Sat. Dec. 1

Being of the mind that there are way too many awards ceremonies in this country, we haven’t always been enthusiasts of the Boston Music Awards. This was especially back in the day – when it was under previous management, and said management exploited the New Kids on the Block popularity and sucked them (and their whole teenybop audience) into the house and made moolah. Chip Rives is the guy running the show now, and the BMAs have taken a decided turn in the right direction – even though we still think there’s way too many awards shows. This year, for their 20th anniversary shebang at the Orpheum Sat. Dec. 1, they’ve got Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer (in photo) as the Honorary Chairman. They've got Bobby Brown (make your own Bobby Brown joke here, we wouldn't know where to start or end), Augustana, the Click Five, Lori McKenna, Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls, Matt Nathanson, JoJo, Martin Sexton, Peter Gammons (the sports world’s rockingest guy), James Montgomery, Johnny A., Monster Mike Welch, Short’y Billups, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Specail Team, Farrenheit and Township. We also hear rumors of an Extreme reunion – yet another. And there’s another big name Boston hard rock star who’s on the bill that we just can’t announce yet.

 Former WBCN program director Oedipus comes back from Thailand, where he’s been spending time with his fiancee, Amy, and former WBCN morning man Charles Laquidara returns from Hawaii, where he now lives. Joey Kramer is pleased as punch to be part of this. “Aerosmith plays all over the world,” says Kramer, “but it all starts and comes back here to Boston for me. Boston is in Aerosmith’s DNA. I am part of Boston’s family of musicians and to be named the BMA’s Honorary Chairman” – may we now call him Chairman Joey? – “gives me a real opportunity to serve my brothers and sisters in this rich community of artists.” That’s a statement from a press release, not a drug rap. Drug raps are so old-school Aerosmith. They’re a five-man rehab squad now! And have been for a while now. At any rate, this bash – confab, concert, gabfest – starts at 7:30 and tickets are $35.

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