Scene Cleveland Music Awards 2006

Gel, "Shoulder Work": A percolating little call to action, it shot to No. 1 on the Billboard rap-single chart and No. 7 on the pop chart, thanks to its club-ready sound. The dark, creeping synth line gives it something of an old-school West Coast flavor, as Gel (Nigel Allen) calls out his peeps to find they're "locking shoulders." It won't be too much more work now; a beatboxer in the old days and a producer since way back, Gel is ready for the spotlight. -- Parker

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Best Reggae/ World
To keep up his kind of schedule, B.E. Mann really has to be "the Energy Man." According to his website, Mann has released an astounding 18 full-length albums since 1987, scored No. 1 hits in eight different European countries, and played more than 2,400 shows. His silky vocals are just part of the appeal; Mann's also a charismatic performer who plays on a truly international stage.

Ever wondered what hillbilly reggae sounds like? Neither did we. But as it turns out, it's actually pretty cool. Copperfoot is pioneering the genre -- imagine a lost Allman brother who smokes too much, delivering a southern croon over a banjo and a lazy skank. Trust us: It works, and it works well.

Carlos Jones' smooth, inviting voice is as soothing as the roots reggae he plays. Eschewing dancehall and the pop trends for a style grounded in the spirituality at the center of the Rastafarian faith, Jones makes music that's uplifting and soulful. No wonder he has attracted such a large and devoted following throughout the region.

I-Tal was Cleveland's first reggae band, spearheading a movement that would rule the local club scene in the late '70s and early '80s. It bowed out in '93, after 16 years on the scene, but 4 years ago, the band reformed. It remains a training ground for many of the area's best reggae musicians, including Carlos Jones.

Terrence D. Reynolds (alias Ras T. DubFlex) and his quartet, Dub Flex, have been keeping Cleveland awash in reggae vibrations for 15 years. The quartet's repertoire reaches beyond the legendary music of reggae progenitors Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, and Bob Marley to embrace such island styles as dub, dancehall, and even jazz. Besides an extensive list of classic covers, the band has released four albums, the latest of which is 2003's Breathe. -- Parker & D.X. Ferris

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Best Tribute/ Cover Band
Breakfast Club might have Cleveland's widest selection of '80s hits. Members have played with Risque, Moonlight Drive, Kidd Wicked, and P-Funk, and now they're a regular guest at Sly Fox, the Blind Pig, and McCarthy's, where they draw a loyal pack of traveling fans who scream for nuggets like "I Will Follow," "My Sharona," "Jenny (867-5309)," "Blister in the Sun," and "Here I Go Again." Like Frank the Tank, we're all just working for the weekend.

Named for the key year in the development of pop metal -- after the arrival of Guns N' Roses, but before Warrant -- 1988 blasts through a set that could be the soundtrack to a wild night at a strip club. Its repertoire includes a couple of inspired left-field choices, including Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right" and the Smithereens' "A Girl Like You, " but it's become a top draw in Cleveland by chasing hair-band classics from Poison with harder tunes from AC/DC. And the GNR medley brings the house down.

The Spazmatics take the stage dressed in bow ties, thick plastic glasses, and flood pants, shaking up some of the area's top night spots with all the presence of Revenge of the Nerds' Lamar Latrelle. The group plays primarily '80s hits, concentrating on the Top 40 and new-wave favorites such as Dead or Alive, Billy Idol, Soft Cell, and Thomas Dolby. When the Spazmatics are onstage, it's always safe to dance.

Superband is here to save the day. Mild-mannered superheroes by day, its members take the stage at night, keeping the city safe from the evil forces of sobriety. Superman, Batman, and Captain America used to play in their civilian fatigues, but now they come ready for action, rocking out with hits by the Gorillaz, Run-DMC, and Journey.

Pink Floyd tribute band Wish You Were Here could only happen in Cleveland, where classic-rock radio proudly boasts "Nobody plays more Floyd." That's how insatiable Northeast Ohio's taste for trippy, stadium-scale rock is. No wonder this eight-member coed lineup has become one of the city's favorite live draws. -- Ferris

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Best New Artist
The father of Black Diamonds lead guitarist-producer Dylan Francis weaned him on a steady diet of classic rock, and Mr. Francis has reason to be proud of his son and the company he keeps. The Black Diamonds exploded onto the scene this year, playing big, bawdy rock that sounds as if it were recorded around the Bicentennial, and are quickly becoming a fixture at the Beachland and Hi-Fi. The Perry teenagers now face the tough decision of continuing to kick ass or going to college. We hope for the former.