, drums and vocal, to some really experimental sonic territories. We put a lot of work into it, and the making of it spanned enough time that we essentially reinvented ourselves over and over.

WM: Where did you come up with the name "The Curtain Society"?

We've been asked this question so many times that we like to come up with a new answer every time. So let's see ... back in the mid-'80s, the three of us were actually competing art smugglers. We were operating on different continents, but all three of us were essentially doing similar stuff, either creating uncanny replicas of famous paintings, looting Egyptian tombs for ancient tablet etchings or simply selling bad velvet paintings of dogs playing poker to cheap motel chains. Anyway, we eventually met up, as we were all arrested at one point and put into the same jail cell. One thing led to another and we decided to get out of the art business and we got the charges dropped in exchange for performing a concert for the prison guards. We had such a great time that we decided to start a band. We needed a name and for some reason, the letters TCS kept popping up in all three of our dreams, so we brainstormed for a while, trying to find a name which had TCS as its acronym. After several weeks of debate, we decided on The Curtain Society.

WM: If there was such a society of people that were solely involved in curtains, where do you think we could find them?

There actually is such a society. If you Google them, you'll find that they are all over, but primarily active in Portugal and Spain. Big curtain folks over there. They're everywhere though. I heard that one local group has monthly meetings at a Kiwanis lodge in Millbury.

WM: If you were to share the stage with any other band in Worcester for one rip-roaring show, who would it be?

Isn't it usually Huck? They've been our musical and emotional brothers for many, many years now. Other than them, we're really holding out to do the DCU Center with Justin Timberlake one of these days. Either that or we'd settle for the Jolly Kopperschmidts at the Hanover Theatre.

WM: Describe the band's greatest non-music influence.

I think that many musicians and songwriters find influence and inspiration in pretty much everything you take in. Either you are inspired by something or you're repulsed by it. Things you don't like are just as effective as what you do. Sometimes a book or a movie opens up some part of your brain where a song is waiting. Sometimes it's a miserably rainy day that does it. Sometimes it's just too much curry.

White Chocolate

WM: Your Web site is beerisgoodfood.com. If there isn't any already, how do you think White Chocolate-flavored beer would taste?

White Chocolate beer sounds kind of gross. I've avoided flavored beer ever since a bad experience with Pumpkin Ale at an Uncle Billy's Smokehouse show in New Hampshire a couple years ago.

WM: What's the craziest thing you've done as a group on stage?

One time we had a naked mixed martial arts battle while wearing roller skates and receiving electric shocks from a giant Tesla coil. But I can't really think of anything crazy.

WM: You're named the Best Funk/Soul Band in Worcester. What award do you think will be given to you next?

Obviously a big-time record contract is imminent.

WM: You seem to have a steady number of gigs. What do you think captures the audience and fans most about you guys?

I think the audience just sees how drunk we are and watches us like a train wreck. Sort of like a Funky Disco Train wreck. After a while, the crowd becomes mystified and stares blankly at us like bell-bottomed skeletons.

WM: If you could describe the band in one word, what would it be? (If you can't describe it one word, you may use two or three).

Docile, Docile, Benevolent.

Dogbody International

WM: Where did you come up with the name Dogbody International?

Although the true meaning of Dogbody will not be revealed until Dec. 21, 2012, we will say that we are a diverse group of polar opposites who group together for a common goal.

WM: What's it like being a hip-hop group in the Worcester area?

It's like being an asshole in a public bathroom — everybody's tryin' to do the same shit but you can smell us from a block away.

WM: Is there a Dogbody national branch?

Dogbody has sleeper cells all across the country and the world. Turn a rock over in Arkansas, look behind a Dumpster in L.A., check for us in Cambodia, chances are you'll find us.

WM: Can you run some rhymes using Worcester Magazine as a starting point?

Does a bear shit in the woods?

WM: It's hard enough to put sentences together when speaking. How and when did you guys learn to rhyme?

I think one time we sniffed a line off a Dr. Seuss book and it just clicked. Rhyming is easy, its finding something worthwhile to talk about that's the difficult part. o