The 9th annual Free Times Music Awards kicked off with a high-energy half-hour set by veteran blues/swing/jazz act Blue Lunch (who were actually nominated in the "blues" category, though their music easily slides between genres). Playing a set that included "Sixty Minute Man," a tune that showcased the terrific baritone vocals of upright bassist Ray DeForest, Blue Lunch even stole a page out of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band book by hopping off the stage to make a quick go-round through the crowd, horns a-blaring all the while. It didn't even miss a beat, delivering the zydeco-flavored "Bloodshot Eyes" with precision.

While the Blue Lunch performance helped create a celebratory atmosphere, the ceremony itself began on a somber note with a short tribute to the late Jim Jones. Pat the Producer and Jim Benson, hosts of K-ROCK's local music show "Inner Sanctum" and the MCs for the awards ceremony, each made a few remarks about Jones, who passed away last month. "He'll be highly missed by the scene," Pat said of Jones, who played with storied underground punk bands Pere Ubu, the Mirrors and the Styrenes. "If you knew him, you loved him," Benson said, adding that he was a "great performer" and recalling old Pere Ubu shows he had seen.

After a somewhat awkward segue to the awards presentation itself, WRUW DJ Charlie Saber, who boasted that college radio was "the only place you can hear all the bands nominated," presented "Best Americana/Country" to perennial winners Hillbilly Idol, who accepted with a polite "thanks for voting." Peter Nero, a WJCU DJ with a show dedicated to local music, awarded Norm Tischler "Best Horn." Tischler, who had just played during Blue Lunch's opening set, accepted and urged audience members to "support political candidates who support the arts."

K-ROCK DJ Rachel Steele announced Sugar (of Lords of the Highway fame) as the winner of "Best Bass," and Undercurrents President John Latimer gave Patrick Sweany "Best Singer-songwriter." Neither artist was present to accept. Jazz nominees Kassaba followed with a percussion-heavy set of light jazz, and Ringworm (also not present) collected "Best Hardcore," which was presented by LaMafia Entertainment's Trent Weller.

"Best Rap/Hip-hop" went to the Ill Disciples for a second straight year and the guys graciously gave "a shout-out to everybody in the category" as they collected their award. They also dedicated a moment of "peace" to Daymon Mumford, who was murdered outside of the Metropolis nite club in the Flats late last year. Joking that he wasn't "as old as Jeff Niesel" (yeah, right!), Peanuts, the self-proclaimed "Host of the Northcoast," gave Rob Kovacs of Return of Simple the "Best Keyboardist" award, and I handed out "Best Singer" to Jessica Lea Mayfield (aka Chittlin') who sent her parents to accept on her behalf since she was on tour with the Avett Brothers.

Dr. Teeeth followed with a set of avant-metal that had one fan (who goes by the stage name Colt Sanders) dancing up a storm on stage, delivering an arsenal of karate chops and dance moves that would make any martial arts buff blush with embarrassment. Good thing band members were good sports about it and didn't mind having a dancing fool on stage with them as they plowed through a couple of their epic, heavy rock numbers.

Agora talent buyer Andrea Sweazy, hopped up on Red Bull and Jäger, presented "Best Goth/Industrial" to Ventana but not before delivering a quizzical diatribe about "emo bitches." Much more subdued than Sweazy, Bill Peters, host of Metal on Metal on WJCU since 1982, then handed out "Best Metal" to Sappy Bell, who accepted with cans of PBR hoisted high and noted that they were finally winners after losing three years in a row while nominated in the hardcore category. Terry Coughlin, president of HM Concerts and Management, then handed out "Best Punk" to the Facials.

Dave Love from Telarc/Heads Up International delivered North Coast Jazz Collective the "Best Jazz" award, and Muamin Collective, performing without the assistance of their nimble-fingered DJ, came out to perform a terrific 15-minute set of hip-hop with a decidedly old-school flavor. "You look a little dirty," rapper Zion said to the crowd, "but that's alright." He also got a big round of applause when (out of the blue) he announced, "I reject and denounce Louis Farrakhan."

