2008 Music Awards Nominees

Club Night
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Lights Down Low
When it comes to electro-age debauchery, the name of the game is Lights Down Low. For the past two years, resident DJs Sleazemore and Rchrd Oh?! have brought a decadent twice-monthly mix of dance-rock, disco, electro, blog-house, booty funk, mashups, and party jams to fashionable twentysomethings in the sweaty basement of the 222 Club (which recently closed). They've hosted performances by internationally known guests like Juiceboxxx, Krames, and Guns N Bombs. Earlier this summer, Lights Down Low became a global franchise, launching at Amsterdam's Club 8 to much acclaim.

The Saturday Night Soul Party
Every first and third Saturday of the month, the Elbo Room plays host to the Saturday Night Soul Party, when resident DJs Lucky, Paul-Paul, and Phengren Oswald pack the dancefloor to capacity. In this digital age, it's refreshing to still see those old 45s — a mix of vintage rarities and classic hits — spin on the turntables to such enthusiasm. This year, the party grooved to a new sartorial splendor as the Soul Party's dress code of swanky and soulful attire was not only encouraged, but also rewarded with half-price admission.

Tormenta Tropical
While living in Buenos Aires last year, Bay Area DJs Disco Shawn and Oro11 fell in love with electro-cumbia, a new club sound that mixed traditional accordions and guitars with house and techno beats. Upon returning to San Francisco, the duo started a new night, Tormenta Tropical, that showcases the Argentine music alongside electro, hip-hop, and postpunk. Over the past year, the club night has moved from 222 Hyde to Rickshaw Stop to its current home at the Elbo Room, offering wild DJ sets and live performances from such like-minded acts as Miami's South Rakkas Crew, Vancouver's Paul Devros, and Lisbon's Buraka Som Sistema.

[Kontrol]
Detroit and Berlin may be the world epicenters of techno, but monthly party [Kontrol] is the premier spot for quality minimal techno in San Francisco. Whether it's based at the Endup, Mezzanine, or Rx Gallery, the club night regularly attracts clued-in crowds. Launched in 2005, [Kontrol] has consistently brought top names in the genre to San Francisco, often for the first time; this year's coups include Dutch producer Speedy J and Germany's Triple R.

2008 Music Awards Program Guide
Casting Votes
The Host, Performers, DJ and Special Attraction