Best Local New Artist

Special 79

In a category that was well rounded -- two blues outfits, a rockabilly trio, an emo-core entry, a pop punk band, and a country-rock ensemble -- it would be the neo-ska of Special 79 that would eventually rise to the top, very much a reflection of popular music this past year. Besides the electronica craze, what made bigger inroads than ska?

Originally, the majority of Special 79 played in that Korn-wannabe outfit, Locknut. Lucky for us, the boys grew tired of sounding crappy and decided to expand upon their varied interests and hopped on the burgeoning third wave of the ska movement. The new wave allows bands a lot of latitude in the area of style(s), which suits this diverse band perfectly. Influenced by acts as different as Reel Big Fish, Pennywise, Deftones, Suicide Machines, Faith No More, Amazing Royal Crowns, and the Toasters, Special 79 have been mowin' the locals down, or at least leaving them scratching their heads, with their crazy hybrid of sounds and a live show that borders on manic. These guys bounce from horn-flavored metal-rap to polka-beat punk originals; and it's not uncommon for them to cover the Beastie Boys' "Brass Monkey" and Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young" in the same set.

They've also shot to the top of the pops here in town in relatively short time; this year alone making the finals of the Palladium`s Sunday Night Rock Fight as well as pissing-off the majority of the student body at Clark University Spree Day by starting into their set at 10:30 in the morning. All in a day's work for a band who's only goal is to go out and have a blast. You can come along for the ride, or you can get the hell out of the way.

Special 79 plan on spending 1998 trying to get out of Worcester as much as possible so they can scare a whole new batch of people, and they want potential listeners to know they're easier to appreciate if you've been drinking first.

-- John O'Neill