Things are new and different yet again here at Best Music Poll Central. Most significantly, for the first time ever we announced the winners of our Best Music Poll Awards - the Bimpies - with a gala event at Bourbon Street/the Pavilion, where some 500 musicians and fans showed up to see whose name would get called by celebrity presenters ranging from roots diva Darien Brahms to Press Herald columnist Aimsel Ponti (sorry about the PH dis Aimsel - I couldn't resist) to long-time Portland music scene maestro Joe Brien. Previously, we had announced the winners in the paper and then held the party - not as exciting. This year, there was real tension in the air; I think fingers really were crossed. And of the 23 awards handed out last Wednesday, only two winners were not on hand to collect their awards. Very cool. Thus, this year we're able to cover the winners not only with write-ups about their appeal to fans, but also with color commentary about their appearance at the Awards Show, which gives this edition of the Best Music Poll issue a little bit of Us Magazine flair and sass, which was pretty fun for the writers and photographers. Inside you'll find plenty of party pics, references to things you may not have seen, and drunk musicians getting a little touchy-feely. Also, everyone should check out the Phoenix-affiliated FACE Magazine for coverage of the first-ever Best Music Poll Lifetime Achievement Award, granted this year to Geno D'Alessandro. I'd like to thank everyone involved for helping me put on such a great Awards Show event: the Phoenix staff who had to brave dressing up and getting sloshed for an entire night; local musicians for RSVPing promptly and showing up relatively on time; Buckdancer's Choice for helping out with sound equipment at the last minute; the Bourbon Street/Pavilion staff for being incredibly helpful and willing; the B-Ware All-Stars and Scion for showing us northerners how they break it in Boston; Meritage, Browne Trading Co., and Uffa! for all the sweet treats; WCLZ and WCYY for providing promotional support on the airwaves; the celebrity presenters for bearing with me; Owen Money and the Saviors for allowing us to invade their house and produce BMP Cribs; Budweiser for helping out with banners and our general intoxication; and Jordan Benissan, Miss Fairchild, Headstart!, Animal Suit Driveby, and Pete Kilpatrick and Graham Isaacson for providing such great musical entertainment. It's true that Portland has an incredibly tight-knit music community, and that was borne out on Wednesday. We at the Phoenix are happy just to be a part of it. Feel free to come and help us celebrate it further during the Best Music Poll Festival, happening May 12 through 14, the details of which are in the ad on the facing page.