Beachland co-owner Cindy Barber presented Coffinberry the "Best Indie/Underground," adding, "I know somebody working a bar that can give this to them" when the band wasn't there to accept. Promoter Jessica George, presenting without her usual presentation partner Arnold Hines, who was a no-show, gave DJ Antik of the Ill Disciples his "Best DJ" award. He wasn't present, but his Disciples cohorts were, and they accepted on his behalf, holding up primitive mask-like pictures of Antik all the while.

Mifune won "Best Ethnic/World" and veteran blues man Colin Dussault, who called his award "a treasure" picked up "Best Blues," which was presented by Wilbert's owner Mike Miller. The Suede Brothers, a band Pat the Producer called "one of our favorites," then played a short set, showing off its stoner- rock/power-trio abilities. The band's set was really forceful, in part because dynamic drummer Mike Varga anchored the band so solidly. Featuring ex-members of local favorites Black Diamonds, the Suede Brothers clearly won a few new fans with their performance.

In one of the funniest acceptance speeches of all time, guitarist Bobby Lanphier of the Whiskey Daredevils accepted his "Best Guitarist" award and said, "I'm not going to thank anyone because I did it all on my own." He then boasted about the "unpaid bar bills" that he left all over town and kept a straight face as he said, "I'm the guitar player, that's why, and that's what we do." Even Pat the Producer was taken aback as he said, "it's going to be hard to top that."

The Rock Hall's Lisa Vinciquerra, introduced as "Miss rock 'n' roll herself" handed out "Best Drummer" to Leo P. Love of the Whiskey Daredevils, who joked about his bandmate Lanphier. "It's really tough to follow that guy," he said. "I don't know who the fuck he was."

Neil Sheehan of HM Concerts and Management gave "Best Hard Rock" to Red Sun Rising, and Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival got the "Best Rockabilly/Garage" award. Perhaps still upset it didn't win for "Best Punk Act," Hot Cha Cha delivered a particularly brash set as lead singer Jovana, looking very Karen O-like in her homemade light blue leotard outfit, urged the crowd to "come closer; music is not contagious." "I wish we were punk rock enough to win," she asserted, later adding, "We lost tonight because we're too awesome." She might have a point, as the band's mix of old (X-Ray Spex) and new (the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) was pretty addictive and made for an appealing visual display.

Taking the place of Grog Shop owner Kathy Blackman (another no-show), the aforementioned Colt Sanders, introduced as a "'70s Ninja Madman," handed out "Best Rock" to Rosella. After the awards, DJ Krauty McKraut, a last-minute addition to the line-up, held down an after-party gig in the Beachland Tavern, spinning old Uriah Heep, Can, an odd mix of sludge, krautrock and psychedelic oddities that had more than one patron wandering up to the turntables to see what the hell he had dug out of his crates. In case you missed all the action, yebotv.com will be airing footage from the festivities starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13.

Winners:

BLUES: Colin Desault

DJ: DJ Antik's amazing clones

HORN: Norm Tischler

BASS: Sugar Wildman

DRUMS: Leo P. Love

GUITAR: Bobby Lanphier

COUNTRY/AMERICANA: Hillbilly Idol

SINGER/SONGWRITER: Patrick Sweany

METAL: Sappy Bell

JAZZ: North Coast Jazz Collective

GOTH/INDUSTRIAL: Ventana

INDIE: Coffinberry

VOCALIST: Jessica Lea Mayfield

ROCKABILLY/GARAGE: Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival

KEYBOARDIST: Rob Kovacs

HARDCORE: Ringworm

ETHNIC/WORLD: Mifune

HARD ROCK: Red Sun Rising

RAP/HIP-HOP: Ill Disciples

ROCK: Rosella

PUNK: The Facials