A Night in Cleveland with the 2017 APMAs

The fourth annual APMAs (Alternative Press Music Awards) brought out the best and brightest of the scene, according to Alternative Press anyway. Monday, July 17, 2017, was an exciting night for many in the city of Cleveland. Right in the good old Heart of it All, in the Rock and Roll city, music worlds collided. Representatives from the realms of punk to alt-pop and rock with a little bit of good old fashioned metal rained down their musical goodness on show-goers. 

The first stop for the night for many artists and their representatives was the red carpet event. During this two-and-a-half-hour affair, the air buzzed with energy. A hushed din of voices that occasionally broke into cacophonous applause negated any silence one may be seeking. The stars came out to shine for the cameras and fans yearning for a first glimpse of their favorites. And, if one can be totally frank, it was hotter than Hell in there! However, if anyone on the carpet felt the heat, they didn’t show it. Everyone looked flawless and really seemed to be enjoying themselves.

It would be impossible to speculate on whether or not there were acts more favored than others. Everyone who walked the carpet – from Ohio’s own Starset and the heavily-costumed GWAR to cosmetics guru Jeffree Star and the night’s Icon Award Winner Laura Jane Grace with her band, Against Me! – seemed to elicit a rise from the onlookers in some capacity. Whispers of “Who is that?” to squeals of “Oh my GOD I LOVE THEM!” could be heard from all around. It was clear that the crowd was there to revel in the moments of being within breathing distance of their musical idols. Everyone on that carpet was gracious and patient – as they ought to be in that kind of situation – and it seemed to run as smoothly as could have been expected.

There seemed to be an endless list of bands partaking in the event. It was awesome to see so many people really just letting loose and enjoying the moment. Some fans seemed a bit miffed that the evening’s host, Andy Biersack, did not walk the entire carpet. He did come out for photos but then retreated back behind the curtain. It can be assumed he had other things to do – namely preparing to host an event that would be shown not only to the 3,000 fans inside the KeyBank State Theatre but also live-streamed for millions of eyes around the world.

After the red carpet event, there was about an hour to kill before the APMAs were set to start. Admittedly, it was surreal to see industry insiders and musicians walking around the city streets. Folks snuck into cafes to grab a bite to eat or milled about in the middle of the Playhouse Square. From independent local musicians playing backup for a main stage act to bands featured in the pages of Alternative Press Magazine, it seemed everywhere one looked, there was someone nearby who had a purpose and a stake in the evening’s events.

As the time drew nearer to the big show, crowds of people could be seen streaming into the theatre. Settling into our perch at the very top of the KeyBank State Theatre, it was clear that the crowd was more than ready for the show to start. As the lights dropped, Andy Biersack took the stage and had the attention of the entire room. It would stay that way for the evening. 

On the performance side, among the notable acts were Starset, who played their first ever televised live performance. Also, New Year’s Day featuring Lzzy Hale nailed Garbage’s “Only Happy When it Rains.” The guys of Nothing More owned the stage as always. The Pretty Reckless left the audience begging for more, while One OK Rock startled the crowd with their larger-than-life stage presence. A very heartfelt “Hey There, Delilah” graced the theatre from Plain White T’s. And, Pierce the Veil paid an emotionally powerful homage to the late Chris Cornell with their rendition of “Black Hole Sun.” And, one cannot forget the incredibly high-energy and stage-burning performance by Against Me! featuring Mina Caputo. It was, without a doubt, an awesome night for music.  

The awards portion of the event had its fair share of fan agreements as well as disappointments. Overall, the crowd was solidly behind all of the nominees and winners in each category. In an amazing start to the night, Lynn Gunn of PVRIS won for Best Vocalist, handedly besting a category of nominees straight out of the boys’ club. Also, The Pretty Reckless, took the Skully for Best Hard Rock Artist, once again showcasing a strong female-led talent. 

As noted in years past, this event sometimes highlights the male presence in this industry, but that took a backseat for this year’s event. Yes, plenty of all-male or male-fronted bands won the lion’s share of the Skullies. However, it was apparent that the women in the industry had come out to prove their worth with a strong showing. From the performances to the awards and presenters, females had a pretty high presence that night. Check out the official winners list HERE.

A standout was Cassie Wilson, a young woman who told her story about living and breathing the concert scene while in her wheelchair, and the problems that she faces in venues when trying to attend her favorite shows. It was her story and mission to help others do better that won her the night’s Sub City Grant (the philanthropic arm of Hopeless Records) for her project, Half Access. With Half Access, she has created a database of information on venues to help other concert-goers with disabilities as well as help educate venues on how to better serve that portion of the population. She said she hopes to “begin a change that should have happened a long time ago,” and we couldn’t agree more. She received the first, well-deserved standing ovation of the night.

Another well-deserved standing ovation came later in the evening when Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace received the Icon Award. This award is given to individuals who have an indelibly iconic legacy in the music industry (previous winners are Joan Jett – who, ironically enough, Grace presented with her award in 2014 – as well as Marilyn Manson, and the punk band, X). Winners of the Icon Award have done groundbreaking work in the world of music. Alternative Press does the industry and the artists an incredible honor in recognizing that work.

 The indisputable fact that her uncompromising music prefers positive affirmation to market share cements Grace’s stature as a bona fide icon. (Alternative Press)

Laura Jane Grace is a fierce and well-known transgender activist both in and out of the scene of music. It was such a moving moment to see her recognized as the icon that many in the music world – fans included – have known her to be for years. Her work to put her heart and soul into her music and to be as honest as possible in everything she does, as well as showing folks that they are not alone, is second-to-none.

With humility and candor, Grace has never shied away from the work that needs to be done in order to bring more awareness and openness to the LGBTQ community in music, especially to the punk scene, which hasn’t always been known for being a welcoming environment for those whom they see as “other.”  Her warm, honest, and powerful acceptance speech had more than one person nodding their head while wiping tears from their eyes. It was one of the most pivotal moments of the night.

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Other high points were when Panic! At The Disco won Artist of the Year. Also, Andy Black took the award for Song of the Year with “We Don’t Have to Dance.” Additionally, Waterparks snagged the Skully for Best Breakthrough Band. And, Twenty One Pilots won for Most Dedicated Fanbase. It was clear that every nominee for every category that evening had a solid, supportive fanbase. How one can claim they are the best is always up for debate. However, that night, every act had supported from some of the loudest and rowdiest fans in town. 

In all, it was an incredible night in Cleveland for the music industry, as well as for Alternative Press. From top to bottom, even with a few technical issues and gimmicks that may have fallen a little flat, the 2017 APMAs provided entertainment, laughs, and more than a few incredible moments sure to keep people talking.

It is obvious that this awards show will continue to grow and get better and better each year. It was an absolute honor to be in the same room as so many acts that we feature here at RockRevolt Magazine. More than once, this writer had goosebumps from just being there – surely, the sign of a top night! We can’t wait for the next one! 

Review by Devon Anderson, RockRevolt Managing Editor
Photos by Alex Horn, RockRevolt Photojournalist
With additional photos by Alternative Press Contributors: 
Ryan Watanabe, Steve Thrasher, Andrew Bastion, and Graham Fielder